04/26/11

Permalink Onward, Christian Zionists

Christian Zionists believe that in order to fulfill Biblical prophecy, Israel must conquer most of the Middle East. They are a growing force in American politics with ties to many powerful pro-Israel groups in Washington. Once considered a marginal doctrine among evangelicals, the dispensationalist theology of Christian Zionism includes a belief in the rapture, when the faithful are to be lifted up to Heaven while the rest of humanity—including most of the Jews—will perish.

Gilad Atzmon: Israeli Humour- Mocking Jesus on Israeli TV (Video)
Wikipedia: John Nelson Darby + Christian Zionism
Charles E. Carlson: No Biblical Support for Christian Zionism's Political Views


Permalink Poll: More than half of Egyptians want to cancel peace treaty with Israel

Over half of Egypt wants to end 30-year peace treaty with Israel - "only 36 percent of Egyptians are in favor of maintaining the treaty, compared with 54 percent who would like to see it scrapped" A poll conducted by a U.S.-based center has shown that a majority of Egyptians believe laws in their country should follow the teachings of Islam's holy book, the Quran. The survey reflects a shift toward religious conservatism. It also shows Egyptians are open to the inclusion of religious parties in a future government, although only 31 percent of them sympathize with Muslim fundamentalists.

The poll's results, released Monday, come ahead of September balloting — the first parliamentary elections since President Hosni Mubarak's ouster in February. Islamic parties are expected to make a significant showing. The poll, based on interviews with 1,000 Egyptians, was conducted by the Pew Research Center between March 24 and April 7. Its margin of error was plus or minus 4 percent.

LA Times: Egypt optimistic about its future, but not warm toward U.S.
NYT: Poll Finds Egyptians Full of Hope About the Future


Permalink Effects Of Japan Earthquake Underestimated, Beware China’S Bubble!

The current market perception is that the impact of the terrible disaster in Japan on the global economy is likely to be limited to a shave-off of approximately 0.5% of global economic growth. The IMF's forecast for Japan was lowered from 1.6% prior to the earthquake to 1.4% in 2011. According to the IMF their initial estimates are that the damage could be twice that of the Kobe earthquake in 1995 or up to 5% of GDP. My initial estimates also called for a shave-off of global GDP growth of 0.5%.


Permalink US Rights group slams pupil suspension

A US rights group has taken a swipe at Long Island district's education officials for suspending students that protested against budget cuts. In a letter to the Central Islip (EYE'-slihp) district, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) defended the students of Ralph Reed Middle School, saying they were exercising their constitutional rights. The NYCLU further argued that the protesting students "should be praised for their idealism." The union also emphasized that suspension of students runs counter to the freedom of speech.


Permalink State Department wants lifetime employment history from passport applicants

The U.S. Department of State has proposed a new questionnaire that would make it almost impossible for some people to get a passport. The new document (PDF) would require that certain applicants submit a list of every residence and every job they've ever had since birth. In February, the department published a request in the Federal Register allowing 60 days for comment before the new rules go into effect.


Permalink President Obama Makes a Fair Trial of Bradley Manning Impossible By Declaring Him Guilty

The "Bradley Manning Exception to the Bill of Rights" Devastates the Credibility of the Military Justice System. The credibility of the military justice system is being undermined by the prosecution of Bradley Manning. His abusive punishment without trial violates his due process rights; his harsh treatment in solitary confinement-torture conditions violates the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment; and now the commander-in-chief has announced his guilt before trial making a fair trial impossible. A Bradley Manning exception to the Bill of Rights is developing as the Obama administration seeks Manning’s punishment no matter what constitutional protections they violate.

On Thursday April 21, 2011 in San Francisco a group of Bradley Manning supporters protested the prosecution of Manning at a Barack Obama fundraising event. One of Manning’s supporters was able to question the president directly afterwards and during the conversation, Obama said on videotape that Manning was guilty.

AWIP: President Obama Condemns Bradley Manning's Contempt for the Rule of Law - Video


Permalink Libya: NATO's Tripoli Attack An Assassination Attempt

Libya's government branded a NATO airstrike on Moammar Gadhafi's Tripoli compound Monday an assassination attempt, though Libyan officials said the reclusive strongman was not there at the time of the attack.

At least two guided bombs struck the sprawling Bab al-Azizya compound, destroying a library and damaging a reception hall for visiting dignitaries. A security official at the scene told The Associated Press that four people were lightly hurt, but other reports said several were wounded.

NPR's Peter Kenyon, reporting from the de facto rebel capital of Benghazi, said government officials in Tripoli branded the strike an attempt to take out Gadhafi, but NATO insists its mission is only to degrade the regime's ability to attack civilians.

Gadhafi was not at the compound at the time of the bombardment, according to government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim. Ibrahim said three people had been killed and 45 were wounded, 15 of them seriously, at the site of the attack.

Bill Van Auken: US, NATO attempt assassination of Gaddafi - With the attack Monday morning on the Bab al-Azizyah complex in Tripoli, the US-NATO war on Libya has entered a criminal new phase that incorporates the policy of state-organized assassination. This was the third such attack on the complex where Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gaddafi lives and works. The compound was hit by a cruise missile fired from a British submarine on March 20, the second day of the US-NATO assault, and again on April 23, when warplanes struck a parking lot just outside of Bab al-Azizyah that reportedly was above an underground bunker. With each strike, the objective is ever more naked: the murder of Gaddafi and members of his family.


Permalink Mourners gather in Palestine and Italy for Vittorio’s funeral

Yesterday evening mourners gathered in Ramallah and Gaza in memorial events for ISM activist Vittorio Arrigoni. The events were planned to coincide with Vittorio’s funeral in Bulciago, Italy, which was attended by hundreds of people. In Ramallah, crowds gathered outside the municipality to hear speeches made by friends, politicians and fellow solidarity activists. Those who had known and worked with Vittorio, including friends from Gaza, recounted their memories of him whilst others spoke of his dedication to Palestine and the importance of the work he had been doing in the West Bank and Gaza. From the Palestinian speakers the message was clear, this was not an act representative of the Palestinian people, and Vittorio’s death was a great loss to all who will continue the struggle for a free Palestine. Mourners also sang some of Vittorio’s favourite Italian songs in his memory. In Gaza hundreds joined together in a commemorative ceremony held in The Gallery, a cafe and social centre which Vittorio used to frequent. Here mourners shared memories of Vittorio, danced dabka and performed rap songs written about him.

Vera Macht: Vik, You Are missed


Permalink Guantanamo documents reveal US brutality and lawlessness

A new trove of documents released Sunday night by WikiLeaks profiles more than 700 prisoners who passed through the Guantanamo Bay detention camp between 2002 and 2009. The documents demonstrate that, even in the eyes of the US military/intelligence apparatus, there was no evidence connecting the vast majority of the prisoners to any form of terrorism, let alone terrorist threats against the United States and US citizens.

The documents consist largely of Detainee Assessment Briefs (DABs), short summaries of the alleged evidence against individual detainees, as well as accounts of their physical and mental health, how they came into US custody, their value as intelligence sources and their eventual disposition, if any. Along with the DABs on 704 prisoners—out of 779 men believed to have been imprisoned at Guantanamo for any length of time—there are documents providing guidelines for interrogators and other procedures at the US-run prison camp in Cuba.

The documents require careful review, but certain preliminary conclusions can be drawn immediately from the digests which have appeared in a dozen newspapers and magazines, some of which are collaborating with WikiLeaks and others which are openly hostile to the whistle-blower web site. There is also a useful summary posted on WikiLeaks itself (http://wikileaks.ch/gitmo/).

The Guardian: The Guantánamo Files: Info on All 779 Detainees
McClatchy: WikiLeaks: Secret Guantanamo files show U.S. disarray
Jason Ditz: US Condemns WikiLeaks Release of Gitmo Files

The Guardian: Guantánamo Bay files: Al-Qaida assassin 'worked for MI6' - An al-Qaida operative accused of bombing two Christian churches and a luxury hotel in Pakistan in 2002 was at the same time working for British intelligence, according to secret files on detainees who were shipped to the US military's Guantánamo Bay prison camp. Adil Hadi al Jazairi Bin Hamlili, an Algerian citizen described as a "facilitator, courier, kidnapper, and assassin for al-Qaida", was detained in Pakistan in 2003 and later sent to Guantánamo Bay. But according to Hamlili's Guantánamo "assessment" file, one of 759 individual dossiers obtained by the Guardian, US interrogators were convinced that he was simultaneously acting as an informer for British and Canadian intelligence. After his capture in June 2003 Hamlili was transferred to Bagram detention centre, north of Kabul, where he underwent numerous "custodial interviews" with CIA personnel.


Health topic page on womens health Womens health our team of physicians Womens health breast cancer lumps heart disease Womens health information covers breast Cancer heart pregnancy womens cosmetic concerns Sexual health and mature women related conditions Facts on womens health female anatomy Womens general health and wellness The female reproductive system female hormones Diseases more common in women The mature woman post menopause Womens health dedicated to the best healthcare
buy viagra online