News of the Week
Arab Revolts *************** We Don't Need U.N. Approval to Save Libyan Lives Why is the Obama administration deferring to an international body that protects brutal dictatorships? BY JOHN YOO President Obama this week said "Moammar Gadhafi has lost the legitimacy to lead, and he must leave." Yet the Obama administration continues to shun the very steps that might hasten the Libyan tyrant's fall—imposing a no-fly zone over Libya and arming the rebels. Why? Because the United Nations hasn't give the green light. Desperate to avoid any parallels with Bush foreign policy, the White House has chosen to follow the lead of a dysfunctional international body that protects brutal dictatorships against the advance of human liberty. *************** Yes, It Could Happen Here Why Saudi Arabia is ripe for revolution. BY MADAWI AL-RASHEED In the age of Arab revolutions, will Saudis dare to honor Facebook calls for anti-government demonstrations on March 11? Will they protest at one of Jeddah's main roundabouts? Or will they start in Qatif, the eastern region where a substantial Shiite majority has had more experience in real protest? Will Riyadh remain cocooned in its cloak of pomp and power, hidden from public gaze in its mighty sand castles? *************** Yemeni army 'fires on protesters' Soldiers fire rockets at anti-government demonstrators in the country's north, killing two people, rebels say. *************** Sunnis and Shi'ites clash in Bahrain, several hurt By Frederik Richter MANAMA, Bahrain (Reuters) - Fighting between Sunni and majority Shi'ite Muslims in central Bahrain injured several people overnight in the first sectarian violence since protests erupted in the Sunni-ruled kingdom two weeks ago. *************** Libya: British Army ready for mission at 24 hours’ notice British troops have been put on stand-by for deployment to Libya if the crisis in the country worsens. *************** Fancy your chances against the SAS, Gaddafi? Elite troops and MI6 spies poised to help Libyan rebels By Tim Shipman 600 Black Watch soldiers on 24-hour standby to fly in 50 people killed and 300 wounded in clashes at Zawiyah Britain is to send teams of spies and diplomats into Libya to help oust Colonel Gaddafi, it emerged last night. *************** Venezuela talks up Chavez's Libya peace plan By Frank Jack Daniel CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela pushed a vague peace plan for Libya on Thursday, saying President Hugo Chavez's friend Muammar Gaddafi was in favor of foreign mediation. *************** Panic on borders as chaos engulfs Libya Tens of thousands flee mounting violence as UN warns of urgent humanitarian crisis *************** Over 180,000 refugees flee to Libya's borders By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press GENEVA – Libyan border crossings were overwhelmed Wednesday by tens of thousands of hungry, fearful people fleeing its burgeoning civil war. Egypt and a handful of European nations launched emergency airlifts and sent ships to handle the chaotic exodus. *************** Unrest in the Middle East and Africa -- country by country *************** Saudi Arabia sends tanks to riot-hit Bahrain – paper Eyewitnesses reported seeing "15 tank carriers carrying two tanks each heading towards Bahrain" Saudi Arabia has sent dozens of tanks to Bahrain, where anti-government protests continue for about two weeks, Egypt's Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper said on Tuesday. *************** Yemeni president says US and Israel behind unrest By AHMED AL-HAJ, Associated Press SANAA, Yemen (AP) -- Yemen's embattled president on Tuesday accused the U.S., his closest ally, of instigating the mounting protests against him, but the gambit failed to slow the momentum for his ouster. *************** Gadhafi Doles Out Cash to the People Tensions High in Libya's Capital, Citizens Complain About Waits at Banks and Bakeries *************** Kuwait key opposition group calls for PM ouster A key Kuwaiti opposition group on Monday demanded the ouster of the prime minister as youth activists called for a rally on March 8 to force the premier to quit. *************** Oman protesters stage third day of unrest SOHAR, Oman – Protesters set a supermarket ablaze and rallied at two places in this seaside town on Monday in a third consecutive day of unrest that has included deadly clashes in the strategic Gulf nation. *************** "Hide the Decline" *************** Bound to Burn Humanity will keep spewing carbon into the atmosphere, but good policy can help sink it back into the earth. *************** Senators spar during hearing over alleged 1970s global cooling consensus By Amanda Carey - The Daily Caller Senate Environment and Public Works Committee members sparred Wednesday over whether there existed a consensus in the 1970s that the earth was cooling. *************** War
& Terror *************** Zimbabwe to sell uranium to Iran Zimbabwe is to defy United Nations sanctions in a deal to sell uranium to Iran *************** Harvard to Let ROTC Back on Campus The Associated Press Harvard University is welcoming the Reserve Officer Training Corps program back to campus after a four-decade banishment caused by dissent over the Vietnam War and disagreement on military policy toward gays. *************** 2 US airmen killed in Frankfurt airport shooting By DAVID McHUGH and JUERGEN BAETZ FRANKFURT, Germany – A man armed with a handgun attacked a bus carrying U.S. airmen outside Frankfurt airport Wednesday, killing two Americans and wounding two others before being taken into custody, authorities said. *************** Last living U.S. WWI veteran dies Frank Buckles is seen on his 109th birthday in February 2010, in his home in Charles Town, West Virginia. Frank Buckles, the last living U.S. World War I veteran, has died, a spokesman for his family said Sunday. He was 110. *************** National *************** Obama Says Race a Key Component in Tea Party Protests In a new book, President Obama talks candidly about race and the presidency *************** Controversy Over Live Sex Demo at Northwestern University's 'Human Sexuality' Class Sun-Times Media Wire Evanston, Ill. - More than 100 Northwestern students watched as a naked woman was penetrated by a sex toy wielded by her boyfriend during an after-class session of the school’s popular “Human Sexuality” class. *************** The Changing Face of Wisconsin Protesting By Christian Schneider Protests of one kind or another dot the streets of Madison virtually every weekend. Signs denounce everything from sweatshops to Darfur to the Iraq war. Mere months ago, a gay-rights rally featured Rep. Tammy Baldwin dancing onstage with Wonder Woman as men in drag serenaded the crowd. That is why, if anti-government demonstrations with nationwide ramifications were to happen, it makes sense they would happen here in Wisconsin. *************** Rory Reid’s gubernatorial campaign circumvented contribution limits, created 91 shell PACs to infuse $750,000 into campaign In one of the most brazen schemes in Nevada history, gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid’s campaign formed 91 shell political action committees that were used to funnel three quarters of a million dollars into his campaign, circumventing contribution limits and violating at least the spirit – and maybe the letter – of the laws governing elections. *************** Double standard? SPLC report labels socially conservative, Christian orgs as ‘anti-gay’ hate groups but not Muslim orgs By Alex Brown - The Daily Caller The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) made headlines last week when its quarterly Intelligence Report warned of an alarming spike in hate groups, but some critics are suggesting the SPLC has a double standard when it comes to which organizations it chooses to list as being “anti-gay” hate groups. *************** CREW Provides SEC New Information about Short-sellers’ Efforts to Shape Education Regulations High-level Education officials colluded with Wall Street short-sellers, improperly leaking the contents of highly controversial gainful employment regulations in advance of their publication. *************** Sandoval to propose needs-based school voucher program By Anjeanette Damon CARSON CITY - After repeatedly emphasizing during his campaign that every Nevada child should have access to school choice, Gov. Brian Sandoval will propose a needs-based voucher program that will allow poorer families access to more money than families with a higher income. *************** Money Train By Philip Klein from the March 2011 issue "Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail," President Obama declared in his State of the Union address, making it the most ambitious element of his vision for "winning the future." *************** High Speed to Insolvency Why liberals love trains. Generations hence, when the river of time has worn this presidency’s importance to a small, smooth pebble in the stream of history, people will still marvel that its defining trait was a mania for high-speed rail projects. This disorder illuminates the progressive mind. *************** Pensions Before The Poor! By TROY ANDERSON For years, officials in California have used accounting gimmicks, stimulus funds and the state credit card to keep the safety net intact. *************** Nevada Politicians Debate an Older Profession “We’re entrepreneurs,” said Brooke Taylor, in her room at the Bunny Ranch. By JENNIFER MEDINA CARSON CITY, Nev. — Brooke Taylor voted for Harry Reid in his battle for re-election to the Senate last fall. But now she is incensed. Mr. Reid recently visited here and took a firm, if unexpected, stand: he called for an end to legal brothels. *************** DOMA Is Not Roe v. Wade President Obama announced last week that his Attorney General Eric Holder would no longer be defending the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which passed in 1996. *************** Obama Says Race a Key Component in Tea Party Protests In a new book, President Obama talks candidly about race and the presidency *************** Court says Illinois student has right to wear anti-gay shirt CHICAGO • An appeals court has upheld the rights of suburban Chicago students to wear T-shirts with the words "Be Happy, Not Gay." *************** Sen. Daniel Akaka Retiring By Steven T. Dennis Sen. Daniel Akaka announced Wednesday that he will not run for re-election in 2012. The Hawaii Democrat, in his third term, is 86. *************** Wu says he was hospitalized in 2008 for reaction to mental-health drug By The Associated Press U.S. Rep. David Wu says he was hospitalized after his 2008 campaign for symptoms that later were diagnosed as a reaction to a common mental health drug. *************** Boehner rips bid to regulate Internet Debt likened to Sputnik threat By Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times NASHVILLE, Tenn. | House Speaker John A. Boehner lashed out against efforts to regulate Internet traffic before an audience of evangelical Christian media leaders and pointedly responded to President Obama by comparing the challenge of the burgeoning national debt to the Sputnik-era space race. Economy
& Taxes *************** CHINA DEBT THREAT By Bill Gertz, The Washington Times U.S. intelligence agencies are working on a major strategic assessment of the national security dangers posed by China’s large-scale holdings of U.S. debt, according to people close to the inquiry. *************** Utah Considers Return to Gold, Silver Coins By Stephen Clark It's been nearly 80 years since the U.S. stopped using gold coins as legal currency, and nearly 40 since the world abandoned the gold standard, but the precious metal could be making a comeback in the United States -- beginning in Utah. *************** Dr. Coburn highlighting GAO report exposing widespread waste, & overlapping & duplicative programs Mr. COBURN: I thank the leader, the majority leader and minority leader both for their comments on this report. it's important for the American people to know. this is the first of three reports we're going to receive. this report just covers what the G.A.O has looked at in the last four to five years. it truly only covers about a third of the federal government, and i'm talking discretionary programs, not mandatory programs like social security, Medicare and Medicaid. and in here is at least 100 -- at least $100 billion in savings if we would do our job. *************** Billions in Bloat Uncovered in Beltway By DAMIAN PALETTA WSJ's Damian Paletta discusses a GAO report that uncovers billions of dollars in wasteful spending by the U.S. government due to duplicate work done by dozens of agencies. The U.S. government has 15 different agencies overseeing food-safety laws, more than 20 separate programs to help the homeless and 80 programs for economic development. *************** China's holdings of US debt larger than reported WASHINGTON (AFP) – China's holdings of US bonds reached $1.16 trillion at the end of December, almost $270 billion more than previously estimated, new data showed Monday. *************** 58% Favor Government Shutdown Until Spending Cuts Are Agreed Upon As Republicans and Democrats in Congress haggle over the budget, most voters would rather have a partial shutdown of the federal government than keep its spending at current levels. *************** International *************** China's capital tightens controls on foreign media By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN BEIJING (AP) - Officials in China's capital said Sunday that foreign reporters must seek government permission to conduct interviews in Beijing, taking a hard interpretation of current, more liberal regulations amid Internet calls for Middle East-style popular protests. *************** British Dad to Record 1,600 Words Before Losing Voice Forever BOLTON, England -- A British man who will lose his voice because of disease said Sunday that he is recording thousands of words so he can continue to read his son bedtime stories. *************** A Disrespectful Plea In Behalf Of Direct Democracy From the desk of George Handlery Sometimes, a small, in itself insignificant or seemingly anecdotal event can shed light on details of the “big picture” that would otherwise not be comprehended. Through such a case, the road to the title’s subject will take a detour. *************** China's addiction to GDP highs could kill Five-Year plan China’s 12th Five-Year plan is billed in Beijing as a watershed moment for the world’s second-biggest economy – the point when China to wean itself off exports and investment towards a greener, more domestically-driven, consumption-based economy. *************** China’s Growing High-Speed-Rail Troubles By Lou Dolinar The Chinese high-speed-rail scandal appears to be metastasizing. The latest casualty, reported this week by AP, is Zhang Shuguang, an engineer in charge of research and development, under investigation for “severe violation of discipline.” *************** Analysis: Russia turns military gaze east to counter China By Thomas Grove (Reuters) - With warships and missiles, Russia is flexing its muscles in the Far East in a bid to defend its position as an Asian power against China's growing might. *************** U.K.: Christians Now Considered Unfit For Foster Parenting Posted by dpayton Citing your values to overturn your values; that’s precisely what a court in the UK has done. They’ve cited the values that the country was founded on — Judeo-Christian ones — to rule against holding to those values. *************** Cuba intensifies campaign against dissidents By ANNE-MARIE GARCIA and PAUL HAVEN, Associated Press HAVANA (AP) -- Cuba stepped up its campaign against the island's small dissident community on Sunday, with pro-government demonstrators screaming insults at the "Ladies in White" opposition group a day after state-television aired a program denouncing them as agents of Washington. *************** A First-Hand Report from a ‘Jasmine Rally’ in Shanghai Will the wave of change sweeping the Middle East spread to the Far East and hasten political reform in the world’s largest unelected dictatorship? *************** China uses whistles, water, police on protests By ELAINE KURTENBACH SHANGHAI (AP) - Large numbers of police - and new tactics like shrill whistles and street cleaning trucks - squelched overt protests in China for a second Sunday in a row after more calls for peaceful gatherings modeled on recent democratic movements in the Middle East. *************** Opinion *************** Now comes the 'lower education bubble' By: Glenn Harlan Reynolds In recent months, I've written in these pages about a “higher education bubble” – the notion that America is spending more than it can afford on higher education, driven by the kind of cheap credit (and mass infatuation) that fueled the housing bubble. *************** Public Broadcasting Should Go Private If these outfits can afford to pay lavish salaries to their heads, they don't need taxpayer help. By JIM DEMINT When presidents of government-funded broadcasting are making more than the president of the United States, it's time to get the government out of public broadcasting. *************** What Happens in Vagueness Stays in Vagueness The decline and fall of American English, and stuff I recently watched a television program in which a woman described a baby squirrel that she had found in her yard. “And he was like, you know, ‘Helloooo, what are you looking at?’ and stuff, and I’m like, you know, ‘Can I, like, pick you up?,’ and he goes, like, ‘Brrrp brrrp brrrp,’ and I’m like, you know, ‘Whoa, that is so wow!’ ” She rambled on, speaking in self-quotations, sound effects, and other vocabulary substitutes, punctuating her sentences with facial tics and lateral eye shifts. All the while, however, she never said anything specific about her encounter with the squirrel. *************** More Useful Hitler Comparisons By Frank J Lately there has been a lot of talk about unions and how Republicans are trying to break up public sector unions, and Senator Sherrod Brown thought it was useful to point out one person who was against unions: Hitler! Strange, I thought the Nazis were socialists and thus real progressive on workers and such, but oh well. *************** Rejecting Nullification: Idaho Draws the Constitutional Line The recent effort to revive nullification may have just met its high water mark. *************** Union ‘rights’ that aren’t By Jeff Jacoby IF WISCONSIN Governor Scott Walker were getting a dollar for every protester, politician, and pundit accusing him of union-busting, attacking public-sector employees, or waging a war on working people — to say nothing of those likening him to Hosni Mubarak and Adolf Hitler — it wouldn’t be long before he could personally close his state’s $137 million budget shortfall. *************** |
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