The works: A painting of Picasso's daughter called "Maya with Doll"... and a portrait of his second wife Jacqueline.Of course they were priceless in terms of sentimental value; but none-the-less, had a market worth of a total of 50 million euros...
People are concerned about the US commitment to the region, and Democrats in DC talking about withdrawal from Iraq make them concerned - though that debate back home had no bearing on the VP's decision to come here, sao said. "That would have devastating consequences to what we're trying to do" in this part of the world.Asked about Cheney's suggestions that talk of withdrawal lend comfort to the terrorists, in the context of his comments last week in the Pacific and his remarks about Speaker Pelosi, the official said no, what was meant was, "It would validate the al Qaeda strategy." Not aid and comfort them. More.
Karzai was reportedly "upbeat" - with all the money and troops that the US is committing to Afghanistan, the sao said, "It's all taken as a sign" of commitment.
"They worry about that... If they see weakness on the part of the US... They worry about our commitment."
The proposals of people in the US to withdraw from Iraq have "consequences in this part of the world," the official said. "The al Qaeda strategy is based on the notion that they can break the will of the American people."
"Refueling can be another matter of life and death at sea. When the ship cannot dock for reloading with supplies and petrol, it has to do so in open water without bumping -- or "kissing" as the sailors say -- the supply ship."
"When a ship seems suspicious because it refuses to answer our questions, or it has a dubious flag or an illogical route, we tell the Lebanese navy which then checks it out. The measures are very dissuasive.... No one tries to cross."
“The government is laid out with a direct contact with the FARCS, without intermediaries”... so that they can seek an exit with such a serious problem.”Moreover the Head of the State Mrs. Lucy de Gechen, the wife of an hostage who has also been held for five years, is ready to establish a direct contact with the guerrilla in the name of the 57 families of people still held by FARC...
"The officials, Democratic aides and others familiar with private discussions, spoke only on condition of anonymity, saying rank-and- file senators had not yet been briefed on the effort."And where's the wise decision to council the inner-workings of government communications, with the dignity of professional meetings? It's embarrassing!
"Several Senate Democrats have called in recent days for revoking the original authorization that Bush sought and won from Congress in the months before the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein." read more
"We know that terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength, they are invited by the perception of weakness," Cheney said in a speech aboard the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier at Yokosuka Navy Base near Tokyo.William M. Arkin on National and Homeland Security, has been posting some of the hundreds of letters from those in active duty:
"More than 100 lakes have been found in West Antarctica, according to research published Thursday in the online issue of the journal Science...A former article: Jeanna Bryner reveals an interesting "twist" to environmental issues: Invisible Mountains Revealed under Greenland Ice Using the same NASA GISMO technology to map ice sheets on Mars...
The ice above the lakes is moving as fast as two yards a day - "really ripping along" in the words of Robert Bindschadler of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, one of the study's co-authors."
"Mr. Murtha's cynicism is matched by an alarming ignorance about conditions in Iraq. He continues to insist that Iraq "would be more stable with us out of there," in spite of the consensus of U.S. intelligence agencies that early withdrawal would produce "massive civilian casualties."Washington Posts wonders:
He says he wants to force the administration to "bulldoze" the Abu Ghraib prison, even though it was emptied of prisoners and turned over to the Iraqi government last year. He wants to "get our troops out of the Green Zone" because "they are living in Saddam Hussein's palace"; could he be unaware that the zone's primary occupants are the Iraqi government and the U.S. Embassy? Full story
Distinguished Lt. Gen. David Petraeus was confirmed with the full backing of Democrats... It appears that they will have confirmed him; and then "cut him off at the knees." Somehow in reflection of the political environment in Washington today.
"This may become the first time in the history of the United States Congress that it has voted to send a new commander into battle and then voted to oppose his plan that is necessary to succeed in that battle."...read more.
"It is our overwhelming opinion that we have not been allowed to conduct the war to the fullest of our capability; neither do we feel that we should pull out because of a lack of 'results.'
War is not a chemistry set with predetermined outcomes or complications. With a great army matched with an equally cunning enemy, we find ourselves in a difficult, but winnable fight. We do not seek results; rather, we seek total and unequivocal victory."
There are helpful US and Iraqi military reinforcements; checkpoints reinforced with more soldiers and equipment; welcomed security measures to enable Iraqis to return to their homes…But, while Iraqi officials are giving militants in Kerbala 48 hours to disarm or face the consequences; the Democrat Congress are writing laws to end US involvement…
"Dwardu Cardona's and David Talbott's scenario, the 'Saturn Configuration' - a planetary line-up which eventually broke up causing catastrophe on Earth!" (Read it all, and attend Conference) Location: Fitzwilliam College Cambridge University ; Friday 31st August - Sunday 2nd Sept. 2007* And check out ALL of these Fantastic Links!
"The sun has traversed four spiral arms at times that appear to correspond well with long-duration cold periods on Earth."As it is agreed by researchers, that the solar activity is a prelude to the celestial and energetic events unfolding on the planet at this time...
"This," they continue, "supports the idea that extended exposure to the higher cosmic-ray flux associated with spiral arms can lead to increased cloud cover and long ice age epochs on Earth."
"A human being is part of a whole, called by us the 'Universe,' a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." -Albert Einstein
One of the most important elements of these new approaches is removing the Palestinian Cause from the Iranian maneuvers and Syrian guardianship, and putting the Cause before the Palestinian people, instead of keeping it as a slogan and pretext to stir up conflicts and extremism.This a major and key requirement, the importance of which must be grasped by the US administration and the Israeli government, who must also play an active role. Otherwise, they will deliberately or inadvertently become accomplices to extremism, incitement, the Iranian maneuvering and Syrian sponsorship of Palestinian factions principally opposed to the negotiated solutions.
The package being prepared by key Arab leaders, which, according to statements by one of those leaders, seeks to provide a win-win situation for everyone, involving an 'unprecedented offer to Israel', crowned by a 'revised Western initiative'.Read more Read full story.
