Albert Howard for U.S. President 2012

AnnArbor.com has not featured any AAPS board candidates in the Thu./Sun. hard copy editions

2011-10-06T09:31:00.003-05:00

AnnArbor.com has not featured/covered any of the Ann Arbor Public School Board of Education candidates in the hard copy edition of the AnnArbor.com newspaper on Thursday or Sunday. Furthermore, they have not sent any of their reporters to the debate forums.

AnnArbor.com reporter Kyle Feldscher responded to my @AlbertHowardUSA tweet: ' I don't know off the top of my head if the story ran in either print edition - been moving and haven't had a chance to look'.

Campaign started Tue Aug 16 The Ann Arbor News is believed 2 b the 1st daily newspaper 2 fail in an American city w/ only 1 newspaper #slant

Prophet Albert Benjamin Howard

2011-10-02T21:26:00.002-05:00

Prophet Albert Benjamin Howard predicted accurate location of US government earthquake on August 2nd on facebook.com/alberthoward and twitter.com/AlbertHowardUSA 5.9 quake was felt in Ann Arbor Michigan on August 23rd.

Ann Arbor DC

2011-09-23T18:12:00.002-05:00

What's the difference between Ann Arbor DC and Washington DC? A new church for Prophets, Priests, Kings and Presidents at www.AnnArborDC.com Visit facebook.com/AnnArborDC

Prophetic Word to Ann Arbor Public Schools

2011-09-20T03:01:00.001-05:00

God: Ann Arbor Public Schools, think not that I can touch you where it hurts the most? I will defend the helpless and vindicate the innocent

Prophecy: Has Howard University broken the nuclear football codes?

2011-07-30T16:40:00.001-05:00

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will no longer be the location of the White House. Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI will become the new Washington D.C. Gerald Ford was sworn in as the only chief executive in American history who hadn't been elected either president or vice president. Michigan Stadium will become the 'Motown' Christian Worship Music Capital of the World. Albert Benjamin Howard, are you ready to take the oath of office? http://youtu.be/yrvJmaugtzc

Albert Howard presidential nomination announcement - as it happened

2011-06-15T07:39:00.001-05:00

Albert Howard made his official bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination today at Colonial Square, Michigan.

Will the Michigan Stadium Worship Center become the 'Motown' Christian Music Capital of the World?

2011-04-12T18:13:00.000-05:00

Will the Michigan Stadium Worship Center become the 'Motown' Christian Music Capital of the World?

Historic cars stored in bubbles

2011-02-22T12:34:00.000-05:00

Ford Motor and the ten major auto companies owe Keith Taylor $250,000,000. He is the Inventor of Turn Signal-Equipped Car Mirrors. He lives adjacent to the airport (DTW).

President Hosni Mubarak is in Eilat Israel

2011-02-22T10:57:00.001-05:00

Ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is in a luxury hotel in the Israeli city of Eilat, the Israel-based news site Al-Arab reported Tuesday. Locals said there was a huge presence of Israeli security forces surrounding the hotel, and airplanes were hovering above monitoring activity in the area, the Arabic-language site said. The report said a hotel employee said the Egyptian leader was a guest at the hotel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZV9-gfwKdE&

Israel Alert

2011-02-11T16:24:00.001-05:00

Global Pro-Israel against Aljazeera/Google propaganda protest march
to be held @ Google Headquarters downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan
Google executive Wael Ghonim was planted to trigger the manipulative quasi-revolution. Pro-Israel protest rally march starts at 12 noon on Valentine's Day. Mon. February 14 · 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Pro-Israel march Aljazeera-Google propaganda expose protest rally

2011-02-10T15:04:00.001-05:00

Google executive Wael Ghonim was planted to trigger the manipulative quasi-revolution. In response to Aljazeera reporter Jillian C. York's Feb. 7 controversial article (and vicious tweets 2 me) join Facebook group 'Abolish Aljazeera in the USA'. Pro-Israel protest rally march starts at 12 noon on Valentine's Day. We love Israel!
Monday, February 14 · 12:00pm ...- 3:00pm
Google Headquarters downtown Ann Arbor, MI USA
twitter.com/AlbertHowardUSA

Press Release

2010-08-31T09:55:00.001-05:00

FBI monitors #1 Google/Yahoo ranked AlbertHoward.org website during historic WV senate campaign fearing MLK-style civil disobedience uprising.

#AlbertHoward4WVGOV

2010-08-30T11:35:00.001-05:00

#AlbertHoward4WVGOV

West Virginia Politics

2010-08-28T06:45:00.000-05:00

Live Coverage: The Political Eclipse of 2010-Albert Howard. Viewer discretion is advised.

Boycott Greer Industries

2010-08-17T06:25:00.003-05:00

COAL: IT'S WHAT'S IN YOUR LUNGS. COAL: CALLED A FOSSIL FUEL FOR A REASON. COAL: IT WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY. COAL: PARTY LIKE IT'S 1899! COAL: A DIRTY FOUR LETTER WORD. COAL: IS THIS THE BEST WE CAN DO? COAL: THE OTHER SECOND HAND SMOKE. COAL IS NOT CLEAN. PERIOD. NEED PROOF? Coal Spill Disaster Harriman, TN. West Virginia Politics Senate Race. John Raese, Harry C. Bruner, Jr. lynette kennedy mcquain, reuben perdue.

John Raese vs. Albert Howard

2010-08-10T07:18:00.003-05:00

The coal industry practice of Mountaintop removal in West Virginia can be compared to drug cartel corruption, partial-birth abortion in America and the 24 hour filibuster by Robert C. Byrd in 1964 against civil rights in the Senate. The blood of those murdered by toxic coal dust and polluted rivers cries out for justice.

Albert Howard gives campaign speech from Grand Canyon, USA

2010-07-26T06:45:00.000-05:00

Albert Howard runs for U.S. Senate West Virginia 2010

2010-07-22T13:18:00.002-05:00

Albert Howard announces bid to seek U.S. Senate seat for West Virginia with a special election after the death of Senator Robert C. Byrd.

Boycott Mercedes Benz: Hitler's Official Limo

2010-04-30T12:25:00.001-05:00

Join Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117858874909687&ref=ts

I'm Broadcasting Live on Facebook With Justin.Tv!

2009-07-10T14:19:00.000-05:00

I'm Broadcasting Live On Facebook With Justin.Tv!
http://apps.facebook.com/jtv-live/watch/jtvfb_1186850799

I will not knock the purpose out of the park

2009-07-08T22:29:00.002-05:00

I will not knock the purpose out of the park

Holy Ghost is in the kitchen cooking gold tried in the fire

2009-07-08T22:28:00.001-05:00

Holy Ghost is in the kitchen cooking gold tried in the fire

Doityourself ??

2009-07-08T16:05:00.000-05:00

It is a perfect morning. She is doing her own nails, she made her own coffee. Everything about her is self made and inspired by herself. Often you will hear her say: "I can do it myself".

But what!! What if life took a turn? She never thought about what was about to happen. It never even crossed her mind.
The next ten minutes of her life was not made by her. Some idiot got access to her life. Just by going the opposite way on the road, loosing all control over his car, crashing into her life, and taking it.

Only 25 years old and dead, gone forever, somewhere at 18 she made a choice. Let me lead you, He said. Eye to eye with her eternal bodyguard she stood hesitating for a while.

Then He said in a loving voice: "Marlene, you can't do it yourself, there is no lit up board that gives you the time of your departure and further more you do not have a valid ticket!"

Jesus is a real gentleman so He left. He wept because He knew, tears were flowing because she made her choice.

I am writing this for you and He is here with me. He wants you to know that He loves you so much and He wants to see you...He is still waiting...

Ingrid Howard is on Twitter! and Facebook!

2009-07-08T15:42:00.004-05:00

Ingrid Howard is now on Facebook!

facebook.com/mrsingridhoward

Ingrid Howard is now on Twitter!

twitter.com/ingridhoward

King of Pop Michael Jackson is Dead

2009-06-25T17:58:00.001-05:00

Michael Jackson dies of cardiac arrest at 50

Elia

2009-06-17T02:30:00.002-05:00

Men Elia svarade och sade till dem: Om jag är en gudsman, så kommer eld ned från himmelen och förtär dig och dina femtio. Då kom Guds eld ned från himmelen och förtärde honom och hans femtio.

just listened to the entire joint press conference

2009-06-16T16:17:00.003-05:00

barack obama and lee myung-bak participate in a joint press conference in the rose garden of the white house on june 16.

the body of christ. the church of korea is seasoned in the gift of intercession and i am thankful that they have access to the spirit of truth in this season of distorted rhetoric.

what a friend...

2009-06-15T07:24:00.003-05:00

yeah i'm feelin the holy ghost real good right now. he's got me drunk like a skunk. i am chillin in his presence. if you don't feel loved and kissed and adored by the king and caressed like a precious fountain...then you got the wrong one baby. so sweet is this precious lamb. he smiles and shines on you and your life is changed instantly from glory to glory. all the trials are worth one piece and one touch of his garment. my god my god. keep it right there. thank you that you said that you would never leave me or forsake me. father i want to know you more and more. there is none like you most holy and righteous one. redemption in your time and your season is your holy seal. hallelujah!!!

tug of war decision

2009-06-14T20:33:00.003-05:00

after much contemplation i have decided that i will not visit my home country america this spring-summer. i have not yet made a decision on visiting the middle east. jerusalem 4 10 days is what i would do if anything.

rainy day in stockholm

2009-06-14T13:21:00.006-05:00

overcast and rainy but not too much. this never dampens the presence of love or grace. i have been in prayer most of the day. god is good when you communicate on his level. he is teaching me a lot of things in pain and loneliness (wilderness) but with his classic sense of humor. i am grateful for my health and my supportive family and love the guarantees that he has for all his people who are called by his name. these are times that separate the oil from the water. no more surface living. only digging deep will get you the victory. dont be afraid to press in and push has been his word to me for today. he guarantees new insight and a new name as well as i think it states in the book of revelation. now thanks be to god for all his bounty and favor in the midst of being misunderstood and misrepresented. i am not complaining because it feels good to be in the core of reality. i love it when he holds my hand and uplifts his eternal purposes. he is a true and will confirm everything in his time. wendy alec ministered one of the most powerful words from her www.god.tv series 'word from heaven'. this word was like honey and passion mixed together. so beautiful and pure and so sweet. i bless rory and wendy alec. developing story out of israel. bibi changes his policies. prime minister netanyahu agrees to palestinian nation for first time.

Albert Howard on Facebook

2009-06-13T00:33:00.000-05:00

http://www.facebook.com/alberthoward

Political Response 2009

2009-06-11T13:33:00.000-05:00

2009-06-11T11:39:00.003-05:00

Israel stages biggest-ever war drill

2009-06-01T05:33:00.001-05:00

* Story Highlights
* Israel stages five-day emergency drill to prepare nation for possibility of war
* Drill will include simulated rockets, air raids, use of weapons on civilians
* Everyone expected to go to shelters at sound of sirens, defense ministry says
* Drill comes amid rising tensions with Iran over Tehran's nuclear ambitions

JERUSALEM -- Israel started its biggest emergency drill in the nation's history Sunday to prepare civilians, soldiers and rescue crews for the possibility of war, the defense force said in a statement.

The five-day drill, nicknamed Turning Point 3, comes amid the nation's rising tensions with Iran.

It will be conducted in public facilities, including schools, military bases and government offices. Students, soldiers and other civilians will practice how to gather at protected places during an emergency.

Officials said the drill will include simulated rockets, air raids and other attacks on infrastructure and essential facilities, and use of weapons on civilians.

Everyone is expected to go to a protected place at the sound of sirens, the defense force said, adding that more instructions will be broadcast on a public channel.

"It is of great importance that every civilian, institute and workplace will seriously practice in order to improve our preparedness and national resilience," Maj. Gen. Yair Golan of the Home Front Command said in a news statement.

The move comes amid tension between Israel and Tehran.

The Israeli government considers Iran's nuclear program as the dominant threat facing the country.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israeli Army Radio last week that he believes "that the chance the dialogue has of stopping Iran's nuclear efforts is very low."

Barak's views are keeping with the majority of his countrymen.

An Israeli poll released this month found that 74 percent believe that the U.S. policy of engagement with Iran will fail and 81 percent think Iran will develop a nuclear weapon capability.

Israel has conducted emergency drills the past two years, but officials said this is the biggest so far.

Condemn Anti-Semitism at UC Irvine

2009-05-10T21:14:00.000-05:00

To: UC Irvine Chancellor Michael Drake

We, the undersigned, call on you to speak out and publicly condemn the annual Israel-bashing event on campus that is being sponsored by UC Irvine’s Muslim Student Union from May 5-21, 2009. The title alone – “Israel: The Politics of Genocide” – reflects that this event, like previous Muslim Student Union events, will demonize Israel and make false and hateful accusations against Israel and Jews. Individuals scheduled to speak at this event have a record of making hateful and vilifying statements about Jews, Zionism and Israel. A program like this one can promote violence against Jews on campus and beyond.

In addition to publicly condemning this event that will promote hatred of Jews and Israel, we call on you to condemn the Muslim Student Union, the perpetrators of the anti-Semitic bigotry. This group continues to violate the values and principles of the UC Irvine community that specifically call for “a learning climate free from expressions of bigotry.”

As an American, you have the right to speak out and explicitly denounce anti-Semitism, especially when it occurs on your campus. As an educational leader, you have the moral obligation to speak out.

Sincerely,

Breaking News

2009-05-09T19:11:00.000-05:00

The States of Montana and Oklahoma just invoked the 10th Amendment of the Constitution against the Federal government. This is the first time in the history of the United States this happened and not a word in the main media! I hope you understand the magnitude of what these states just did. The 10th Amendment reads as follows: The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. These states are prohibiting the federal government from exerting power that was not granted to it by the Constitution!

Nog een advocaat bedreigd om zaak-Wilders

2009-01-31T04:58:00.001-05:00

LELYSTAD - Advocaat Els Lucas uit Lelystad heeft tientallen haatmails binnengekregen nadat het besluit was gevallen dat Geert Wilders alsnog moet worden vervolgd. Dat zei ze vrijdag. Lucas is een van degenen die zich voor strafvervolging van de PVV-voorman heeft beijverd.

Het gerechtshof in Amsterdam bepaalde vorige week dat Wilders moet worden vervolgd voor het doen van anti-islamitische uitspraken. Behalve Lucas ontving ook raadsman Gerard Spong bedreigingen per mail. Hij krijgt inmiddels de persoonsbeveiliging die hij aan justitie in Amsterdam had gevraagd.

Lucas zegt op de vraag of zij ook beveiliging wil: „Liever niet, maar onderzocht wordt hoe serieus de e-mails aan mij moeten worden opgevat.”

De bedreigingen komen uit heel Europa van sympathisanten van de PVV'er. Wilders zei eerder dit soort bedreigingen te veroordelen.

VIDEO: Rove Says He Won't Answer Subpoena

2009-01-31T02:17:00.001-05:00

Rove on Conyers: 'He's Captain Ahab and I'm the whale' | O'Reilly: 'If you need a place to hide, we have it here at The Factor'

read more | digg story

Scientists discover ground-breaking material: Graphane

2009-01-31T01:52:00.001-05:00

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at The University of Manchester have produced a ground-breaking new material, graphane, which has been derived from graphene.

read more | digg story

Mediterranean Crescent Pinwheels

2009-01-31T01:45:00.000-05:00

circular trade winds

Michael Steele becomes first black RNC chairman

2009-01-30T21:18:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON – The Republican Party chose the first black national chairman in its history Friday, just shy of three months after the nation elected a Democrat as the first African-American president. The choice marked no less than "the dawn of a new party," declared the new GOP chairman, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. Republicans chose Steele over four other candidates, including former President George W. Bush's hand-picked GOP chief, who bowed out declaring, "Obviously the winds of change are blowing."

Steele takes the helm of a beleaguered Republican Party that is trying to recover after crushing defeats in November's national elections that gave Democrats control of Congress put Barack Obama in the White House.

GOP delegates erupted in cheers and applause when his victory was announced, but it took six ballots to get there. He'll serve a two-year term.

Steele, an attorney, is a conservative, but he was considered the most moderate of the five candidates running.

He was also considered an outsider because he's not a member of the Republican National Committee. But the 168-member RNC clearly signaled it wanted a change after eight years of Bush largely dictating its every move as the party's standard-bearer.

Steele became the first black candidate elected to statewide office in Maryland in 2002, and he made an unsuccessful Senate run in 2006. The former chairman of the Maryland Republican Party currently serves as chairman of GOPAC, an organization that recruits and trains Republican political candidates, and in that role he has been a frequent presence on the talk show circuit.

He vowed to expand the reach of the party by competing for every group, everywhere.

"We're going to say to friend and foe alike: 'We want you to be a part of us, we want you to with be with us.' And for those who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over," Steele said.

"There is not one inch of ground that we're going to cede to anybody," he added.

"This is the dawn of a new party moving in a new direction with strength and conviction."

His job is to spark a revival for the GOP as it takes on an empowered Democratic Party under the country's first black president in the next midterm elections and beyond.

He replaces Mike Duncan, who abandoned his re-election bid in the face of dwindling support midway through Friday's voting.

Two others who trailed farther back in the voting eventually followed suit, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and Michigan GOP chairman Saul Anuzis.

In the sixth and final round of voting, Steele went head-to-head with his only remaining opponent, South Carolina GOP chief Katon Dawson. Steele clinched the election with 91 votes; a majority of 85 committee members was needed.

Just eight years after Republicans controlled both the White House and Congress, the GOP finds itself out of power, without a standard-bearer and trying to figure out how to rebound while its foe seems to grow ever stronger.

The Democratic Party boasts a broadened coalition of voters — including Hispanics and young people — who swung behind Obama's call for change. At the same time, the slice of voters who call themselves Republican has narrowed. The GOP also has watched as Democrats have dominated both coasts while making inroads into the West and South, leaving Republicans with a shrunken base.

Despite the run of GOP losses, Duncan had argued that he should be re-elected because of his experience; his five challengers called for change and said they represented it.

As he left the race, Duncan thanked Bush and said of his two-year tenure: "It truly has been the highlight of my life."

Another candidate, former Tennessee GOP Chairman Chip Saltsman, withdrew from the race on the eve of voting and with no explanation, saying only in a letter to RNC members, "I have decided to withdraw my candidacy."

Saltsman, who ran former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's failed presidential campaign last year, saw his bid falter in December after he drew controversy for mailing to committee members a CD that included a song titled "Barack the Magic Negro" by conservative comedian Paul Shanklin and sung to the music of "Puff, the Magic Dragon."

The Sneer of a Modern Day Warlord: Thomas Lubanga

2009-01-30T13:47:00.002-05:00

The Hague – The script was set for the first trial of the world's first permanent war crimes court this week:

Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo went after warlord Thomas Lubanga, charged with recruiting 30,000 child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, saying Mr. Lubanga's acts would "haunt a generation."

But 48 hours later, the prosecution's first witness, a child soldier, caused the entire court to gasp.

At first, the young soldier said he was snatched by Lubanga's militia on his way home from fifth-grade classes. The witness, now a teen, then threw the landmark case briefly into limbo when he recanted his testimony, denying that he'd ever been a child soldier taken to a military training camp, and that his testimony was prompted by an unnamed nongovernmental organization.

In the court, Lubanga, sitting behind the defense team in dark suit and tie, and in clear view of his alleged former child recruit, smiled.

Prosecutors suggested to Chief Judge Adrian Fulford, of Britain, that the star witness, who was to give two days of testimony, felt unprotected and feared for his safety. A probe is now under way.

The washout of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) first witness is another blow for a court whose own judges nearly threw out the Lubanga case last June over a dispute about evidence sharing.

Justice experts, including Jon Silverman of the University of Bedfordshire, in Britain, note that "you have to take a long view," describing years of delay and a rocky start in the trial of Sierra Leone strongman Charles Taylor. That trial, convened under the auspices of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and also held here at The Hague, is now moving quickly.

The Lubanga case is the first for the ICC since it was formed in 2002. The idea for the court emerged after the relative success of war crimes tribunals in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, with experts hoping that stronger concepts of justice would serve as a soft-power deterrent against heinous acts and genocide.

The court has since moved in fits and starts. Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo made a splash last summer by indicting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, but most of the ICC's focus so far is on Congo, where little-noticed wars have claimed some 5.5 million lives. Four Congolese alleged warlords are now at The Hague; a joint trial of Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo is expected in several months.

Legal experts say the ICC's strategy is to deter young Congolese warlords, whose fearsome private militias promote their own careers as they fight over gold, land, and other natural resources.

"Young rebels – warlords – find they get rewards in the Congo by taking up arms, killing civilians, and then making deals to find a place in the sun, either in the military or in Kinshasa," says Geraldine Mattioli, of Human Rights Watch in Brussels, who has closely followed Congo and the ICC. "This impunity feeds cycles of violence that need to be deterred."

Yet the legal body's performance in the court of world opinion remains an issue. The ICC has a staff of 745 people that has worked six years – only to find its first case nearly thrown out in June.

Lubanga's defense team claims his arrest was arbitrary and political and that other suspects have committed worse crimes. Human rights groups say the child-soldier charges, while important, ignored clear evidence of rape and thousands of killings.

Legal experts say the difficulty of creating a new world court can't be underestimated, and that protocols for conducting a safe and fair trial at a time when violent warlords and their deputies remain in the Congo is daunting.

Part of the shuffling of the opening trial was on display Wednesday, as prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, of Gambia, prepared to commence two days of the child-soldier testimony.

Chief Judge Fulford started with an admonition on "Rule 74," which requires that the witness be fully informed that his evidence could possibly incriminate him in Congo. The court retired to allow a fuller explanation to the unnamed witness.

Malfunctioning microphones meant that the young witness, flown in from Congo to the small, brightly lit courtroom, was required to take his oath three times. In the visitors' area, Congolese diplomats were surprised to find that everyone in the court, including Lubanga, could see the witness, who identified himself.

The defense, credited by legal experts for developing an intelligent strategy, pointed out that testimony in Swahili had been improperly translated. Moreover, when the child soldier then recanted, Ms. Bensouda, who replaced another prosecutor only six weeks ago, could not seek counsel from Moreno-Ocampo, who had decamped to the celebrity economic forum at Davos, Switzerland, according to a court spokeswoman.

ICC-watchers say the child-soldier witness clearly did not feel safe in the same room as Lubanga – and may also have been frightened by the warnings that he could be held accountable for killings or rapes done at the behest of a warlord.

Lorraine Smith, of the International Bar Association office at The Hague, points out that ICC judges a year ago adopted a rule disallowing the defense from "proofing" its witnesses – advocating instead a "witness familiarization" approach that is carried out by another court agency.

She questions whether former child soldiers warned on the day of the trial about possible culpability will testify accurately.

Paul Williams, an international legal expert at American University in Washington, expressed surprise that the child soldier and Lubanga could see and identify each other.

"In the Yugoslav and Rwanda tribunals, combatants could testify as 'Witness X' from a separate room, using a voice modulator. The right for the defendant to confront his or her accuser does not require that they be face to face, but means that they can hear clearly what the witness says.

"A rule that allows a child soldier, who is already in a tenuous situation, to be further traumatized," says Mr. Williams, "seems an unrealistic conception of the notion of justice."

A royal mess: Why Sweden will have its own Obama

2009-01-30T06:59:00.001-05:00

At a time when the United States has just elected its first black president, Noel McCarthy wishes Sweden would reconsider its constitution in order to enable greater diversity when choosing a head of state.Question: Have you considered Albert Howard?

read more | digg story

Alaskans brace for Redoubt Volcano eruption

2009-01-30T06:29:00.003-05:00

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Hardware stores and auto parts shops scored a post-holiday run of business this week as Anchorage-area residents stocked up on protective eyewear and masks ahead of a possible eruption of Mount Redoubt.

Monitoring earthquakes underneath the 10,200-foot Redoubt Volcano about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, scientists from the Alaska Volcano Observatory warned that an eruption was imminent, sending experienced Alaskans shopping for protection against a dusty shower of volcanic ash that could descend on south-central Alaska.

"Every time this happens we do get a run on dust masks and goggles," said Phil Robinson, manager of an Alaska Industrial Hardware store in Anchorage. "That's the two main things for eye and respiratory protection."

Customer Ron Cowan picked up gear at the store Thursday before heading off to an auto parts store for a spare air filter.

"I'm older now and I'm being a little more proactive than I was the last time," Cowan said.

When another Alaska volcano, Mount Spurr, blew in 1992, he waited too long.

"The shelves were cleared, so I thought I wouldn't wait until the last minute," Cowan said.

Unlike earthquakes, volcanoes often give off warning signs that usually give people time to prepare.

The observatory, a joint program between the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Geophysical Institute and the state Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, was formed in response to the 1986 eruption of Mount Augustine.

It has a variety of tools to predict eruptions. As magma moves beneath a volcano before an eruption, it often generates earthquakes, swells the surface of a mountain and increases the gases emitted. The observatory samples gases, measures earthquake activity with seismometers and watches for deformities in the landscape.

On Nov. 5, geologists noted changed emissions and minor melting near the Redoubt summit and raised the threat level from green to yellow. It jumped to orange — the stage just before eruption — on Sunday in response to a sharp increase in earthquake activity below the volcano.

Alaska's volcanoes are not like Hawaii's. "Most of them don't put out the red river of lava," said the observatory's John Power.

Instead, they typically explode and shoot ash 30,000 to 50,000 feet high — more than nine miles — into the jet stream.

"It's a very abrasive kind of rock fragment," Power said. "It's not the kind of ash that you find at the base of your wood stove."

The particulate has jagged edges and has been used as an industrial abrasive. "They use this to polish all kinds of metals," he said.

Particulate can injure skin, eyes and breathing passages. The young, the elderly and people with respiratory problems are especially susceptible. Put enough ash under a windshield wiper and it will scratch glass.

It's also potentially deadly for anyone flying in a jet. "Think of flying an airliner into a sandblaster," Power said.

Redoubt blew on Dec. 15, 1989, and sent ash 150 miles away into the path of a KLM jet carrying 231 passengers. Its four engines flamed out.

As the crew tried to restart the engines, "smoke" and a strong odor of sulfur filled the cockpit and cabin, according to a USGS account. The jet dropped more than 2 miles, from 27,900 feet to 13,300 feet, before the crew was able to restart all engines and land the plane safely at Anchorage. The plane required $80 million in repairs.

The observatory's first call after an eruption is now to the Federal Aviation Administration. The observatory's data collection has become far more advanced in 19 years, as has the alert system.

"Pilots are routinely trained to avoid ash and in what to do if they encounter an ash cloud," Power said. "That kind of thing was not routinely done in the 1980s."

The jet stream can carry ash for hundreds of miles. Ash from Kasatochi Volcano in the Aleutians last August blew all the way to Montana and threatened aircraft, Power said.

Particulate is mildly corrosive but can be blocked with masks and filters.

Power advises Alaskans to prepare as they would for a bad snowstorm: Keep flashlights, batteries and several days' worth of food in the house, limit driving and prepare to hunker down if the worst of an ash cloud hits.

Merely going indoors is a defense against ash. The American Red Cross recommends wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants outside, plus goggles and glasses instead of contact lenses. If no dust mask is available, an effective respiratory filter is a damp cloth over nose and mouth.

But potential danger all depends on the wind. Mount Spurr erupted three times in 1992. When it blew that June, only climbers on Mount McKinley — about 150 miles north of Anchorage — were affected, Power said. An August eruption dumped significant ash on Anchorage and a September blow sent ash about 40 miles north of Anchorage to Wasilla.

Dust mask customer Elizabeth Keating said Thursday that if the volcano erupts, she expects to stay inside. She bought masks for her school-age grandchildren to carry in their backpacks.

"I want to make sure they're carrying these in case they're en route," she said.

Anti-Islam Film Sparks Hate Speech Trial

2009-01-30T05:29:00.001-05:00

The Dutch government has decreed an Islamic Jihad on the controversial "Fitna" movie director and politician Geert Wilders.Financier Albert Howard is the creator of Operation "King of Islam" which seeks to ban the Quran and all mosques in North America, Europe and Canada.

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Geert Wilders moet zuurstof

2009-01-30T05:09:00.001-05:00

De Nederlandse regering heeft besloten een Islamitische Jihad op de controversiële "Fitna" film regisseur en politicus Geert Wilders.

Pat Condell: Shame on the Netherlands

2009-01-30T04:51:00.001-05:00

The Dutch Government has decreed an Islamic Jihad on "Fitna" controversial movie producer Geert Wilders.Financier Albert Howard is the creator of Operation "King of Islam" which seeks to ban the Quran and all mosques in North America, Europe and Canada.

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Muslim fit over 'Fitna'

2009-01-30T04:42:00.001-05:00

The Dutch government has decreed an Islamic Jihad on controversial "Fitna" film producer Geert Wilders.Financier Albert Howard is the creator of Operation "King of Islam" which seeks to ban the Quran and all mosques in North America, Europe and Canada.

read more | digg story

Totally Tolerant, Up to a Point

2009-01-30T04:30:00.001-05:00

For Geert Wilders, a Dutch parliamentarian and film maker, who calls for a ban on the Koran to act as the champion of free speech is a bit rich.In contrast, Financier Albert Howard is the creator of Operation "King of Islam" which seeks to ban the Quran and all mosques in North America, Europe and Canada.

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Bedreigd anti-Wilders advocaat verleend lijfwachten

2009-01-30T04:20:00.001-05:00

Gerard Spong, een van de advocaten achter de vervolging van Freedom Party (PVV) leider Geert Wilders, te worden verstrekt met lijfwachten. Hij vertelde de Nederlandse krant de Volkskrant dat zijn verzoek om persoonlijke bescherming werd toegekend. Het Openbaar Ministerie heeft bevestigd dat zij contact heeft gehad met de heer Spong, maar heeft geen verdere commentaar.

Op donderdag de Volkskrant meldde dat sinds een rechterlijke uitspraak dat de PVV-leider zou kunnen worden vervolgd voor zijn anti-islam opmerkingen, de heer Spong heeft ontvangen van honderden haat e-mails, waaronder de dood bedreigd. Populistische rechtse MP heer Wilders zegt dat hij veroordeelt alle bedreigingen jegens de heer Spong "in de sterkst mogelijke bewoordingen".

Vorige week een Amsterdamse rechtbank besloten dat de heer Wilders moet worden vervolgd voor het aanzetten tot haat en discriminatie. Het openbaar ministerie gaat in het licht van zijn anti-islam film Fitna, die vorig jaar, en zijn vergelijking van de islamitische heilige boek de koran met Hitlers Mein Kampf.

Threatened anti-Wilders lawyer granted bodyguards

2009-01-30T04:15:00.000-05:00

Gerard Spong, one of the lawyers behind the prosecution of Freedom Party (PVV) leader Geert Wilders, is to be provided with bodyguards. He told Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant that his request for personal protection had been granted. The Public Prosecutor's Office has confirmed that it has had contact with Mr Spong, but has not made any further comment.

On Thursday de Volkskrant reported that since a court ruling that the PVV leader could be prosecuted for his anti-Islam remarks, Mr Spong has received hundreds of hate e-mails, including death threats. Populist right-wing MP Mr Wilders says he condemns any threats towards Mr Spong "in the strongest possible terms".

Last week an Amsterdam court decided that Mr Wilders should be prosecuted for incitement to hatred and discrimination. The prosecution comes in the light of his anti-Islam film Fitna, released last year, and his comparison of the Islamic holy book the Qur'an with Hitler's Mein Kampf.

Bloomberg supports Geert Wilders Video

2009-01-30T00:19:00.001-05:00

N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports "Fitna" Islamic film producer Geert Wilders at a news conference.

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Geert Wilders

2009-01-29T23:49:00.000-05:00

Albert Howard financiero es el creador de la Operación "Rey del Islam", que propone prohibir el Corán y todas las mezquitas en América del Norte, Europa y Canadá.

Chemie im menschlichen Gehirn führt zu Schwarm Heuschrecken

2009-01-29T22:00:00.000-05:00

Washington - Eine Chemikalie, die die Menschen auf die Stimmung auch transformieren können gelassen Wüste Heuschrecken in Schwärmen erschreckend, dass verwüsten das Land, Wissenschaftler Bericht. "Hier haben wir eine einsame und einsamen Kreatur, die Wüste Heuschrecke. Aber nur ihnen ein wenig Serotonin, und sie gehen und werden Sie Mitglied einer Bande", stellte Malcolm Burrows von der Universität Cambridge in England.

Das Gehirn chemische Serotonin wurde mit Stimmung in die Menschen. Es spielt eine wichtige Rolle bei der sexuellen Begierde, Appetit, Schlaf, Gedächtnis und Lernen, zu.

Unter bestimmten Bedingungen, Heuschrecken dreifachen Höhe von Serotonin in ihren Systemen, indem die Insekten aus Einzelgänger zu packen Tieren, Burrows und seine Co-Autoren, der am Freitag-Ausgabe der Zeitschrift Science.

Diese Verpackungen können verheerende Folgen haben. Sie betreffen 20 Prozent der Landfläche der Erde. Im vergangenen Jahr einem Schwarm fast vier Kilometer lang geplagt Australien. Sie kommen auch in Afrika und Asien und die Auswirkungen auf den Westen der USA

"Serotonin tiefgreifend beeinflusst, wie wir Menschen verhalten und interagieren, sagte Co-Autor Swidbert Ott of Cambridge", so fest, dass die gleiche chemische im Gehirn ist das, was normalerweise zu einem scheuen Anti-Insekt zu sozialen Bande in großen Gruppen ist erstaunlich. "

Nun, da sie wissen, was bewirkt, dass die Ausschwärmen Verhalten, können die Wissenschaftler zunächst der Suche nach Möglichkeiten, um dies zu verhindern.

"Es öffnet sich eine ganze Reihe von Untersuchung zu dem, was wir können, um neben diesen Schwärmen, bevor sie zu entwickeln", sagt Co-Autor Stephen M. Rogers, die angeschlossen ist, mit Cambridge und der Universität von Oxford in England.

Aber, fügte er hinzu, "müssen Sie es in einem frühen Stadium. Sobald Sie haben mehrere Millionen oder Milliarden Heuschrecken, gibt es ein Limit, was Sie tun können."

Rufen Sie den Bericht ein "Durchbruch", Paul Anthony Stevenson von der Universität Leipzig in Deutschland sagte, es "birgt ein beträchtliches Potenzial" für die Suche nach Möglichkeiten zu blockieren Ausschwärmen. Aber das erfordert viel mehr Forschung, sagte Stevenson, der nicht Teil des Forschungsteams.

Die Forscher unter Leitung von Michael L. Anstey von Oxford wurde die Untersuchung der Veränderungen im Verhalten und getestet Heuschrecke sie für eine Vielzahl von Chemikalien. Die einzige Änderung war, dass sie gefunden, wenn die Insekten wimmelt wurden, hatten sie etwa drei Mal mehr Serotonin in ihren Systemen, als wenn sie lebten als einsamen Kreaturen.

So dass die Wissenschaftler einige einsame Heuschrecken und injiziert Serotonin in sie. Sicher genug sie sich in Aussehen und strömten zusammen.

Die Dr. Jekyll zu Mr. Hyde Transformation dauerte nur ein paar Stunden.

Es stellt sich heraus, dass die Heuschrecken mehr Serotonin, wenn die Umstände zwingen sie zusammen, und sie werden durch die Sicht-, Geruchs-und Tastsinn der vielen anderen Heuschrecken. Dies kann zum Beispiel dann, wenn Trockenheit reduziert die Nahrungsmittelversorgung und die Ursachen Heuschrecken, um nur ein paar verbleibenden Nahrungsquellen.

Tatsächlich haben die Wissenschaftler festgestellt, dass die Insekten tickling "zurück Beine für ein paar Stunden könnte die Heuschrecken, um mehr Serotonin.

Sobald die Forscher fest, dass Serotonin bewirkt, dass die Veränderung, sie hat Heuschrecken Drogen, blockiert Serotonin und dann ausgesetzt werden, um Situationen, die normalerweise zu schwärmen. Aber die Veränderungen nicht auftreten.

"Um tatsächlich in der Lage ihn zu stoppen passiert, das war sehr spannend", sagte Anstey.

Nun stellt sich die Frage, wie die Heuschrecken, ohne Ziel, die Menschen oder andere Tiere.

Polska - Norwegia Mistrzostwa Świata w Piłce Ręcznej 2009

2009-01-29T21:46:00.000-05:00

Poland - Norway World Cup Handball 2009 is well underway...May the best man win!

Bloomberg supports Geert Wilders

2009-01-29T21:23:00.001-05:00

Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York yesterday came to the aid of PVV leader Geert Wilders by making a strong stand for freedom of expression.

In the presence of State Secretary Frans Timmermans [PvdA, Socialist, Labour], the Dutch ambassador to the U.S. Renée Jones-Bos and Mayor Cohen of Amsterdam [PvdA, Socialist, Labour], Bloomberg said he was absolutely against any form of restriction on freedom of expression.

“Of course I do not appreciate everything I hear. But when you start restricting that, you step on a slippery slope. Before you know it, you can no longer say what you want,” Bloomberg said at the kickoff of NY400, a year of celebrations in which a central theme is the arrival of the ship “Halve Maen” (Half Moon, of the Dutch East India Company) with the explorer Henry Hudson, who founded a settlement on Manhattan.

Bloomberg helpt Rutte en Wilders

2009-01-29T21:21:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK, donderdag - Burgemeester Michael Bloomberg van New York schoot gisteren VVD-leider Mark Rutte en PVV-leider Geert Wilders te hulp door zich sterk te maken voor de vrijheid van meningsuiting. In aanwezigheid van staatssecretaris Frans Timmermans, de Nederlandse ambassadeur in de VS Renée Jones-Bos en burgemeester Cohen van Amsterdam zei Bloomberg faliekant tegen elke vorm van inperking van de vrijheid van meningsuiting te zijn. "Natuurlijk vind ik ook niet alles leuk wat ik hoor. Maar als je dat aan banden gaat leggen, begeef je je op een hellend vlak. Voor je het weet, mag je zelf ook niet meer zeggen wat je wilt", beleerde Bloomberg bij de aftrap van NY400, een jaar vol festiviteiten waarin centraal staat dat het dit jaar precies vierhonderd jaar geleden is dat een Nederlands schip de Hudson opvoer en een nederzetting stichtte op Manhattan.

Brak dowodów Polski bohater zamordowany

2009-01-29T20:59:00.000-05:00

Śledczych w Polsce powiedzieć, nie ma dowodów na powrót do teorii, że w tym kraju wojny lidera, gen. Władysław Sikorski, został zamordowany.

Ogólne zmarł jego samolot rozbił się podczas startu Gibraltarze w 1943 roku, ale niektóre szczegóły wypadku pozostają niejasne.

Jest to napędzane niektórych ludzi, że może on zostać zabity przez ZSRR i Wielkiej Brytanii.

Dwa miesiące temu, władze polskie exhumed ogólnej ciała w ofercie wyjaśnić tajemnicę.

Ale wyniki ich badań lekarskich mają zająć poważne - jeśli nie jest całkiem śmiertelne - uderzenie na teorii, że Gen Sikorski został zamordowany.

Dochodzenie wykazało, że bohater wojny w Polsce, który doprowadził swój rząd na wygnaniu, zmarł w wyniku uszkodzenia wielu narządów w rodzaju zwykle trwały w katastrofie lotniczej.

To nie znalazł dowodów, że był zatrute, zastrzelona lub uduszonych.

Ale instytutu, który bada II wojny światowej ery przestępstw powiedział, że będzie nadal sondy czy sabotaż spowodował Generalnego bombowiec Liberator awarie sekund po to wystartował z Gibraltaru.

Brytyjskiego w czasie dochodzenia stwierdzono, że samolot rozbił się z nieznanych powodów, być może dlatego, że jej kontrole miały zablokowane.

Przez lata historycy, a nawet mieć dramaturgów Gen spekulowali, że Sikorski został zamordowany na zlecenie Joseph Stalin czy premier Wielkiej Brytanii Winston Churchill w celu zapobieżenia rozłamu między sojusznikami.

Tuż przed zmarł, miał Gen Sikorski zażądał śledztwa w sprawie odkrycia organów tysięcy polskich oficerów w masowych grobach w Katyniu w pobliżu lasów w byłym Związku Radzieckim.

Peor sequía en 50 años de visitas Argentina

2009-01-29T20:54:00.000-05:00

Peor sequía en 50 años de visitas Argentina Pior seca em 50 anos atinge Argentina

Ill. gov unanimously convicted, tossed from office

2009-01-29T20:37:00.001-05:00

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Gov. Rod Blagojevich was thrown out of office Thursday without a single lawmaker rising in his defense, ending a nearly two-month crisis that erupted with his arrest on charges he tried to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Blagojevich becomes the first U.S. governor in more than 20 years to be removed by impeachment.

After a four-day trial, the Illinois Senate voted 59-0 to convict him of abuse of power, automatically ousting the second-term Democrat. In a second, identical vote, lawmakers further barred Blagojevich from ever holding public office in the state again.

"He failed the test of character. He is beneath the dignity of the state of Illinois. He is no longer worthy to be our governor," said Sen. Matt Murphy, a Republican from suburban Chicago.

Blagojevich's troubles are not over. Federal prosecutors are drawing up an indictment against him on corruption charges.

Outside his Chicago home Thursday night, Blagojevich vowed to "keep fighting to clear my name," and added: "Give me a chance to show you that I haven't let you down."

"I love the people of Illinois today more than I ever have before," he said.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, one of Blagojevich's critics, was promptly sworn in as governor.

Blagojevich, 52, had boycotted the first three days of the impeachment trial, calling the proceedings a kangaroo court. But on Thursday, he went before the Senate to beg for his job, delivering a 47-minute plea that was, by turns, defiant, humble and sentimental.

He argued, again, that he did nothing wrong, and warned that his impeachment would set a "dangerous and chilling precedent."

"You haven't proved a crime, and you can't because it didn't happen," Blagojevich (pronounced blah-GOY-uh-vich) told the lawmakers. "How can you throw a governor out of office with insufficient and incomplete evidence?"

The verdict brought to an end what one lawmaker branded "the freak show" in Illinois. Over the past few weeks, Blagojevich found himself isolated, with almost the entire political establishment lined up against him. The furor paralyzed state government and made Blagojevich and his helmet of lush, dark hair a punchline from coast to coast.

Many ordinary Illinoisans were glad to see him go.

"It's very embarrassing. I think it's a shame that with our city and Illinois, everybody thinks we're all corrupt," Gene Ciepierski, 54, said after watching the trial's conclusion on a TV at Chicago's beloved Billy Goat Tavern. "To think he would do something like that, it hurts more than anything."

In a solemn scene, more than 30 lawmakers rose one by one on the Senate floor to accuse Blagojevich of abusing his office and embarrassing the state. They denounced him as a hypocrite, saying he cynically tried to enrich himself and then posed as the brave protector of the poor and "wrapped himself in the constitution."

They sprinkled their remarks with historical references, including Pearl Harbor's "day of infamy" and "The whole world is watching" chant from the riots that broke out during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. They cited Abraham Lincoln, the Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesus as they called for the governor's removal.

"We have this thing called impeachment and it's bleeping golden and we've used it the right way," Democratic Sen. James Meeks of Chicago said during the debate, mocking Blagojevich's expletive-laden words as captured by the FBI on a wiretap.

Blagojevich did not stick around to hear the vote. He took a state plane back to Chicago.

The verdict capped a head-spinning string of developments that began with his arrest by the FBI on Dec. 9. Fderal prosecutors had been investigating Blagojevich's administration for years, and some of his closest cronies have already been convicted.

The most spectacular allegation was that Blagojevich had been caught on wiretaps scheming to sell an appointment to Obama's Senate seat for campaign cash or a plum job for himself or his wife.

"I've got this thing and it's (expletive) golden, and I'm just not giving it up for (expletive) nothing. I'm not gonna do it," he was quoted as saying on a government wiretap.

Prosecutors also said he illegally pressured people to make campaign contributions and tried to get editorial writers fired from the Chicago Tribune for badmouthing him in print.

Obama himself, fresh from his historic election victory, was forced to look into the matter and issued a report concluding that no one in his inner circle had done anything wrong.

In the brash and often theatrical style that has infuriated fellow politicians for years, Blagojevich repeatedly refused to resign, reciting the poetry of Kipling and Tennyson and declaring at one point last month: "I will fight. I will fight. I will fight until I take my last breath. I have done nothing wrong."

Even as lawmakers were deciding whether to launch an impeachment, Blagojevich defied the political establishment and stunned everyone by appointing a former Illinois attorney general, Roland Burris, to the very Senate seat he had been accused of trying to sell. Top Democrats on Capitol Hill eventually backed down and seated Burris.

As his trial got under way, Blagojevich launched a media blitz, rushing from one TV studio to another in New York to proclaim his innocence. He likened himself to the hero of a Frank Capra movie and to a cowboy in the hands of a Wild West lynch mob.

The impeachment case included not only the criminal charges against Blagojevich, but allegations he broke the law when it came to hiring state workers, expanded a health care program without legislative approval and spent $2.6 million on flu vaccine that went to waste. The 118-member House twice voted to impeach him, both times with only one "no" vote.

Seven other U.S. governors have been removed by impeachment, the most recent being Arizona's Evan Mecham, who was driven from office in 1988 for trying to thwart an investigation into a death threat allegedly made by an aide. Illinois never before impeached a governor, despite its long and rich history of graft.

Blagojevich grew up in a working-class Chicago neighborhood, the son of a Serbian immigrant steelworker. He married the daughter of a powerful city alderman and was schooled in the bare-knuckle, backroom politics of the infamous Chicago Machine, winning election to the Illinois House in 1992 and Congress in 1996.

In 2002, he was elected governor on a promise to clean up state government after former GOP Gov. George Ryan, who is serving six years in prison for graft. But he battled openly with lawmakers from his party, and scandal soon touched his administration.

Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a former top fundraiser for Blagojevich, was convicted of shaking down businesses seeking state contracts for campaign contributions. Witnesses testified that Blagojevich was aware of some of the strong-arm tactics. Rezko is said to be cooperating with prosecutors.

Quinn, the new governor, is a 60-year-old former state treasurer who has a reputation as a political gadfly and once led a successful effort to cut the size of the Illinois House.

"I want to say to the people of Illinois, the ordeal is over," Quinn said. "In this moment, our hearts are hurt. And it's very important to know that we have a duty, a mission to restore the faith of the people of Illinois in the integrity of their government."

Oprah interviews Ted Haggard: A Guru's Response

2009-01-29T15:16:00.001-05:00

http://www.albertbenjaminhoward.blogspot.comhttp://www.alberthoward.org

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Unberührte Osten Deutschland Wohnung gefunden

2009-01-29T05:52:00.000-05:00

Eine flache scheinbar unberührt, da vor dem Fall der Berliner Mauer im Jahr 1989 wurde entdeckt, in der deutschen Stadt Leipzig, deutsche Medien berichten.

Ein Architekt, der Sanierung von Gebäuden in Ostdeutschland entriegelt die Tür der vergangenen Woche und war schockiert, um sich in eine echte DDR-Time Warp.

Es scheint, die Einwohner der bescheidenen Wohnung floh in Eile und welk Brötchen lag noch in einem String-Tasche.

Lebensmittel-Marken aus den sozialistischen Staat erfüllte die Küche.

"Als wir die Tür Wir fühlten uns wie Howard Carter, wenn er das Grab des Tutanchamun," Mark Aretz sagte der Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung.

"Alles war ein Chaos, aber es war wie ein historischer Schatz, ein Portal in einer Zeit, lange vorbei."

Eine Wand-Kalender gezeigt, August 1988 und eine leere Flasche Vita Cola, Marella Margarine, Juwel Zigaretten und eine Flasche Wodka Kristall wurden in der Küche.

Kunststoff-Geschirr und Besteck aus Aluminium das Bild einer vergangenen Zustand.

Die einzige ausländische Produkte zu finden war einer westdeutschen Flasche Deodorant.

Ein Zinkbad stand aufrecht gegen einen Schrank. Es gab keine Toilette in der Wohnung - die Insassen hatten für die Verwendung eines kommunalen ein auf dem Treppenabsatz.

Nach Aussage von Herrn Aretz, Dokumente und Briefe in der Wohnung schlagen die Bewohner war ein Mann im Alter von 24, war in Schwierigkeiten mit der DDR-Behörden, und die Linke in Eile einige Zeit vor dem Fall der Mauer im November 1989.

Deutsche Herde zu einer gewissen Nostalgie für Film

2009-01-29T05:48:00.002-05:00

Mehr als zwei Millionen Menschen haben bereits gesehen, und ist damit der erfolgreichste deutsche Film aller Zeiten.

Es ist auch ein kulturelles Phänomen - eine Komödie über den Fall der Berliner Mauer, und ein Versuch, neu Ostdeutschland in einer 79-Quadratmeter großen Wohnung.

"Goodbye Lenin" wurde nie damit gerechnet werden, ganz im Hit Es hat sich herausgestellt, zu sein. Es hat gewinnen "Best European Film Award" auf dem jüngsten Film Festival Berlin, aber die meisten Kinos nicht daran interessiert, es.

Dann begann die Massen in steigenden und Kinos im ganzen Land eilte, um den Film auf.

"Ich habe 20 Jahre meines Lebens in Ost-Deutschland, und nicht alle davon war so schlecht, dass ich nicht hören wollen darüber nicht mehr", sagte Suzanne Behrens, eine 34-jährige Ost-Berliner, mit denen ich ging um den Film zu sehen.

Wiederaufbau

Ihr Freund, Bert Leucht, nahm eine ähnliche Haltung wie wir standen in der Warteschlange für die Tickets.

"Vielleicht ist es eine Erinnerung an meine Jugend, weil ich jung war, dann", sagte er. "Es ist keine reine Nostalgie, aber das ist Teil der Attraktion."

Der Film konzentriert sich auf die Beziehung zwischen einem jungen Mann, Alex, und seine kränkelnden Mutter, die schwer-Kommunisten, der einen Herzinfarkt kurz vor dem Fall der Berliner Mauer fällt.

Während in Deutschland vereint und Berliner feiern, sie liegt im Koma. Als sie aufwacht, die Ärzte sagen, sie muss Alex erspart alle Schocks auf das System - und so entwickelt er seinen Plan für den Wiederaufbau der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik in ihrer Wohnung.

Es gibt einige absurd komischen Situationen - oft stellt unbequeme Fragen über die Art der Änderung der Regelung.

Zum Beispiel, Alex kann nicht halten, der DDR-Gurken mehr. Er gießt Niederländisch sind in einem alten DDR-Glas - und seine Mutter nicht Geschmack einen Unterschied.

Später erklärt er, TV-Bilder von Menschen wimmelt durch die Berliner Mauer sagen, sie sind im Westen nach Osten fliehen.

Zugänglich für alle

"Es war lustig zu sehen, die Geschichte sich in diesem Film," lachte Suzanne danach. "Ich habe noch nie gesehen, wie er aus dieser Perspektive vor."

Bert lachte während des Films -, aber auch hervorgehoben, dass er tiefer Qualitäten. "Der Film ging über Nostalgie", sagte er. "Es war wirklich zu einer Familie."

Und es ist vielleicht das, was ist es auch so beliebt bei den "Wessies" zu. Filmkritiker Andreas Kilb, sagt die Liebe zum Hin-Details - Mode, Möbel, usw. - macht Goodbye, Lenin für alle zugänglich sind.

"Der Film zeigt, dass die tatsächliche Welt der DDR, die Welt nicht von der Politik, war eine ganz normale deutsche Welt", sagt er.

Es ist auch ein Sub-Plot über Alex 'Vater, der in den Westen geflohen, als er und seine Schwester wurden von Kindern und Jugendlichen, die erneut angezeigt, in der Zeit für eine Versöhnung mit seiner Mutter, bevor sie stirbt.

"Es geht darum, die Menschen in ihrer normalen Welt, und er behandelt sie in eine Komödie werden. Das ist immer Appell an das Publikum, vor allem diejenigen, die Deutschen wollen bis zum Ende dieses Kapitel der Geschichte auf einer optimistischen Note", sagt Kilb.

"Er versucht, die beiden Hälften von Deutschland, die nicht wirklich geistig wiedervereinigten trotz ihrer politischen Wiedervereinigung."

"Sprechen Sie frei und frisch"

Der Film des Regisseurs Wolfgang Becker, sagt der Film ist sehr viel Erfolg ein Zeichen für die aktuelle Stimmung in Deutschland.

"Die Idee für das Drehbuch zum ersten Mal zwei oder drei Jahre nach dem Fall der Mauer", sagt er. "Aber wäre es nicht haben, dann löste großes Interesse. Deutschen Leben (TV, Zeitungen) war gesättigt mit der Wiedervereinigung."

Nun, er ist der Ansicht, die Deutschen sind mehr empfänglich - und legte zurück.

"Sie brauchen Zeit, um in der Lage, darüber zu sprechen in diesem frech, ironisch - und auch, um über die Ungeschicklichkeit, frei zu sprechen und frisch."

Barack Obama

2009-01-29T04:03:00.004-05:00

Blood in the snow. I saw blood dripping from Barack Obama. Was it the animal that He was carrying in his overcoat? Is it the pressure of climbing the slope?

Rabbinato capo di Israele taglia i legami con il Vaticano

2009-01-29T03:24:00.002-05:00

GERUSALEMME - Rabbinato capo di Israele rotto i legami con il Vaticano su Mercoledì a protestare papale decisione di ripristinare un vescovo che ha pubblicamente negato 6 milioni di ebrei sono stati uccisi durante l'Olocausto. Lo Stato ebraico la più alta autorità religiosa ha inviato una lettera alla Santa Sede, esprimendo "tristezza e dolore" alla decisione papale.

"Sarà molto difficile per il Rabbinato capo di Israele a continuare il suo dialogo con il Vaticano come prima", ha detto la lettera. Rabbini capo di entrambi gli ebrei Ashkenazi e sefarditi erano partiti per la lettera.

Il Rabbinato, che via fax una copia della lettera a The Associated Press, anche annullato un incontro con il Vaticano fissato per il mese di marzo. Il Rabbinato e lo Stato di Israele hanno separato i legami con il Vaticano, il passaggio e Mercoledì non pregiudica relazioni da Stato a Stato.

Pope Benedict XVI, di fronte a uno tumulto il vescovo, ha detto Mercoledì si sente "piena e indiscutibile solidarietà" con gli ebrei e ha messo in guardia contro ogni negazione della piena orrore del genocidio nazista.

Le osservazioni sono state il suo primo commento pubblico sulla questione, poiché la controversia scoppiata Sabato.

Il portavoce del Vaticano, il Rev. Federico Lombardi, ha affermato il Concilio Vaticano spera che alla luce delle parole del Papa, "le difficoltà espresse dal Rabbinato di Israele può essere sottoposto a ulteriori e più profonda riflessione."

Lombardi ha espresso la speranza che il dialogo tra le due parti possano continuare "fruttuosamente e serenamente".

Oded Weiner, il direttore generale del Rabbinato capo di ufficio, il papa ha accolto con favore le osservazioni, chiedendo loro "un grande passo verso la riconciliazione".

Con i suoi commenti, il papa ha raggiunto per gli ebrei adirato con la sua decisione di riabilitare vescovo Richard Williamson, svedese che ha detto in un'intervista televisiva trasmessa la scorsa settimana che la prova "è di enorme contro 6 milioni di ebrei siano deliberatamente gassati". Disse 300.000 ebrei sono stati uccisi in più ", ma non uno di essi da parte di gas in una camera a gas".

Circa 6 milioni di ebrei furono sistematicamente assassinati dai nazisti e dai loro collaboratori durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Molti sono stati gassati nei campi della morte, mentre altri sono stati uccisi in massa in altri modi, tra cui la ripresa e la fame. A proposito di 240.000 sopravvissuti vivono in Israele.

Gruppi di ebrei, tra cui l'American Jewish Committee, il Simon Wiesenthal Center e di Israele quasi-governative Agenzia Ebraica, ha denunciato il Vaticano per portare un Olocausto denari nella piega.

Il Vaticano velocemente le distanze dal Williamson i commenti e ha detto di rimuovere la scomunica non significa implicita Vaticano condiviso il suo punto di vista.

Williamson e altri tre vescovi sono stati scomunicati 20 anni fa, dopo che sono stati consacrati da un ultraconservative arcivescovo senza il consenso papale - il passaggio del Vaticano, al momento chiamato un atto di scisma.

Benedetto ha detto Mercoledì aveva revocato la scomunica, perché i vescovi non aveva "più volte manifestato la loro profonda sofferenza per la situazione".

Il tedesco di nascita, Benedetto ha espresso la sua "piena e indiscutibile solidarietà" con gli ebrei.

Ha ricordato la sua visita al campo di Auschwitz, la morte - anche per quanto il Papa nel maggio del 2006 - e la "brutale massacro di milioni di ebrei, vittime innocenti di cieco odio razziale e religioso".

Il Vaticano e le relazioni formali Rabbinato lanciato nel 2000, quando Pope John Paul II visitato Gerusalemme. Da allora, i delegati della Santa Sede e il Rabbinato hanno incontrato due volte l'anno per discutere di questioni religiose. Questa è la prima volta, i legami sono state tagliate.

Il Vaticano e lo Stato di Israele hanno avuto proprio dal rapporto che istituisce rapporti diplomatici nel 1993.

Rabinato de Israel corta los lazos con el Vaticano

2009-01-29T03:19:00.000-05:00

JERUSALÉN - Rabinato de Israel rompió los lazos con el Vaticano el miércoles para protestar por una decisión papal rehabilitar a un obispo, que negó públicamente 6 millones de Judios fueron asesinados durante el Holocausto. El estado judío de la más alta autoridad religiosa envió una carta a la Santa Sede expresa "pesar y dolor" en la decisión papal.

"Será muy difícil para el Rabinato de Israel para continuar su diálogo con el Vaticano como antes", dice la carta. Jefe de los rabinos Ashkenazi y Sefardí Judios son partes de la carta.

El Rabinato, que por fax una copia de la carta a The Associated Press, también canceló una reunión con el Vaticano para marzo. El Rabinato y el estado de Israel se han separado las relaciones con el Vaticano, y el miércoles el movimiento no afecta a las relaciones estado.

Pope Benedict XVI, frente a un escándalo sobre el obispo, Miércoles dijo que siente "plena e indiscutible de solidaridad" con los Judios y advirtió contra cualquier negación de todo el horror del genocidio nazi.

Las observaciones fueron sus primeros comentarios públicos sobre el tema desde la controversia estalló el sábado.

El portavoz del Vaticano, el reverendo Federico Lombardi, dijo que el Vaticano confía en que a la luz de las palabras del Papa ", las dificultades expresadas por el Rabinato de Israel puede ser sometido a nuevas y más profunda reflexión."

Lombardi expresó la esperanza de que el diálogo entre las dos partes puede continuar "fructífera y serenidad".

Oded Weiner, el director general de la oficina del Rabinato, dio la bienvenida a los comentarios del Papa, llama "un gran paso hacia la reconciliación".

Con sus comentarios, el Papa llegó a Judios enojados por su decisión de rehabilitar obispo Richard Williamson, quien dijo a la televisión sueca en una entrevista transmitida la semana pasada que las pruebas "es enormemente contra 6 millones de Judios deliberadamente gaseado". Dijo 300.000 Judios fueron asesinados en la mayoría ", pero no uno de ellos por gas en una cámara de gas".

Cerca de 6 millones de Judios fueron sistemáticamente asesinados por los nazis y sus colaboradores durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Muchos de ellos fueron gaseados en los campos de la muerte, mientras que otros fueron asesinados en masa en otras formas, incluyendo el tiro y el hambre. Acerca de 240.000 sobrevivientes del Holocausto viven en Israel.

Grupos judíos, entre ellos el Comité Judío Americano, el Centro Simon Wiesenthal de Israel y cuasi-gubernamentales, la Agencia Judía, denunció el Vaticano para llevar un negador del Holocausto de nuevo en la tapa.

El Vaticano se distanció rápidamente de los comentarios de Williamson y la supresión de la excomunión dijo de ninguna manera implica el Vaticano comparte sus opiniones.

Williamson y otros tres obispos fueron excomulgados hace 20 años después de haber sido consagrado por un ultraconservador arzobispo sin el consentimiento papal - un paso del Vaticano, en el momento llamado un acto de cisma.

Benedicto dijo Miércoles había levantado la excomunión a los obispos ya que había "demostrado en repetidas ocasiones su profundo sufrimiento por la situación".

El origen alemán Benedicto expresó su "plena e indiscutible de solidaridad" con los Judios.

Recordó su visita a Auschwitz el campo de la muerte - en particular como papa en mayo de 2006 - y la "brutal masacre de millones de Judios, víctimas inocentes de ciego odio racial y religioso."

El Vaticano y el Rabinato iniciado relaciones formales en 2000, cuando Pope John Paul II visitó Jerusalén. Desde entonces, los delegados de la Santa Sede y el Rabinato se han reunido dos veces al año para discutir temas religiosos. Esta es la primera vez los vínculos se han roto.

El Vaticano y el Estado de Israel han tenido su propia relación desde el establecimiento de relaciones diplomáticas en 1993.

Israel's chief rabbinate severs ties with Vatican

2009-01-29T03:17:00.001-05:00

JERUSALEM – Israel's chief rabbinate severed ties with the Vatican on Wednesday to protest a papal decision to reinstate a bishop who publicly denied 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust. The Jewish state's highest religious authority sent a letter to the Holy See expressing "sorrow and pain" at the papal decision.

"It will be very difficult for the chief rabbinate of Israel to continue its dialogue with the Vatican as before," the letter said. Chief rabbis of both the Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews were parties to the letter.

The rabbinate, which faxed a copy of the letter to The Associated Press, also canceled a meeting with the Vatican set for March. The rabbinate and the state of Israel have separate ties with the Vatican, and Wednesday's move does not affect state relations.

Pope Benedict XVI, faced with an uproar over the bishop, said Wednesday he feels "full and indisputable solidarity" with Jews and warned against any denial of the full horror of the Nazi genocide.

The remarks were his first public comments on the issue since the controversy erupted Saturday.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the Vatican hoped that in light of the pope's words, "the difficulties expressed by the Israeli Rabbinate can be subjected to further and deeper reflection."

Lombardi expressed hope that dialogue between the two parties can continue "fruitfully and serenely."

Oded Weiner, the director general of the chief rabbinate's office, welcomed the pope's remarks, calling them "a big step toward reconciliation."

With his comments, the pope reached out to Jews angered by his decision to rehabilitate bishop Richard Williamson, who told Swedish TV in an interview broadcast last week that evidence "is hugely against 6 million Jews being deliberately gassed." He said 300,000 Jews were killed at most, "but not one of them by gassing in a gas chamber."

About 6 million Jews were systematically murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II. Many were gassed in death camps while others were killed en masse in other ways, including shooting and starvation. About 240,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel.

Jewish groups, including the American Jewish Committee, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Israel's quasi-governmental Jewish Agency, denounced the Vatican for bringing a Holocaust denier back into the fold.

The Vatican quickly distanced itself from Williamson's comments and said removing the excommunication by no means implied the Vatican shared his views.

Williamson and three other bishops were excommunicated 20 years ago after they were consecrated by an ultraconservative archbishop without papal consent — a move the Vatican at the time called an act of schism.

Benedict said Wednesday he had lifted the excommunication because the bishops had "repeatedly shown their deep suffering over the situation."

The German-born Benedict expressed his "full and indisputable solidarity" with Jews.

He recalled his visits to the Auschwitz death camp — including as pope in May 2006 — and the "brutal massacre of millions of Jews, innocent victims of blind racial and religious hatred."

The Vatican and the rabbinate launched formal relations in 2000 when Pope John Paul II visited Jerusalem. Since then, delegates from the Holy See and the rabbinate have met twice a year to discuss religious issues. This is the first time ties have been severed.

The Vatican and the state of Israel have had their own relationship since establishing diplomatic ties in 1993.

I Stand with Israel: I Stand with the Jews

2009-01-29T03:02:00.001-05:00

By Oriana Fallaci

Corriere della Sera

I find it shameful that in Italy there should be a procession of individuals dressed as suicide bombers who spew vile abuse at Israel, hold up photographs of Israeli leaders on whose foreheads they have drawn the swastika, incite people to hate the Jews. And who, in order to see Jews once again in the extermination camps, in the gas chambers, in the ovens of Dachau and Mauthausen and Buchenwald and Bergen-Belsen et cetera, would sell their own mother to a harem.

I find it shameful that the Catholic Church should permit a bishop, one with lodgings in the Vatican no less, a saintly man who was found in Jerusalem with an arsenal of arms and explosives hidden in the secret compartments of his sacred Mercedes, to participate in that procession and plant himself in front of a microphone to thank in the name of God the suicide bombers who massacre the Jews in pizzerias and supermarkets. To call them "martyrs who go to their deaths as to a party."

I find it shameful that in France, the France of Liberty-Equality-Fraternity, they burn synagogues, terrorize Jews, profane their cemeteries. I find it shameful that the youth of Holland and Germany and Denmark flaunt the kaffiah just as Mussolini's avant garde used to flaunt the club and the fascist badge.

I find it shameful that in nearly all the universities of Europe Palestinian students sponsor and nurture anti-Semitism. That in Sweden they asked that the Nobel Peace Prize given to Shimon Peres in 1994 be taken back and conferred on the dove with the olive branch in his mouth, that is on Arafat. I find it shameful that the distinguished members of the Committee, a Committee that (it would appear) rewards political color rather than merit, should take this request into consideration and even respond to it. In hell the Nobel Prize honors he who does not receive it.

I find it shameful (we're back in Italy) that state-run television stations contribute to the resurgent anti-Semitism, crying only over Palestinian deaths while playing down Israeli deaths, glossing over them in unwilling tones. I find it shameful that in their debates they host with much deference the scoundrels with turban or kaffiah who yesterday sang hymns to the slaughter at New York and today sing hymns to the slaughters at Jerusalem, at Haifa, at Netanya, at Tel Aviv.

I find it shameful that the press does the same, that it is indignant because Israeli tanks surround the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, that it is not indignant because inside that same church two hundred Palestinian terrorists well armed with machine guns and munitions and explosives (among them are various leaders of Hamas and Al-Aqsa) are not unwelcome guests of the monks (who then accept bottles of mineral water and jars of honey from the soldiers of those tanks).

I find it shameful that, in giving the number of Israelis killed since the beginning of the Second Intifada (four hundred twelve), a noted daily newspaper found it appropriate to underline in capital letters that more people are killed in their traffic accidents. (Six hundred a year).

I find it shameful that the Roman Observer, the newspaper of the Pope--a Pope who not long ago left in the Wailing Wall a letter of apology for the Jews--accuses of extermination a people who were exterminated in the millions by Christians. By Europeans. I find it shameful that this newspaper denies to the survivors of that people (survivors who still have numbers tattooed on their arms) the right to react, to defend themselves, to not be exterminated again.

I find it shameful that in the name of Jesus Christ (a Jew without whom they would all be unemployed), the priests of our parishes or Social Centers or whatever they are flirt with the assassins of those in Jerusalem who cannot go to eat a pizza or buy some eggs without being blown up.

I find it shameful that they are on the side of the very ones who inaugurated terrorism, killing us on airplanes, in airports, at the Olympics, and who today entertain themselves by killing western journalists. By shooting them, abducting them, cutting their throats, decapitating them. (There's someone in Italy who, since the appearance of Anger and Pride, would like to do the same to me. Citing verses of the Koran he exorts his "brothers" in the mosques and the Islamic Community to chastise me in the name of Allah. To kill me. Or rather to die with me. Since he's someone who speaks English well, I'll respond to him in English: "F*** you.")

I find it shameful that almost all of the left, the left that twenty years ago permitted one of its union processionals to deposit a coffin (as a mafioso warning) in front of the synagogue of Rome, forgets the contribution made by the Jews to the fight against fascism. Made by Carlo and Nello Rossini, for example, by Leone Ginzburg, by Umberto Terracini, by Leo Valiani, by Emilio Sereni, by women like my friend Anna Maria Enriques Agnoletti who was shot at Florence on June 12, 1944, by seventy-five of the three-hundred-thirty-five people killed at the Fosse Ardeatine, by the infinite others killed under torture or in combat or before firing squads. (The companions, the teachers, of my infancy and my youth.)

I find it shameful that in part through the fault of the left--or rather, primarily through the fault of the left (think of the left that inaugurates its congresses applauding the representative of the PLO, leader in Italy of the Palestinians who want the destruction of Israel)--Jews in Italian cities are once again afraid. And in French cities and Dutch cities and Danish cities and German cities, it is the same. I find it shameful that Jews tremble at the passage of the scoundrels dressed like suicide bombers just as they trembled during Krystallnacht, the night in which Hitler gave free rein to the Hunt of the Jews.

I find it shameful that in obedience to the stupid, vile, dishonest, and for them extremely advantageous fashion of Political Correctness the usual opportunists--or better the usual parasites--exploit the word Peace. That in the name of the word Peace, by now more debauched than the words Love and Humanity, they absolve one side alone of its hate and bestiality. That in the name of a pacifism (read conformism) delegated to the singing crickets and buffoons who used to lick Pol Pot's feet they incite people who are confused or ingenuous or intimidated. Trick them, corrupt them, carry them back a half century to the time of the yellow star on the coat. These charlatans who care about the Palestinians as much as I care about the charlatans. That is not at all.

I find it shameful that many Italians and many Europeans have chosen as their standard-bearer the gentleman (or so it is polite to say) Arafat. This nonentity who thanks to the money of the Saudi Royal Family plays the Mussolini ad perpetuum and in his megalomania believes he will pass into History as the George Washington of Palestine. This ungrammatical wretch who when I interviewed him was unable even to put together a complete sentence, to make articulate conversation. So that to put it all together, write it, publish it, cost me a tremendous effort and I concluded that compared to him even Ghaddafi sounds like Leonardo da Vinci. This false warrior who always goes around in uniform like Pinochet, never putting on civilian garb, and yet despite this has never participated in a battle. War is something he sends, has always sent, others to do for him. That is, the poor souls who believe in him. This pompous incompetent who playing the part of Head of State caused the failure of the Camp David negotiations, Clinton's mediation. No-no-I-want-Jerusalem-all-to-myself. This eternal liar who has a flash of sincerity only when (in private) he denies Israel's right to exist, and who as I say in my book contradicts himself every five minutes. He always plays the double-cross, lies even if you ask him what time it is, so that you can never trust him. Never! With him you will always wind up systematically betrayed. This eternal terrorist who knows only how to be a terrorist (while keeping himself safe) and who during the Seventies, that is when I interviewed him, even trained the terrorists of Baader-Meinhof. With them, children ten years of age. Poor children. (Now he trains them to become suicide bombers. A hundred baby suicide bombers are in the works: a hundred!). This weathercock who keeps his wife at Paris, served and revered like a queen, and keeps his people down in the s***. He takes them out of the s*** only to send them to die, to kill and to die, like the eighteen year old girls who in order to earn equality with the fate of their victims. And yet many Italians love him, yes. Just like they loved Mussolini. And many other Europeans do the same.

I find it shameful and see in all this the rise of a new fascism, a new nazism. A fascism, a nazism, that much more grim and revolting because it is conducted and nourished by those who hypocritically pose as do-gooders, progressives, communists, pacifists, Catholics or rather Christians, and who have the gall to label a warmonger anyone like me who screams the truth. I see it, yes, and I say the following. I have never been tender with the tragic and Shakespearean figure Sharon. ("I know you've come to add another scalp to your necklace," he murmured almost with sadness when I went to interview him in 1982.) I have often had disagreements with the Israelis, ugly ones, and in the past I have defended the Palestinians a great deal. Maybe more than they deserved. But I stand with Israel, I stand with the Jews. I stand just as I stood as a young girl during the time when I fought with them, and when the Anna Marias were shot. I defend their right to exist, to defend themselves, to not let themselves be exterminated a second time. And disgusted by the anti-Semitism of many Italians, of many Europeans, I am ashamed of this shame that dishonors my Country and Europe. At best, it is not a community of States, but a pit of Pontius Pilates. And even if all the inhabitants of this planet were to think otherwise, I would continue to think so.

Oriana Fallaci, Geert Wilders and Islamaphobia

2009-01-29T02:08:00.001-05:00

Oriana Fallaci, who died of cancer at age 77, was a controversial Italian journalist and former war correspondent who, at her death, was facing charges of vilifying Islam under Italian law following the publication of her book, The Strength of Reason, one of three polemical works published since the September 11 attacks. Her Islamaphobic diatribes included comments such as Muslims "breed like rats".

Born into a working-class family, her father was leader of the underground movement in Florence during the second world war and he recruited Oriana, the eldest of his four daughters, as an assistant. She spent much of her childhood with him in the partisan bands, helping Allied soldiers escape through enemy lines.

Fallaci became a journalist at the age of 16 to help pay her way through medical school, but ill health forced her to give up her studies, and the day job developed into a dazzling career. Aside from the star-style interviews which made her name, she was an accomplished war reporter - in Vietnam, Latin America, the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent. In 1968, she was shot and seriously wounded in the student riots before the Mexico City Olympics. She distilled her experiences into several bestselling books, such as Inshallah, a novel about Italian troops stationed in Lebanon in 1983.

Prosperity brought her homes in Manhattan, Florence and the Tuscan countryside. Tiny, and chain-smoking, she was also glamorous and stylish, with a taste for furs, jewels and large hats.

She began her career with celebrity interviews but progressed rapidly to international politicians such as Golda Meir, Haile Selassie, Henry Kissinger and Indira Gandhi. The "La Fallaci" style of interview became something of a cult in North America - adversarial, emotional and extremely lengthy.

She would spend weeks researching her subject in obsessive detail and the interview itself, in which she relied entirely on a tape recorder, would last six or seven hours. If her favourite subjects were Golda Meir and Indira Ghandi, her least favourite was the Shah of Iran, whom she needled into a damning dismissal of women: "Women are important ... only if they're beautiful and charming and keep their femininity... you're equal in the eyes of the law, but not ... in intelligence."

In an interview with the Ayatollah Khomeini, she ripped off her chador. She complained about Fidel Castro's body odour and threw her microphone at Muhammad Ali's face when he belched in answer to one of her questions.

Her interviews appeared mainly in L'Europeo, the Italian magazine for which she worked for 23 years ("It died when I left"). She described her interviews as "coitus" and "a seduction" and hated using interpreters ("the stranger's body between two people making love"). She spoke English, French and Spanish, as well as Italian.

She abhorred marriage yet longed for children. She was very conscious of the warring claims this entailed: "You cannot work and be at home with your child. But you want both." The strands of her life appeared to come together when she interviewed Alexandros Panagoulis, a Greek anarchist condemned to death for the attempted assassination of junta leader Georgios Papadopoulous in 1967. Panagoulis was released in 1973, when the colonels fell, after three years of torture and imprisonment.

A colleague of Fallaci's in the Milan office of L'Europeo announced he was going to meet Panagoulis, due to be released that day. Fallaci instantly cancelled an interview with the then German chancellor Willy Brandt, which had taken her eight months to arrange, and said with characteristic imperiousness: "You are not going. I am." Fallaci spent the next three years enslaved to a man who had been intent on heroic death. He reminded her, she said, of the reckless partisan fighters of her youth, particularly her father.

In her book A Man (1977) - the memoir she wrote to Panagoulis after he was killed in May 1976 in a car crash she believed was assassination - she tells how she lost the baby she wanted so badly after Panagoulis had kicked her in the stomach. She also describes the endless battles to dissuade him from suicidal guerrilla attacks. She dubs herself Sancho Panza to his Don Quixote but she comes across more as nanny to a juvenile delinquent. However, there was no doubt that he was her soulmate ("My lover, my husband without contract, my political comrade, my friend").

Her last major assignment was the first Gulf war in 1990. Fallaci demanded to be escorted to Khafji, scene of the first land battle. It appeared impossible. Journalists were not allowed anywhere near the fighting except in small, tightly controlled groups. But a local newspaper editor, charmed by the idea of aiding a journalistic legend, rashly promised to use his influence to get her a military escort to the front. When he proved unable to deliver, Fallaci threw a celebrity-sized tantrum. She screamed and ranted, threatening to kill herself to provide news for her newspaper in the absence of war tidings. The editor ended up in hospital with heart palpitations.

At the time, Fallaci likened it to an experience in North Vietnam in 1969, when officials restricted her travel and vetted the soldiers she interviewed. "It was more than censorship. It's like a cancer," she said.

Two years later, she was diagnosed with the cancer that had killed her father, mother and one sister and withdrew into reclusive exile in her flat in Manhattan. But after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre, the editor of Italy's best-selling newspaper, Corriere della Sera, persuaded her to write a piece. Her 14,000-word article was, to say the least, a departure from the sober, moderate, intelligent conservatism for which Corriere is renowned.

"You ask me about the contrast between the two cultures? Well, to be honest, it annoys me even to talk about two cultures, to put them on the same plane," Fallaci wrote. "Let's be honest. Our cathedrals are more beautiful than the mosques and the synagogues." What readers got was far more than a cry of outrage. It was a rant that made no distinction between the terrorists responsible for 9/11 and the rest of the Muslim world.

Corriere's publishing arm, Rizzoli, turned the article into a book, La Rabbia e l'Orgoglio (The Rage and the Pride), and within little over a month it had sold 700,000 copies. Two further books were written in much the same vein. The most recent, Oriana Fallaci intervista sé stessa - L'Apocalisse, sold some two million copies globally.

Fallaci's diatribes prompted law suits in France and Switzerland, and last year a judge in the northern Italian city of Bergamo committed her for trial on charges of offending Islam. The attacks, however, served only to reinforce Fallaci's view of herself as a courageous, reviled prophet. Indeed, in her second book, she identified herself with a 14th century heretic burned at the stake.

In Italy, her writings endeared her to the right wing - libertarians, keen to defend her right to free speech; campaigners against immigration (particularly members of the xenophobic Northern League), and - paradoxically, in view of Fallaci's atheism - some in Italy's influential "theo-con" lobby.

Fallaci died at a clinic in Florence on the very day that Pope Benedict XVI came under attack from the Muslim world for expressing a view the writer would have endorsed, but thought all too mild.

· Oriana Fallaci, journalist, born June 29 1929; died September 15 2006

Japan executes four people: officials

2009-01-29T01:49:00.000-05:00

TOKYO – Japan on Thursday hanged four convicted murderers, officials said, carrying out its first executions of the year despite international criticism.

Japan is the only major industrial nation other than the United States to apply the death penalty. It last carried out executions in October when it hanged two inmates.

Japan hanged the four prisoners in Tokyo, Nagoya and Fukuoka, the justice ministry said in a statement.

The executed inmates included Yukinari Kawamura, 44, and his accomplice Tetsuya Sato, 39, who were convicted of killing two women and then burning and cutting up their bodies.

Japan also executed Shojiro Nishimoto, 32, who was convicted of killing four people during repeated burglaries, the justice ministry said.

The other hanged inmate was Tadashi Makino, 58, who killed a woman and injured three other women during a burglary, it said.

The death penalty is overwhelmingly supported by the public in Japan, which has one of the world's lowest crime rates.

Conservative governments have stepped up the pace of executions. Last year Japan hanged 15 death-row inmates, the highest since 1975 when the country executed 17 people.

But Japan has regularly come under fire from the European Union and international human rights groups over its use of the death penalty.

Amnesty International plans to issue a protest to the Japanese government after reviewing the latest executions, a member of the London-based rights group's Tokyo chapter said.

Rights groups also criticise the way that Japan executes inmates.

Prison authorities give inmates only short notice that they are headed to the gallows in a bid to ward off last-minute appeals.

Norges pro-Israel motstand leder under 24-timers vakt

2009-01-29T00:18:00.000-05:00

"Norge, et land som pleide å være veldig pro-Israel, er blitt en av de mest anti-Israel land i Europa i dag, både myndigheter og opinionen.

Det er ifølge Dr. Asle Toje, forsker ved Handelshøyskolen BI og utenrikspolitiske rådgiver for Frp i Norge (Fremskrittspartiet).

Toje er en trofast talsmann for Siv Jensen, chairwoman av de største opposisjonspartiet Fremskrittspartiet, som nylig har kommet under ild for sin pro-Israel holdning. Etter sin opptreden på en pro-Israel rally i Oslo 8. januar Jensen begynte mottak død trusler, og er nå under 24-timers sikkerhet tilsyn.

"Jeg har aldri opplevd slikt hat i Norge, sier Toje, som var til stede på demonstrasjonen. "Det var folk kaster stein på og spytter på rally-goers. Etterpå, folk bærer israelske flagg ble tilfeldig angrepet på gata."

Sammen med uttrykk for støtte til Israel, høyttalere på rally, inkludert Jensen, kalles for hjelp til å bli distribuert i Gaza, og for en våpenhvile avtale som skal signeres. "Det var en fredelig rally, sa Toje. "Jensen var ringer for de samme tingene som Barack Obama. Forskjellen er at hun gjør det i Norge. Miljøet her er annerledes."

Sosialistisk Venstreparti (Sosialistisk Venstreparti), som er en del av dagens koalisjon, har foreslått en rekke forhold til boikott mot Israel siden regjeringen ble dannet i 2005.

"Den første var en generell boikott, sa Toje. "Neste kom en akademisk boikott og deretter en boikott på armene." De boikotter, men ikke gjennomført, har forverret en allerede fiendtlige atmosfæren.

Israelske / Nazi sammenlikninger og anti-semittisk hendelser er nå vanlig, Toje sa.

On January 21, Etgar Lefkovits rapportert i The Jerusalem Post på en e-post sendt ut av Trine Lilleng, senior norsk diplomat i Saudi Arabia. "The barnebarn av Holocaust overlevende fra andre verdenskrig gjør til palestinerne nøyaktig hva som ble gjort for dem ved Nazi Germany," Lilleng skrev.

Utenriksminister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) i sin siste memoir, for å gjøre en forskjell, gjør en implisitt sammenligning bemerke når du skriver i Hebron: "De fleste butikkene har vært stengt. The shudders vært bolted og er preget av skilt fra den israelske politiet. De er merket, som andre butikker er merket på andre steder og på andre tidspunkter.

I august 2006, Jostein Gaardner, en verdsatt norsk forfatter og en venn av Støre's, utgitt en op-ed i Aftenposten daglig under overskriften "Guds utvalgte folk."

Gardner skrev i reaksjonen til den andre Libanon-krigen, "Vi tror ikke på forestillingen om Guds utvalgte folk. Vi le av dette folks capriciousness og gråte på sitt misdeeds. Opptre som Guds utvalgte folk er ikke bare dumt og arrogant, men en forbrytelse mot menneskeheten. Vi kaller det rasisme. "

En uke senere, Gaarder penned en op-ed uttrykke sin "angre hvis jeg har såret noen - om jeg har ment og fortsatt ønsker å være harde på min kritikk av staten Israel."

I september 2006, 10 skudd ble oppsagt på Oslo synagogen, men ingen ble skadet. Shooteren, Arfan Bhatti, "ønsket å drepe kvinner og barn som kom ut av synagogen," Aftenposten rapporterte.

På 2. juni 2008, Bhatti ble frikjent for terrorisme kostnader og dømt for "grov vandalisme. Han er nå en åtte års fengselsstraff.

Norges lag 1500 jøder, som lever hovedsakelig i Oslo og Trondheim, har opplevd en god del anti-Semitism, Toje sa.

Han posited at dette var forbundet med masse innvandring fra muslimske land som begynte på 1970-tallet.

Om Israel, sa han: "En unwillingness å se at det er to sider av historien, har dukket opp. Helt til venstre har invitert radikal islam i seng med dem. Det er nye ting å være apologist om."

I trosse at trenden Toje rost Jensen som "en veldig modig politiker. Hun sto opp og gjorde sin stemme hørt i en tid da det var ikke den populære ting å gjøre - som vanligvis er når det virkelig gjelder."

Norway's pro-Israel opposition leader under 24-hour guard

2009-01-29T00:15:00.000-05:00

"Norway, a country that used to be very pro-Israel, has turned into one of the most anti-Israel countries in Europe today," within both government and public opinion.

That's according to Dr. Asle Toje, a researcher at the BI Norwegian School of Management and foreign policy adviser to the Progress Party of Norway (Fremskrittspartiet).

Toje is a staunch advocate of Siv Jensen, chairwoman of the main opposition Progress Party, who has recently come under fire for her pro-Israel stance. Following her appearance at a pro-Israel rally in Oslo on January 8, Jensen began receiving death threats, and is now under 24-hour security supervision.

"I have never experienced this kind of hatred in Norway," said Toje, who was present at the demonstration. "There were people throwing stones at and spitting on rally-goers. Afterward, people carrying Israeli flags were randomly attacked in the streets."

Along with expressions of support for Israel, speakers at the rally, including Jensen, called for aid to be distributed in Gaza and for a cease-fire agreement to be signed. "It was a peaceful rally," said Toje. "Jensen was calling for the same things as Barack Obama. The difference is that she was doing it in Norway. The environment here is different."

The Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti), which is part of the current coalition, has proposed a number of boycotts against Israel since the government was formed in 2005.

"The first was a general boycott," said Toje. "Next came an academic boycott and then a boycott on arms." The boycotts, though not implemented, have exacerbated an already hostile atmosphere.

Israeli/Nazi comparisons and anti-Semitic incidents are now commonplace, Toje said.

On January 21, Etgar Lefkovits reported in The Jerusalem Post on an e-mail sent out by Trine Lilleng, a senior Norwegian diplomat based in Saudi Arabia. "The grandchildren of Holocaust survivors from World War II are doing to the Palestinians exactly what was done to them by Nazi Germany," Lilleng wrote.

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor), in his recent memoir, To Make a Difference, makes an implicit comparison, noting, when writing of Hebron: "Most of the shops have been shut down. The shudders have been bolted and are marked by signs from the Israeli police. They are marked, as other shops have been marked at other places and at other times."

In August 2006, Jostein Gaardner, an esteemed Norwegian author and a friend of Støre's, published an op-ed in the Aftenposten daily under the headline, "God's chosen people."

Gardner wrote, in reaction to the Second Lebanon War, "We don't believe in the notion of God's chosen people. We laugh at this people's capriciousness and weep at its misdeeds. To act as God's chosen people is not only stupid and arrogant, but a crime against humanity. We call it racism."

A week later, Gaarder penned another op-ed, expressing his "regret if I have hurt anyone - though I intended and still intend to be harsh in my critique of the State of Israel."

In September 2006, 10 shots were fired at an Oslo synagogue, but no one was hurt. The shooter, Arfan Bhatti, "wished to kill women and children coming out of the synagogue,"Aftenposten reported.

On June 2, 2008, Bhatti was acquitted of terrorism charges and convicted of "aggravated vandalism." He is now serving an eight-year prison sentence.

Norway's approximately 1,500 Jews, who live mainly in Oslo and Trondheim, have experienced a fair amount of anti-Semitism, Toje said.

He posited that this was connected with the mass immigration from Muslim countries that began in the 1970s.

On Israel, he said, "An unwillingness to see that there are two sides to the story has emerged. The far left has invited radical Islam into bed with them. It is the new thing to be apologist about."

In defying that trend, Toje praised Jensen as "a very bold politician. She stood up and made her voice heard at a time when it was not the popular thing to do - which is usually when it really matters."

La France se prépare à la grève nationale

2009-01-28T23:29:00.000-05:00

* Story Highlights
*-Pied à partir de 8 h mercredi soir jusqu'à vendredi à 8 h
* Air France dit qu'il va exploiter l'ensemble de ses vols long-courriers, une partie des vols de courte
* Hôpital et travailleurs des postes, les contrôleurs du trafic aérien au large de la marche chez les personnes d'emplois

PARIS, France - France adaptés pour le transport des perturbations à venir d'une grève nationale du travail baptisée «jeudi noir».

A 36 heures de grève dans les villes et les villes de France est prévue par les transports publics et d'autres travailleurs soucieux de l'insécurité de l'emploi - un mécontentement suscité par la crise économique mondiale.

Dans toute la nation, les étudiants, les enseignants et les travailleurs gouvernementaux seront touchés les rues avec métro, bus, train et les employés des compagnies aériennes à partir de 8 h mercredi soir jusqu'à vendredi à 8 h

Etat de transit les autorités s'attendent à des perturbations sur le métro et les autobus, les services ferroviaires internationaux, mais ne seront pas affectés.

Air France a déclaré qu'il sera à 100 pour cent de ses vols long-courriers, mais a suspendu les 30 pour cent de ses vols court comme une "mesure de précaution."

La CGT, l'un des principaux syndicats français, a déclaré le plus important aura lieu à Paris le jeudi après-midi.

Hôpital et travailleurs des postes, employés de banque, les contrôleurs aériens et les travailleurs de l'automobile sera parmi ceux qui la marche de leurs emplois.

Israel expulsa a embajador venezolano

2009-01-28T23:08:00.001-05:00

* Historia Destacados
* Embajador venezolano en Israel y otros dos expulsados
* Mover Venezuela en respuesta a romper relaciones diplomáticas ataque sobre Gaza
* Canciller venezolano dice país está orgulloso de la expulsión de Israel

JERUSALÉN - Israel ha expulsado el embajador de Venezuela en respuesta a la expulsión de Venezuela de un enviado de Israel y la ruptura de relaciones diplomáticas a principios de este mes.

Jefe de la misión venezolana Roland Betancourt y otros dos diplomáticos se les dio hasta el viernes para salir.

"Debido a la decisión de Venezuela de cortar las relaciones con nosotros hace unas semanas, dijo que el encargado de negocios venezolano que él y su personal debe salir de Israel", oficial del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores dijo Lior Hayat. "Les dijimos que se declaró persona non grata en Israel."

Venezuela expulsó a embajador israelí Shlomo Cohen y el personal el 6 de enero y rompió las relaciones diplomáticas el 14 de enero en protesta por el ataque de Israel sobre Gaza. Bolivia también rompió relaciones con Israel, ese mismo día.

Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Venezuela Nicolás Maduro defendió las acciones de su país, diciendo Israel violó los derechos humanos fundamentales con sus acciones militares.

"Nuestras decisiones son justas, correctas, y alineado con ajustarse con el espíritu de nuestra Constitución, que exige que busquemos la paz", dijo Maduro en una declaración en el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores del sitio web.

Maduro dijo que Venezuela las acciones sean compatibles con su apoyo a la creación de un Estado palestino.

No ha hablado, dijo, con las autoridades israelíes durante esta semana la expulsión de los diplomáticos venezolanos.

"La respuesta del Estado de Israel es débil, y que, en cualquier caso, para nosotros es un honor", dijo Maduro a base de Qatar la red de televisión Al-Jazeera. "Estamos orgullosos de que el Estado de Israel que existe en la actualidad, dirigido por estos criminales, tomado esta decisión".

Israel y Venezuela han tenido tensiones diplomáticas antes. Israel recordó su embajador en Venezuela en agosto de 2006 "en protesta contra la política unilateral del presidente de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, a la luz de su indignante difamatorias contra el Estado de Israel, y, en reacción a la recuperación del embajador Venezuela a Israel, "el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores dijo en su momento.

Un 21 de enero de cesación del fuego que ponga fin a los combates entre militantes de Hamas en Gaza e Israel, que ha puesto en marcha una ofensiva de tres semanas, diciendo que su objetivo era detener ataques con misiles en el sur de Israel.

Más de 1200 palestinos, muchos de ellos civiles, fueron asesinados. Israel perdió alrededor de 10 soldados y tres civiles.

Israel expels Venezuelan ambassador

2009-01-28T22:43:00.001-05:00

Israel has expelled Venezuela's ambassador in response to Venezuela's expulsion of an Israeli envoy and the rupture of diplomatic relations earlier this month.

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'Liberal' NYTimes Buries Rove Subpoena

2009-01-28T22:32:00.001-05:00

Karl Rove has been subpoenaed for a second time --- the first sign that Democrats under President Barack Obama's tenure will boldly go after Bush Administration officials in scandals that outlast his presidency.

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Geert Wilders-Stop meddling Moroccan naming

2009-01-28T17:08:00.001-05:00

Stop meddling Moroccan naming Moroccans in the Netherlands where their children of the Moroccan government has no Dutch names were given, it is now forbidden to them Berber names to use. The PVV-Sietse Fritsma parliament, Geert Wilders and Hero Brinkman found that the interference of the regime in Rabat, once a stop should be called. The three calls on the Cabinet members to the names returned to the Moroccan Embassy, accompanied by a statement that the Moroccan government has no control over the names of people residing in the Netherlands. It is high time the PVV'er to the Moroccan authorities once and for all make clear that this sort of brutal interference in English affairs is not tolerated. Questions from members Fritsma, Wilders and Brinkman (PVV all) to the Minister for WWI, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Interior Affairs and Kingdom of Morocco on the ban of names in the Netherlands. 1) Have you taken note of the items' names Rabat prohibits Berber Moroccans in the Netherlands? () 2) Do you share the view that it is unacceptable that the Moroccan authorities with a list of prohibited names for Moroccans living in the Netherlands provide whatever name they give to their children? If not, why not? 3) Are you prepared the Dutch municipalities to provide these names interfering immediately returned to the Moroccan Embassy, accompanied by a statement that the Moroccan government has no control over the names of people residing in the Netherlands? If not, why not? 4) Are you ready for the Moroccan authorities now once and for all make clear that such a brutal interference in English affairs is not tolerated? If not, why not? () True - Rabat prohibits Berber names
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Geert Wilders

2009-01-28T17:05:00.001-05:00

Wilders: 'Ik zal nooit buigen, nooit opgeven'

De nieuwste editie van het bekende weekblad Story bevat een uitgebreid interview van Karel Hille met Geert Wilders. De PVV-voorman kijkt vooruit naar de komende rechtszaak en toont zich daarbij uitermate strijdbaar. "Ik zal nóóit buigen," verzekert Wilders de interviewer, "nooit opgeven."

"Ik heb nu al hele plannen voor die rechtszaak. Wat ik ga doen, wie ik als getuige naar voren haal. (...) Ik ga enorm knokken, niet alleen voor de rechtbank maar ook hier in de Kamer. En als ze dreigen dat ze me zullen aanpakken, motiveert me dat alleen maar meer om nóg een stapje verder te gaan. Om nóg een versnelling hoger te gaan."

Hij is teleurgesteld in de houding van veel collega-politici.

"Volgens mij moet je opkomen voor collega’s die juridisch ten onrechte in de problemen zijn gekomen. Maar dat doen ze niet, want ze zijn bang. De meeste Kamerleden zijn angsthazen."

Bij hoge uitzondering gaat Wilders ook in op de gevolgen, voor zijn privéleven, van het strenge regime van persoonsbeveiliging waaronder hij gebukt gaat, ten gevolge van de doodsbedreigingen aan zijn adres.

"Daarom praat ik nooit over mijn privéleven, om mijn vrouw niet in gevaar te brengen. Ik zit al viereneenhalf jaar in de problemen en voor haar is dat natuurlijk verschrikkelijk. We kunnen nog wel ergens af en toe een hapje met elkaar gaan eten, maar aan alle omringende tafels zitten dan mensen met oortjes in."

"Ik weet nog toen we vijf maanden in die gevangenis in Zeist zaten, in een safehouse. Ik heb daar tegen mijn vrouw gezegd: ga weg! Ga andere dingen doen, ga naar je vrienden, leef je leven en doe gewoon dingen die je graag wilt doen! Je maakt al genoeg ellende mee, zorg dat je een leven hebt."

Is dat het allemaal waard?

"Ik heb een missie. Ik wil Nederland verbeteren. En die missie slaat aan. Er zijn mensen die dat waarderen, die op de PVV stemmen, die blij zijn dat we er zijn. Dát is mijn adrenaline, dát is mijn drijfveer. Já, het is het allemaal wél waard."

Het volledige interview is te vinden in de Story van deze week.

Report: CIA Chief in Algeria Probed Over Rape Allegations

2009-01-28T16:52:00.000-05:00

A CIA station chief in Algeria is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department for allegedly drugging and raping Muslim women and making secret sex videos, ABC News reported.

The 41-year-old officer was sent home by the U.S. ambassador after two women alleged in September that he laced their drinks and assaulted them, ABC News quotes U.S. law enforcement sources.

"It has the potential to be quite explosive if it's not handled well by the United States government," Isobel Coleman, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told ABC News. "This isn't the type of thing that's going to be easily pushed under the carpet."

The Justice Department has expanded its investigation to Egypt after more than a dozen videotapes of the officer engaged in sex acts with other women were discovered.

The CIA has not acknowledged the alleged investigation and will not provide the name of the CIA chief in question.

One of the station chief's alleged victims claimed she met him at a bar at the U.S. embassy and was assaulted after going back to his residence, ABC News reported.

The other alleged victim also said she was sexually assaulted at the CIA chief's residence in a separate incident.

Рауль Кастро прибыл в Россию для увеличения связей

2009-01-28T09:46:00.000-05:00

МОСКВА - кубинский лидер Рауль Кастро прибыл в Россию в среду для посещения, предназначенных для увеличения связей между бывшими союзниками "холодной войны".

Кастро планирует встретиться с президентом Дмитрием Медведевым и другими российскими официальными лицами во время его восьмилетнего день поездки.

Советский Союз предоставил миллиарды долларов в торговлю и субсидии на Кубе до 1991 года, крах. Россия стремится в последнее время, чтобы оживить отношения с Кубой и другими странами Карибского бассейна оспаривать влияние США в этом регионе.

Медведев посетил Кубу и ряд других стран в регионе, в ноябре, и Россия также направила эскадры ВМС в Карибском бассейне. Российская военно-морского флота корабли провели совместные маневры с ВМФ Венесуэлы и порта требует в ряде стран региона, включая Кубу.

Кастро сообщил ИТАР-ТАСС перед поездкой, что Куба и Россия пользуются "замечательные отношения" после затишья в 1990-х годов.

В интервью, Кастро поддержку России в ее споры с США по поводу попытки администрации Буша разместить объекты противоракетной обороны в Европе, и положить бывшие советские народы Украины и Грузии на пути к вступлению в НАТО.

Российский министр иностранных дел Сергей Лавров сказал, что он ожидается Кастро визит к "важной вехой" в двусторонних связях.

В интервью с кубинским правительством пресс агентство Пренса Латина Написал среду на российском министерстве иностранных дел на веб-сайте, Лавров заявил, что Кастро и российские лидеры будут обсуждать глобальные вопросы, в том числе ситуации в странах Карибского бассейна и усилия по расширению экономических связей.

Лавров также подтвердил российский вызов для Соединенных Штатов снять торговое эмбарго в отношении Кубы. "Мы намерены решительно продолжать наши курсы для снятия блокады, которую мы рассматриваем как проявление давно прошли времена, сказал он.

Raul Castro arrives in Russia to boost ties

2009-01-28T09:42:00.001-05:00

MOSCOW – Cuban leader Raul Castro arrived in Russia on Wednesday for a visit intended to boost ties between the former Cold War allies.

Castro is scheduled to meet with President Dmitry Medvedev and other Russian officials during his eight-day trip.

The Soviet Union provided billions of dollars in trade and subsidies to Cuba before its 1991 collapse. Russia has sought recently to reinvigorate ties with Cuba and other Caribbean nations to challenge U.S. influence in the region.

Medvedev visited Cuba and several other nations in the region in November, and Russia also sent a navy squadron to the Caribbean. Russian navy ships held joint maneuvers with the Venezuelan navy and made port calls in several countries of the region, including Cuba.

Castro told the ITAR-Tass news agency before the trip that Cuba and Russia enjoy "wonderful relations" again after a lull in the 1990s.

In the interview, Castro backed Russia in its disputes with the U.S. over the Bush administration's efforts to place missile defense facilities in Europe and to put ex-Soviet nations Ukraine and Georgia on track to join NATO.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he expected Castro's visit to "mark an important milestone" in bilateral ties.

In an interview with the Cuban government press agency Prensa Latina posted Wednesday on the Russian Foreign Ministry's Web site, Lavrov said that that Castro and Russian leaders will discuss the global issues, including the situation in the Caribbean and efforts to increase economic ties.

Lavrov also reaffirmed Russia's call for the United States to lift its trade embargo on Cuba. "We intend to firmly pursue our course for lifting the blockade, which we see as a vestige of the long gone era," he said.

Israel expels Venezuelan embassy staff

2009-01-28T08:35:00.001-05:00

Move comes after Chavez ordered Israeli embassy staff out of his country in protest over Gaza op.

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Karl Rove Asks Obama Lawyers for Executive Privilege

2009-01-28T08:10:00.001-05:00

Subpoenaed by Rep. John Conyers to testify before Congress, Karl Rove has left the debate over whether or not he is protected from testifying to Barack Obama. Rove had previously refused to appear by claiming executive privilege. With Bush out of office, Rove instructed his lawyer to ask the Obama White House whether the same privileges currently exist.

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Oakland police chief resigns amid criticism

2009-01-28T08:01:00.001-05:00

SAN FRANCISCO – Oakland's police chief, facing criticism over chronic violent crime and turmoil in the department, resigned as city leaders prepared to call for a vote of no-confidence.

At a hastily scheduled news conference, Police Chief Wayne Tucker said Tuesday he has "lost faith" in the City Council and accused members of failing to provide enough funding to help fight crime for the 803 officers in the force.

"I feel they have given lip service to their commitment to public safety in this city," said Tucker, who plans to step down on Feb. 28. "I have not been fired. I have not been asked to resign. I make this in the best interest for this city."

Council President Jane Brunner disputed Tucker's charge that the council did not provide enough funding for the department. She said Tucker lacked a clear vision for solving crime in Oakland and a number of bigger cities have lower crime rates than Oakland.

"We need a chief who is bringing in the best practices from around the country," Brunner said. "We need more of a hands-on chief who has been trained in urban policing and has been successful doing it."

Reported crimes in Oakland dropped about 3 percent last year, but violent crimes, such as aggravated assault, attempted robbery and attempted rape, increased, according to police data. The number of homicides went from 127 in 2007 to 125 last year.

Tucker, who previously worked for the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, took the job of interim police chief for Oakland in February 2005 and was sworn in as chief six months later.

The resignation comes amid criticism of the department and unsettling violence in the city across the bay from San Francisco.

The FBI is currently looking into "specific allegations" involving the department, agency spokesman Joe Schadler said Tuesday, declining to elaborate. Oakland police said in a statement that a commander is on paid leave in connection with the FBI's investigation into an incident in 2000.

Earlier this month, the city said it planned to fire 11 officers for allegedly lying to obtain search warrants in drug cases.

In November, Mayor Ron Dellums asked state Attorney General Jerry Brown — the former mayor of Oakland — to conduct an independent probe into the police investigation of slain Oakland newspaper editor Chauncey Bailey. Newspaper reports alleged the lead detective working on the case ignored important evidence.

"We made mistakes on that case and we continue to make mistakes on many of the investigations we do," Tucker said without singling out the officer. "That is going to continue until we are able to have some rational funding stream, or a rational look at how investigations are going to be done in the city of Oakland."

Court: Calif. Christian high school can expel lesbian students

2009-01-28T07:12:00.001-05:00

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A California appeals court has ruled that a Christian high school can expel students because of an alleged lesbian relationship.

The 4th District Court of Appeal in Riverside on Monday upheld California Lutheran High School's right as a private, religious organization to exclude students based on sexual orientation.

Two girls sued claiming they were discriminated against after they were expelled from the Wildomar school in 2005. A lower court said the school isn't bound by the same anti-discrimination laws as a business establishment.

John McKay, attorney for California Lutheran, says the school's goal is to educate based on Christian principles.

The attorney for the girls could not be immediately reached Tuesday.

Can the Koran be compared to 'Mein Kampf'? Video

2009-01-28T06:39:00.002-05:00

Official Blog: http://www.albertbenjaminhoward.blogspot.com Financier Albert Howard is the creator of Operation "King of Islam" which seeks to ban the Quran and all mosques in North America, Europe and Canada.

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Bomba mata a dos en la capital colombiana

2009-01-28T05:16:00.000-05:00

BOGOTA - Dos personas murieron cuando una bomba explotó en un exclusivo barrio en la capital de Colombia el martes en lo que autoridades dijeron era una posible extorsión raqueta por la guerrilla. Trabajadores de emergencia y la policía acordonó la zona después de la fuerte explosión daña una tienda de videos Blockbuster, sacudió el norte de Bogotá y envió la noche los comensales y los residentes corriendo a cabo en calles cercanas. "Lamentablemente, dos personas resultaron muertas", el ministro del Interior, Fabio Valencio dijo a los periodistas. "Este es un ataque indiscriminado." Los bombardeos han sido raros en la capital desde que el Presidente Álvaro Uribe, inició una campaña respaldada por Estados Unidos en la lucha contra los rebeldes izquierdistas de cuatro décadas de guerra contra el Estado. Inicialmente, las autoridades informaron de 20 personas resultaron heridas, pero más tarde dijo que no hubo heridos en la explosión, que fue causada por unos 5 kilogramos (11 libras) de explosivos en un cajero automático en el edificio de dos pisos donde Blockbuster opera. "Toda persona en un restaurante se agotó sin pensar en su seguridad para tratar de ayudar, pero no había mucho que podían hacer", dijo Clara López, un oficial de la ciudad y residentes locales. Policía sigue investigando quién es el responsable de la explosión, pero el ministro de Defensa, Juan Manuel Santos, dijo que el ataque era coherente con los ataques de los rebeldes Farc anterior a la presión de las empresas locales. En el pasado, la policía ha atribuido los atentados en contra de los pequeños establecimientos comerciales y la extorsión a las FARC una tienda Blockbuster fue atacado con una pequeña explosión el año pasado, dijeron funcionarios. Colombia, las FARC fueron una vez un ejército de campesinos que controlaban amplias zonas del país, pero han sido rechazados en la selva y las montañas remotas ya Uribe envió tropas para retomar el control. Los rebeldes sufrieron una serie de contratiempos el año pasado, incluyendo la muerte de tres comandantes, una cadena de deserciones y el rescate de un grupo de rehenes. Pero las Farc sigue siendo una fuerza capaz en algunas zonas.
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Suspended MSU hockey player Andrew Conboy drops out of school

2009-01-28T04:49:00.001-05:00

In the wake of a much-publicized altercation against Michigan, Michigan State hockey freshman Andrew Conboy has left school, coach Rick Comley announced today.

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Israelis strike at Gaza border, reports say

2009-01-28T03:05:00.001-05:00

Israeli missiles struck near the Gaza border Wednesday morning, even as George Mitchell, President Obama's envoy to the Middle East, was scheduled to arrive in hopes of shoring up a fragile cease-fire there.

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Bill Clinton made millions from foreign sources

2009-01-28T01:58:00.001-05:00

WASHINGTON – Former President Bill Clinton earned nearly $6 million in speaking fees last year, almost all of it from foreign companies, according to financial documents filed by his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The documents obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press show that $4.6 million of the former president's reported $5.7 million in 2008 honoraria came from foreign sources, including Kuwait's national bank, other firms and groups in Canada, Germany, India, Malaysia, Mexico and Portugal and a Hong Kong-based company that spent $100,000 on federal lobbying last year.

Executives at many of the firms that paid honoraria to Bill Clinton have also donated large amounts of money to the Clinton Foundation, according to documents it released last year as part of an agreement with Congress on Hillary Clinton's nomination as secretary of state. That agreement was aimed at preventing the appearance of any conflict of interest between the ex-president's charitable organization and his wife's new job as the United States' top diplomat.

In addition to Bill Clinton's income from speaking fees, Hillary Clinton reported joint holdings of between $6.1 million and $30.3 million in a blind trust as well as cash, insurance and retirement accounts worth between $1 million and $5.2 million.

Hillary Clinton made between $50,000 and $100,000 in royalties from her 2003 memoir "Living History." Bill Clinton earned between $100,000 and $1 million in royalties for his 2004 autobiography "My Life," the documents show. The Clintons reported no liabilities.

All senior officials in the Obama administration are required to complete a detailed disclosure of their personal finances, including spouse and children, which is updated yearly.

The two men selected to serve as Hillary Clinton's deputy secretaries of state, Jacob Lew and James Steinberg, also filed financial disclosure forms.

Lew, a former Clinton administration official who recently headed Citigroup's Alternative Investments unit, reported 2008 salary income of just over $1 million along with numerous investments, including between $50,000 and $100,000 in State of Israel bonds.

Steinberg, another former Clinton administration official who recently was a professor at the University of Texas, reported receiving $35,000 in 2008 for foreign speaking engagements, including three before Japanese media firms and one before the Confederation of Indian Industries in New Delhi.

The most Bill Clinton got from a foreign source was $1.25 million for appearing at five events sponsored by the Toronto-based Power Within Inc., a company that puts on motivational and training programs around North America, according to Hillary Clinton's submission.

For one Power Within speech alone, delivered in Edmonton in June 2008, Clinton was paid $525,000, the most for any single event that year. For one event, he got $200,000 and for three others he received $175,000 each, the documents show.

The Hong Kong firm, Hybrid Kinetic Automotive Holdings, paid Clinton a $300,000 honorarium on Dec. 4, 2008. Twenty five days later, on Dec. 29, a man listed as the company's chief financial officer, Jack Xi Deng, made a $25,000 cash donation to the Virginia gubernatorial campaign of Clinton confidant Terry McAuliffe, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the Hong Kong firm paid at least $100,000 in 2008 to lobbyists on immigration issues.

The other foreign honoraria Bill Clinton received in 2008 are:

• $450,000 from AWD Holding AG, a German-based international financial services company.

• $350,000 from the state-owned National Bank of Kuwait. The Kuwaiti government donated between $1 million and $5 million to the Clinton Foundation, according to the foundation's disclosure.

• $300,000 from Value Grupo Financiero SA de CV, a Mexico-based financial holding company, whose chief executive officer, Carlos Bremer Gutierrez, is one of the Clinton Foundation's leading donors. Gutierrez donated between $250,001 to $500,000 to the foundation, according to foundation's documents.

• $250,000 from Germany's Media Control Gmbh, which bills itself as the world's leading provider of entertainment data and was founded by Karlheinz Koegel, who contributed $100,001 to $250,000 to the Clinton foundation.

• $200,000 from Malaysia's Petra Equities Management on behalf of the Sekhar Foundation run by Malaysian multimillionaire Vinod Sekhar who donated between $25,001 and $50,000 to the Clinton Foundation, according to its documents.

In addition to the foreign earnings, Bill Clinton made just over $1 million from domestic speaking engagements, including $250,000 from MSG Entertainment, $225,000 from the National Association of Home Care and Hospice, $200,000 from the United Nations Association, $175,000 from the ING North America Insurance Corp., $125,000 from the Rodman and Renshaw Capital Group and $100,000 from the Hollywood Radio and Television Society.

Man kills wife, five kids, himself after being fired

2009-01-28T01:28:00.001-05:00

A man apparently despondent about losing his job killed his wife and five children before turning the gun on himself, officials said Tuesday.

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Hartford el primer alcalde hispano detenido el soborno cargos

2009-01-28T00:50:00.000-05:00

HARTFORD, Conn - Eddie Pérez, una vez líder de banda que le dio la vida para convertirse en la más poderosa de Hartford alcalde, entregó a la policía de martes a enfrentar una acusación de soborno para tener una ciudad contratista renovar su casa y no pagar por ella hasta después de se enfrenten a los investigadores.

Pérez, de Hartford el primer alcalde hispano, empujado a través de cambios a la ciudad que le dio carta de un control sin precedentes, que utilizó para consolidar el poder, nombrar a los jefes de departamento y tomar el control de la junta escolar. Pero hace dos años que ha operado bajo una nube de sospecha, y los cargos que amenazan con añadir su nombre a una creciente lista de políticos torcidos que este estado ha dado el sobrenombre de "Corrupticut".

Rodeado en una conferencia de prensa el Ayuntamiento de la familia, la ciudad de trabajadores y aliados martes, el plazo de tres demócrata admitió que él nunca debería haber utilizado un contratista de la ciudad, pero dijo que no había cometido un delito. Se comprometió a permanecer en la oficina que ha celebrado desde 2001.

"Es inapropiado e inexcusable", dijo Pérez. "Yo nunca debería haber permitido que la percepción de deshonestidad a color de mi administración."

El contratista, Carlos Costa, dijo a los investigadores que creía que sería excluido de lucrativos contratos de la ciudad que él no había hecho el trabajo de forma gratuita, dijo el martes fiscales.

Costa del abogado, William Gerace, no diría que si su cliente está cooperando con los fiscales.

"El Sr. Costa se pidió hacer un trabajo en la casa del alcalde y él lo hizo", dijo Gerace. "Él no es un delincuente. Él no es deshonesto. Él es un trabajador contratista."

Costa, que fue galardonado con un cartón de $ 5 millones de la ciudad las calles contrato en 2003, hizo 40.000 $ en la cocina y el baño renovaciones en la casa de Pérez en 2005. Pérez pagó 20.000 dólares por el trabajo, pero sólo después de ser interrogado en 2007 por un gran jurado de sondaje posible corrupción en el gobierno de la ciudad, los fiscales dijeron. Ni Pérez ni Costa obtenido permisos de construcción para la obra, los fiscales dijeron.

Según justifica, Pérez intervino en varias ocasiones para ayudar a Costa, por ejemplo, pulsando la ciudad los trabajadores a pagar las facturas de la Costa con más rapidez que otros contratistas municipales.

El abogado de Pérez, Hubert Santos, dijo que impulsar la ciudad a pagar facturas de legítima no es un delito. Insistió en que Pérez siempre previsto para pagar las obras de renovación, sino que se distrae cuando su esposa se derrumbó en 2005 y se sometió a meses de tratamiento de los aneurismas cerebrales.

"Por lo menos si va a destruir un gobierno, en particular, una dirigida por una minoría de los pocos alcaldes en el estado de Connecticut, lo menos que podemos pedir de la oficina del fiscal es un delito que afirman", dijo Santos, que cuenta con Kennedy primo Michael Skakel entre sus clientes.

Pérez, 51, se encarga de recibir un soborno, fabricación de pruebas físicas y la conspiración para fabricar pruebas. Cada uno de los delitos graves lleva una pena máxima de cinco a 10 años de prisión si son condenados.

Costa fue acusado el lunes con dos cargos de soborno, fabricación de pruebas y conspiración para fabricar pruebas.

Otro empleado de la municipalidad, Edward Lazu, fue acusado martes con una cuenta de la recepción de un soborno, fabricación de pruebas y tres cargos de falsificación. Costa hizo libre acera y calzada para Lazu, certifica que los contratistas de la ciudad de trabajo, los fiscales dijeron.

Lazu del abogado, Richard Brown, dijo que su cliente no hizo nada malo y no dispone de información acerca de cualquier hecho ilícito que participen el alcalde.

Pérez creció en Hartford arenoso del Fin del Norte y fundó una banda antes de pasar la calle fuera de la vida en la década de 1970 y la formación de un grupo cívico de barrio.

Aunque técnicamente la ciudad en poder de la debilidad alcalde forma de gobierno, Pérez upended Hartford política por alinearse con un republicano y un miembro del Partido Verde para tomar el control del Ayuntamiento. En 2002, los votantes aprobaron una carta de cambio que cambió el poder del Consejo a la alcaldía de Pérez y el alcalde más poderoso en la historia de Hartford. En 2005, se hizo cargo de la ciudad del sistema escolar.

Autoridades buscado la casa de Pérez en agosto de 2007, y dos meses más tarde el estado juntos un gran jurado de investigación para estudiar posibles irregularidades en su administración. Aunque la investigación fue revelado antes de la elección en 2007 la alcaldía de noviembre, Pérez ganó fácilmente otro término.

Otros destacados políticos de Connecticut han sido objeto de investigaciones de la corrupción en los últimos años, entre ellos el ex gobernador John G. Rowland, quien renunció en 2004 y más tarde sirvió 10 meses en prisión federal tras admitir que negocian el acceso de los políticos de vacaciones y las reparaciones a su casa de campo .

Entre los otros son el ex alcalde de Bridgeport Joseph Ganim, quien está cumpliendo un período de nueve años de prisión federal para el gobierno más de $ 2 millones en contratos de la ciudad, y el ex alcalde de Waterbury Philip Giordano, quien está cumpliendo una de 37 años de prisión por abusar sexualmente de dos las niñas, los crímenes de que salió a la luz durante una investigación federal de corrupción.

Hartford, Conn., mayor arrested on bribery charges

2009-01-28T00:46:00.000-05:00

HARTFORD, Conn. – Eddie Perez, a one-time gang leader who turned his life around to become Hartford's most powerful mayor, surrendered to police Tuesday to face a bribery charge for having a city contractor renovate his home and not paying for it until after being confronted by investigators.

Perez, Hartford's first Hispanic mayor, pushed through changes to the city charter that gave him unprecedented control, which he used to consolidate power, appoint department heads and take control of the school board. But for two years he has operated under a cloud of suspicion, and the charges threaten to add his name to a steadily growing list of crooked politicians that has given this state the nickname "Corrupticut."

Surrounded at a City Hall news conference by family, city workers and allies Tuesday, the three-term Democrat admitted that he should never have used a city contractor, but said he did not commit a crime. He pledged to remain in the office he's held since 2001.

"It was inappropriate and inexcusable," Perez said. "I should never have allowed the perception of impropriety to color my administration."

The contractor, Carlos Costa, told investigators he believed he would be shut out of lucrative city contracts had he not done the work for free, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Costa's attorney, William Gerace, would not say if his client is cooperating with prosecutors.

"Mr. Costa was asked to do a job at the mayor's house and he did it," Gerace said. "He's not a crook. He's not dishonest. He's a hardworking contractor."

Costa, who was awarded a $5 million city streetscape contract in 2003, did $40,000 in kitchen and bathroom renovations at Perez's home in 2005. Perez paid $20,000 for the work, but only after being questioned in 2007 by a grand jury probing possible corruption in city government, prosecutors said. Neither Costa nor Perez obtained building permits for the work, prosecutors said.

According to warrants, Perez repeatedly intervened in matters to help Costa, such as by pressing city workers to pay Costa's bills faster than other municipal contractors.

Trailer - The Obama Deception

2009-01-28T00:10:00.001-05:00

...A Film by Alex Jones

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Ex-Lehman boss 'sold' $14m mansion to wife for $100

2009-01-27T23:58:00.001-05:00

The disgraced chief executive of Lehman Brothers transferred ownership of a $14 million Florida mansion to his wife for $100 in a possible attempt to move assets beyond the reach of infuriated investors of the collapsed bank.

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UN official: Enough evidence to prosecute Rumsfeld

2009-01-27T23:54:00.001-05:00

"We have clear evidence," he said. "In our report that we sent to the United Nations, we made it clear that former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld clearly authorized torture methods and he was told at that time by Alberto Mora, the legal council of the Navy, 'Mr. Secretary, what you are actually ordering here amounts to torture.'

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Thrift store MP3 player contains secret military files

2009-01-27T10:36:00.001-05:00

A man walks into a thrift store. It sounds like the opening line to a bad joke. And this case was a bad joke -- for the Pentagon.

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FedEx plane crashes in Texas

2009-01-27T10:29:00.001-05:00

Two crew members were taken to a hospital after a FedEx cargo plane crashed on landing Tuesday morning at the Lubbock, Texas, airport, officials said.

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Barack Hussein Obama "ineligible" to be President

2009-01-27T08:54:00.003-05:00

01/26/09: PRESS RELEASE - New Issue of GLOBE Magazine [Feb. 2nd] Highlights
Philip J. Berg, Esq. Efforts to Expose Obama not being “qualified” to be President.
Also, Berg states U.S. Supreme Court denied Injunction request but Berg has three [3] cases still open and Berg states he will prove Obama “ineligible” to be President

(Lafayette Hill, PA – 01/26/09) - Philip J. Berg, Esquire, the first Attorney who filed suit against Barack H. Obama challenging Senator Obama’s lack of “qualifications” to serve as President of the United States and his cases that are still pending, Berg vs. Obama [2 cases – 1 under seal] and Hollister vs. Soetoro a/k/a Obama announced today that the new issue of GLOBE Magazine [2/2/09 issue] highlights his efforts to expose Obama not being “constitutionally qualified” and therefore, Obama should be removed from office.

Berg also stated that the U.S. Supreme Court denied his request for an Injunction from the Conference that was held on January 16, 2009. However, the case that was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court, Berg vs. Obama is still pending in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals where Berg just filed a Brief on 1/20/09. Berg said I had bypassed the Third Circuit hoping that the U.S. Supreme Court would hear our case on an expedited basis because of the significance of the case.

The two [2] other cases are in Federal Court and I will advise you shortly about the status of each.

Berg said, “This is the 5th time GLOBE Magazine has highlighted the question of Obama’s lack of ‘constitutional qualifications’ to be President. The new story about Obama is the center spread and two [2] other pages. More and more people are aware of the fact that Obama does not meet the constitutional ‘qualifications’ and that this is the biggest ‘Hoax’ perpetrated on the citizens of the United States in 230 years.”

Berg concluded, “I am proceeding for the 305 + million people in ‘our’ U.S.A., for ‘our’ forefathers and for the thousands and thousands that have died defending our Constitution with the legal fight to prove that Obama is not constitutionally qualified to be President.”

Berg vs. Obama, Third Circuit Court of Appeals No. 08 – 4340
Berg filed Brief on 1/20/09

Berg vs. Obama, U.S. District Court
Case filed under seal on 11/07/08 – cannot be discussed

Hollister vs. Soetoro a/k/a Obama,
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 08-cv-02254
Response to Hollister Complaint due 1/26/09 by Soetoro/Obama and Biden

Fury in Holland Over Wilders Prosecution

2009-01-27T08:07:00.001-05:00

When controversial Dutch MP Geert Wilders decided to make Fitna, his hard-hitting movie about Islam, he knew it could lead to big problems. First, he could be prosecuted for insulting a group of believers: Muslims. Second, his film could create a major international controversy, possibly resulting in major riots abroad and at home.

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