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Nobel Peace Prize Blues
Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement, and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains, as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea, and now the war on Libya. The raid has further strained ties between the United States and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf criticized the United States for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty. "It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee said. We've got to remove our young men and women from harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world does not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III ,MA
Palo Alto
Friday, May 13, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Russell
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/05/12/18679533.php
Bertrand Russell, Britain’s leading philosopher
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Thursday May 12th, 2011
Bertrand Russell, Britain’s leading philosopher, and many years later won the Nobel Prize for Literature, was leading scholar, Cambridge intellectual. When the war broke out, he felt he had to oppose it.
-->
And one of the things that makes me respect him so much is that he was so honest about talking about the conflict in his own feelings. Describing himself at that period, he said, "I desired the defeat of Germany as much as any retired colonel, and love of England is very nearly the strongest emotion I possess." One of my Great-Uncle, Lt. Warren O. "Wedge" Grimm (March 9, 1888 - November 11, 1919), was born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. An All-American at the University of Washington and an officer in the United States Army, he served with distinction as part of the American Expeditionary Force Siberia stationed in Russia in 1918-1919. He was assassinated on November 11, 1919, by members of the IWW (Wobblies) during the Centralia Massacre in Washington State. Yet, when I think about the wars we’re engaged in today, in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is nowhere that an American or anybody can go and sort of visually see the toll of the war in this sense, especially since the great bulk of the casualties are, you know, Afghani and Iraqi civilians, as well as the American and allied troops who have died. All those poor boys and girls at the front. Give them strength and give them wisdom. War is total waste, the most destructive total waste there is--In materials, in time, in lands, in people.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Bertrand Russell, Britain’s leading philosopher
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Thursday May 12th, 2011
Bertrand Russell, Britain’s leading philosopher, and many years later won the Nobel Prize for Literature, was leading scholar, Cambridge intellectual. When the war broke out, he felt he had to oppose it.
-->
And one of the things that makes me respect him so much is that he was so honest about talking about the conflict in his own feelings. Describing himself at that period, he said, "I desired the defeat of Germany as much as any retired colonel, and love of England is very nearly the strongest emotion I possess." One of my Great-Uncle, Lt. Warren O. "Wedge" Grimm (March 9, 1888 - November 11, 1919), was born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. An All-American at the University of Washington and an officer in the United States Army, he served with distinction as part of the American Expeditionary Force Siberia stationed in Russia in 1918-1919. He was assassinated on November 11, 1919, by members of the IWW (Wobblies) during the Centralia Massacre in Washington State. Yet, when I think about the wars we’re engaged in today, in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is nowhere that an American or anybody can go and sort of visually see the toll of the war in this sense, especially since the great bulk of the casualties are, you know, Afghani and Iraqi civilians, as well as the American and allied troops who have died. All those poor boys and girls at the front. Give them strength and give them wisdom. War is total waste, the most destructive total waste there is--In materials, in time, in lands, in people.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Daily Star
The Daily Star Home About us Photos Videos Subscriptions RSS Feeds Today's Paper Classifieds Contact Us Sign in Register WEDNESDAY, 11 MAY 2011 09:59 PM Beirut time Weather Beirut20 °C Blom Index 1,394.7 News Business Opinion Sports Culture Technology Entertainment Politics Local News Analysis Middle East International Environment Health
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Movie Guide Sudoku Str8ts Columnist Panetta’s and Petraeus’ brief is imagining the worst May 03, 2011 01:36 AM (Last updated: May 03, 2011 01:36 AM) By Fareed Zakaria The Daily Star
As Leon Panetta and David Petraeus move into their new jobs at the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency, they should use the occasion to fundamentally reorient U.S. intelligence and national security planning.
Consider the intelligence community. The United States spends around $80 billion on intelligence every year – more than the rest of the world put together – and yet the country seems perpetually unprepared for global events.
The CIA did not imagine the fall of the Soviet Union, the revolutions of Eastern Europe, the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks against New York and Washington, the nonexistence of Saddam Hussein’s arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, the global financial crisis and, most recently, the Arab Spring.
I’m not suggesting that it was possible to predict these events. Very few people or organizations foresaw them, certainly not in a timely manner, and those who did might well have simply been lucky. International crises happen when they happen for a variety of complex reasons that are always easier to see in hindsight.
However, the goal should instead be preparedness. Government agencies should be readying policymakers and bureaucrats for sharp changes in international, regional and national patterns. They should be imaginative about the possibilities of sudden shifts and new circumstances, and force policymakers to confront the scenarios in advance.
This is what has distinguished the most successful private-sector firms in managing crises. Contrary to the mythology rampant in Washington and across the country, banks such as J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs did not “know” the housing market would collapse in 2007. They could have made that prediction as easily in 2005 or 2006, bet on it and lost lots of money, as many firms did. What J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs and others that weathered the financial crisis did was to carefully manage their risk – being prepared for sharp shifts in the market. Rather than betting on continuity – which is usually the default mechanism for people and organizations – they prepared for the possibility of a sudden shock.
That’s why I hope that at the highest levels of the United States government, there are multiple scenarios envisioned for a crisis in Saudi Arabia. Of all the possible effects of events in the Middle East, the most complex by far would be serious protests in Saudi Arabia. This is not probable, but it is possible. The Saudi monarchy has roots in its society, a compact with powerful religious groups and staggering amounts of money with which to bribe its people. But still, there are fissures – most notably between the kingdom’s Shiites and Sunnis. If these were to erupt, there would be seismic implications ($200-a-barrel oil, anyone?), and Washington would have to react shrewdly and quickly. It would make perfect sense to have a basic set of responses planned and even discussed with our allies instead of having to react on the fly as television images demand action in the heat of the moment.
The other way to be prepared is to be in a position of stable finances and commitments, so you can deal with a shock. The analogy with the private sector holds here, too. The key to riding out a financial crisis is to not be overleveraged but to have comfortable reserves of cash that will allow you to manage difficult times. And yet the United States is overextended in every sense: struggling with debt, fighting military actions in multiple places and beginning to be hit by a demographic time bomb. We might be able to navigate through all this as long as we don’t hit another big crisis. That’s not a comfortable place to be.
Look at Japan. It prepared well for the possibility of earthquakes, so that even when a mega-earthquake plus a tsunami hit, it was able to minimize the loss of life. But over the previous two decades, it had run up such enormous deficits – its debt is 200 percent of gross domestic product – that it lacks resources to properly respond and rebuild its economy.
We will never be able to predict the next geopolitical, economic or natural disaster. But we can position ourselves to be prepared, and have a little more cash in the bank than we do now.
Fareed Zakaria is published twice monthly by THE DAILY STAR.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on May 03, 2011, on page 7. Home Columnist Comments
Ted Rudow III, MA May 09, 2011
In Orwell’s book “1984, the main character worked for the “Ministry of Truth, dedicated to eliminating every vestige of the truth and replacing it with what the government said was truth. Winston is painfully aware of the telescreen, which is both a receiver and transmitter at the same time. It incessantly relays messages from the Party and simultaneously allows the dreaded “thought police to tune into the activities of any individual at any given time." Obama continued to give fear to try again to win the voter confidence, selling "the Party" agenda in his speech last night. "WAR IS PEACE- FREEDOM IS SLAVERY -IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH" It would have seem that the constant abuse of language by the Obama administration would end --This was Orwell's future, our present!
Lebanon Middle East International Analysis
Editorial Columnist Commentary
Football Basketball Motor Sports Tennis Golf
Performance Lifestyle Art Film Music Books Travel & Tourism
International Regional
Movie Guide Sudoku Str8ts Columnist Panetta’s and Petraeus’ brief is imagining the worst May 03, 2011 01:36 AM (Last updated: May 03, 2011 01:36 AM) By Fareed Zakaria The Daily Star
As Leon Panetta and David Petraeus move into their new jobs at the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency, they should use the occasion to fundamentally reorient U.S. intelligence and national security planning.
Consider the intelligence community. The United States spends around $80 billion on intelligence every year – more than the rest of the world put together – and yet the country seems perpetually unprepared for global events.
The CIA did not imagine the fall of the Soviet Union, the revolutions of Eastern Europe, the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks against New York and Washington, the nonexistence of Saddam Hussein’s arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, the global financial crisis and, most recently, the Arab Spring.
I’m not suggesting that it was possible to predict these events. Very few people or organizations foresaw them, certainly not in a timely manner, and those who did might well have simply been lucky. International crises happen when they happen for a variety of complex reasons that are always easier to see in hindsight.
However, the goal should instead be preparedness. Government agencies should be readying policymakers and bureaucrats for sharp changes in international, regional and national patterns. They should be imaginative about the possibilities of sudden shifts and new circumstances, and force policymakers to confront the scenarios in advance.
This is what has distinguished the most successful private-sector firms in managing crises. Contrary to the mythology rampant in Washington and across the country, banks such as J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs did not “know” the housing market would collapse in 2007. They could have made that prediction as easily in 2005 or 2006, bet on it and lost lots of money, as many firms did. What J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs and others that weathered the financial crisis did was to carefully manage their risk – being prepared for sharp shifts in the market. Rather than betting on continuity – which is usually the default mechanism for people and organizations – they prepared for the possibility of a sudden shock.
That’s why I hope that at the highest levels of the United States government, there are multiple scenarios envisioned for a crisis in Saudi Arabia. Of all the possible effects of events in the Middle East, the most complex by far would be serious protests in Saudi Arabia. This is not probable, but it is possible. The Saudi monarchy has roots in its society, a compact with powerful religious groups and staggering amounts of money with which to bribe its people. But still, there are fissures – most notably between the kingdom’s Shiites and Sunnis. If these were to erupt, there would be seismic implications ($200-a-barrel oil, anyone?), and Washington would have to react shrewdly and quickly. It would make perfect sense to have a basic set of responses planned and even discussed with our allies instead of having to react on the fly as television images demand action in the heat of the moment.
The other way to be prepared is to be in a position of stable finances and commitments, so you can deal with a shock. The analogy with the private sector holds here, too. The key to riding out a financial crisis is to not be overleveraged but to have comfortable reserves of cash that will allow you to manage difficult times. And yet the United States is overextended in every sense: struggling with debt, fighting military actions in multiple places and beginning to be hit by a demographic time bomb. We might be able to navigate through all this as long as we don’t hit another big crisis. That’s not a comfortable place to be.
Look at Japan. It prepared well for the possibility of earthquakes, so that even when a mega-earthquake plus a tsunami hit, it was able to minimize the loss of life. But over the previous two decades, it had run up such enormous deficits – its debt is 200 percent of gross domestic product – that it lacks resources to properly respond and rebuild its economy.
We will never be able to predict the next geopolitical, economic or natural disaster. But we can position ourselves to be prepared, and have a little more cash in the bank than we do now.
Fareed Zakaria is published twice monthly by THE DAILY STAR.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on May 03, 2011, on page 7. Home Columnist Comments
Ted Rudow III, MA May 09, 2011
In Orwell’s book “1984, the main character worked for the “Ministry of Truth, dedicated to eliminating every vestige of the truth and replacing it with what the government said was truth. Winston is painfully aware of the telescreen, which is both a receiver and transmitter at the same time. It incessantly relays messages from the Party and simultaneously allows the dreaded “thought police to tune into the activities of any individual at any given time." Obama continued to give fear to try again to win the voter confidence, selling "the Party" agenda in his speech last night. "WAR IS PEACE- FREEDOM IS SLAVERY -IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH" It would have seem that the constant abuse of language by the Obama administration would end --This was Orwell's future, our present!
Fear
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Peninsula readers' letters: May 11
From Daily News Group readers Posted: 05/10/2011 05:32:29 PM PDTUpdated: 05/10/2011 11:43:31 PM PDT
Dear Editor: In George Orwell's book "1984," protagonist Winston Smith worked for the Ministry of Truth, dedicated to eliminating every vestige of truth and replacing it with what the government said was truth. Winston is painfully aware of the telescreen, which is both a receiver and transmitter at the same time.
It incessantly relays messages from "the Party" and simultaneously allows the dreaded "thought police" to tune into the activities of any individual at any given time.
President Obama continued to use fear to try again to win voter confidence, selling the party agenda on "60 Minutes" Sunday night: "War is peace ... freedom is slavery ... ignorance is strength."
This constant abuse of language by the Obama administration should end. Orwell's future is our present.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto
eEdition / Subscriber ServicesMobile Mobile Alerts RSS
Home
News breaking newsobituariescrime and courtsbay area newsdata centerscienceearthquakespolitics / governmentcalifornianation / world Site Web Search by YAHOO! Peninsula POWERED BY
Latest Peninsula news
Peninsula readers' letters: May 11
From Daily News Group readers Posted: 05/10/2011 05:32:29 PM PDTUpdated: 05/10/2011 11:43:31 PM PDT
Dear Editor: In George Orwell's book "1984," protagonist Winston Smith worked for the Ministry of Truth, dedicated to eliminating every vestige of truth and replacing it with what the government said was truth. Winston is painfully aware of the telescreen, which is both a receiver and transmitter at the same time.
It incessantly relays messages from "the Party" and simultaneously allows the dreaded "thought police" to tune into the activities of any individual at any given time.
President Obama continued to use fear to try again to win voter confidence, selling the party agenda on "60 Minutes" Sunday night: "War is peace ... freedom is slavery ... ignorance is strength."
This constant abuse of language by the Obama administration should end. Orwell's future is our present.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto
Our security
San Mateo Daily Journal
WednesdayMay 11 2011 Home Local News State / National / World Sports Opinion / Letters
Diminishing our national security
May 11, 2011, 03:46 AM Letter
Editor,
Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee’s decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.
The raid has further strained ties between the United States and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf criticized the United States for attacking the compound without Pakistan’s knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
“It’s very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for,” Representative Barbara Lee said.
We’ve got to remove our young men and women out of harm’s way, and we’ve got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto
WednesdayMay 11 2011 Home Local News State / National / World Sports Opinion / Letters
Diminishing our national security
May 11, 2011, 03:46 AM Letter
Editor,
Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee’s decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.
The raid has further strained ties between the United States and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf criticized the United States for attacking the compound without Pakistan’s knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
“It’s very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for,” Representative Barbara Lee said.
We’ve got to remove our young men and women out of harm’s way, and we’ve got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto
Friday, May 06, 2011
Remove the troops
PaloAltoOnline.com
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Remove the troops Issues Beyond Palo Alto, posted by Ted Rudow III, MA, a member of the Palo Alto High School community
Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.
The raid has further strained ties between the U.S. and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez... Musharraf criticized the U.S. for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
"It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee said.
We've got to remove our young men and women from harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Town Square Login RegisterSign up for eBulletinsJoin UsFollow Us
HomeNews Palo Alto Weekly The Almanac Mountain View VoiceFogster ClassifiedsTown Square ForumsSportsShopping Shop Palo Alto Pizazz Coupons 'Best of' Results.
Remove the troops Issues Beyond Palo Alto, posted by Ted Rudow III, MA, a member of the Palo Alto High School community
Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.
The raid has further strained ties between the U.S. and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez... Musharraf criticized the U.S. for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
"It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee said.
We've got to remove our young men and women from harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily
Friday, May 6, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
No, the war is not over now that Osama bin Laden is dead
By Melissa Sabile
The Real Deal
Published: Thursday, May 5, 2011
Melissa Sabile
I can still remember everything about that day. It was my mom's birthday, though she had already been at work at the coffee shop for three hours.
I was getting ready for school and still had no idea what was happening on the other side of the country, and all I could think about was how I hadn't gotten my mom a birthday present yet.
My dad called, like he did every morning, to tell me that he was on his way and I needed to be waiting outside for him to pick me up.
As I climbed into his car a few minutes later, I can remember him asking me what I wanted for my birthday, because in about three more weeks, I would be 15 years old. His radio was off, like every morning on the way to school, and still I had no clue what was going on in New York..............
When I heard the next day on the radio that people were celebrating bin Laden's death by running in the streets, screaming obscene things and wrapping the American flag around themselves like a blanket, I was upset.
Is the world a better place because his is dead? Yes, of course. Is it going to change the fact that thousands of people died because of his reign of terror? No. Is it going to bring the U.S. troops back? Absolutely not.
The war is not over, why are we running amok in the streets?
It's a debate that I've been following on my morning talk show and it's something I don't understand. One side of the debate is that people are celebrating bin Laden's death because it is an American victory. The other side of the debate is that people shouldn't be celebrating his death because it does nothing to improve their lives — celebration is pointless.
Don't get me wrong, I'm proud that our American soldiers have given him the justice he deserved.
I'm in no way relieved or believe that the world is at peace now that he's gone.
The fact of the matter is terrorism will still exist, regardless of whether bin Laden is dead or alive. No amount of U.S. troops deployed in any part of the world will change that.
Oprah had Tweeted shortly after the president's speech on Sunday, "Does this mean the war is over?" The answer is no. Many people, like Oprah, believe that we are safe now that bin Laden is dead.
Someone new will rise up and violent acts will still take place — perhaps there will even be more attacks as people in enemy countries, no doubt, will see bin Laden as a martyr.
I hope and pray that there will not be any more attacks on our nation and that our troops will soon return safely. In 10 years I probably won't remember so vividly what happened on May 1, 2011, but I will never, ever forget what happened on Sept. 11.
"The Real Deal" is a weekly column appearing on Thursdays. Melissa Sabile is a Spartan Daily Sports Editor.
1 comments
Fri May 6 2011 Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.The raid has further strained ties between the U.S. and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez... Musharraf criticized the U.S. for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty."It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee said.We've got to remove our young men and women from harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA.
Class of 1996
Friday, May 6, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
No, the war is not over now that Osama bin Laden is dead
By Melissa Sabile
The Real Deal
Published: Thursday, May 5, 2011
Melissa Sabile
I can still remember everything about that day. It was my mom's birthday, though she had already been at work at the coffee shop for three hours.
I was getting ready for school and still had no idea what was happening on the other side of the country, and all I could think about was how I hadn't gotten my mom a birthday present yet.
My dad called, like he did every morning, to tell me that he was on his way and I needed to be waiting outside for him to pick me up.
As I climbed into his car a few minutes later, I can remember him asking me what I wanted for my birthday, because in about three more weeks, I would be 15 years old. His radio was off, like every morning on the way to school, and still I had no clue what was going on in New York..............
When I heard the next day on the radio that people were celebrating bin Laden's death by running in the streets, screaming obscene things and wrapping the American flag around themselves like a blanket, I was upset.
Is the world a better place because his is dead? Yes, of course. Is it going to change the fact that thousands of people died because of his reign of terror? No. Is it going to bring the U.S. troops back? Absolutely not.
The war is not over, why are we running amok in the streets?
It's a debate that I've been following on my morning talk show and it's something I don't understand. One side of the debate is that people are celebrating bin Laden's death because it is an American victory. The other side of the debate is that people shouldn't be celebrating his death because it does nothing to improve their lives — celebration is pointless.
Don't get me wrong, I'm proud that our American soldiers have given him the justice he deserved.
I'm in no way relieved or believe that the world is at peace now that he's gone.
The fact of the matter is terrorism will still exist, regardless of whether bin Laden is dead or alive. No amount of U.S. troops deployed in any part of the world will change that.
Oprah had Tweeted shortly after the president's speech on Sunday, "Does this mean the war is over?" The answer is no. Many people, like Oprah, believe that we are safe now that bin Laden is dead.
Someone new will rise up and violent acts will still take place — perhaps there will even be more attacks as people in enemy countries, no doubt, will see bin Laden as a martyr.
I hope and pray that there will not be any more attacks on our nation and that our troops will soon return safely. In 10 years I probably won't remember so vividly what happened on May 1, 2011, but I will never, ever forget what happened on Sept. 11.
"The Real Deal" is a weekly column appearing on Thursdays. Melissa Sabile is a Spartan Daily Sports Editor.
1 comments
Fri May 6 2011 Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.The raid has further strained ties between the U.S. and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez... Musharraf criticized the U.S. for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty."It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee said.We've got to remove our young men and women from harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA.
Class of 1996
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Remove
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Home » Featured, News, Speakers & Events » Friedman explains context of Arab spring
Friedman explains context of Arab spring
Thursday, May 5th, 2011 By Kabir Sawhney NYT columnist Thomas Friedman presented a lecture titled "Democracy and Energy: the View from Tahrir Square" in a packed Dinkelspiel Auditorium. Friedman broached a hodgepodge of topics, including the Egyptian uprising and the struggle for Palestinian statehood. (DAN SCHWARTZ/The Stanford Daily)
In a Wednesday evening discussion at Dinkelspiel Auditorium, New York Times columnist and Middle East expert Thomas Friedman explored the causes and implications of the popular uprisings in the Arab world. The talk, titled “Democracy and Energy: the View from Tahrir Square,” was sponsored by Students for a Sustainable Stanford, the ASSU Speakers’ Bureau, Stanford in Government and Hillel.
Friedman opened his talk by explaining the context of the Middle East’s recent history, especially the fact that nearly all of the region’s governments are autocratic.
“For the last 50 years, we in the West…basically treated and looked upon the Arab world as a collection of big gas stations,” he said. “Our basic message to them all was, ‘Guys — and they were only guys — here’s the deal. Keep your pumps open, your prices low, don’t bother the Israelis too much and you can do whatever you want out back.’”
He went on to describe how the al Qaeda terrorism network and its now deceased leader, Osama bin Laden, were a product of what was going on “out back.” He added that there were three large “human deficits” in the Arab world: freedom, women’s empowerment and education.
“[Arabs] know their own human potential and it was not being in any way developed,” Friedman said. “If I got to write the ‘bill of particulars’ for all these Arab regimes, they would be guilty of the worst crime I can think of: the soft bigotry of low expectations about their own people.”
Ted Rudow III · San Jose State University
Remove troops from danger.
Dear Editor: Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.
The raid has further strained ties between the U.S. and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez... Musharraf criticized the U.S. for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
"It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee said.
We've got to remove our young men and women from harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA.
Palo Alto
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Home » Featured, News, Speakers & Events » Friedman explains context of Arab spring
Friedman explains context of Arab spring
Thursday, May 5th, 2011 By Kabir Sawhney NYT columnist Thomas Friedman presented a lecture titled "Democracy and Energy: the View from Tahrir Square" in a packed Dinkelspiel Auditorium. Friedman broached a hodgepodge of topics, including the Egyptian uprising and the struggle for Palestinian statehood. (DAN SCHWARTZ/The Stanford Daily)
In a Wednesday evening discussion at Dinkelspiel Auditorium, New York Times columnist and Middle East expert Thomas Friedman explored the causes and implications of the popular uprisings in the Arab world. The talk, titled “Democracy and Energy: the View from Tahrir Square,” was sponsored by Students for a Sustainable Stanford, the ASSU Speakers’ Bureau, Stanford in Government and Hillel.
Friedman opened his talk by explaining the context of the Middle East’s recent history, especially the fact that nearly all of the region’s governments are autocratic.
“For the last 50 years, we in the West…basically treated and looked upon the Arab world as a collection of big gas stations,” he said. “Our basic message to them all was, ‘Guys — and they were only guys — here’s the deal. Keep your pumps open, your prices low, don’t bother the Israelis too much and you can do whatever you want out back.’”
He went on to describe how the al Qaeda terrorism network and its now deceased leader, Osama bin Laden, were a product of what was going on “out back.” He added that there were three large “human deficits” in the Arab world: freedom, women’s empowerment and education.
“[Arabs] know their own human potential and it was not being in any way developed,” Friedman said. “If I got to write the ‘bill of particulars’ for all these Arab regimes, they would be guilty of the worst crime I can think of: the soft bigotry of low expectations about their own people.”
Ted Rudow III · San Jose State University
Remove troops from danger.
Dear Editor: Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.
The raid has further strained ties between the U.S. and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez... Musharraf criticized the U.S. for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
"It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee said.
We've got to remove our young men and women from harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA.
Palo Alto
Selling the Party
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/05/05/18678966.php
Selling the "Party"by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Thursday May 5th, 2011
In Orwell’s book “1984, the main character worked for the “Ministry of Truth, dedicated to eliminating every vestige of the truth and replacing it with what the government said was truth. Winston is painfully aware of the telescreen, which is both a receiver and transmitter at the same time. It incessantly relays messages from the Party and simultaneously allows the dreaded “thought police to tune into the activities of any individual at any given time."
Obama continued to give fear to try again to win the voter confidence, selling "the Party" agenda in his speech last night. "WAR IS PEACE- FREEDOM IS SLAVERY -IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH" It would have seem that the constant abuse of language by the Obama administration would end --This was Orwell's future, our present!
Ted Rudow III,MA
Selling the "Party"by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Thursday May 5th, 2011
In Orwell’s book “1984, the main character worked for the “Ministry of Truth, dedicated to eliminating every vestige of the truth and replacing it with what the government said was truth. Winston is painfully aware of the telescreen, which is both a receiver and transmitter at the same time. It incessantly relays messages from the Party and simultaneously allows the dreaded “thought police to tune into the activities of any individual at any given time."
Obama continued to give fear to try again to win the voter confidence, selling "the Party" agenda in his speech last night. "WAR IS PEACE- FREEDOM IS SLAVERY -IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH" It would have seem that the constant abuse of language by the Obama administration would end --This was Orwell's future, our present!
Ted Rudow III,MA
Time of America to end wars
Mobile Site Thursday, May 05, 2011
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Time for America to end wars
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Dear Editor,
Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honoured the first-year US president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and scepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan http://www.reuters.com/places/afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear stand-offs with Iran and North Korea, and now the war on Libya.
Barack Obama and Pervez Musharraf
The raid has further strained ties between the US and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf criticised the US for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
Representative Barbara Lee said, "It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for."
We've got to remove our young men and women out of harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world does not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, as you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA
California, USA
Tedr77@aol.com
Jamaicaobserver.com
home news Business sport lifestyle
Subscribe to our RSS Feeds
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Columns
Time for America to end wars
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Dear Editor,
Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honoured the first-year US president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and scepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan http://www.reuters.com/places/afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear stand-offs with Iran and North Korea, and now the war on Libya.
Barack Obama and Pervez Musharraf
The raid has further strained ties between the US and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf criticised the US for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
Representative Barbara Lee said, "It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for."
We've got to remove our young men and women out of harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world does not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, as you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA
California, USA
Tedr77@aol.com
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily Wednesday, May 4, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
Osama Bin Laden killed by U.S. forces; SJSU students react
Published: Monday, May 2, 2011
Updated: Monday, May 2, 2011 06:05} Photo courtesy MTC
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind al-Qaeda and the world's most wanted terrorist since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was killed by a U.S. operation, President Barack Obama announced on Sunday.
In an address to the nation, Obama said bin Laden was killed in a "targeted operation" in Abbottabad, a highland town north of Islamabad, Pakistan.
The operation started with an intelligence lead last August, and culminated in an firefight during which bin Laden was killed.
Osama's body is in possession of the U.S., according to initial reports from multiple U.S. television networks..........
1 comments
Tedriii Wed May 4 2011 Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.The raid has further strained ties between the U.S. and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf criticized the U.S. for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
"It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee said.
We've got to remove our young men and women from harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Class of 1996
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
Osama Bin Laden killed by U.S. forces; SJSU students react
Published: Monday, May 2, 2011
Updated: Monday, May 2, 2011 06:05} Photo courtesy MTC
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind al-Qaeda and the world's most wanted terrorist since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was killed by a U.S. operation, President Barack Obama announced on Sunday.
In an address to the nation, Obama said bin Laden was killed in a "targeted operation" in Abbottabad, a highland town north of Islamabad, Pakistan.
The operation started with an intelligence lead last August, and culminated in an firefight during which bin Laden was killed.
Osama's body is in possession of the U.S., according to initial reports from multiple U.S. television networks..........
1 comments
Tedriii Wed May 4 2011 Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.The raid has further strained ties between the U.S. and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf criticized the U.S. for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
"It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee said.
We've got to remove our young men and women from harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Class of 1996
Labor fights
Peninsula Peace and Justice Center's Award Winning Free Forum & TV Programwww.PeaceandJustice.org Tonight! Now with two great guests...
Labor Fights Back, For All Of Us
A conversation with Shelley Kessler Executive Secretary-Treasurer, San Mateo County Central Labor Council Cheryl Brown Political Director, AFSCME District Council 57
Tuesday, May 3, 7:00 PMCommunity Media Center900 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto [ Map]Free and open to all // Wheelchair accessible
Simultaneous live TV broadcast on cable channel 27Simultaneous live Internet broadcast at the Community Media Center website (select channel 27)
The country has been transfixed by the courageous resistance of public employees' unions – in Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio and other places – as their basic rights have come under attack by politicians trying to enforce a radical right-wing agenda. We'll discuss those resistance efforts and what the right-wing is really after. We'll also look into other major issues affecting – and all of the rest of us, as well – such as the continuing wretched state of the economy, upcoming “free” trade agreements, issues before Congress, and the future of the labor movement itself.I phoned up to express my dismay toward the disable and the needy.
Be a part of the studio audience!
You are always an important part of each program as we turn to our in-studio audience and viewers at home for questions and comments. Home viewers can call 650-856-1491 to participate.
Other Voices TV can be seen live at 7:00 PM on the first Tuesday of each month on mid-Peninsula cable channel 27. The program is also streamed live on the internet (select channel 27).
On demand video streaming is available on our website beginning two days after the initial broadcast.
The current program is rebroadcast throughout the month on cable channel 27 (an internet webcast can also be seen at these times):Tuesdays 7:00 PMWednesdays 2:00 AM & 10:00 AMThursdays 11:00 PMFridays 6:00 AM & 2:00 PMSaturdays 4:00 PM
Labor Fights Back, For All Of Us
A conversation with Shelley Kessler Executive Secretary-Treasurer, San Mateo County Central Labor Council Cheryl Brown Political Director, AFSCME District Council 57
Tuesday, May 3, 7:00 PMCommunity Media Center900 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto [ Map]Free and open to all // Wheelchair accessible
Simultaneous live TV broadcast on cable channel 27Simultaneous live Internet broadcast at the Community Media Center website (select channel 27)
The country has been transfixed by the courageous resistance of public employees' unions – in Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio and other places – as their basic rights have come under attack by politicians trying to enforce a radical right-wing agenda. We'll discuss those resistance efforts and what the right-wing is really after. We'll also look into other major issues affecting – and all of the rest of us, as well – such as the continuing wretched state of the economy, upcoming “free” trade agreements, issues before Congress, and the future of the labor movement itself.I phoned up to express my dismay toward the disable and the needy.
Be a part of the studio audience!
You are always an important part of each program as we turn to our in-studio audience and viewers at home for questions and comments. Home viewers can call 650-856-1491 to participate.
Other Voices TV can be seen live at 7:00 PM on the first Tuesday of each month on mid-Peninsula cable channel 27. The program is also streamed live on the internet (select channel 27).
On demand video streaming is available on our website beginning two days after the initial broadcast.
The current program is rebroadcast throughout the month on cable channel 27 (an internet webcast can also be seen at these times):Tuesdays 7:00 PMWednesdays 2:00 AM & 10:00 AMThursdays 11:00 PMFridays 6:00 AM & 2:00 PMSaturdays 4:00 PM
Remove troops
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Peninsula readers' letters: May 4
From Daily News Group readers
Posted: 05/03/2011 05:16:02 PM PDTUpdated: 05/04
Remove troops from danger
Dear Editor: Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.
The raid has further strained ties between the U.S. and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf criticized the U.S. for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
"It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee said.
We've got to remove our young men and women from harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto
eEdition / Subscriber ServicesMobile Mobile Alerts RSS
Home
News breaking news
scienceearthquakespolitics / governmentcalifornianation / world Peninsula POWERED BY
Latest Peninsula news
Peninsula readers' letters: May 4
From Daily News Group readers
Posted: 05/03/2011 05:16:02 PM PDTUpdated: 05/04
Remove troops from danger
Dear Editor: Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world. But critics called the Nobel committee's decision premature, given that Obama has achieved few tangible gains as he still grapples with challenges ranging from the war in Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and now the war on Libya.
The raid has further strained ties between the U.S. and Pakistan. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for a review of billions in aid to Pakistan in light of the revelation that bin Laden was living inside a heavily fortified compound in a wealthy Pakistani suburb. Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf criticized the U.S. for attacking the compound without Pakistan's knowledge, calling it a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.
"It's very important to use this defining moment, I think, to rally the American people and to remind the American people that we are spending trillions of dollars, billions every week, on this open-ended longest war in American history and that we have economic priorities, economic recovery, job creation priorities here in our own country that this money can be used for," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee said.
We've got to remove our young men and women from harm's way, and we've got to really make sure that our presence in countries throughout the world do not create more danger and more anger toward the United States, which, you know, diminishes our national security.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto
Monday, May 02, 2011
The Daily Star
Daily Star
Home About us Photos Videos Subscriptions RSS Feeds Today's Paper Classifieds Contact Us Sign in Register MONDAY, 02 MAY 2011 08:17 PM Beirut time Weather Beirut22 °C The Daily Star News Business Opinion Sports Culture Technology Entertainment Local News Politics Middle East International Analysis Environment Health
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Follow us on: Advanced Search Editorial Palestine united April 30, 2011 01:30 AM (Last updated: April 30, 2011 01:30 AM) By Daily Star Editorial The Daily Star The nascent Palestinian reconciliation, to be consummated next Wednesday in Cairo, is a welcome step that should result in a unified and stronger push for statehood led by the right group – a united Palestinian people.
Fatah and Hamas announced last Wednesday that they had come to an agreement – brokered by Egypt – to form a new unity Cabinet and hold presidential and parliamentary elections. Predictably, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decried the reconciliation, saying Israel could not make peace with a Palestinian leadership which included Hamas. Such rhetorical contortions should not obscure the fact that Netanyahu has spent his time in office undermining peace efforts, with the robust pace of illegal settlement construction the most glaring example.
The West, however, has taken a wait-and-see approach to the Palestinian accord, evidently preferring to judge any future Palestinian by how it upholds the territories’ international commitments.
Such a stance gives the Palestinians a window to demonstrate their resolve to do what they must to achieve recognition for a Palestinian state. Indeed, it is past time that all Palestinian factions admitted the reality that, regardless of what their outside benefactors might whisper to them, the only clear path toward statehood requires Palestinian unity.
As long as the political leadership of the Palestinians remains divided, the factions will be confronted with a large number of outside actors who only wish to pursue their own interests by manipulating the bickering Palestinians.
When the Palestinians accept that they must act on the international stage as one nation despite varying positions on the issues, then they will become a powerful actor able to push forward their agenda.
The goal of statehood is inching closer, as a handful of countries have recognized Palestine and others continue to mull the move; the Palestinian Authority has made clear that it wants the U.N. General Assembly to vote on recognizing Palestine this fall.
First, however, the Palestinians must focus on themselves and create a united administration over the lands of a future state with a plan to bring that state into existence. The talks in Cairo must not – as has happened before – turn into an empty photo op; the deal must be followed by concrete and immediate steps toward reunification and the holding of democratic elections.
The Palestinians must know that the rest of the region is occupied with the unrest stretching from North Africa to the Gulf; their cause, however dear other Arabs say it is, is not at the top of anyone’s agenda. In this context, the Palestinians should take advantage of the opportunity for reconciliation as a means to reassert themselves as an independent force striving for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Comments Ted Rudow III, MA April 30, 2011
Israel is anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land.
The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Apr/30/Palestine-united.ashx#ixzz1LDUIFpOT (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
Home About us Photos Videos Subscriptions RSS Feeds Today's Paper Classifieds Contact Us Sign in Register MONDAY, 02 MAY 2011 08:17 PM Beirut time Weather Beirut22 °C The Daily Star News Business Opinion Sports Culture Technology Entertainment Local News Politics Middle East International Analysis Environment Health
Lebanon International Middle East Analysis
Editorial Commentary Columnist
Basketball Football Motor Sports Tennis Golf
Performance Art Film Lifestyle Music Books Travel & Tourism
International Regional
Movie Guide Sudoku Str8ts
Follow us on: Advanced Search Editorial Palestine united April 30, 2011 01:30 AM (Last updated: April 30, 2011 01:30 AM) By Daily Star Editorial The Daily Star The nascent Palestinian reconciliation, to be consummated next Wednesday in Cairo, is a welcome step that should result in a unified and stronger push for statehood led by the right group – a united Palestinian people.
Fatah and Hamas announced last Wednesday that they had come to an agreement – brokered by Egypt – to form a new unity Cabinet and hold presidential and parliamentary elections. Predictably, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decried the reconciliation, saying Israel could not make peace with a Palestinian leadership which included Hamas. Such rhetorical contortions should not obscure the fact that Netanyahu has spent his time in office undermining peace efforts, with the robust pace of illegal settlement construction the most glaring example.
The West, however, has taken a wait-and-see approach to the Palestinian accord, evidently preferring to judge any future Palestinian by how it upholds the territories’ international commitments.
Such a stance gives the Palestinians a window to demonstrate their resolve to do what they must to achieve recognition for a Palestinian state. Indeed, it is past time that all Palestinian factions admitted the reality that, regardless of what their outside benefactors might whisper to them, the only clear path toward statehood requires Palestinian unity.
As long as the political leadership of the Palestinians remains divided, the factions will be confronted with a large number of outside actors who only wish to pursue their own interests by manipulating the bickering Palestinians.
When the Palestinians accept that they must act on the international stage as one nation despite varying positions on the issues, then they will become a powerful actor able to push forward their agenda.
The goal of statehood is inching closer, as a handful of countries have recognized Palestine and others continue to mull the move; the Palestinian Authority has made clear that it wants the U.N. General Assembly to vote on recognizing Palestine this fall.
First, however, the Palestinians must focus on themselves and create a united administration over the lands of a future state with a plan to bring that state into existence. The talks in Cairo must not – as has happened before – turn into an empty photo op; the deal must be followed by concrete and immediate steps toward reunification and the holding of democratic elections.
The Palestinians must know that the rest of the region is occupied with the unrest stretching from North Africa to the Gulf; their cause, however dear other Arabs say it is, is not at the top of anyone’s agenda. In this context, the Palestinians should take advantage of the opportunity for reconciliation as a means to reassert themselves as an independent force striving for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Comments Ted Rudow III, MA April 30, 2011
Israel is anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land.
The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Apr/30/Palestine-united.ashx#ixzz1LDUIFpOT (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Law of jungle
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/05/01/18678603.php
Law of jungle
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com )
Sunday May 1st, 2011
The Civil War was supposed to be the war to free the slaves. That's not what the war was fought for at all. That was the excuse given the people so they could get the people behind them and make the people willing to fight.
What people are you going to sell on fighting a war so you can sell machines and grab cotton? Not many people are going to give their sons and daughters for a selfish commercial purpose that didn't do most of them any good anyway.
The U.S. fought a war with the French to grab French territory, they fought a war with the British before that to grab British territory, and they fought a war with the Spanish to grab Texas, California and nearly all the Western half of the United States. That's before the need for oil. W.W I was fought with the Germany because they were stealing the world markets. They need to think up a good excuse to tell the people, which they finally did: "The war to set the world free!"--World War I! And that has been the patterer in American war history.
The United States is a very aggressive and grabby nation! Speeches follow; political, legal and moral justifications are made. Politicians and their advisors claim truth in the face of war. Yesterday, Libyan leader Gadhafi escaped a NATO missile strike in Tripoli on Saturday, but his youngest son and three grandchildren under the age of 12 were killed, a government spokesman said. Al-Arab's compound in Tripoli’s Garghour neighbourhood was attacked "with full power" in a "direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country", Ibrahim said, calling the strike a violation of international law."What we have now is the law of the jungle," he told a news conference. "We think now it is clear to everyone that what is happening in Libya has nothing to do with the protection of civilians."
Ted Rudow III, MA
Law of jungle
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com )
Sunday May 1st, 2011
The Civil War was supposed to be the war to free the slaves. That's not what the war was fought for at all. That was the excuse given the people so they could get the people behind them and make the people willing to fight.
What people are you going to sell on fighting a war so you can sell machines and grab cotton? Not many people are going to give their sons and daughters for a selfish commercial purpose that didn't do most of them any good anyway.
The U.S. fought a war with the French to grab French territory, they fought a war with the British before that to grab British territory, and they fought a war with the Spanish to grab Texas, California and nearly all the Western half of the United States. That's before the need for oil. W.W I was fought with the Germany because they were stealing the world markets. They need to think up a good excuse to tell the people, which they finally did: "The war to set the world free!"--World War I! And that has been the patterer in American war history.
The United States is a very aggressive and grabby nation! Speeches follow; political, legal and moral justifications are made. Politicians and their advisors claim truth in the face of war. Yesterday, Libyan leader Gadhafi escaped a NATO missile strike in Tripoli on Saturday, but his youngest son and three grandchildren under the age of 12 were killed, a government spokesman said. Al-Arab's compound in Tripoli’s Garghour neighbourhood was attacked "with full power" in a "direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country", Ibrahim said, calling the strike a violation of international law."What we have now is the law of the jungle," he told a news conference. "We think now it is clear to everyone that what is happening in Libya has nothing to do with the protection of civilians."
Ted Rudow III, MA
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily
Saturday, April 30, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E Spartan Daily
American culture: A race to the gutter
The Real Deal
By Melissa Sabile
One thing I've noticed lately is that the state of American culture is getting more and more absurd as the days pass.
If you look closely at the entertainment in our country, the majority of what you will find is outrageous amounts of trashy, semi-pornographic displays of pop culture, urging the people of our nation to be just as asinine.
It's everywhere: music, television, movies and magazines.
We can't escape it.
Both Lady Gaga and Ke$ha's first singles and music videos were songs about partying and getting so drunk they couldn't function – like it's the cool thing to do.
TV shows, such as "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mom," are essentially showing that teen pregnancies are played up and you just might become a star if you become a young mother.
Sadistic horror films show gratuitus amounts of violence, blood and gore, yet we still line up and spend a ton of money to watch them on the big screen.
Magazines and tabloids expose the lives of celebrities and we can't wait to see whose relationship is about to come crashing down or what secrets of theirs we can expose to the world.
Then there's reality TV, which is a category by itself and the epitome of trash on television.
Reality TV shows, such as "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and "Jersey Shore," glorify specific groups of people who are famous for nothing other than simply being famous – and for some reason, we yearn to look and be like them.
It seems that the more sick, stupid, out-of-control train wreck a person or group is, the more we love to watch them.
A few years ago, I was coaching summer camp and we had kids between the ages of 5 and 13 enrolled in gymnastics camp for weeks at a time.
A 7-year-old girl was jumping around singing a song and dancing some pretty risqué dance moves.
When I asked her why she was dancing like that, she said to me that she wanted to be like Paris Hilton when she grew up.
I quickly explained to her that she really shouldn't want to be like Paris Hilton, and told her to pick a new role model like Shawn Johnson or Nastia Liukin, because they were Olympic gymnastics champions.
It is disappointing to me that we idolize these people, and these shows take precedent over what really matters in our country.
In 2007, Jordin Sparks won American Idol with more than 74 million votes tallied. Overall, 609 million votes were tallied for the entire season – about 10 times as many votes as President Bush received in the 2004 presidential election (62 million votes), according to CNN.
Granted, a person can only vote in an election if they are registered and 18 years or older and to vote on American Idol you only need a phone or the Internet. But the fact of the matter is more people cared about who would be the next American Idol than who would be the next president of the United States.
What we should be doing is focusing our time and energy on things that can make a difference in our lives.
If you want to listen to music, find something classical or songs without derogatory lyrics.
If you must turn on the TV, turn it to PBS, the Discovery Channel or the History Channel.
If you're going to read a magazine, pick up Reader's Digest or National Geographic.
If you're going to watch a movie, find a documentary about the earth or technology.
All this money we are feeding into the sleazy entertainment business is one of the reasons our nation is going to hell in a hand basket.
If we continue to idolize people like Lady Gaga, the Kardashians and the cast of Jersey Shore, it will only yield a society that is as mindless and ridiculous as the celebrities we see in the media.
"The Real Deal" is a weekly column appearing on Thursdays. Melissa Sabile is a Spartan Daily Sports Editor.
1 comments
Sat Apr 30 2011
Meanwhile, the discouraged, defeated, despondent, disheartened, disillusioned and despairing youth of America who failed to respond to their call sank back in total hopelessness into the slough of the same System from which they had tried to rise, the mud and the mire of America's manmade miseries, and were lost--"The day the music died!" But let us renew a new generation of the lost and the last, and a happy, joyful, exuberant and totally effective alternative to youth's drugs, vice, crime, violence and hopeless despair.
Ted Rudow III MA
Class of 1996
Saturday, April 30, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E Spartan Daily
American culture: A race to the gutter
The Real Deal
By Melissa Sabile
One thing I've noticed lately is that the state of American culture is getting more and more absurd as the days pass.
If you look closely at the entertainment in our country, the majority of what you will find is outrageous amounts of trashy, semi-pornographic displays of pop culture, urging the people of our nation to be just as asinine.
It's everywhere: music, television, movies and magazines.
We can't escape it.
Both Lady Gaga and Ke$ha's first singles and music videos were songs about partying and getting so drunk they couldn't function – like it's the cool thing to do.
TV shows, such as "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mom," are essentially showing that teen pregnancies are played up and you just might become a star if you become a young mother.
Sadistic horror films show gratuitus amounts of violence, blood and gore, yet we still line up and spend a ton of money to watch them on the big screen.
Magazines and tabloids expose the lives of celebrities and we can't wait to see whose relationship is about to come crashing down or what secrets of theirs we can expose to the world.
Then there's reality TV, which is a category by itself and the epitome of trash on television.
Reality TV shows, such as "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and "Jersey Shore," glorify specific groups of people who are famous for nothing other than simply being famous – and for some reason, we yearn to look and be like them.
It seems that the more sick, stupid, out-of-control train wreck a person or group is, the more we love to watch them.
A few years ago, I was coaching summer camp and we had kids between the ages of 5 and 13 enrolled in gymnastics camp for weeks at a time.
A 7-year-old girl was jumping around singing a song and dancing some pretty risqué dance moves.
When I asked her why she was dancing like that, she said to me that she wanted to be like Paris Hilton when she grew up.
I quickly explained to her that she really shouldn't want to be like Paris Hilton, and told her to pick a new role model like Shawn Johnson or Nastia Liukin, because they were Olympic gymnastics champions.
It is disappointing to me that we idolize these people, and these shows take precedent over what really matters in our country.
In 2007, Jordin Sparks won American Idol with more than 74 million votes tallied. Overall, 609 million votes were tallied for the entire season – about 10 times as many votes as President Bush received in the 2004 presidential election (62 million votes), according to CNN.
Granted, a person can only vote in an election if they are registered and 18 years or older and to vote on American Idol you only need a phone or the Internet. But the fact of the matter is more people cared about who would be the next American Idol than who would be the next president of the United States.
What we should be doing is focusing our time and energy on things that can make a difference in our lives.
If you want to listen to music, find something classical or songs without derogatory lyrics.
If you must turn on the TV, turn it to PBS, the Discovery Channel or the History Channel.
If you're going to read a magazine, pick up Reader's Digest or National Geographic.
If you're going to watch a movie, find a documentary about the earth or technology.
All this money we are feeding into the sleazy entertainment business is one of the reasons our nation is going to hell in a hand basket.
If we continue to idolize people like Lady Gaga, the Kardashians and the cast of Jersey Shore, it will only yield a society that is as mindless and ridiculous as the celebrities we see in the media.
"The Real Deal" is a weekly column appearing on Thursdays. Melissa Sabile is a Spartan Daily Sports Editor.
1 comments
Sat Apr 30 2011
Meanwhile, the discouraged, defeated, despondent, disheartened, disillusioned and despairing youth of America who failed to respond to their call sank back in total hopelessness into the slough of the same System from which they had tried to rise, the mud and the mire of America's manmade miseries, and were lost--"The day the music died!" But let us renew a new generation of the lost and the last, and a happy, joyful, exuberant and totally effective alternative to youth's drugs, vice, crime, violence and hopeless despair.
Ted Rudow III MA
Class of 1996
The only democracy?
Weather Dhaka T: 28C H: 80%
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Your Right To KnowSunday, May 1, 2011
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The only democracy?
Ted Rudow III, MA, Encina Ave, Palo Alto, CA
As the conventional wisdom goes especially in the West Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land.
The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs.
The Daily Star
Your Right To KnowSunday, May 1, 2011
Home Business Sports Arts & EntertainArchive Magazines The Star
Editorial Metropolitan National International Op-Ed Letters
Sunday, May 1, 2011Letters
The only democracy?
Ted Rudow III, MA, Encina Ave, Palo Alto, CA
As the conventional wisdom goes especially in the West Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land.
The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs.
Friday, April 29, 2011
The Daily Star
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SATURDAY, 30 APR 2011 01:20 AM Beirut time Weather Beirut19 °C The Daily Star News Business Opinion Sports Culture Technology Entertainment Local News Politics Middle East International Analysis Environment Health
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Follow us on: Advanced Search Columnist Obama eloquently defended his beliefs on spending April 19, 2011 By Fareed Zakaria The Daily Star
President Barack Obama made one of the most important speeches of his presidency last week. It was an eloquent defense of his basic approach to government and outlined specifically how he would tackle the nation’s long-term debt problems. For people who have been searching for Obama’s core beliefs, this speech is perhaps the best place to start, though it fell short in one important aspect.
Obama revealed himself to be a left-of-center Democrat, but not very far left. To begin with, he accepted the proposition that the deficit was America’s biggest challenge. He proposed a set of measures that would reduce the deficit, with large spending cuts and – crucially – suggested a fail-safe so that if the deficit targets are not met, Congress would immediately cut spending further or raise more taxes.
This last feature may be the most important specific proposal in Obama’s plan, and a sign of its credibility, because it addresses the glaring flaw in almost every budget proposal: magical assumptions about economic growth, tax revenue, efficiencies and cost cuts. On paper, of course, these assumptions show the deficit falling drastically. A fail-safe ensures that if the assumptions don’t work out – which is highly likely – and the deficit expands, Congress is forced to act.
Obama presented a vision of an activist government that will make important investments in education, infrastructure and research. These investments have been as much a part of American history, he noted, as a vibrant market economy. Without such government support, there would be no American semiconductor industry, no early adoption of computers, no Internet, no global-positioning system.
Obama also pointed out that other countries are investing heavily in these areas. Since 1998, for example, China has tripled the percentage of its gross domestic product devoted to education. The number of its college students quintupled, from 1 million in 1997 to 5.5 million in 2007. Public funding for universities is collapsing in America while growing massively in China. In this increasingly competitive landscape, should we further cut education?
On taxes, the president’s position is correct and inevitable. For a generation, the United States has kept taxes low as spending crept ever higher, and it made up the difference by borrowing. Republican Representative Paul Ryan’s budget plan is honest in showing that if these low rates are maintained and, indeed, reduced further, domestic discretionary spending would have to decline to levels not seen since the 1920s. As Martin Wolf of The Financial Times has pointed out, it would mean the virtual elimination of the Defense Department. America’s tax burden will have to rise; the real debate is simply in what manner. Tax reform – closing loopholes and deductions – is clearly the best approach.
Then there are the entitlement programs. Here, Obama was at his most eloquent but least pragmatic. He made a passionate case for maintaining a basic social safety net for all, particularly the elderly and the poor, that I think will resonate with most Americans. But he lost his courage in proposing sensible reforms to these programs. The number of people eligible for Social Security and Medicare will double by 2030. At that point, those two programs plus Medicaid will take up about 60 percent of the federal budget. We need radical thinking to make them affordable, if only to be able to spend on all the investments that Obama believes in.
The president argues that his approach to cost-cutting in health care is better than Ryan’s approach, which shifts costs onto individuals – and assumes that individual choice will magically get costs to plummet. Probably true, but the nation will probably also need to try every approach – using Medicare’s buying power to force costs down, shifting from a fee-for-service to a fee-for-outcomes approach, and having consumers pay more – to truly drive down costs. For Social Security, the U.S. should also raise the retirement age, means-test benefits and change the indexing formula. As a society, we must determine roughly what percentage of the federal budget will pay for entitlement programs rather than simply allowing demographics and escalating costs to drive these costs ever higher.
I praised Paul Ryan for his courage in presenting a budget that takes risks and proposes painful cuts. It has also had the effect of spurring Barack Obama to present his own serious proposal. I prefer Obama’s approach – which is also closer to that of the Simpson-Bowles commission – with more cuts to entitlements. But what’s crucial is that, finally, after years of kicking the can down the road, we are having the national debate about America’s future.
Fareed Zakaria is published twice monthly by THE DAILY STAR.
Comments Ted Rudow III, MA April 23, 2011
As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations. "Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/Apr/19/Obama-eloquently-defended-his-beliefs-on-spending.ashx#ixzz1KxB5WUZr (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
SATURDAY, 30 APR 2011 01:20 AM Beirut time Weather Beirut19 °C The Daily Star News Business Opinion Sports Culture Technology Entertainment Local News Politics Middle East International Analysis Environment Health
Lebanon International Middle East Analysis
Editorial Commentary Columnist
Basketball Football Motor Sports Tennis Golf
Performance Art Film Lifestyle Music Books Travel & Tourism
International Regional
Movie Guide Sudoku Str8ts
Follow us on: Advanced Search Columnist Obama eloquently defended his beliefs on spending April 19, 2011 By Fareed Zakaria The Daily Star
President Barack Obama made one of the most important speeches of his presidency last week. It was an eloquent defense of his basic approach to government and outlined specifically how he would tackle the nation’s long-term debt problems. For people who have been searching for Obama’s core beliefs, this speech is perhaps the best place to start, though it fell short in one important aspect.
Obama revealed himself to be a left-of-center Democrat, but not very far left. To begin with, he accepted the proposition that the deficit was America’s biggest challenge. He proposed a set of measures that would reduce the deficit, with large spending cuts and – crucially – suggested a fail-safe so that if the deficit targets are not met, Congress would immediately cut spending further or raise more taxes.
This last feature may be the most important specific proposal in Obama’s plan, and a sign of its credibility, because it addresses the glaring flaw in almost every budget proposal: magical assumptions about economic growth, tax revenue, efficiencies and cost cuts. On paper, of course, these assumptions show the deficit falling drastically. A fail-safe ensures that if the assumptions don’t work out – which is highly likely – and the deficit expands, Congress is forced to act.
Obama presented a vision of an activist government that will make important investments in education, infrastructure and research. These investments have been as much a part of American history, he noted, as a vibrant market economy. Without such government support, there would be no American semiconductor industry, no early adoption of computers, no Internet, no global-positioning system.
Obama also pointed out that other countries are investing heavily in these areas. Since 1998, for example, China has tripled the percentage of its gross domestic product devoted to education. The number of its college students quintupled, from 1 million in 1997 to 5.5 million in 2007. Public funding for universities is collapsing in America while growing massively in China. In this increasingly competitive landscape, should we further cut education?
On taxes, the president’s position is correct and inevitable. For a generation, the United States has kept taxes low as spending crept ever higher, and it made up the difference by borrowing. Republican Representative Paul Ryan’s budget plan is honest in showing that if these low rates are maintained and, indeed, reduced further, domestic discretionary spending would have to decline to levels not seen since the 1920s. As Martin Wolf of The Financial Times has pointed out, it would mean the virtual elimination of the Defense Department. America’s tax burden will have to rise; the real debate is simply in what manner. Tax reform – closing loopholes and deductions – is clearly the best approach.
Then there are the entitlement programs. Here, Obama was at his most eloquent but least pragmatic. He made a passionate case for maintaining a basic social safety net for all, particularly the elderly and the poor, that I think will resonate with most Americans. But he lost his courage in proposing sensible reforms to these programs. The number of people eligible for Social Security and Medicare will double by 2030. At that point, those two programs plus Medicaid will take up about 60 percent of the federal budget. We need radical thinking to make them affordable, if only to be able to spend on all the investments that Obama believes in.
The president argues that his approach to cost-cutting in health care is better than Ryan’s approach, which shifts costs onto individuals – and assumes that individual choice will magically get costs to plummet. Probably true, but the nation will probably also need to try every approach – using Medicare’s buying power to force costs down, shifting from a fee-for-service to a fee-for-outcomes approach, and having consumers pay more – to truly drive down costs. For Social Security, the U.S. should also raise the retirement age, means-test benefits and change the indexing formula. As a society, we must determine roughly what percentage of the federal budget will pay for entitlement programs rather than simply allowing demographics and escalating costs to drive these costs ever higher.
I praised Paul Ryan for his courage in presenting a budget that takes risks and proposes painful cuts. It has also had the effect of spurring Barack Obama to present his own serious proposal. I prefer Obama’s approach – which is also closer to that of the Simpson-Bowles commission – with more cuts to entitlements. But what’s crucial is that, finally, after years of kicking the can down the road, we are having the national debate about America’s future.
Fareed Zakaria is published twice monthly by THE DAILY STAR.
Comments Ted Rudow III, MA April 23, 2011
As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations. "Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/Apr/19/Obama-eloquently-defended-his-beliefs-on-spending.ashx#ixzz1KxB5WUZr (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Democracy
The Berkeley Daily Planet
Wednesday
April 27, 2011
Front Page
Opinion
Columnists
Arts & Entertainment
Contents
Full Text
Letters to the Editor
Wednesday April 27, 2011
Tax Refunds Held by City of Berkeley; Library Lawsuit; Worth Repeating: Democracy; School Project Query; Curiosity; Confidence Game; Republicans; Budget
Democracy
As the conventional wisdom goes – especially in the West – Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs. By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonization, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people.
Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship--Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land.
The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."-
The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathizing with the Arabs.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Wednesday
April 27, 2011
Front Page
Opinion
Columnists
Arts & Entertainment
Contents
Full Text
Letters to the Editor
Wednesday April 27, 2011
Tax Refunds Held by City of Berkeley; Library Lawsuit; Worth Repeating: Democracy; School Project Query; Curiosity; Confidence Game; Republicans; Budget
Democracy
As the conventional wisdom goes – especially in the West – Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs. By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonization, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people.
Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship--Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land.
The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."-
The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathizing with the Arabs.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Monday, April 25, 2011
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily Monday, April 25, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
It's time for moderate Muslims to come out of their closets
On The Contrary
By Salman Haqqi
Published: Sunday, April 24, 2011
Updated: Monday, April 25, 2011
printWindow
Salman Haqqi
Pastor Terry Jones is a misguided bigot, we know that.
The part-time preacher and part-time used-furniture salesman has done his damndest to earn that title, using his role as the leader of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., to create more controversy than any poorly funded hate group.
The trouble began last year, when Jones and his followers planned to burn copies of the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Jones' intentions were widely publicized and sparked international outrage, which eventually led to the cancellation of the event dubbed "International Burn a Quran Day."
Jones apparently could not help himself, however, and decided to preside over a March 20 "trial" in which the Quran was convicted for "inciting terrorism" and executed — by burning, of course.
This time, the outrage was real as well.
Protests erupted in Afghanistan and Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 people of which seven were United Nations staff.
American politicians and religious leaders scrambled to repudiate the actions of both Jones and the violent protestors, and some went so far as to place the blame for the deaths on Jones himself.
Jones' credentials as a poorly informed polemicist were well-established prior to his Quran burning.
He first came to nationwide prominence by placing a sign on the church's lawn that read "Islam is the Devil." To top it off, Dove World Outreach participated in a joint protest last year with the ultimate provocateurs at the Westboro Baptist Church, who are known for their inflammatory signs and protests at U.S. soldiers' funerals.
That being said, Jones is not a murderer.
Shifting the responsibility for these deaths to anyone other than those who committed the murders is irresponsible because it disallows us from examining this issue in its entirety........
The position of the Muslim community in the face of all provocations seems to be this: Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn't, we will kill you.
Of course, the truth is often more nuanced, but this is about as nuanced as it ever gets — Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn't, we peaceful Muslims cannot be held responsible for what our less peaceful brothers and sisters do.
When we burn your embassies or kidnap and slaughter your journalists, know that we will hold you primarily responsible and will spend the bulk of our energies criticizing you for "racism" and "Islamophobia."
It's long past time to call a spade a spade and have the moderate Muslims of the world grow a spine and call out the extremist voices for what they are.
"On The Contrary" is a weekly column appearing on Mondays. Salman Haqqi is the Spartan Daily Executive Editor.
1 comments
Mon Apr 25 2011
As the conventional wisdom goes especially in the West Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs.By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonisation, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people. Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship-- Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land. The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs. Ted Rudow III, MAClass of 1996
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
It's time for moderate Muslims to come out of their closets
On The Contrary
By Salman Haqqi
Published: Sunday, April 24, 2011
Updated: Monday, April 25, 2011
printWindow
Salman Haqqi
Pastor Terry Jones is a misguided bigot, we know that.
The part-time preacher and part-time used-furniture salesman has done his damndest to earn that title, using his role as the leader of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., to create more controversy than any poorly funded hate group.
The trouble began last year, when Jones and his followers planned to burn copies of the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Jones' intentions were widely publicized and sparked international outrage, which eventually led to the cancellation of the event dubbed "International Burn a Quran Day."
Jones apparently could not help himself, however, and decided to preside over a March 20 "trial" in which the Quran was convicted for "inciting terrorism" and executed — by burning, of course.
This time, the outrage was real as well.
Protests erupted in Afghanistan and Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 people of which seven were United Nations staff.
American politicians and religious leaders scrambled to repudiate the actions of both Jones and the violent protestors, and some went so far as to place the blame for the deaths on Jones himself.
Jones' credentials as a poorly informed polemicist were well-established prior to his Quran burning.
He first came to nationwide prominence by placing a sign on the church's lawn that read "Islam is the Devil." To top it off, Dove World Outreach participated in a joint protest last year with the ultimate provocateurs at the Westboro Baptist Church, who are known for their inflammatory signs and protests at U.S. soldiers' funerals.
That being said, Jones is not a murderer.
Shifting the responsibility for these deaths to anyone other than those who committed the murders is irresponsible because it disallows us from examining this issue in its entirety........
The position of the Muslim community in the face of all provocations seems to be this: Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn't, we will kill you.
Of course, the truth is often more nuanced, but this is about as nuanced as it ever gets — Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn't, we peaceful Muslims cannot be held responsible for what our less peaceful brothers and sisters do.
When we burn your embassies or kidnap and slaughter your journalists, know that we will hold you primarily responsible and will spend the bulk of our energies criticizing you for "racism" and "Islamophobia."
It's long past time to call a spade a spade and have the moderate Muslims of the world grow a spine and call out the extremist voices for what they are.
"On The Contrary" is a weekly column appearing on Mondays. Salman Haqqi is the Spartan Daily Executive Editor.
1 comments
Mon Apr 25 2011
As the conventional wisdom goes especially in the West Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs.By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonisation, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people. Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship-- Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land. The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs. Ted Rudow III, MAClass of 1996
Occupancy
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/04/25/18677988.php
Occupancy
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Monday Apr 25th, 2011
As the conventional wisdom goes – especially in the West – Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs.By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonisation, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people. Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship-- Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land. The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Occupancy
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Monday Apr 25th, 2011
As the conventional wisdom goes – especially in the West – Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs.By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonisation, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people. Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship-- Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land. The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily Thursday, April 21, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
The times, they are a changing?
By Francisco Rendon
Francisco's Chronicles
Published: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Updated: Thursday, April 21, 2011 }
Francisco Rendon
Imagine if President Obama ordered the arrest of 25 members of the Senate.
This is the situation in Zimbabwe, where longtime dictator Robert Mugabe has ordered the arrest of more than one quarter of the country's parliament.
Mugabe, who has been in power since 1988, is credited with driving Zimbabwe's previously self-sufficient economy into the ground and rigging elections to maintain power, according to the CIA website.
Despite being defeated in Zimbabwe's most recent parliamentary election, Mugabe agreed to share power with members of an opposing party, as long as he could remain Prime Minister.
Then he sent his parliamentary opponents to jail.
The situation is absurd, without a doubt, and yet it is the reality confronting the 12 million people living in Zimbabwe.
Thousands gathered in Harare, the country's capital, on Saturday of last week to protest the escalating violence, but were dispersed with force by the police.
While Zimbabwe is a unique political climate, cries for reform are rising up in Uganda, Yemen and Syria, mirroring the protests that restructured government in Egypt and Tunisia and garnered international involvement in Libya.
All over the world, people are deciding they want to change the way society is run.
Masses pour out into streets across the globe to speak out against oppressive governments, to try and make their world better.
And many people are doing what they can to be a part of that.
One has to wonder, how much better off are we in this country?
Yes, we still have the biggest guns, supermarkets lined with food and lots of shiny cars, but what if we want something else.
Are there things that we actually want to change, or is our society perfect?
We have incredible freedom in this country, we can say and do almost anything we want.
This brings forth a paramount question: Is it even possible to make the world better?
I firmly believe that the betterment of the world can be accomplished, but only through pure deeds and commendable conduct.
The choices we make everyday have a clear impact on others, do they not? Our deeds reverberate and ripple in countless indirect ways which we can never predict or understand.
In regards to the protests being held in other countries, it seems clear that perpetrating acts of violence does not lead to peace, only to more violence, and has rarely proven a path for meaningful reform.
Yet, there is clearly a consciousness rising around the world that there is a need for a change, and people are increasingly expressing their desire to contribute to the transformation of our global society.
So while we live comfortably in this country, and President Obama will probably not be locking away his opponents in Congress anytime soon, perhaps now, we as student at San Jose State can begin thinking about how we will change the world.
This is a special appearance of "Francisco's Chronicles." Francisco Rendon is a Spartan Daily Staff Writer.
1 comments
Tedriii Thu Apr 21 2011 Needy IHSS, a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 % across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their IHSS clients. As of Feb. 1, IHSS cut another 3.6%, so the total is 12%Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives. There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun! So they didn't.Ted Rudow III, MA
Class of 1996
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
The times, they are a changing?
By Francisco Rendon
Francisco's Chronicles
Published: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Updated: Thursday, April 21, 2011 }
Francisco Rendon
Imagine if President Obama ordered the arrest of 25 members of the Senate.
This is the situation in Zimbabwe, where longtime dictator Robert Mugabe has ordered the arrest of more than one quarter of the country's parliament.
Mugabe, who has been in power since 1988, is credited with driving Zimbabwe's previously self-sufficient economy into the ground and rigging elections to maintain power, according to the CIA website.
Despite being defeated in Zimbabwe's most recent parliamentary election, Mugabe agreed to share power with members of an opposing party, as long as he could remain Prime Minister.
Then he sent his parliamentary opponents to jail.
The situation is absurd, without a doubt, and yet it is the reality confronting the 12 million people living in Zimbabwe.
Thousands gathered in Harare, the country's capital, on Saturday of last week to protest the escalating violence, but were dispersed with force by the police.
While Zimbabwe is a unique political climate, cries for reform are rising up in Uganda, Yemen and Syria, mirroring the protests that restructured government in Egypt and Tunisia and garnered international involvement in Libya.
All over the world, people are deciding they want to change the way society is run.
Masses pour out into streets across the globe to speak out against oppressive governments, to try and make their world better.
And many people are doing what they can to be a part of that.
One has to wonder, how much better off are we in this country?
Yes, we still have the biggest guns, supermarkets lined with food and lots of shiny cars, but what if we want something else.
Are there things that we actually want to change, or is our society perfect?
We have incredible freedom in this country, we can say and do almost anything we want.
This brings forth a paramount question: Is it even possible to make the world better?
I firmly believe that the betterment of the world can be accomplished, but only through pure deeds and commendable conduct.
The choices we make everyday have a clear impact on others, do they not? Our deeds reverberate and ripple in countless indirect ways which we can never predict or understand.
In regards to the protests being held in other countries, it seems clear that perpetrating acts of violence does not lead to peace, only to more violence, and has rarely proven a path for meaningful reform.
Yet, there is clearly a consciousness rising around the world that there is a need for a change, and people are increasingly expressing their desire to contribute to the transformation of our global society.
So while we live comfortably in this country, and President Obama will probably not be locking away his opponents in Congress anytime soon, perhaps now, we as student at San Jose State can begin thinking about how we will change the world.
This is a special appearance of "Francisco's Chronicles." Francisco Rendon is a Spartan Daily Staff Writer.
1 comments
Tedriii Thu Apr 21 2011 Needy IHSS, a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 % across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their IHSS clients. As of Feb. 1, IHSS cut another 3.6%, so the total is 12%Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives. There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun! So they didn't.Ted Rudow III, MA
Class of 1996
Taxes
Wednesday April 20, 2011
The Berkeley Daily Planet
Front Page Opinion Columnists Arts & Entertainment Contents Full Text
Letters to the Editor
Wednesday April 20, 2011
Republicans Again; “The General Welfare” and Other Meaningless Abstractions; Federal Budget; The Budget; Sunday Morning Funnies; The Truth; A Sad Case; Needy; Priorities; Unions; Bees; Republicans Again
Taxes
As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations.
"Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment. Half of world trade is processed in one way or another through tax havens."
--British journalist Nicholas Shaxson
They'll pay them anything, because they're the ones that rake in all those billions of dollars that the U.S. Government has available to throw around and waste on arms, missiles, atom bombs and a huge paid military! No one is any longer a poor underpaid soldier. That why the U.S. debt is now running around 14 trillion dollars.
It is the only budget plan that calls for a responsible end to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing our troops and our tax dollars home. It is the only plan that calls for real tax reform, addressing the giveaways to billionaires, millionaires, and corporations. It is the only budget plan that calls for continued and substantial investment in job creation, education, and infrastructure. And it is the only plan that won't destroy or severely restrict critical social spending.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Needy IHSS, a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 % across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their IHSS clients. As of Feb. 1, IHSS cut another 3.6%, so the total is 12%
Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives. There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun! So they didn't. Ted Rudow III, MA
The Berkeley Daily Planet
Front Page Opinion Columnists Arts & Entertainment Contents Full Text
Letters to the Editor
Wednesday April 20, 2011
Republicans Again; “The General Welfare” and Other Meaningless Abstractions; Federal Budget; The Budget; Sunday Morning Funnies; The Truth; A Sad Case; Needy; Priorities; Unions; Bees; Republicans Again
Taxes
As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations.
"Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment. Half of world trade is processed in one way or another through tax havens."
--British journalist Nicholas Shaxson
They'll pay them anything, because they're the ones that rake in all those billions of dollars that the U.S. Government has available to throw around and waste on arms, missiles, atom bombs and a huge paid military! No one is any longer a poor underpaid soldier. That why the U.S. debt is now running around 14 trillion dollars.
It is the only budget plan that calls for a responsible end to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing our troops and our tax dollars home. It is the only plan that calls for real tax reform, addressing the giveaways to billionaires, millionaires, and corporations. It is the only budget plan that calls for continued and substantial investment in job creation, education, and infrastructure. And it is the only plan that won't destroy or severely restrict critical social spending.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Needy IHSS, a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 % across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their IHSS clients. As of Feb. 1, IHSS cut another 3.6%, so the total is 12%
Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives. There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun! So they didn't. Ted Rudow III, MA
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
If Trump ruled the United States
By Jordan Liffengren
Caturday Night Live
Jordan Liffengren
A world in which fire hydrants are made of gold and doughnut holes are served on silver plates is where our new president, Donald Trump, would reside.
Our new leader's hair would rise above us and all opinions against his own.
The lattice-like comb-over that spans his oversized Irish scalp will symbolize the wealth he will spread among only his tightly knit circle of D-list celebrity friends and models injected with more Botox than lumpia at a Filipino potluck.
Our vice president would be the cheeky and daringly sexy Sarah Palin, dressed in a red pleather catsuit at all times.
She would arrive to each state address riding a faithful moose named Jeep Palin.
Carseats would be attached to the animal.
There would be a dungeon under the Sparkle House, whose name would replace that of the White House seeing as it is no longer white, but laden with unicorn tears, something worth much more than diamonds.
This said dungeon would house only the most dangerous, untrustworthy disgraces to America, of course, like Barack Obama, Whoopi Goldberg and especially Rosie O'Donnell or the "loser and failure," the new name Trump has bestowed upon her.
His presidential staff would consist of young women between ages 21 and 27 from Central Europe — no exceptions.
This utopia will be awash with resorts and towers of Trump instead of silly parks or bike trails.
The only American pastime would be professional wrestling — sometimes golf.
We'd never know whether our leader was a Republican or a Democrat, not because he couldn't decide, but because he's Trump — he does what he wants and if you question him he will indeed fire you.
Television, airwaves and newspapers would be called Trumpvision, airTrumps and newsTrumps since he would own all forms of media, even surpassing the power of the almighty Oprah Winfrey.
Every stripper in the country would be invited to join the Miss America Pageant because, goddamnit everyone deserves a seventh chance and this man will allow any woman to compete no matter what, out of the sheer goodness of his heart.
I can't think of anyone more thoughtful.
The only departments still in existence would be Neiman Marcus and Men's Warehouse, because everyone would dress for a night in Vegas.
No matter what day it is, the American people will be wearing suits and fur coats, gambling away their money at the nearest Trump casino.
Babies will be allowed to gamble as well because Trump does not discriminate against age.
Aside from all of these significantly important changes, he'd take our troops out of Iraq.
The war would be over.
He'd also put a 14.25 percent tax on personal estates and trusts more than $10 million, which would raise an estimated $5.7 trillion toward the retirement of national debt.
Taxes would be cut for the middle class and he'd supplement Social Security funds, Medicare and Medicaid.
Not like that stuff matters, though.
I just hope he names the beast that rests upon his head and teases us with the hope that those duck-shaped lips will forever purse in the Oval Office.
"Caturday Night Live" is a column appearing on every other Thursday. Jordan Liffengren is a Spartan Daily A&E Editor.
Ted Rudow III
The cycle of recession and rebound is what you would call a confidence game, perpetrated by the biggest con man and swindler. He has succeeded very well, and the economic world has a false foundation today, a paper one, which could go up in smoke if the right match were applied to it. They seeks to trick and swindle as many people as possible. Accord to the Wall Street Journal, hedge funds are bounding back, with return-hungry investors pumping up the industry to a size not seen since before the financial crisis laid it low. Total hedge-fund assets are approaching $2 trillion and are soon expected to surpass their peak in early 2008, according to industry analysts. .The resurrection of hedge funds, which invest money for wealthy individuals, pension funds and other large investors, marks yet another sign that the effects of the financial crisis are receding."So, little by little, the skeptics are won over to invest their funds, to take a chance on making more money. And there is a rebound, for there are still people to be convinced that things will keep going up—indeed, must keep going up. And one day, the downturn will become another recession, the recession will become a depression, and the depression will become another the Crash. Ted Rudow III, MAClass of 1996
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
If Trump ruled the United States
By Jordan Liffengren
Caturday Night Live
Jordan Liffengren
A world in which fire hydrants are made of gold and doughnut holes are served on silver plates is where our new president, Donald Trump, would reside.
Our new leader's hair would rise above us and all opinions against his own.
The lattice-like comb-over that spans his oversized Irish scalp will symbolize the wealth he will spread among only his tightly knit circle of D-list celebrity friends and models injected with more Botox than lumpia at a Filipino potluck.
Our vice president would be the cheeky and daringly sexy Sarah Palin, dressed in a red pleather catsuit at all times.
She would arrive to each state address riding a faithful moose named Jeep Palin.
Carseats would be attached to the animal.
There would be a dungeon under the Sparkle House, whose name would replace that of the White House seeing as it is no longer white, but laden with unicorn tears, something worth much more than diamonds.
This said dungeon would house only the most dangerous, untrustworthy disgraces to America, of course, like Barack Obama, Whoopi Goldberg and especially Rosie O'Donnell or the "loser and failure," the new name Trump has bestowed upon her.
His presidential staff would consist of young women between ages 21 and 27 from Central Europe — no exceptions.
This utopia will be awash with resorts and towers of Trump instead of silly parks or bike trails.
The only American pastime would be professional wrestling — sometimes golf.
We'd never know whether our leader was a Republican or a Democrat, not because he couldn't decide, but because he's Trump — he does what he wants and if you question him he will indeed fire you.
Television, airwaves and newspapers would be called Trumpvision, airTrumps and newsTrumps since he would own all forms of media, even surpassing the power of the almighty Oprah Winfrey.
Every stripper in the country would be invited to join the Miss America Pageant because, goddamnit everyone deserves a seventh chance and this man will allow any woman to compete no matter what, out of the sheer goodness of his heart.
I can't think of anyone more thoughtful.
The only departments still in existence would be Neiman Marcus and Men's Warehouse, because everyone would dress for a night in Vegas.
No matter what day it is, the American people will be wearing suits and fur coats, gambling away their money at the nearest Trump casino.
Babies will be allowed to gamble as well because Trump does not discriminate against age.
Aside from all of these significantly important changes, he'd take our troops out of Iraq.
The war would be over.
He'd also put a 14.25 percent tax on personal estates and trusts more than $10 million, which would raise an estimated $5.7 trillion toward the retirement of national debt.
Taxes would be cut for the middle class and he'd supplement Social Security funds, Medicare and Medicaid.
Not like that stuff matters, though.
I just hope he names the beast that rests upon his head and teases us with the hope that those duck-shaped lips will forever purse in the Oval Office.
"Caturday Night Live" is a column appearing on every other Thursday. Jordan Liffengren is a Spartan Daily A&E Editor.
Ted Rudow III
The cycle of recession and rebound is what you would call a confidence game, perpetrated by the biggest con man and swindler. He has succeeded very well, and the economic world has a false foundation today, a paper one, which could go up in smoke if the right match were applied to it. They seeks to trick and swindle as many people as possible. Accord to the Wall Street Journal, hedge funds are bounding back, with return-hungry investors pumping up the industry to a size not seen since before the financial crisis laid it low. Total hedge-fund assets are approaching $2 trillion and are soon expected to surpass their peak in early 2008, according to industry analysts. .The resurrection of hedge funds, which invest money for wealthy individuals, pension funds and other large investors, marks yet another sign that the effects of the financial crisis are receding."So, little by little, the skeptics are won over to invest their funds, to take a chance on making more money. And there is a rebound, for there are still people to be convinced that things will keep going up—indeed, must keep going up. And one day, the downturn will become another recession, the recession will become a depression, and the depression will become another the Crash. Ted Rudow III, MAClass of 1996
Poor get poorer
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Peninsula readers' letters: April 20
From Daily News Group readers
Posted: 04/19/2011 05:50:27 PM PDT
Updated: 04/19/2011 11:25:58 PM PDT
Poor get poorer
Dear Editor: In-Home Supportive Services is a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, and provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 percent across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their In-Home Supportive Services clients. As of Feb. 1, In-Home Supportive Services cut another 3.6 percent, so the total is 12 percent.
Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives.
There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun. So they didn't.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto
eEdition / Subscriber Services
Mobile Mobile Alerts RSS
Home
News breaking news
obituaries
crime and courts
bay area news
data center
science
earthquakes
politics / government
california
Opinion columns
editorials
letters
blogs
Site Web Search by YAHOO!
Peninsula POWERED BY
Latest Peninsula news
Peninsula readers' letters: April 20
From Daily News Group readers
Posted: 04/19/2011 05:50:27 PM PDT
Updated: 04/19/2011 11:25:58 PM PDT
Poor get poorer
Dear Editor: In-Home Supportive Services is a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, and provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 percent across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their In-Home Supportive Services clients. As of Feb. 1, In-Home Supportive Services cut another 3.6 percent, so the total is 12 percent.
Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives.
There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun. So they didn't.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto
Saturday, April 16, 2011
We need reform
MercuryNews.com eEdition / Subscriber ServicesMobile Mobile Alerts RSS Home News breaking newsobituariescrime and courtsbay area newsdata centerscienceearthquakespolitics / governmentcalifornianation / world Peninsula POWERED BY Latest Peninsula news Peninsula readers' letters: April 16 From Daily News Group readers Posted: 04/15/2011 05:29:34 PM PDTUpdated: 04/15/2011 11:52:36 PM PDT We need tax reform Dear Editor: As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday's deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations. According to British journalist Nicholas Shaxson, "Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization since the 1970s that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment. Half of world trade is processed in one way or another through tax havens." They'll pay them anything, because they're the ones that rake in all those billions of dollars the U.S. Government has available to throw around and waste on arms, missiles, atom bombs and a huge paid military. No one is any longer a poor underpaid soldier. That is why the U.S. debt is now running around $14 trillion. We need a budget plan that calls for a responsible end to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing our troops and our tax dollars home; that calls for real tax reform, addressing the giveaways to billionaires, millionaires, and corporations; that calls for continued and substantial investment in job creation, education, and infrastructure; and that won't destroy or severely restrict critical social spending. Ted Rudow III, MA Palo Alto
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Tax men
Palo Alto Weekly Sign up for ExpressNew from Palo Alto Online, Express is a daily e-edition, distributed by e-mail every weekday.Sign up to receive Express! PaloAltoOnline.com Town Square Login RegisterSign up for eBulletinsJoin UsFollow Us HomeNews Palo Alto Weekly The Almanac Mountain View VoiceFogster ClassifiedsTown Square Forums E-mail this topic. Print this topic. The Tax men Ted Rudow III, MA, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations. "Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment. Half of world trade is processed in one way or another through tax havens." British journalist Nicholas Shaxson They'll pay them anything, because they're the ones that rake in all those billions of dollars that the U.S. Government has available to throw around and waste on arms, missiles, atom bombs and a huge paid military! No one is any longer a poor underpaid soldier. That why the U.S. debt is now running around 14 trillion dollars. It is the only budget plan that calls for a responsible end to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing our troops and our tax dollars home. It is the only plan that calls for real tax reform, addressing the giveaways to billionaires, millionaires, and corporations. It is the only budget plan that calls for continued and substantial investment in job creation, education, and infrastructure. And it is the only plan that won't destroy or severely restrict critical social spending.
The Tax men
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/04/15/18677237.php The Tax men by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Friday Apr 15th, 2011 As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations. --> "Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment. Half of world trade is processed in one way or another through tax havens." British journalist Nicholas Shaxson They'll pay them anything, because they're the ones that rake in all those billions of dollars that the U.S. Government has available to throw around and waste on arms, missiles, atom bombs and a huge paid military! No one is any longer a poor underpaid soldier. That why the U.S. debt is now running around 14 trillion dollars. It is the only budget plan that calls for a responsible end to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing our troops and our tax dollars home. It is the only plan that calls for real tax reform, addressing the giveaways to billionaires, millionaires, and corporations. It is the only budget plan that calls for continued and substantial investment in job creation, education, and infrastructure. And it is the only plan that won't destroy or severely restrict critical social spending. Ted Rudow III, MA
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The World of oil
MercuryNews.Com eEdition / Subscriber ServicesMobile Mobile Alerts RSSHome News breaking newsobituariescrime and courtsbay area newsdata centerscienceearthquakespolitics / governmentcalifornianation / worldspecial reports Latest Peninsula news Peninsula POWERED BY Latest Peninsula news Peninsula readers' letters: April 9 From Daily News Group readers Posted: 04/08/2011 04:09:49 PM PDTUpdated: 04/08/2011 11:25:31 PM PDTIt's all about the oil Dear Editor: U.S. law professor David Crane informed The Times of London that prosecutors intended to charge Moammar Gadhafi, who Crane said is "ultimately responsible for the mutilation, maiming and/or murder of 1.2 million people."But the charge was not to be. The United States, United Kingdom and others intervened to block it. Asked why, Crane said: "Welcome to the world of oil. It is America that has really made Gadhafi -- her money and her need for oil. What the West seeks is what Bush announced: control, or at least dependable clients, and in the case of Libya, access to vast unexplored areas expected to be rich in oil.Without petroleum oil, all these cars wouldn't be possible and all these people wouldn't be getting killed in them, all these trucks wouldn't be belching black smoke polluting the atmosphere. Petroleum oil is what really caused the Industrial Revolution. It seems to me that instead of a blessing, petroleum oil has become a curse to the world. Ted Rudow III, MA Palo Alto
Friday, April 08, 2011
A Curse?
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/04/08/18676710.php A curse to the World by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Friday Apr 8th, 2011 The chief prosecutor, U.S. law professor David Crane, informed The Times of London that the prosecutors intended to charge Moammar Gadhafi, who, Crane said, “was ultimately responsible for the mutilation, maiming and/or murder of 1.2 million people.” --> But the charge was not to be. The U.S., U.K. and others intervened to block it. Asked why, Crane said, “Welcome to the world of oil. It is America that has really made Gaddafi--her money and her need for oil! What the West seeks is what Bush announced: control, or at least dependable clients, and in the case of Libya, access to vast unexplored areas expected to be rich in oil. Without petroleum oil all these cars wouldn't be possible and all these people wouldn't be getting killed in them, all these trucks wouldn't be belching black smoke polluting the atmosphere. Petroleum oil is what really caused the Industrial Revolution, cheap fuel. It seems to me that instead of a blessing, petroleum oil has become a curse to the World! Ted Rudow III, MA
Tax cuts
Weather Dhaka T: 28C H: 49% The Daily Star Your Right To KnowFriday, April 8, 2011 Home Business Sports Arts & En The Star National International Op-Ed LettersFriday, April 8, 2011Letters Tax cuts Ted Rudow III, MA, Encina Ave, Palo Alto, CA As many as 500,000 protesters marched in London on Saturday to protest Britain's deepest cuts in public spending since World War II. The protests came after U.K. officials estimated corporate taxes would be reduced even as it tackles a $235 billion deficit and plans to cut more than 300,000 public sector jobs. Meanwhile, in the United States protesters gathered in 40 cities on Saturday to oppose tax cuts for the wealthy amid budget cuts in public services. When you're rich and lose money on a leveraged investment, you are a victim of the bad economy and deserved to be bailed out. When you're poor and lose money on a risky investment, you're a financially incompetent yahoo who chases get-rich-quick schemes.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily Home Wednesday, April 6, 2011 News Opinion Letters Questioning U.S intervention in Libya On The Contrary By Salman Haqqi Published: Sunday, April 3, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, April 5, 2011 14:04 Salman Haqqi These days it's hard not to think the world has gone nuts. The U.S. is "saving civilians" in Libya via Tomahawk missiles. President Obama is still touting nuclear energy even in the face of the Fukushima disaster and Donald Trump wants to run for president. The absurdities of the world today remind me of the "theater of the absurd," which I learned about in a literature class and where I got to study the work of great writers such as Samuel Beckett, Eugene Ionesco and Albert Camus. Their writing was their way of reacting to a world that seemed out of control and out of its mind. Significantly, the word "theater" is used for places where plays are produced and the lands upon which we conduct our wars. The battlefield is considered as much a "theater" as a venue on Broadway. Without waxing philosophically and commenting on the many unknowns that so obsessed Donald Rumsfeld, our modern day philosopher-king of the Pentagonian school, you almost have to abandon logic and rationality to try to make sense of what is happening in front of our eyes. The man who led the disastrous invasion of Iraq, and who expected that war to be a "cakewalk," now calls the latest U.S. attack in Libya "worrisome." Rummy may have a point this time............. Not only does war unleash all manner of latent enmity and violence, but decades of abusive treatment by ruthless dictators fuels pathologies that only fully manifest themselves when the lid of control pops off. Pro- and anti-Gadhafi tribes could square off against one another, and Gadhafi could unleash the jihadists he once trained to wreak violence both at home and abroad. So you wouldn't want to bet on a happy outcome in Libya, you'd want to do whatever you could to help deliver one. It behooves those of us who have argued for the intervention now under way to give serious thought to what form that help should take. As Cornel West of Princeton University said in a recent interview, if Libya had artichokes instead of oil, our attitude toward Libya would probably be different. As a result, any honest debate on Libya should not be based simply upon the question as to whether foreign military intervention is necessary to stop widespread repression. It should be as to whether the best way to overthrow dictators is through a foreign-backed armed uprising or — as demonstrated in Egypt, Tunisia, Serbia, Chile, and dozens of other countries — whether the people of the affected countries themselves be allowed to do so through the power of mass strategic nonviolent action. This is a special appearance of "On The Contrary." Salman Haqqi is the Spartan Daily Executive Editor.1 comments Wed Apr 6 2011 The reality is there's a lot of, frankly, loose talk about some of these military options. And lets just call a spade a spade. As Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said: A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya to destroy the air defenses. It is not merely Libya's sweet crude oil the globalists are itching to get their hands on. In fact, physically capturing Libya's oil plays a minor role. They are interested in not only destabilizing the entire Middle East, including the crown jewel Saudi Arabia, but also sending the world economy into a death spiral. A $200-a-barrel oil price will surely do more damage to the world economy than any other single event Ted Rudow III, MAClass of 1996
PP&J
Peninsula Peace and Justice Centerwww.PeaceandJustice.org Eyewitness Report: Aristide Returns to HaitiTuesday, April 5, 7:00 PM Tonight!Community Media Center900 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto FREE and open to all Aristide Returns, Earthquake Recovery, Fraudulent Elections - A conversation with Robert Roth, Seth Donnelly, and Los Altos Altos H.S. students who have just traveled to Haiti. I phoned it and told my tale of living in the Caribbean for a few years and how we need to write letter to the editor about the tragic tale of Haiti! http://peaceandjustice.org/programs/Eyewitness_Update_From_Haiti/ Other Voices TV can be seen live at 7:00 PM on the first Tuesday of each month on mid-Peninsula cable channel 27. The program is also streamed live on the internet (select channel 27). Related April 7: Los Altos High School students report on their recent trip to build a school in Haiti. http://peaceandjustice.org/calendar_event.php?eid=20110330162915284
Monday, April 04, 2011
Gazan civilians
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/04/04/18676286.php Gazan civilians were deliberately targeted by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Monday Apr 4th, 2011 South African judge Richard Goldstone says he no longer believes Gazan civilians were deliberately targeted as a matter of Israeli policy during the war which left up to 1,400 Palestinians dead. An internal Israeli military investigation into 400 separate incidents found that Israel's military had only acted with misconduct in nine cases. The leaders of Hamas, who rule Gaza, Goldstone wrote, had done nothing to investigate their own actions. --> Hamas’s response in Gaza has been much different. "His retreat does not change the fact war crimes had been committed against 1.5 million people in Gaza," said spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said Goldstone's comments did not change a thing. "The report was as clear as the crimes that Israel committed during the war," he said, "The U.N. General Assembly should meet to debate the original Goldstone report." Key findings in the U.N. report–that “Israeli armed forces had carried out direct intentional strikes against civilians” in eleven incidents examined in detail and that Israel destroyed civilian infrastructure like the Sawafeary chicken farm in a systematic and deliberate fashion–is muddied up by Goldstone’s claim that “civilians were not intentionally targeted as a matter of policy. ”This deliberate doctrine leads to the deaths of civilians and civilian infrastructure. The Lebanon war “resulted in at least 1,109 Lebanese deaths, the vast majority of whom were civilians, 4,399 injured, and an estimated 1 million displaced,” according to a Human Rights Watch report. The examples are endless, but what they make clear is that the Israeli persecution of Palestinians documented. Ted Rudow III, MA
The Daily Star
The Daily Star Home About Us Advertise Archives Forum Classifieds ePaper Live TV Contact us Search Daily Star Sections Middle East Lebanon Middle East News Politics Business Editorial Opinion Readers' Letters Reader's feedback published on 04/04/2011The Daily Star is pleased to provide a forum for debate on a range of subjects, from local cultural activities to international politics. Dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of letters fall into the editor’s mailbox daily. In order to keep the letters timely, The Daily Star generally produces a special letters section. When the influx of letters is particularly large, extra space is made available accordingly.If you would like to submit a letter for publication, please remember to include your full name (first and last) and address, including city. The Daily Star typically only publishes letters under 400 words, and these are subject to editing. The Daily Star will not acknowledge unsolicited submissions.Read more: http://dailystar.com.lb/letters.asp?edition_id=10#ixzz1IZaehdnP (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb) March 25, 2011They were always recognized by the Lord as separate independent countries and they’re mentioned in the Bible as well. Even Syria was never given to the Jews, except for one part of Syria that the Syrians have now occupied which was once a part of Eretz Israel under Solomon. Then the part of Syria that Israel grabbed was the Golan Heights and a whole lot more.They’ve got no scriptural Biblical right at all - by even the wildest stretch of the blessings – to Lebanon, or to Jordan, or to all of Syria.It won’t solve Syria’s problems either, because if Israel invaded Lebanon, why wouldn’t she also invade Syria? Syria was being “fattened for the kill” – set up as the next likely U.S. target in the Middle East, even though they play it down. Of course Syria’s getting nothing, Lebanon anything, Jordan nothing at all, but Israel is promising – Israel’s always promising to “negotiate” the rest, meaning stall until it’s hers.Ted Rudow III, MAPalo Alto, California, United StatesInternational Herald Tribune and The Daily Star are available every morning in: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman Read more: http://dailystar.com.lb/letters.asp?edition_id=10#ixzz1IZaIllib (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb) __._,_.___
Friday, April 01, 2011
The Stanford Daily
The Stanford Daily HomeNewsrm Home » Opinions » Seeing Green: Good Nuke, Bad Nuke Seeing Green: Good Nuke, Bad Nuke Thursday, March 31st, 2011 By Holly Moeller If you’ve ever seen “sunburns” on the skin of a cancer patient after radiation therapy, you’ve seen the hazards of radioactivity. If you’ve seen a picture of a mushroom cloud, you’ve seen the dangers of nuclear weapons. And if you’ve watched the news from Japan over the last few weeks, you know how fragile human control of nuclear power can be. For those of you who haven’t, I offer this ripped-from-the-headlines summary: Earthquake. Tsunami. Failed cooling systems at a coastal nuclear power plant. (Here, reports diverge. On the one hand, Japanese news outlets and the plant’s operators may be downplaying the situation — whether to maintain calm or for self-preservation. Meanwhile, Western accounts — at some points suggesting imminent catastrophe — may be catering to the opposite extreme. The true story, when it emerges through the plumes of steam, will have its heroes and its failures, likely including some loss of life — though paling in comparison to the thousands killed outright by the tsunami.) But for those of us who have also seen — and believed — the evidence of the impact of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (climate change and ocean acidification) on our planet, there are some things more terrifying than a reactor on the loose. How many homes will be lost to sea level rise? How many livelihoods will be devastated by shifting patterns of rain and drought? How tenuous will humanity’s existence become, not just in zones of radioactive fallout, but on the entire planet? Nuclear power’s promise is its generation of electricity without the emission of a steady stream of greenhouse gases (and other, acutely toxic pollutants), thus slowing the increase of atmospheric CO2. Today, some thirteen percent of global electricity comes from nuclear power, to the carbon-savings tune of 2.5 billion tons of CO2 emissions each year. Still, nuclear power is nonrenewable. -------We’ve come a long way since the days when the “Firecracker Boys” of Operation Plowshare proposed the peaceful (and ludicrous!) use of nuclear weapons to blast Alaskan harbors, widen the Panama Canal or level inconvenient mountain ranges. But we should not let the pendulum of public opinion swing too far in the opposite direction without modulating its path with wisdom. One nuke, two nuke; red nuke, blue nuke. We hope this Daiichi thing’s a fluke. Send thoughts, comments and anti-nuke propaganda to Holly at hollyvm@stanford.edu. Ted Rudow III, MA says: April 1, 2011 To arguing for $180 billion to and then arguing for $180 billion to modernize the nukes–$100 billion for modernize the nukes–$100 billion for the weapons carriers, $80 billion for the weapons carriers, $80 billion for new warheads? What kind of nuclear new warheads? What kind of nuclear free world is this? He should have free world is this? He should have had the decency, when Norway made had the decency, when Norway made the mistake of giving him the Nobel the mistake of giving him the Nobel Peace Prize, of saying, “I graciously, Peace Prize, of saying, “I graciously, gratefully decline. haven’t earned it gratefully decline. I haven’t earned it yet. Let’s come back when possibly yet. Let’s come back when possibly I have earned it. He didn’t say that, and have earned it.” He didn’t say that, and dispensed with the prize money in dispensed with the prize money in a disgraceful way.
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