WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A maiden U.S. attempt to shoot down a ballistic missile mimicking an attack from Iran failed after a malfunction in a radar built by Raytheon Co, the Defense Department said. Barack Obama The Missile Defense Agency said both the target missile, fired from Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, and the interceptor, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, had performed normally after launch on Sunday. "However, the Sea-Based X-band radar did not perform as expected," the agency said on its web site. Officials will investigate the cause of the failure to intercept, it said. The SBX radar is a major component of the ground-based midcourse defense, the sole U.S. bulwark against long-range missiles that could be tipped with chemical, biological or nuclear warheads
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A maiden U.S. attempt to shoot down a ballistic missile mimicking an attack from Iran failed after a malfunction in a radar built by Raytheon Co, the Defense Department said.
Barack Obama
The Missile Defense Agency said both the target missile, fired from Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, and the interceptor, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, had performed normally after launch on Sunday.
"However, the Sea-Based X-band radar did not perform as expected," the agency said on its web site. Officials will investigate the cause of the failure to intercept, it said.
The SBX radar is a major component of the ground-based midcourse defense, the sole U.S. bulwark against long-range missiles that could be tipped with chemical, biological or nuclear warheads
The Pakistani newspaper, The News alleges that:"Afghanistan-based US predators carried out a record number of 12 deadly missile strikes in the tribal areas of Pakistan in January 2010, of which 10 went wrong and failed to hit their targets, killing 123 innocent Pakistanis. The remaining two successful drone strikes killed three al-Qaeda leaders, wanted by the Americans.
The Pakistani newspaper, The News alleges that:
"Afghanistan-based US predators carried out a record number of 12 deadly missile strikes in the tribal areas of Pakistan in January 2010, of which 10 went wrong and failed to hit their targets, killing 123 innocent Pakistanis. The remaining two successful drone strikes killed three al-Qaeda leaders, wanted by the Americans.
US President Barack Obama has cancelled the American project designed to take humans back to the Moon.The Constellation programme envisaged new rockets and a new crewship called Orion to put astronauts on the lunar surface by 2020. But in his federal budget request issued on Monday, Mr Obama said the project was "over budget, behind schedule, and lacking in innovation". It was draining resources from other US space agency activities, he added. He plans instead to turn to the private sector for launch services. The decision was immediately condemned by Congressional figures who represent workforces dependent on Constellation.
US President Barack Obama has cancelled the American project designed to take humans back to the Moon.
The Constellation programme envisaged new rockets and a new crewship called Orion to put astronauts on the lunar surface by 2020.
But in his federal budget request issued on Monday, Mr Obama said the project was "over budget, behind schedule, and lacking in innovation".
It was draining resources from other US space agency activities, he added.
He plans instead to turn to the private sector for launch services.
The decision was immediately condemned by Congressional figures who represent workforces dependent on Constellation.
what else is he gonna do with the money ? Give it to the banks to gamble with and export to tax havens ? keep to the Fen Causeway
If the Pentagon doesn't get its Joint Strike Fighter just right, the U.S. military is screwed. Which is why its a such serious, serious problem this stealthy, all-purpose jet has had such a "troubling performance record," according to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Things have gone so wrong that Gates just announced he's sacking the head of the star-crossed, nearly $350 billion program and is withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in performance fees to JSF-maker Lockheed Martin. "When things go wrong, people will be held accountable," Gates told reporters. The Air Force, the Marines, and the Navy are all counting on the stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to serve as its aircraft of the future, replacing everything from the A-10 to the F-16 to the F/A-18. It's meant to knock out the most advanced missile sites, spot the most elusive terrorists, and win dogfights with the most sophisticated jets from Russia or China -- all at a fraction of the price of the much-ballyhooed F-22 Raptor. Gates calls it the "backbone" of "American air superiority." Without the promise of the JSF, Gates would've never convinced Congress to stop production of the Raptor, the Air Force's most advanced dogfighter. By the time the program ends, there are supposed to be more than 2,400 of the planes in the American inventory, flying off of aircraft carriers, taking off from a conventional runway, or zipping straight up into the sky.
The Air Force, the Marines, and the Navy are all counting on the stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to serve as its aircraft of the future, replacing everything from the A-10 to the F-16 to the F/A-18. It's meant to knock out the most advanced missile sites, spot the most elusive terrorists, and win dogfights with the most sophisticated jets from Russia or China -- all at a fraction of the price of the much-ballyhooed F-22 Raptor. Gates calls it the "backbone" of "American air superiority." Without the promise of the JSF, Gates would've never convinced Congress to stop production of the Raptor, the Air Force's most advanced dogfighter. By the time the program ends, there are supposed to be more than 2,400 of the planes in the American inventory, flying off of aircraft carriers, taking off from a conventional runway, or zipping straight up into the sky.
There's always the Eurofighter... 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
Well there's a navalised version of the Rafaelle isn't there? Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Monday (1 February) said that roughly 500 more police trainers are needed in Afghanistan, echoing similar calls from the EU's own mission on the ground. "Training is an investment in the transition of Afghanistan and I will press hard for this," Mr Rasmussen said during a press conference in Brussels detailing the agenda of an informal meeting of Nato defence ministers due to take place in Istanbul on 4-5 February. He said some 100 police and 21 army training units - each comprising four to five trainers - are still needed. "I will make a demand from all Nato members and partners to eliminate the deficiencies of training mission in Afghanistan," he said.
"Training is an investment in the transition of Afghanistan and I will press hard for this," Mr Rasmussen said during a press conference in Brussels detailing the agenda of an informal meeting of Nato defence ministers due to take place in Istanbul on 4-5 February.
He said some 100 police and 21 army training units - each comprising four to five trainers - are still needed.
"I will make a demand from all Nato members and partners to eliminate the deficiencies of training mission in Afghanistan," he said.
These days, liberals don't know whether to feel betrayed by or merely disappointed with Barack Obama. They have gone from decrying his willingness to remove the public option from his health care plan to worrying that, in the wake of Democrat Martha Coakley's defeat in Massachusetts, he won't get any plan through Congress. On other subjects, too, from Afghanistan to Wall Street, Obama has thoroughly let down his party's left flank. Yet there is one extremely consequential area where Obama has done just about everything a liberal could ask for--but done it so quietly that almost no one, including most liberals, has noticed. Obama's three Republican predecessors were all committed to weakening or even destroying the country's regulatory apparatus: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the other agencies that are supposed to protect workers and consumers by regulating business practices. Now Obama is seeking to rebuild these battered institutions. In doing so, he isn't simply improving the effectiveness of various government offices or making scattered progress on a few issues; he is resuscitating an entire philosophy of government with roots in the Progressive era of the early twentieth century. Taken as a whole, Obama's revival of these agencies is arguably the most significant accomplishment of his first year in office.
Yet there is one extremely consequential area where Obama has done just about everything a liberal could ask for--but done it so quietly that almost no one, including most liberals, has noticed. Obama's three Republican predecessors were all committed to weakening or even destroying the country's regulatory apparatus: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the other agencies that are supposed to protect workers and consumers by regulating business practices. Now Obama is seeking to rebuild these battered institutions. In doing so, he isn't simply improving the effectiveness of various government offices or making scattered progress on a few issues; he is resuscitating an entire philosophy of government with roots in the Progressive era of the early twentieth century. Taken as a whole, Obama's revival of these agencies is arguably the most significant accomplishment of his first year in office.
Since 2003, Central Asia has been targeted for funding in disaster preparedness and risk reduction. This latest decision will continue to fund local disaster management at community level, coordination mechanisms at local, national and regional levels; public awareness-raising,training and education; early warning systems, exchanges of know-how, mitigation works and stock-building of relief items.
Amidst otherwise strong coverage of the growing debate around the nature of finance and the power of big banks, a surprisingly high number of journalists continue to misuse the word "populism". For example, in an article on criticism of bankers at Davos, the Wall Street on Saturday morning reported that President Sarkozy of France delivered a "populist broadside" when he said, "That those who create jobs and wealth may earn a lot of money is not shocking. But that those who contribute to destroying jobs and wealth also earn a lot of money is morally indefensible." The implication, of course, is that some politicians are pandering to "the people" vs. "the elites" - part of a long-standing theme in some interpretations of democratic political conflict. While elites invest and engage in productive activities, the argument goes, plebians from time to time demand excessive income redistribution or punitive taxation or other measures that would undermine productivity and prosperity.
For example, in an article on criticism of bankers at Davos, the Wall Street on Saturday morning reported that President Sarkozy of France delivered a "populist broadside" when he said,
"That those who create jobs and wealth may earn a lot of money is not shocking. But that those who contribute to destroying jobs and wealth also earn a lot of money is morally indefensible."
The implication, of course, is that some politicians are pandering to "the people" vs. "the elites" - part of a long-standing theme in some interpretations of democratic political conflict. While elites invest and engage in productive activities, the argument goes, plebians from time to time demand excessive income redistribution or punitive taxation or other measures that would undermine productivity and prosperity.
I had seen the NYT op-ed by David Brooks and been massively annoyed. "Populist" ranks right up there with "Liberal" and "Conspiracy" among useful words that the right-wing mainstream has worked to stigmatize. Simon Johnson does a really good job of deconstructing that process in this particular instance. His first link (above) is to Brooks' op-ed. Johnson continues:
Or, as President Obama said in March 2009, "My administration is the only thing between you and the pitchforks." Such language reveals a complete misunderstanding of our current situation. (Matt Taibbi has this right, but doesn't go far enough.)
Such language reveals a complete misunderstanding of our current situation. (Matt Taibbi has this right, but doesn't go far enough.)
The problem we face is not that the broader population wants pointless or destructive revenge on a financial elite that has done well. Nor is it the case that, if left largely to its own devices, our major banks will guide us back along the path to sustainable growth. The consensus technocratic assessment is simple: We are smack in the middle of a doomsday cycle of repeated boom-bust-bailout (our version; the Bank of England's take). The core issue - banks considered "too big to fail" - was not resolved in or after the crisis of 2008-09; if anything, as these banks have increased in size, the problem is now worse. We are therefore doomed to run headlong into another crisis. This view is increasingly the developing consensus of most economists, many people active in financial markets (e.g., judging by reactions to this piece), top policy analysts from right and left, clear thinking central bankers, and pretty much anyone else who follows the news. Elites are deeply split along pro- and anti-big bank lines. Most people who do not have a conflict of interest - i.e., don't work for big banks or the administration - want to see the most dangerous parts of our financial sector reined in and made safer. Even leaders of the global nonfinancial business elite begin to understand what has happened and what comes next. The fact that dramatic banking reforms would be popular does not make them populist. It merely means that a broad cross-section of our population has woken up to part of our appalling reality. Sure, they are angry - but with good reason, and the remedies they seek are entirely appropriate. Most of our elites are on the side of the broader population on this issue; only the diseased heart of Wall Street holds out. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the Obama administration remains convinced that merely tweaking our existing regulations is the only responsible way forward.
The consensus technocratic assessment is simple: We are smack in the middle of a doomsday cycle of repeated boom-bust-bailout (our version; the Bank of England's take). The core issue - banks considered "too big to fail" - was not resolved in or after the crisis of 2008-09; if anything, as these banks have increased in size, the problem is now worse. We are therefore doomed to run headlong into another crisis.
This view is increasingly the developing consensus of most economists, many people active in financial markets (e.g., judging by reactions to this piece), top policy analysts from right and left, clear thinking central bankers, and pretty much anyone else who follows the news. Elites are deeply split along pro- and anti-big bank lines. Most people who do not have a conflict of interest - i.e., don't work for big banks or the administration - want to see the most dangerous parts of our financial sector reined in and made safer. Even leaders of the global nonfinancial business elite begin to understand what has happened and what comes next.
The fact that dramatic banking reforms would be popular does not make them populist. It merely means that a broad cross-section of our population has woken up to part of our appalling reality. Sure, they are angry - but with good reason, and the remedies they seek are entirely appropriate. Most of our elites are on the side of the broader population on this issue; only the diseased heart of Wall Street holds out.
Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the Obama administration remains convinced that merely tweaking our existing regulations is the only responsible way forward.
Everyone - well, almost everyone - is acting as if this is a 20th/21st century innovation of surprising originality, and not business as usual for the predatory speculator community.
COLORADO SPRINGS -- This tax-averse city is about to learn what it looks and feels like when budget cuts slash services most Americans consider part of the urban fabric. More than a third of the streetlights in Colorado Springs will go dark Monday. The police helicopters are for sale on the Internet. The city is dumping firefighting jobs, a vice team, burglary investigators, beat cops -- dozens of police and fire positions will go unfilled. The parks department removed trash cans last week, replacing them with signs urging users to pack out their own litter. Neighbors are encouraged to bring their own lawn mowers to local green spaces, because parks workers will mow them only once every two weeks. If that. Water cutbacks mean most parks will be dead, brown turf by July; the flower and fertilizer budget is zero.
More than a third of the streetlights in Colorado Springs will go dark Monday. The police helicopters are for sale on the Internet. The city is dumping firefighting jobs, a vice team, burglary investigators, beat cops -- dozens of police and fire positions will go unfilled.
The parks department removed trash cans last week, replacing them with signs urging users to pack out their own litter.
Neighbors are encouraged to bring their own lawn mowers to local green spaces, because parks workers will mow them only once every two weeks. If that.
Water cutbacks mean most parks will be dead, brown turf by July; the flower and fertilizer budget is zero.
sigh
you are the media you consume.
Whereas anarchy, i.e. a leaderless state, implies autonomy; but autonomy does not necessarily deface lawful conduct and normal behaviors. What anarchy also precludes psychological and political conditions that pathological conservatives crave, i.e. acquisitive modalities -phagy, e.g. "consumerism," anthropophagy, "financial cannibalism"
Conservativism does not lead to cannibalism; cannibalism is a conservative technology. Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
couldn't happen to a nicer town...
of course if the airforce budget probably won't be cut. their lawns probably will.
flowers? nah. pack their own trash? right. ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
At the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today on the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) expressed his concern that repealing the rule would pave the way for allowing "alcohol use, adultery, fraternization, and body art" in the military
