Israel last year revoked the Jerusalem residency of more than 4,500 Palestinians, far more than in any other year since Israel took full control of the city in 1967, according to government figures obtained by a local human rights group under the country's freedom of information act. In what an official for the group on Wednesday called a "frightening" escalation in the enforcement of Jerusalem residency laws, the interior ministry said that a sweep of its files last spring turned up thousands of names of Palestinian Jerusalemites who had left the country for longer than the allowed seven years, and would not be allowed to return. In the 42 years that Israel has had full control of the city, it has on average revoked the Jerusalem residency permits of about 200 people a year -- and often fewer than 100. The previous high had been 1,363, in 2006.
In what an official for the group on Wednesday called a "frightening" escalation in the enforcement of Jerusalem residency laws, the interior ministry said that a sweep of its files last spring turned up thousands of names of Palestinian Jerusalemites who had left the country for longer than the allowed seven years, and would not be allowed to return.
In the 42 years that Israel has had full control of the city, it has on average revoked the Jerusalem residency permits of about 200 people a year -- and often fewer than 100. The previous high had been 1,363, in 2006.
The Afghanistan timeline President Obama outlined Tuesday calls for the 'surge' of 30,000 new troops to abate after only 18 months. That time frame is consistent with what Gem. Stanley McChrystal has called the 'decisive' period of the war. ... In urgent language, McChrystal stressed the importance of time in America's Afghan venture - suggesting that the next 12 months could well determine the success or failure of the mission. The timeline Mr. Obama announced Tuesday night appears geared to providing McChrystal with as many boots on the ground in Afghanistan as soon as is logistically possible in an effort to turn the tide of the war.
...
In urgent language, McChrystal stressed the importance of time in America's Afghan venture - suggesting that the next 12 months could well determine the success or failure of the mission.
The timeline Mr. Obama announced Tuesday night appears geared to providing McChrystal with as many boots on the ground in Afghanistan as soon as is logistically possible in an effort to turn the tide of the war.
On November 21: McCain predicts success in Afghanistan in 12-18 months
US Senator John McCain predicted an allied win in Afghanistan in one year to 18 months if sufficient troops are sent, as the White House mulls sending tens of thousands of reinforcements. But he said that timeline is threatened by US President Barack Obama's delay in rolling out a new Afghanistan strategy. "I am absolutely convinced and totally confident that with sufficient resources we can turn the situation around," McCain told reporters at an international defense summit in easternmost Canada.
But he said that timeline is threatened by US President Barack Obama's delay in rolling out a new Afghanistan strategy.
"I am absolutely convinced and totally confident that with sufficient resources we can turn the situation around," McCain told reporters at an international defense summit in easternmost Canada.
Well, General McChrystal and General Petraeus both say that that is sufficient resources to get the job done. There is going to be -- he's allowed some additional troops to that, but also, they are counting on commitments from our NATO allies. I would have gone for the entire 40,000, but I also have to rely on the judgment of General Petraeus and General McChrystal. But I have serious doubts -- and I believe we should support this policy. I really do. But I also have grave concerns about this date for withdrawal and contradicted by conditions on the ground. ... Well, the danger is that it's hard to get the loyal support of the people who have to live in the neighborhood after you leave. They'll hedge their bets, whether it be governments or people in the region. Also, the threat is that the Taliban and other Al Qaeda just stay back in the weeds until we leave. That is the danger that's always been associated with setting arbitrary dates.
But I have serious doubts -- and I believe we should support this policy. I really do. But I also have grave concerns about this date for withdrawal and contradicted by conditions on the ground.
Well, the danger is that it's hard to get the loyal support of the people who have to live in the neighborhood after you leave. They'll hedge their bets, whether it be governments or people in the region. Also, the threat is that the Taliban and other Al Qaeda just stay back in the weeds until we leave. That is the danger that's always been associated with setting arbitrary dates.
The civilian operation to rebuild Afghanistan is disjointed and needs to be coordinated better, U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke said on Wednesday. Holbrooke signalled his concerns over efforts involving the United Nations and scores of foreign aid and development agencies before a meeting at which U.S. and European ministers are expected to discuss how to improve the reconstruction drive. The criticism, hours after U.S. President Barack Obama announced plans to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, could stir tension between Holbrooke and the U.N. over the leadership of the civilian operation.
Holbrooke signalled his concerns over efforts involving the United Nations and scores of foreign aid and development agencies before a meeting at which U.S. and European ministers are expected to discuss how to improve the reconstruction drive.
The criticism, hours after U.S. President Barack Obama announced plans to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, could stir tension between Holbrooke and the U.N. over the leadership of the civilian operation.
Some 60m adult Americans live without a bank account or rely on pawn shops and other non-bank operations to handle their finances, according to a landmark government report on Wednesday that led to calls for banks to expand access to their services.A census survey commissioned by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation showed about 43m adults live in households that rely on non-bank services such as pay-day lenders and pawn shops. Another 17m are in households without any bank accounts.The figure dwarfs the estimated 46m Americans who lack health insurance; Barack Obama has staked his presidency on bringing that group back into the system.The FDIC survey was the first of its kind and revealed vast racial disparities in access to financial services. Almost 22 per cent of black households had no bank accounts compared with 3.3 per cent of white households. In some areas the difference was starker: in St Louis, 31 per cent of black households had no bank accounts compared with just 1 per cent of white households.
A census survey commissioned by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation showed about 43m adults live in households that rely on non-bank services such as pay-day lenders and pawn shops. Another 17m are in households without any bank accounts.
The figure dwarfs the estimated 46m Americans who lack health insurance; Barack Obama has staked his presidency on bringing that group back into the system.
The FDIC survey was the first of its kind and revealed vast racial disparities in access to financial services. Almost 22 per cent of black households had no bank accounts compared with 3.3 per cent of white households. In some areas the difference was starker: in St Louis, 31 per cent of black households had no bank accounts compared with just 1 per cent of white households.
Tomorrow's Bernanke reconfirmation hearing just got more interesting, courtesy of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders who has stated he will put a "hold" on the Bernanke confirmation process, meaning the Senate will need to amass 60 votes in order to override and proceed with the confirmation process. Yet as the NYT notes: "though the Senate has been paralyzed by similar blocking tactics on countless other issues, Mr. Bernanke probably has enough support in both parties to clear the 60-vote hurdle." It is time to call your Senators and remind them that at best only 21% of Americans favor Bernanke's reappointment.
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) on Wednesday indicated he doesn't expect changes on the House floor to a measure that would increase scrutiny of the Federal Reserve. Frank, the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, opposes the measure sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), but told reporters that he does not see language being changed on the House floor. "Absent some change in the way the public is reacting, I don't see any changes," Frank said. Paul's bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), would add new audits of the Federal Reserve, which has come under increased criticism and scrutiny from lawmakers since the financial crisis. It is one of the most closely watched measures included in wide-ranging legislation aimed at beefing up regulation across the financial industry that the House is set to consider next week. Paul has been a fervent critic of the Federal Reserve for decades, but his effort to increase audits of the Fed gained more than 300 co-sponsors in the House this year as public opinion soured on government bailouts for financial firms. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post last weekend in part to criticize the Paul amendment. The issue will likely come up on Thursday when Bernanke heads to the Senate Banking Committee for a confirmation hearing for a second term as Fed chairman.
Frank, the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, opposes the measure sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), but told reporters that he does not see language being changed on the House floor. "Absent some change in the way the public is reacting, I don't see any changes," Frank said.
Paul's bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), would add new audits of the Federal Reserve, which has come under increased criticism and scrutiny from lawmakers since the financial crisis. It is one of the most closely watched measures included in wide-ranging legislation aimed at beefing up regulation across the financial industry that the House is set to consider next week.
Paul has been a fervent critic of the Federal Reserve for decades, but his effort to increase audits of the Fed gained more than 300 co-sponsors in the House this year as public opinion soured on government bailouts for financial firms.
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post last weekend in part to criticize the Paul amendment. The issue will likely come up on Thursday when Bernanke heads to the Senate Banking Committee for a confirmation hearing for a second term as Fed chairman.
Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), the House's top defense appropriator, said Wednesday that he does not believe Afghanistan poses a national security threat to the United States. Murtha said Obama's speech announcing the 30,000 troop increase to Afghanistan was very "impressive," but it failed to change his mind about the situation in the country. The president "made a pretty good case if you believe the dangers to national security," Murtha said. Murtha has said for weeks that he does not see an "achievable goal" for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Murtha hinted on Tuesday that the White House may be concerned about his potential lack of support for the president's plan and the possible ramifications. He said that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel approached him Tuesday to ask for his backing. Murtha also hit back at any notion that additional war money would be included in the regular 2010 defense appropriations bill now in conference negotiations between the House and the Senate. Murtha told reporters that Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.), the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), the Senate Appropriations chairman, both oppose that idea as well.
The president "made a pretty good case if you believe the dangers to national security," Murtha said. Murtha has said for weeks that he does not see an "achievable goal" for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Murtha hinted on Tuesday that the White House may be concerned about his potential lack of support for the president's plan and the possible ramifications. He said that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel approached him Tuesday to ask for his backing.
Murtha also hit back at any notion that additional war money would be included in the regular 2010 defense appropriations bill now in conference negotiations between the House and the Senate. Murtha told reporters that Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.), the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), the Senate Appropriations chairman, both oppose that idea as well.
There are conflicting reports about the blasts. Al Jazeera said initial reports said five people had been killed and dozens injured. Reuters said six people had been killed. "Body parts are still scattered around the bus," a witness told Reuters. Iranian state-run Press TV reported that as many as 12 people may have been killed.But state media in Syria reported that the coach was empty when the blast occurred and that no was killed and only four people injured including the driver. ... A previous attack in the area in September 2008 killed 17, the bloodiest attack in Syria in recent memory. It was blamed on Lebanon-based Sunni militants.
There are conflicting reports about the blasts. Al Jazeera said initial reports said five people had been killed and dozens injured. Reuters said six people had been killed. "Body parts are still scattered around the bus," a witness told Reuters. Iranian state-run Press TV reported that as many as 12 people may have been killed.
But state media in Syria reported that the coach was empty when the blast occurred and that no was killed and only four people injured including the driver.
A previous attack in the area in September 2008 killed 17, the bloodiest attack in Syria in recent memory. It was blamed on Lebanon-based Sunni militants.
