MercuryNews.com | 09/21/2006 | State sues U.S. carmakers for warming up the globe: "California filed a lawsuit against the six largest automakers operating in the United States, contending that car and truck emissions are causing global warming, injuring the state's environment, economy and endangering public health.
The complaint, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Oakland, is the latest escalation in an ongoing clash between states and the U.S. auto industry over global warming. The California complaint contends that under federal and state common law the automakers have created a public nuisance by producing millions of vehicles that collectively emit massive quantities of carbon dioxide."
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Billmon
Billmon: "Which may be the answer to why Iraq (and, increasingly Afghanistan) have turned into such fiascos, and why this really was inevitable all along.
These weren't wars of liberation, they were old-fashioned colonial interventions -- even if the purposes were not colonial conquest and exploitation. (Note the use of the conditional tense.) And, like many old-fashioned colonial interventions, they required the colonial power to take sides in a pre-existing civil war or rivalry between ethnic groups. In the old days, this was usually by conscious design -- such conflicts being seen as ripe opportunities for imperial expansion."
These weren't wars of liberation, they were old-fashioned colonial interventions -- even if the purposes were not colonial conquest and exploitation. (Note the use of the conditional tense.) And, like many old-fashioned colonial interventions, they required the colonial power to take sides in a pre-existing civil war or rivalry between ethnic groups. In the old days, this was usually by conscious design -- such conflicts being seen as ripe opportunities for imperial expansion."
Billmon
Billmon: "Courtesy of the Washington Post (the Orwellian well that never runs dry):
Democracy activists who had long sought [Thai Prime Minister] Thaksin's ouster embraced the military's action.
How, exactly, can those who support a military coup be described as 'democracy activists'?
Orwell said the word fascism had become nothing more than a generic term for 'something not desirable.' Likewise, it appears that democracy has degenerated into a synonym for 'a government we support.'"
Democracy activists who had long sought [Thai Prime Minister] Thaksin's ouster embraced the military's action.
How, exactly, can those who support a military coup be described as 'democracy activists'?
Orwell said the word fascism had become nothing more than a generic term for 'something not desirable.' Likewise, it appears that democracy has degenerated into a synonym for 'a government we support.'"
US May Ban Sale of Cluster Bombs to Israel
US May Ban Sale of Cluster Bombs to Israel: "The unexploded bomblets become anti-personel mines. Mr Guest says MAG has teams working in the banana groves on the coastal plain around Tyre and says that even for experts the mines are difficult to find because they may have 'fallen into heart of the banana tree where their presence is concealed'. In hill villages people are about to start harvesting their olive trees though they know branches and leaves may contain bomblets invisible to anybody from the ground. Another problem is that the Israelis may have fired cluster bombs into a village and then used conventional artillery to blow up houses. Families searching the ruins may accidentally detonate a bomblet.
The early date of the US bomb container in Nabatiyeh reveals another problem. The expiry of the warranty more than 30 years ago suggests that the manufacturer expected some deterioration in the product. Mr Guest points out that more recent cluster bombs have a self-destruct mechanism that operates after a period of time. But those dating from 1974 do not and therefore become sensitive anti-personnel mines."
The early date of the US bomb container in Nabatiyeh reveals another problem. The expiry of the warranty more than 30 years ago suggests that the manufacturer expected some deterioration in the product. Mr Guest points out that more recent cluster bombs have a self-destruct mechanism that operates after a period of time. But those dating from 1974 do not and therefore become sensitive anti-personnel mines."
Israel Cluster Bomb Use in Lebanon "Outrageous": UN
Israel Cluster Bomb Use in Lebanon "Outrageous": UN: "'The outrageous fact is that nearly all of these munitions were fired in the last three to four days of the war,' David Shearer, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, told a news conference in Beirut.
'Outrageous because by that stage the conflict had been largely resolved in the form of (U.N. Security Council) Resolution 1701,' he said."
'Outrageous because by that stage the conflict had been largely resolved in the form of (U.N. Security Council) Resolution 1701,' he said."
Ted Turner Says Iraq War among History's "Dumbest"
Ted Turner Says Iraq War among History's "Dumbest": "
NEW YORK - The U.S. invasion of Iraq was among the 'dumbest moves of all time' that ranks with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the German invasion of Russia, billionaire philanthropist Ted Turner said on Tuesday.
The founder of CNN and unabashed internationalist also defended the right of Iran to have nuclear weapons and the effectiveness of the United Nations and, in a jocular mood, advocated banning men from elective office worldwide in a Reuters Newsmaker appearance.
Alternately combative and humorous, Turner spoke nine years after his pledge to donate $1 billion to the United Nations over 10 years and on the same day President Bush addressed the U.N. General Assembly a mile away.
The U.S. invasion of Iraq has caused 'incalculable damage' that will take 20 years to overcome 'if we just act reasonably intelligently.'
'It will go down in history, it is already being seen in history, as one of the dumbest moves that was ever made by anybody. A couple of others that come to mind were the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the German invasion of Russia,' Turner told the forum."
NEW YORK - The U.S. invasion of Iraq was among the 'dumbest moves of all time' that ranks with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the German invasion of Russia, billionaire philanthropist Ted Turner said on Tuesday.
The founder of CNN and unabashed internationalist also defended the right of Iran to have nuclear weapons and the effectiveness of the United Nations and, in a jocular mood, advocated banning men from elective office worldwide in a Reuters Newsmaker appearance.
Alternately combative and humorous, Turner spoke nine years after his pledge to donate $1 billion to the United Nations over 10 years and on the same day President Bush addressed the U.N. General Assembly a mile away.
The U.S. invasion of Iraq has caused 'incalculable damage' that will take 20 years to overcome 'if we just act reasonably intelligently.'
'It will go down in history, it is already being seen in history, as one of the dumbest moves that was ever made by anybody. A couple of others that come to mind were the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the German invasion of Russia,' Turner told the forum."
Royal Society Tells Exxon: Stop Funding Climate Change Denial
Royal Society Tells Exxon: Stop Funding Climate Change Denial: "Britain's leading scientists have challenged the US oil company ExxonMobil to stop funding groups that attempt to undermine the scientific consensus on climate change.
In an unprecedented step, the Royal Society, Britain's premier scientific academy, has written to the oil giant to demand that the company withdraws support for dozens of groups that have 'misrepresented the science of climate change by outright denial of the evidence'.
The scientists also strongly criticise the company's public statements on global warming, which they describe as 'inaccurate and misleading'."
In an unprecedented step, the Royal Society, Britain's premier scientific academy, has written to the oil giant to demand that the company withdraws support for dozens of groups that have 'misrepresented the science of climate change by outright denial of the evidence'.
The scientists also strongly criticise the company's public statements on global warming, which they describe as 'inaccurate and misleading'."
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Church Targetted by IRS for Anti-War Sermon May Fight Summons
Church Targetted by IRS for Anti-War Sermon May Fight Summons: "'This is a problem for the U.S., much of it of its own making,' says Peter Hakim, president of the Inter-American Dialogue.
'If Venezuela wins this seat, it is clearly a defeat for the U.S. and a confirmation of the distaste for U.S. policy worldwide.
'If Venezuela is blocked, Chavez has been given a podium to say whatever he wants about the U.S.
'Washington is in a Catch-22 and can't really win, anyway.'"
'If Venezuela wins this seat, it is clearly a defeat for the U.S. and a confirmation of the distaste for U.S. policy worldwide.
'If Venezuela is blocked, Chavez has been given a podium to say whatever he wants about the U.S.
'Washington is in a Catch-22 and can't really win, anyway.'"
ZNet |Iran | U.N. Inspectors Dispute Iran Report By House Panel
ZNet |Iran | U.N. Inspectors Dispute Iran Report By House Panel: "Privately, several intelligence officials said the committee report included at least a dozen claims that were either demonstrably wrong or impossible to substantiate. Hoekstra's office said the report was
reviewed by the office of John D. Negroponte, the director of national intelligence.
Negroponte's spokesman, John Callahan, said in a statement that his office 'reviewed the report and provided its response to the committee on July 24, '06.' He did not say whether it had approved or challenged any of the claims about Iran's capabilities.
'This is like prewar Iraq all over again,' said David Albright, a former nuclear inspector who is president of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security. 'You have an Iranian nuclear
threat that is spun up, using bad information that's cherry-picked and a report that trashes the inspectors.'"
reviewed by the office of John D. Negroponte, the director of national intelligence.
Negroponte's spokesman, John Callahan, said in a statement that his office 'reviewed the report and provided its response to the committee on July 24, '06.' He did not say whether it had approved or challenged any of the claims about Iran's capabilities.
'This is like prewar Iraq all over again,' said David Albright, a former nuclear inspector who is president of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security. 'You have an Iranian nuclear
threat that is spun up, using bad information that's cherry-picked and a report that trashes the inspectors.'"
ZNet |Israel/Palestine | Dissecting Israel's freeze on visas
ZNet |Israel/Palestine | Dissecting Israel's freeze on visas: "Israel is implementing an undeclared policy of denying foreign nationals entry/re-entry into the oPt in order to achieve the following political objectives: to isolate Palestinians, to continue its control over demographics in favor of the Jewish population, and to punish Palestinians personally and developmentally because of the January
election results. Israel's security claims regarding this policy are false."
election results. Israel's security claims regarding this policy are false."
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Neo-Con Favourite Declares World War III
Neo-Con Favourite Declares World War III: "WASHINGTON - Two years before the 2008 presidential election, Newt Gingrich, the former Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, is trying desperately to grab the national spotlight by declaring he'd be a lot tougher than the George W. Bush in prosecuting what he calls 'World War III'.
In the latest in a series of recent presentations and writings, Gingrich called this week in a speech at the neo-conservative American Enterprise Institute (AEI) for, among other things:
"
In the latest in a series of recent presentations and writings, Gingrich called this week in a speech at the neo-conservative American Enterprise Institute (AEI) for, among other things:
"
Armchair Sleuths Uncover Strange Military Sites in China
Armchair Sleuths Uncover Strange Military Sites in China: "YINCHUAN, China - Tech-savvy armchair sleuths around the world are having a field day discovering military secrets in China.
Three times in the past few months, they've stumbled across unusual military installations using Internet programs that allow those online to view satellite and aerial images of the world.
In the most recent find, users spotted an underwater submarine tunnel off China's Hainan Island. They've also found a mock-up of a Taiwanese air base in China's remote western desert. In a bizarre discovery, a computer technician in Germany noticed a huge and startlingly accurate terrain model in northwest China that replicates a sensitive border area with India.
The discoveries have stirred up the Internet global-imagery community."
Three times in the past few months, they've stumbled across unusual military installations using Internet programs that allow those online to view satellite and aerial images of the world.
In the most recent find, users spotted an underwater submarine tunnel off China's Hainan Island. They've also found a mock-up of a Taiwanese air base in China's remote western desert. In a bizarre discovery, a computer technician in Germany noticed a huge and startlingly accurate terrain model in northwest China that replicates a sensitive border area with India.
The discoveries have stirred up the Internet global-imagery community."
Stanley Heller: When Criticism of Cluster Bombs is Anti-Semitic
Stanley Heller: When Criticism of Cluster Bombs is Anti-Semitic: "The Israeli paper Ha'aretz reports that the head of Germany's Jewish community accused a minister in Angela Merkel's German government of 'anti-Semitism' because of the minister's statement on Israel's use of cluster bombs. Development Aid Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul had asked for a United Nations probe into Israel's use of cluster bombs in civilian areas of Lebanon."
Monday, September 11, 2006
Whiskey Bar: Forever Blowing Bubbles
Whiskey Bar: Forever Blowing Bubbles: "There is no doubt in my mind that the existence -- and seeming indestructibility -- of 'analysts' like Jim Glassman is one of the key reasons why we have asset bubbles. Since the collapse of the Nasdaq bubble in early 2000, I've watched, first with amazement, then with a kind of morbid fascination, as Glassman has continued his flourishing and no doubt lucrative career as a financial pundit and supply-side snake-oil salesman, instead of being banished to the get-rich-quick infomercials on late night cable, which is where he belongs.
"
"
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
blogenlust.net : A List of Captured or Killed al Qaeda in Iraq #2’s
blogenlust.net : A List of Captured or Killed al Qaeda in Iraq #2’s: "A List of Captured or Killed al Qaeda in Iraq #2’s"
TBogg - "...a somewhat popular blogger"
TBogg - "...a somewhat popular blogger": "More Vice-Presidents than you'll find at Bank of America's home office
al Qaeda: All Chiefs, No Indians"
al Qaeda: All Chiefs, No Indians"
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