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Is This Troubled Nation Ready for Change?

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 08:57:15 GMT

clipped by: abailart

Whoever wins, the 2008 election is one for the history books.

this is a transformational moment in American politics.

Barack Obama's good fortune has been to be his party's candidate at a moment of pent-up desire for change

voters are perfectly aware of the colossal human and financial cost of the war in Iraq, and the damage it has done to America's good name and moral authority,

McCain is identified with the old.

eerily quiet shopping malls

empty homes with their changed locks

the old 20th-century certainty that in America children would automatically be better off than their parents had been swept away by a decade of stagnation, even decline, in living standards for all but the very wealthy.

The assumption that prosperity is an eternal entitlement is no more.

educational standards, the decrepit state of much of the country's infrastructure, the chronic failure to provide health care for all,

something has gone terribly wrong

Tags: us presidential election 2008

US Syrian Raid Sets Iraq on Fire

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 08:48:07 GMT

clipped by: abailart

Clip Source: www.atimes.com

DAMASCUS - The United States raid on Syria on October 27, which led to the killing of eight civilians, sent shockwaves throughout Iraq, mainly enraging the Sunni community, former Ba'athists and tribal leaders who are pro-Syrian.

It came as such a surprise to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that he was completely dumfounded at commenting. Here was the prime minister of Iraq, an ally of Iran and a former resident of Syria, watching Syria being attacked from his own territory - without his knowledge.

The Syria raid has electrified Iraq's Shi'ites, who are once again calling on Maliki not to sign the SOFA, claiming it will be used against Iran since it would give the US long-term access to Iraqi territory.

Sunnis are furious, given their historic relations, both personal and commercial, with the Syrians.

Of the 1.5 million Iraqi refugees in Syria, a majority are Sunnis.

A prominent Kurdish politician, Mahmud Othman,

feared

such action would only add to the anti-American sentiment in Iraq

Tags: iraq, syria, iran, kurds, sunnis, shi'iites

Barak Calls for Restraining Orders on Far Right

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 08:42:42 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks:

Clip Source: www.jpost.com

Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday ordered a crackdown on far-right activists in the West Bank and approved a range of sweeping policy changes, among them an increase in restraining orders.

The move came after a number of physical attacks by extremists against security forces in the West Bank, as well as violent threats, including one this week wishing death to IDF soldiers who evacuate illegal Jewish homes in the territories.

There has also been an increase in attacks on Palestinians during this year's olive harvest.

The right-wing group Women in Green said that decision moved Israel one step further toward becoming a police state.

Tags: israelie right, israeli settlers

Lost in Translation

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 08:39:07 GMT

clipped by: abailart

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the reply was what they needed.

Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: "I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated".

• Cyclists between Cardiff and Penarth in 2006 were left confused by a bilingual road sign telling them they had problems with an "inflamed bladder".

• In the same year, a sign for pedestrians in Cardiff reading 'Look Right' in English read 'Look Left' in Welsh.

• People living near an Aberdeenshire building site in 2006 were mystified when a sign apologising for the inconvenience was written in Welsh as well as English.

Tags: humour