There were growing indications on Monday that Israel and the Islamist group Hamas were close to a deal to exchange an abducted Israeli soldier for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, a move with far-reaching implications not only for stalled Middle East peace talks but for a range of strategic regional relations. Leaders on both sides were offering few details but a round of meetings in Cairo sponsored by the Egyptian government and a number of statements by senior officials have heightened anticipation that the swap could occur in the coming week. "Those who don't know can talk," said Dan Meridor, Israel's intelligence minister, on state radio on Monday. "Those who know should keep silent."
Leaders on both sides were offering few details but a round of meetings in Cairo sponsored by the Egyptian government and a number of statements by senior officials have heightened anticipation that the swap could occur in the coming week.
"Those who don't know can talk," said Dan Meridor, Israel's intelligence minister, on state radio on Monday. "Those who know should keep silent."
In one of the worst incidents of election- related violence in the Philippines in recent memory, a group of more than 40 people -- including lawyers, journalists and relatives of a local politician -- were kidnapped by armed men Monday, and military officials said at least 21 of them had been killed. Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, a military spokesman in Manila, said 21 bodies had been recovered in Maguindanao, a province on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines that has often been wracked by election violence. Thirteen of the dead were women, according to the military. Twenty-two people were unaccounted for, according to military officials. Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton, a security official in the province, said in a radio interview that the victims had been shot. But relatives of most of the victims said at least 30 abductees had been killed and many of them beheaded by a group of about 100 men.
Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, a military spokesman in Manila, said 21 bodies had been recovered in Maguindanao, a province on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines that has often been wracked by election violence. Thirteen of the dead were women, according to the military. Twenty-two people were unaccounted for, according to military officials.
Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton, a security official in the province, said in a radio interview that the victims had been shot. But relatives of most of the victims said at least 30 abductees had been killed and many of them beheaded by a group of about 100 men.
REBEL Liberal MPs are threatening to call for a leadership spill in today's partyroom if Malcolm Turnbull refuses to offer a secret ballot on an emissions trading scheme. The wild tactics are being threatened when talks resume this afternoon and could "paralyse" Mr Turnbull's hopes of securing a deal. "If he doesn't agree to a secret ballot we will call a spill," a Liberal MP told The Australian Online. Any vote would not take place today but within 24 hours, with climate change sceptics touting Kevin Andrews as a candidate in their attempt to stop negotiation talks in their tracks.
The wild tactics are being threatened when talks resume this afternoon and could "paralyse" Mr Turnbull's hopes of securing a deal.
"If he doesn't agree to a secret ballot we will call a spill," a Liberal MP told The Australian Online.
Any vote would not take place today but within 24 hours, with climate change sceptics touting Kevin Andrews as a candidate in their attempt to stop negotiation talks in their tracks.
And so the Australian opposition disintegrates over climate change denial...
Initial findings from a study of 51 homes by the Consumer Product Safety Commission links corrosion in homes with Chinese drywall to the imported product, the agency said Monday. Several federal agencies have been investigating complaints from thousands of homeowners -- many in Florida -- whose homes were built with Chinese drywall who have complained that copper tubing in their air conditioning units and electrical wiring have corroded, their homes smell like sulfur and they are having trouble breathing. Until now, the government had not made a direct link between the complaints and the import. But in a report Monday, the federal government said, ``There was a strong association between the problem drywall, the hydrogen sulfide levels in homes with that drywall, and corrosion in those homes.''
Several federal agencies have been investigating complaints from thousands of homeowners -- many in Florida -- whose homes were built with Chinese drywall who have complained that copper tubing in their air conditioning units and electrical wiring have corroded, their homes smell like sulfur and they are having trouble breathing.
Until now, the government had not made a direct link between the complaints and the import. But in a report Monday, the federal government said, ``There was a strong association between the problem drywall, the hydrogen sulfide levels in homes with that drywall, and corrosion in those homes.''
the stuff would smell like roses and you'd enjoy your slow death
Sounds like the American Dream.
When he entered office, US President Barack Obama promised to inject US foreign policy with a new tone of respect and diplomacy. His recent trip to Asia, however, showed that it's not working. A shift to Bush-style bluntness may be coming. There were only a few hours left before Air Force One was scheduled to depart for the flight home. US President Barack Obama trip through Asia had already seen him travel 24,000 kilometers, sit through a dozen state banquets, climb the Great Wall of China and shake hands with Korean children. It was high time to take stock of the trip. Barack Obama looked tired on Thursday, as he stood in the Blue House in Seoul, the official residence of the South Korean president. He also seemed irritable and even slightly forlorn. The CNN cameras had already been set up. But then Obama decided not to play along, and not to answer the question he had already been asked several times on his trip: what did he plan to take home with him? Instead, he simply said "thank you, guys," and disappeared. David Axelrod, senior advisor to the president, fielded the journalists' questions in the hallway of the Blue House instead, telling them that the public's expectations had been "too high." The mood in Obama's foreign policy team is tense following an extended Asia trip that produced no palpable results. The "first Pacific president," as Obama called himself, came as a friend and returned as a stranger. The Asians smiled but made no concessions.
When he entered office, US President Barack Obama promised to inject US foreign policy with a new tone of respect and diplomacy. His recent trip to Asia, however, showed that it's not working. A shift to Bush-style bluntness may be coming.
There were only a few hours left before Air Force One was scheduled to depart for the flight home. US President Barack Obama trip through Asia had already seen him travel 24,000 kilometers, sit through a dozen state banquets, climb the Great Wall of China and shake hands with Korean children. It was high time to take stock of the trip.
Barack Obama looked tired on Thursday, as he stood in the Blue House in Seoul, the official residence of the South Korean president. He also seemed irritable and even slightly forlorn. The CNN cameras had already been set up. But then Obama decided not to play along, and not to answer the question he had already been asked several times on his trip: what did he plan to take home with him? Instead, he simply said "thank you, guys," and disappeared. David Axelrod, senior advisor to the president, fielded the journalists' questions in the hallway of the Blue House instead, telling them that the public's expectations had been "too high."
The mood in Obama's foreign policy team is tense following an extended Asia trip that produced no palpable results. The "first Pacific president," as Obama called himself, came as a friend and returned as a stranger. The Asians smiled but made no concessions.
La Chine dorme. Laisse la dormir. Quand la Chine s'éveillera, le monde tremblera.
There are many but I would single out three:
1. Saudi Arabia, 2. Pakistan, 3. Israel
Israel stands accused by Goldstone commission in war crimes during its operation in Gaza but American politicians seem to be deaf and blind as ever. Claims of pro-Israel lobby that UN commision inherently biased and anticemitic do not cut much ice with public around the world.
At last weekend in New Delhi there was a conference on anti-terrorism and former Indian law minister Ram Jethmalani said Saudi regime was spreading terror since it creation in 17th century by ben Wahhab, "an evil man" as he put it. Saudi envoy stormed out of the meeting registering his protest with Indian president Pratibha Patil. But what Jethmalani said is truth according to many - no matter what nice words Saudis say or write the fact is that after establishment of Saudi charity organizations in different countries there was an explosion of Wahhabi terrorism. Wahhabi-linked organizations like Taliban ruthlessly eliminate all rivals and critics, so it's not easy thing to speak out against them, even smallest clerics were killed across Islamic world.
Pakistani politicians recently bickered over mutual allegations who met Mr Osama bin Ladin and how many times. Musharraf accused former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in meeting Bin Ladin at least 5 times. Indian news channels currently air programs where they make public conversations between terrorists, their handlers in Pakistan, hostages and authorities during last year Mumbai attacks. These conversations present vivid picture of Pakistani based terrorism. For example terrorist in jewish Nariman House centre asks his handler what to do with rabbin and his family. Handler cooly reples: "With grace of God put them on their knees and shot them at the back of their head". Hostage at one time was given satellite phone and spoke to handler in Pakistan. She asked him when they will be released. A handler shamelessly lied to her just minutes after giving orders to eliminate them.
Yet United States of America have never ever officially recognized Saudi Arabia or Pakistan as states sponsor of terrorism. US Senate just recently removed name of Nelson Mandela from the list of terrorists wanted by US. North Korea is in the list without any proof that Kim Jong Il regime helped terror outside his impoverished country. Such duplicity make all American efforts in creating broader international anti-terror front fruitless at the beginning.
Who will want to help America in defeating Al Qaeda, Frankensteins of her own CIA, if she still plays in dirty political games with Saudi and Pakistani rulers? Moral standing of America is compromised by her continuing unconditional support to Israel.
So it's not a big wonder why American foreign policy is failing at the moment.
A shift to Bush-style bluntness may be coming.
...as if that would work any better. SPIEGEL Atlanticist Gabor Steingart should realise: the American Empire is coming to an end. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
... the American Empire is coming to an end.
If the American Empire is replaced by the Chinese Empire, the American Ampire is still over. no wishful thinking involved. (Personallly, I think the American Empire will be replaced by a multipolar world in which no country is powerful enough to dominate all others; but, due to the non-progressive nature of most if not all of the future major powers, that is no bright future either.) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
There is an alternative interpretation which is that the seat of The Empire will move from the US to China. Whereas it is at least possible to argue that the British Empire just moved itself to the US, I don't think it can be argued for China. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
That is not an alternative interpretation of my own words. I wrote the American Empire is coming to an end, not the Empire. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Foreign correspondent disease exists in the States, too.
(I do wonder about marco's views)
