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World News, National Politics: Part 2
December 19, 2007 - 10:24am — FAdams
This is the second installment of my world news, national politics coverage. The first one is titled: 'World News, National Politics. Who needs them?' It has so many entries I feel it burdensome to read the most recent stuff. This first forum will still be available, but my future posts will be to the new one. Why am I writing a blog about world news and national politics for a community newspaper? There are a couple reasons. One is that I feel we're living in unprecedented times in the world and this country, which includes our community. Nihilism seems to be the driving force behind many of the competing self-interests in our culture and the western world. The "mainstream media" and entertainment business that are so prevalent in our culture seem partially responsible for the propogation of this nihilism and also the lack of substantive public discourse pertaining to world news and national politics. We live in an interconnected world, and at the community level we need to know what's happening outside our immediate sphere of influence, outside of the pre-packaged stuff we see in the headlines of every daily newspaper and on every nightly television newscast. We need to be the ones who inform ourselves. We need more and better information if we are to rise above the mediocrity of self-centeredness. Therefore, I feel it incumbent upon myself, as part of a new generation of news writers, to help people get engaged in the dialogue or at least see some of what's happening in the nation and world that they might otherwise miss. If you come here for local news, more power to you. Take in some world news and national politics too. Feel free to post your own news, and leave your comments with regards to the stuff I post.
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Putin named 'Person of the...
Back to page topPutin named 'Person of the Yeaar'
Time magazine named Russian President Vladimir Putin its 2007 "Person of the Year."
Putin, 55, is criticized for moving the country away from Russia's democratic reforms of the 1990s by tightening control of the media, courts and parliament.
However, Time's editors cited Putin's successful management of the Russian economy, thanks to new revenue from oil and natural gas.
Previous individual winners have included Bono, President George W. Bush and Amazon.com CEO and founder Jeff Bezos.
Fore more information, go to www.time.com.
It's not necessarily a...
Back to page topIt's not necessarily a positive thing to "win" -- Hitler was their "Person of the Year" once.
Rattling the sabers The...
Back to page topRattling the sabers
The 'Times Online' is reporting that Russia has sent two long-range bombers to the Bay of Biscay, off the French and Spanish Atlantic coasts, to test-fire missiles.
This is Russia's largest naval exercise in the area since the Soviet era. Firing missiles off the coastline of two Nato members is the latest in a series of Kremlin moves flexing Moscow’s military muscle on the world stage.
Meanwhile, the Washington...
Back to page topMeanwhile, the Washington Times is reporting today that "Russian presidential heir apparent Dmitry Medvedev, in his first major campaign speech yesterday, said he would seek to boost the power of the United Nations and would not sever Moscow's ties to "problem states" like Iran, despite Western pressure."
The Times report says that Medvedev, chairman of the energy giant Gazprom and longtime ally of President Vladimir Putin, also said Russia's economy needed "decades of stable development" if it is to catch up with economies in the west.
Scientists dispute warming...
Back to page topScientists dispute warming claims
Over 400 prominent scientists from more than two dozen countries recently voiced significant objections to major aspects of the so-called "consensus" on man-made global warming, according to a U.S. Senate committee.
These scientists, many of whom are current and former participants in the UN IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), criticized the climate claims made by the UN IPCC and former Vice President Al Gore.
For the full story, go to http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=f80a6386-802a-23ad-40c8-3c63dc2d02cb.
The Washington Post and...
Back to page topThe Washington Post and other media outlets are reporting that for "the first time in 35 years, the U.S. fertility rate has climbed high enough to sustain a stable population, solidifying the nation's unique status among industrialized countries."
"While the rising fertility rate was unwelcome news to some environmentalists, the "replacement rate" is generally considered desirable by demographers and sociologists because it means a country is producing enough young people to replace and support aging workers without population growth being so high it taxes national resources," according to the report.
I wonder how many of the babies born were to legal residents? Is that a fair question to ask? I also wonder why the so-called environmentalists seem to be so anti-human. Actually, I know why, but I think it's lamentable that they don't just stop denigrating the rest of humanity.
Go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/20/AR200712...
Why are they anti-human?...
Back to page topWhy are they anti-human?
I'm not sure why. Maybe it's...
Back to page topI'm not sure why. Maybe it's projection. Perhaps the environmental-left has so much self-loathing that they must project it to the rest of humanity.
The so-called environmental movement is seductive. I think we'd be hard-pressed to find anybody that wants to trash the environment. However, the environmental left would have us believe anybody who isn't with them hates the environment.
That's just plain wrong.
The modern environmentalist is not as much about maintaining the environment, restoring it or preserving it, as it is about controlling humans and limiting their behavior.
I used to consider myself an environmentalist because I was caught in the falsehood that anyone who uses critical thinking to scrutinize the environmental movement is an enemy of the environment. Then I learned to think for myself.
The modern definition of environmentalist seems more leftist than environmentalist, just like a modern liberal seems like more of a socialist than a classic liberal like J.F.K.
Take a look as this story that was in FrontPage Magazine back in 2004. Find it at http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID={D2AB455B-16DE-4CDF-B2D3-AF3B34CC4822}
More people are now voicing...
Back to page topMore people are now voicing their criticisms of the global warming alarmism, too.
Bloomberg.com has a report out of France about Claude Allegre, a former education minister and a physicist by profession.
He calls Gore a "crook" presiding over an eco-business that pumps out cash.
Dr. Berliner is a member of...
Back to page topDr. Berliner is a member of the board of directors of the Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, CA.
What is the environmental left? What is there agenda? Who opposes the environmental laws? What is their agenda?
The article referred to was written by Dr. Berliner of the Ayn Rand Institute. Ayn Rand was a capitalist first and foremost; she believed there were no Robber Barons in history. She believed that child labor laws hurt business, that democracy, fascism, and communism, all share the same terrible idea. That idea profit and greed should be tempered by the common good of society.
Dr. Berliner would have us believe that there is no danger in acid rain, global warming, smog, or the logging of rain forests. The danger for man kind that any attempt to reduce the effects of these things on the earth would impact capitalist’s profits. Does nature have "intrinsic value," to be revered for its own sake, and its benefit to mankind? Is the economic benefit to a specific man in the form of capital gain or profit greater than the "intrinsic value" of nature to mankind? Is there any circumstance were man should to be prohibited from using nature for his own ends?
Dr. Berliner says; “The fundamental goal of environmentalism is not clean air and clean water; rather, it is the demolition of technological/industrial civilization. Environmentalism's goal is not the advancement of human health, human happiness, and human life; rather, it is a subhuman world where "nature" is worshipped like the totem of some primitive religion.”
What is Dr. Berliner’s fundamental goal? He says: “To save mankind from environmentalism, what's needed is not the appeasing, compromising approach of those who urge a "balance" between the needs of man and the "needs" of the environment. To save mankind requires the wholesale rejection of environmentalism as hatred of science, technology, progress, and human life. To save mankind requires the return to a philosophy of reason and individualism, a philosophy that makes life on earth possible.” What he is saying his fundamental goal is pure capitalism. Each man has the right to pollute the air, the water for the sake of profit. Development is always good, trees should be clear cut, if it is more profitable, regardless of the impact it makes on the environment. Sewage should be dumped into rivers and oceans if it is cheaper and more profitable than building sewage treatment plants. People down stream have no right to clean water that would impact his ability to make a profit. What is Dr. Berliner’s political position? What ever is the most profitable at the moment? Pure capitalism is neither liberal nor conservative; The God of capitalism is greed.
I’m not sure what the impact of global warming will be, and if we can prevent it or impede it. In my life time I have seen what pollution control laws did for the air quality of Los Angles, Chicago and what the lack of them is leading to in some areas of China and Mexico. I watch traffic pass in front of my house at 45 miles and hour, every morning and afternoon. Three or four hundred vehicles and hour. Ninety eight percent of them have one occupant. There must be a better way. We built a new road so the traffic now goes on the new 312 at 65 and 70 miles an hour, they estimate in a few years we’ll have a few thousand cars per hour taking the road every morning and evening. Will ninety eight percent of them still have one occupant? We need a smarter way. Even if it isn’t more profitable for the capitalist who own the tire and oil companies. Pure capitalism has never worked in the history of the world; the power of greed is too temping in society. Look at Enron, The problems in the mortgage, health care, insurance and banking industries. Pure capitalism is really like the game of monopoly where the winner has everything and everyone else has nothing. Everyone wants better than nothing for their children. How does the motive for profit drive our industrial military complex? What is the real reason we are fighting in Iraq? Follow the money.
What happens when the ice...
Back to page topWhat happens when the ice cube in your glass of Coke melts? Does it cause the drink to spill over the side?
No, of course not. The same mass of water is just changing from a solid, ice cube, to a liquid, water.
In global warming news, former President Bill Clinton was caught in a moment of candor during a speech in Denver, Colo., stumping for his wife Wednesday.
According to ABC News reporter Jake Tapper, Clinton characterized what the U.S. and other industrialized nations need to do to combat global warming this way: "We just have to slow down our economy and cut back our greenhouse gas emissions 'cause we have to save the planet for our grandchildren."
At a time that the nation is worried about a recession, is that really the characterization his wife would want him making? "Slow down our economy"? Tapper asks.
Assassinated! News...
Back to page topAssassinated!
News reports today describe a great tragedy in Pakistan.
Former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto, who returned to the country just several months ago after years in a self-imposed exile, has been killed in a gun and bomb attack.
At least 20 people were killed when the bomber struck after opposition leader Bhutto addressed a political rally, witnesses said.
It has been reported that she was shot in the neck and the chest before the bomber blew himself up.
Wasif Ali Khan, a member of Bhutto’s party who was at Rawalpindi General hospital, said she died at 6.16p.m. Pakistani time.
The United States condemned the attack, with a State Department official saying: “The attack shows that there are still those in Pakistan trying to undermine reconciliation and democratic development in Pakistan.”
How do you think this will affect the upcoming U.S. presidential election?
PARADE magazine is set to...
Back to page topPARADE magazine is set to publish several interviews with Bhutto as the cover story on Jan. 6, 2008.
Go to www.parade.com/benazir_bhutto_interview.html
The death of former Pakistan...
Back to page topThe death of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto is shrouded in mystery now that Pakistan's Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz said that Bhutto did not die of bullet wounds, according to an international report.
Nawaz said that Bhutto died from a head injury. At least seven doctors from the Rawalpindhospital where the leader was rushed immediately after the attack say there were no bullet marks on Bhutto's body.
“The report says she had head injuries – an irregular patch – and the X-ray doesn’t show any bullet in the head. So it was probably the shrapnel or any other thing has struck her in her said. That damaged her brain, causing it to ooze and her death,” Nawaz told a Pakistani news channel.
In a reversal, the Pakistani...
Back to page topIn a reversal, the Pakistani government has "apologized" for claiming Benazir Bhutto died of a skull fracture.
A spokesperson asked the media and people to "forgive and ignore" the comments that were made previously, which were slammed by Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party as "lies," the Hindustan Times reports.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan elections that were scheduled for Jan. 8 will be delayed by one month.
A senior Election Commission official indicated the new date would not be before the second week of February, according to national reports.
Osama threatens...
Back to page topOsama threatens Israel
The Jerusalem Post and other news outlets are reporting that Osama bin Laden has now promised to spread Islamic extremism in Israel, according to a recorded message released on Saturday.
This is no surprise, but according to the Post, "the latest comments were a more direct language than bin Laden usually uses."
Al-Qaida is not believed to have a strong direct role is the Israel-Palestine struggle right now.
Bloodshed in Kenya,...
Back to page topBloodshed in Kenya, Sudan
International media outlets are reporting that on the very day that joint African Union-United Nations forces took over peacekeeping in Sudan's Darfur region, a 33-year-old U.S. diplomat and his driver were shot to death Tuesday.
He worked for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on a program to bring radios to the population of South Sudan.
It was unclear whether the early morning attack was targeted, or a random crime.
Elsewhere, a mob torched a church sheltering hundreds of Kenyans fleeing election violence, killing as many as 50 people in violence that began after the disputed vote that gave the president a second term.
The opposition leader accused the government of "genocide." President Mwai Kibaki said political parties should meet immediately and publicly call for calm after rioting killed at least 263 people in what had been east Africa's most stable and prosperous democracy.
And according to Reuters, two aid workers were recently abducted in Somalia. The workers are a Spanish and an Argentine from the medical charity Doctors Without Borders. Both are women. They were seized when their car was ambushed as they drove to a hospital by a gang with machine guns.
Obama, Huckabee win...
Back to page topObama, Huckabee win Iowa
Illinois Democrat Senator Obama and Arkansas Republican Governor Mike Huckabee have won the Iowa caucuses in the respective parties.
For the Democrats, Obama got approximately 37 percent of the Democrat vote, compared to 30 percent for Senator John Edwards and 29 percent for New York Senator Hillary Clinton. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson placed fourth with 2 percent.
For the Republicans, Huckabee got about 34 percent of the Republican vote, with Massachesetts Governor Mitt Romney getting about 25 percent and Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson taking third with 13 percent. Arizona Senator John McCain tied for third with 13 percent
Now it's on to New Hampshire, where McCain is strong, and New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is confident for the Republicans. Giuliani did not compete in Iowa. Fred Thompson seems like the odd man out.
As for the Democrats, is Obama the new national favorite?
How long before Rudy G....
Back to page topHow long before Rudy G. becomes a non-factor? Republicans complain there's no Reagan Republican in the race. They need to look at Fred Thompson.
Hope Springs, I think the...
Back to page topHope Springs, I think the former mayor of New York City is very sincere in what he says, but I agree with you in that I don't think he'll gain enough support to eventually get the Republican nomination.
I wonder if you or anybody reading this watched the ABC Republican and Democrat debates on Saturday night, Jan. 5. If so, what are your opinions of the back-and-forth that transpired in each party?
I recorded them on the DVR and watched them on Saturday late-night.
What struck me on the Republican side was how the other Republicans didn't seem to like Mitt Romeny. I don't think he did well.
Mike Huckabee was good, but not outstanding. Rudolph Giuliani not so good because he kept talking without saying much. Ron Paul was his usual ranting and raving self. John McCain was just as grandfatherly and cross as ever.
And then there's Fred Thompson. He was interesting and perhaps had the most thoughtful responses to the questions that were asked him.
It's not a matter of if he'd be a good representative for the Republicans but if his laid-back style will get him enough traction soon enough for him to raise more money and win some states.
I expect John McCain to have a strong showing in Minnesota next February, given that Gov. Pawlenty is fully in the McCain camp. But I may be wrong.
Then there's the Democrats. Senator Obama, I think, has risen above the others, and he rises higher after each debate. He came across as thoughtful and inciteful.
I expect him to do well in Minnesota, too. So does Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.
Hillary Clinton and her supporters seem to hope she'll be able to ignite nostalgia for the 90s. But this doesn't seem to be a good strategy in today's political environment. She invoked the Bush White House every-so-often for a sound-bite. However, she seemed testy and on edge like she feels the party slipping away from her.
John Edwards didn't do much to distinguish himself as a thoughtful commander in chief, and Bill Richardson simply didn't seem to know what he was talking about.
Now it's on to the Fox News Republican debates tonight, in which Ron Raul was not allowed to compete. What's your opinion about this? Why isn't there another Democrat debate? Who do you think will do well in Minnesota from either party? Why?
Twin Cities media is...
Back to page topTwin Cities media is reporting that State Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey has endorsed Mike Huckabee for president and plans to spearhead the former Arkansas governor's campaign in the state.
According to reports, "Carey said at a Capitol news conference that he's backing Huckabee because he feels more passionate about his candidacy than he has for any Republican since Ronald Reagan."
Could the Republicans be headed for a Huckabee-Thompson ticket? What about a McCain-Lieberman ticket?
Now that Thompson is out of...
Back to page topNow that Thompson is out of the GOP race, it looks like Gov. Huckabee is next on the chopping block. The New York Times is reporting that "the Huckabee campaign acknowledged that its chronic shortage of money might be catching up to it." The choices will be McCain, Romney or Giuliani. Who will Thompson support? Who will Huckabee support?
And in the Democrat field, I wonder how long before former Sen. Edwards drops his bid for the nomination. He hasn't done well so far. It seems like the Clintons have been successful so far in pulling Sen. Obama into a street fight, which gives them the upper hand because that's their kind of politics. He'd do well to remain the man of hope and not engage them. I heard Edwards will give his support to Obama when he drops out. What do you think?
Edwards out leaving Obama...
Back to page topEdwards out leaving Obama and Clinton Dems
The New York Times is reporting that "John Edwards is ending his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination after failing to win any of the nominating contests so far, according to his campaign."
Now what? Seems like Clinton has the momentum after winning in Florida and will likely win in California because the Hispanic voters will not vote for a rival minority.
It has come to pass....
Back to page topIt has come to pass. America's mayor hwithdrew from the race for the presidency after a poor showing in Florida and threw his support behind Sen. McCain, front-runner for the Republican party.
I expect Gov. Huckabee to drop out soon and leave McCain vs. Romney. Defense vs. economics. Public vs. private sector. Gristled, sharp tempered veteran vs. smooth-talking investor. War hero vs. venture capitalist.
The Fox News candidate...
Back to page topThe Fox News candidate forum for Republican contenders, minus Ron Paul, was Mitt Romney's best performance. On the other hand, it was maybe Mike Huckabee's worst. Romney acted like a leader; Huckabee acted defensive.
Fred Thomopson was once again thoughtful, but he was rambling a lot of the time. The ideas and thought process were there, but he wasn't not an inspiring communicator.
Giuliani seemed unable to move the argument forward; and McCain, who will be 72 by election time, seemed more like a defense secretary than the leader of the free world.
Just as a follow-up to my...
Back to page topJust as a follow-up to my dis of Fred Thompson, Carrie Lukas, a national political writer, said: "His consistent conservative record and policy seriousness may come to overshadow his alleged lackadaisical style. If Thompson breaks out in South Carolina, this race could have a new frontrunner."
Thompson lays into...
Back to page topThompson lays into Huckabee
Sen. Fred Thompson is laying into his closest rival among Republican voters, Gov. Mike Huckabee, about a statement Huckabee made this morning during an interview on CNN, in which he said that he thinks the Constitution is a “living, breathing document.”
This is identical to what Al Gore said when he was running for President in 2000.
"Now I know Governor Huckabee was talking about amending the Constitution, but I don’t think he understood that he was using code words that support judicial activism," Thompson said.
"He does not appear to understand that reliance on the notion that the Constitution is a living, breathing document is precisely the kind of wrong-headed thinking about the Constitution that gave us Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion across our nation, and Lawrence v. Texas, which decriminalized sodomy."
Do you think the constitution is a living, breathing document? Is Fred off his rocker?
Clinton-McCain win in New...
Back to page topClinton-McCain win in New Hampshire
Contrary to national reports earlier in the day that Senator Hillary Clinton might lose by double digits in the Democrat primary to Senator Barack Obama, she won by approximately three percent.
She carried single women and married women but lost the male vote.
No surprise in the John McCain win by about 9,000 votes in the Republican primary. Hasn't he been dubbed the de-facto president of New Hampshire? Mike Huckabee came in with about 14 percent of the Republican vote.
Why the Obama lose? Analysts think that many of the independents who were considering Obama actually voted for McCain.
The Democrat race has now changed dramatically. Is this the end for Obama? Is the Clinton war machine getting ready to really unload on Obama? Will we see a Clinton-Obama ticket?
The buzz word so far in this...
Back to page topThe buzz word so far in this election cycle is change.
I wonder if people are taking that to mean more government intervention and higher taxes against the economy's producers, or do people want fundamental change in how business is conducted in Washington D.C.
For years John McCain has been fighting against the Washington establishment. He won in New Hampshire on Tuesday, and he's a guy with a record of fighting against business as usual, including pork-barrel spending, earmarks.
I bet he's in support of what Second District Representative John Kline is trying to do in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Kline called the earmark system “a badly, badly broken system.”
At the beginning of his third term last January, he officially pulled himself away from the earmarks feeding trough, and he didn't request even one for the second district.
“I’ve decided to go at this thing and fight it tooth and nail and get the thing fixed,” he said, adding: “I couldn’t do it if I was in the system.”
He called it a good ole’ boys, good ole’ girls network and acknowledged that he, too, used to be part of the network.
“Most of you know that for the first four years I was in Congress, I’d go in with a list of projects, mostly road projects in Carver, Scott, Dakota and Goodhue counties,” he told Chanhassen city councilors.
“Over the last four years I’ve learned the whole system is broken and corrupt. It’s not a merit-based system. Take Jim Oberstar in northern Minnesota, for example. He gets more money for bike trails than the other seven of us get for roads and bridges. Seven of the eight districts are getting killed. He’s the chairman of the committee and has been there a long time. It’s not Oberstar’s fault. It’s the system he knows. It’s a system that needs to be fixed.”
So far only 12 U.S. representatives are standing behind Kline’s efforts, but he predicts that we’ll see more converts to his cause later this month.
“A lot of people are frustrated. Hopefully, there’s bi-partisan frustration,” he said.
What do you think? Is Kline right to not request federal money for the second district? Or is it important to get all the federal funds we can get to help the area develop?
President Bush spoke out...
Back to page topPresident Bush spoke out against earmarks in his final state of the union speech. Skeptics ask why he didn't deal with earmarks when the Republicans held both houses of Congress.
Maybe that's why Republicans no longer hold both houses of Congress. What's your opinion?
Dems to debate in Nevada...
Back to page topDems to debate in Nevada tonight
MSNBC and the Democratic Party are calling an 8 p.m. debate between Democrat candidates "a chance to hear issues from Nevada's minority communities." NBC's Brian Williams and Tim Russert are moderating.
A day after the Michigan...
Back to page topA day after the Michigan primary, which didn't really mean anything for the Democrats, the Republican presidential race is still wide open.
The New York Times reports that "Mitt Romney, seizing on his personal ties to a state where his father made his family's political and financial fortune, captured a must-win victory in the Michigan primary."
I didn't catch the Dem debate in Nevada, but in the aftermath people seemed to think Sen. Edwards did a good job. As for Clinton and Obama, it's pretty interesting how they're playing the race card and the gender card simultaneously against each other. This is usually the stuff they save for Republicans.
I wonder what the pundits will say about the Republican race after South Carolina. Fred Thompson has been making a lot of media appearances lately, and he seems pretty confident that a victory in S.C. will vault him on to the eventual nomination. There's no question he's got momentum.
Clinton-McCain win So much...
Back to page topClinton-McCain win
So much for change. The Democrats had their primary in Nevada. It was won by Sen. Clinton. The Republicans had their primary in South Carolina. It was won by Sen. McCain. Both Clinton and McCain are long-time politicians. Is all the talk about change merely political rhetoric?
In the election of 1860 the Republican candidate that was fourth in delegate count became the nominee for president. He only won one state going into the convention, his own home state. He won at the convention because he was the only candidate that was acceptable to all the wings of the party. That candidate was Abraham Lincoln.
Talking about politics is...
Back to page topTalking about politics is starting to bother me, and we don't even have the nominees for each party yet. I'm going to try to pace myself from here, or maybe I'll start a presidential race forum after we've chosen the candidates.
That said, I'd be remiss if I failed to mention that Illinois Senator Barack Obama won the South Carolina primary in commanding fashion, rolling up 55 percent of the vote.
He summed up my thoughts when he said: "The choice in this election is not about regions or religions or genders. It's not about rich versus poor, young versus old and it's not about black versus white. It's about the past versus the future."
Not surprisingly, I heard a report on NPR this afternoon that claimed voters, particularly women, were excited about the Clinton campaign. It just so happened that was much wishful thinking on the part of the reporter and editor from NPR as I took it to be. The report noted that voters, particularly women, intended to vote for their gender.
In all actuality, the primary shattered turnout records; about half the voters were black; and four out of five of them supported Obama. Black women turned out in particularly large numbers, according to national reports. The theme is change, not a new regime from one of the political dynasty families.
We'll see what happens next.
Bush in Middle...
Back to page topBush in Middle East
President Bush touched down in Israel for the first time during his presidency this week because he's involved in the peace process between the Jewish and Arab Israelites.
The Arabs in Israel are more commonly called Palestines.
The Romans called the land that the modern state of Israel occupies Palestine. Hence, both Jews and Arabs who live there should be referred to as Palestines- not just the Arabs.
Anyway, there's some question why George Bush is spending his time on this so-called peace process and trying to divide Jerusalem in efforts to create a so-called Palestinian state. Do you have any ideas why? The Arabs do not want peace with Israel.
Bush is the first U.S. president officially to commit to recognizing a Palestinian state. Some say this is because he wants to ensure there's continued oil flowing from Saudi Arabia. They claim he does not want to upset leaders in that county or members of the Arab League, who refuse to recognize the existence of the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel.
President Bush urged OPEC...
Back to page topPresident Bush urged OPEC nations on Tuesday to put more oil on the world market and warned that soaring prices could cause an economic slowdown in the United States.
Bush blamed for deaths The...
Back to page topBush blamed for deaths
The Jerusalem Post is reporting that the exiled leader of Hamas has blamed Israel's recent Gaza Strip operation which left 19 Palestinians dead, including the son of a senior Hamas leader, on President Bush's visit to the Middle East region.
He accused Bush of inciting Israeli leaders.
Iran-Syria seek more unrest,...
Back to page topIran-Syria seek more unrest, according to Palestinian Authority
A source inside the Palestinian Authority told the Jerusalem Post that Syria and Iran have stepped up their efforts to overthrow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his ruling Fatah party by furnishing Hamas terrorists with millions of dollars worth of weapons.
Apparently, Syria and Iran have encouraged Hamas and 10 other radical groups to meet in the Syrian capital on Jan. 23 to discuss forming a new organization and increasing their terror attacks on Israel.
This is happening while President Bush and the Prime Minister of Israel are talking with the leaders of the so-called Palestinians about giving up Israeli territory and part of Jerusalem in an effort to make peace.
Reuters News is reporting...
Back to page topReuters News is reporting that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday she believed the nuclear stand-off with Iran could be resolved diplomatically but that Tehran must not be allowed to become a nuclear weapons power.
She offered the incentive of a "more normal relationship" and expanded trade if Iran gave up sensitive nuclear work, according to the prepared text of her speech to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, said the Reuters report.
Will the Iranian government take this olive branch and break it? Will they take it and continue trying to develop nuclear weapons, like North Korea did with the Clinton administration? Or will they take it and try to join the civilized world?
Reuters is reporting that...
Back to page topReuters is reporting that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accepted an invitation to visit Baghdad, Iraq. This would be a landmark trip that would make him the first leader of Iran to visit its former foe.
Iran and Iraq fought an eight-year war in the 1980s in which hundreds of thousands were killed. Does Iran have a new ally?
International reports say...
Back to page topInternational reports say that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians crossed into Egypt from Gaza on Wednesday after gunmen destroyed about two-thirds of the Gaza-Egypt border wall. UN personnel said they estimated the number of Palestinians who entered Egypt to be 350,000.
Security officials in Israel expressed concern and said that the opening of the crossing enabled dozens of terrorists to leave the Gaza Strip and return with weaponry, money and new terror skills.
This comes on the sixth day of a complete closure of Gaza, imposed by Israel and backed by Egypt, in response to a spike in Gaza rocket attacks on Israeli border towns. Hamas has orchestrated daily demonstrations on the Gaza-Egypt border, in an apparent attempt to appeal to Arab public opinion and pressure Egypt to open the passage.
National reports have the...
Back to page topNational reports have the wholesale inflation last year increasing by the largest amount in 26 years.
The Labor Department reported that wholesale inflation was up 6.3 percent for all of 2007, reflecting a huge increase for the year in various types of energy costs ranging from gasoline to home heating oil.
Is it time for this country to tap into our oil and natural gas resources more? More supply will cause the price to go down. Demand will only continue to increase all over the world.
I saw an interview with...
Back to page topI saw an interview with President Bush in the Middle East. Fascinating what he had to say. Go to http://www.foxnews.com/ontherecord/index.html.
Meanwhile, a stone seal bearing the name of one of the families who acted as servants in the First Temple and then returned to Jerusalem after being exiled to Babylonia has been uncovered in an archeological excavation in Jerusalem's City of David, the Jerusalem Post is reporting.
The report says the 2,500-year-old black stone seal has the name "Temech" engraved on it. It was reportedly found earlier this week amid stratified debris in the excavation under way just outside the Old City walls near the Dung Gate.
According to the Book of Nehemiah, the Temech family were servants of the First Temple and were sent into exile to Babylon following its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.
The family was among those who later returned to Jerusalem, the Bible recounts.
Oil prices...
Back to page topOil prices fall
International reports today are that oil prices have declined on worries that a poor U.S. economy could curb demand for crude oil.
Light, sweet crude for February delivery fell 23 cents to $89.90 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Europe.
Imagine what the market would do if the U.S. actually discovered new oil and brought it onto the market.
Economic troubles The Fed...
Back to page topEconomic troubles
The Fed custs rates yesterday. Everybody expecting half a point, got three-quarters of a point, and so now the interest rate is down to 3 1/2%.
The last time the Federal Reserve cut rates as much as they did today was in August 1982, about 26 years ago.
A spokesperson for a home builder I was interviewing earlier this week said the market is going through a correction. History proves her right.
I read today a report that back in 1987, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than one third in two weeks. On Oct. 5 of '87, it was 2,658. On Oct. 19, 1987, just two weeks later, the low was 1,677. So in two weeks it went from 2,658 to 1,677. Don't you wish you would have invested when it was 1,677? Since 1987 it has gone from 1,677 to 14,200. Now it's around 12,000.
Seems like a good time to invest.
Oil prices fall By F Adams...
Back to page topOil prices fall By F Adams Jan. 18 2008
International reports today are that oil prices have declined on worries that a poor U.S. economy could curb demand for crude oil.
Light, sweet crude for February delivery fell 23 cents to $89.90 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Europe.
Imagine what the market would do if the U.S. actually discovered new oil and brought it onto the market.
Submitted by FAdams on January 18, 2008 - 10:36am.
Now Sweet Crude is at about $110 a barrel, does this mean we now have a good U. S. economy, and the demand for crude will increase? Or does it mean dollar is in free fall?
I agree, the dollar is in...
Back to page topI agree, the dollar is in free fall.
Pope Benedict warned on...
Back to page topPope Benedict warned on Monday of the "seductive" powers of science that relegate man's spirituality, according to Reuters.
"In an age when scientific developments attract and seduce with the possibilities they offer, it's more important than ever to educate our contemporaries' consciences so that science does not become the criteria for goodness," he told scientists.
Scientific investigation should be accompanied by "research into anthropology, philosophy and theology" to give insight into "man's own mystery, because no science can say who man is, where he comes from or where he is going", the Pope said.
"Man is not the fruit of chance or a bundle of convergences, determinisms or physical and chemical reactions," Benedict told a meeting of academics of different disciplines sponsored by the Paris Academy of Sciences and Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
Is science at odds with religion, or does it complement religion?
The final report this week...
Back to page topThe final report this week of an inquiry into the handling of the 2006 war in Lebanon could determine the fate of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government just as it settles into peace talks with the Palestinians. So says the Washington Times. Did you follow that war between Israel and the terrorists? If so, what are your thoughts of how Olmert's government conducted it?
Haaretz Daily News reported...
Back to page topHaaretz Daily News reported today that the final report on the second Lebanon War claimed the decision in principle to launch a major ground offensive in the waning hours of the 2006 war was essential, despite the fact that the offensive failed to achieve any military objectives.
The committee called the war, which Israel launched against Hezbollah on July 12, 2006 after the militant group abducted two Israel Defense Forces soldiers and killed three others, a "major missed opportunity."
"The decision to actually launch the ground operation was within the framework of decision-makers' political and professional judgment based on the information they had available," a retired justice who delivered the report continued.
"There was no failure in the decision itself, despite the limited accomplishments and painful price," he said, referring to the 33 IDF soldiers killed in the offensive.
The panel nonetheless "found grave faults and failings in the decision-making process and the preparatory work both in the political and military levels and the interaction between them," Winograd said.
Leaders from the opposition party are calling for the prime minister to resign. The prime minister's partisans are calling for him to remain in office.