'You'll have a revolution on your hands.' --Sen. Chris Dodd, D-CT: So When Will Banks Give Loans? By Joe Nocera 25 Oct 2008 It is starting to appear as if one of Treasury’s key rationales for the recapitalization program -- namely, that it will cause banks to start lending again -- is a fig leaf, Treasury's version of the weapons of mass destruction. In fact, Treasury wants banks to acquire each other and is using its power to inject capital to force a new and wrenching round of bank consolidation... Mr. [Mark] Landler’s story noted that Treasury would even funnel some of the bailout money to help banks buy other banks. And, in an almost unnoticed move, it recently put in place a new tax break, worth billions to the banking industry, that has only one purpose: to encourage bank mergers... Late Thursday afternoon, I caught up with Senator Dodd, and asked him what he was going to do if the loan situation didn’t improve: "If it turns out that they are hoarding, you’ll have a revolution on your hands. People will be so livid and furious that their tax money is going to line their pockets instead of doing the right thing. There will be hell to pay.
'This is a dictatorial, after-the-fact pronouncement by him in line with a lot of other cherry-picking he's done on the signing statements.' --Sen. Alen Specter, R-PA: Administration to Bypass Reporting Law 25 Oct 2008 The Bush regime has informed Congress that it is bypassing a law intended to forbid political interference with reports to lawmakers by the Department of Homeland Security. The August 2007 law requires the agency’s chief privacy officer to report each year about Homeland Security activities that affect privacy, and requires that the reports be submitted directly to Congress "without any prior comment or amendment" by superiors at the department or the White House. But newly disclosed documents show that the Justice Department issued a legal opinion last January questioning the basis for that restriction, and that Michael Chertoff, the homeland security secretary, later advised Congress that the administration would not "apply this provision strictly" because it infringed on the president's [sic] powers. Several members of Congress reacted with outrage to the administration’s claim, which was detailed in a memorandum posted this week on the Web site of the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department. Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, called the move "unconstitutional."
'US troops' strike inside Syria 26 Oct 2008 US helicopter-borne troops have carried out a raid inside Syria along the Iraqi border, killing eight people including four children, Syrian officials say. The official Syrian news agency Sana said the raid took place in the Abu Kamal border area, in eastern Syria. It said that American soldiers on four helicopters had stormed a building under construction on Sunday night.
Russian UN mission gets letter from McCain seeking election cash 20 Oct 2008 Russia's permanent mission to the UN has received a letter from U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain asking for financial support of his election campaign, the mission said in a statement on Monday. "We have received a letter from Senator John McCain with a request for a financial donation to his presidential election campaign. In this respect we have to reiterate that neither Russia's permanent mission to the UN nor the Russian government or its officials finance political activities in foreign countries," the statement said.
McCain camp hits up Russian envoy By Ben Smith 20 Oct 2008 On a day on which McCain campaign manager Rick Davis hinted that Obama was taking foreign money, the Russian Mission to the United Nations has released a standard-issue fundraising letter gone a bit astray: It was addressed to the Russian envoy to the U.N., Vitaly Churkin, at the mission's address, but without his title.
Bush twisted arms by telling members of congress that if the bill did not pass he would declair Marshal Law! This type of action from a president is unacceptable. The largest amount of the 700 billion dollars will go to bail out foreign banks.
The people of this country have spoken. The bailout legislation has been defeated. They oppose the bankers' bailout. Backroom arm-twisting is an unacceptable hijacking of democracy. I will not accept any vote change in favor of the bailout.
The people that voted for 700 billion for the Bush bail out are not fit to be in the senate or the house. How many of you own stock in oil companys. We are nor fooled about the gas rip off and you can be assured that we will work hard to gwet you out of office.
Dicator Bush and corrupt whimps.
'There would be martial law in America if we voted no.' --Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif., 27th District) says Congress threatened with Martial Law if bill is not passed --Posted by saluki420 02 Oct 2008 Transcript: The only way they can pass this bill is by creating and sustaining a panic atmosphere. That atmosphere is not justified. Many of us were told in private conversations that if we voted against this bill on Monday, that the sky would fall, the Market would drop two or three thousand points the first day-another couple thousand the second day-and a few members were even told that there would be martial law in America if we voted no. That's what I call fearmongering. Unjustified. Proven wrong.
AIG subsidiary parties in style in OC, two weeks after bailout By Teri Sforza 02 Oct 2008 Financial crisis? What financial crisis? Less than two weeks after Uncle Sam gave American International Group (AIG) an $85 billion loan - staving off financial collapse - execs from one of its insurance subsidiaries, AIG American General, gathered for a conference at the uber-swank St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, billed as "California’s only Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star Resort," where ocean-view rooms start at $565 a night and "world class luxury" is the rule.
Senate package would bail out major foreign investors, including China 02 Oct 2008 Rep. Brad Sherman of California was on Larry Kudlow’s CNBC show on Sept. 30 to cite evidence that the legislation potentially "provides hundreds of billions of dollars of bailouts to foreign investors," including those in China... The provision referred to by Sherman is Section 112, "Coordination With Foreign Authorities and Central Banks," which "Requires the Secretary to coordinate with foreign authorities and central banks to establish programs similar to TARP, the Troubled Assets Relief Program."
US loads $700bn bailout bill with 'pork barrel' tax breaks 03 Oct 2008 As the White House and leaders from both parties conducted a final push to convert enough rebels to salvage the rescue plan from its stunning defeat in the House on Monday, an array of "pork barrel" projects have been inserted to soften up waverers. They are aimed at peeling away a handful of naysayers with the promise that if they vote yes this time their pet projects will see the light of day.
thousands of americans out of work and you are like Bush and McCain, not concerned about the american people, we see nothing being done to restore america and bring back the jobs to the people of this state and nation!
I am a veteran and i can assure you that a lot of men were POW's and I can assure you that they would not betray this nation or the american people like McCain!
The democrats we elected and put in charge has beome yes people to the Bush agenda! Madam Speaker say good by to your job.
'Sweeteners' may sway House votes on economic bailoutStory Highlights
House majority leader hopeful of "bipartisan, majority support"
New provisions added to bill House rejected 228-205 on Monday
Several lawmakers say they're considering switching votes
Bailout package passed Senate 74-25 on Wednesday with bipartisan support
Next Article in Politics »
Read VIDEO INTERACTIVE DETAILS
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House of Representatives is expected to vote Friday on a $700 billion economic bailout package that passed the Senate on Wednesday.
The U.S. House is expected to vote on the bailout package on Friday.
"Sweeteners" were added to a bill the House rejected on Monday in an effort to entice enough House members, particularly Republicans, to pass the plan.
Debate began Friday morning.
"I am hopeful that there will be bipartisan, majority support for this bill that is critical to stabilizing our nation's economy for all working Americans," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, said in a statement late Thursday.
On Wednesday, Hoyer said he would only bring the bill to the floor if, after talking with Republican leaders, he found "bipartisan majority support" for it.
The Senate approved the modified financial rescue plan in a 74-25 vote Wednesday night.
The Senate vote came two days after the House voted against the measure, 228-205. A majority of House Democrats voted for the bailout package, 140-95, but a majority of Republican members voted against the bill, 133-65. Follow the plan with the Bailout Tracker »
The House rejection of the bailout bill sent financial markets tumbling and put pressure on lawmakers to find ways to pick up support for Friday's vote.
The added incentives -- a mix of tax extensions, an increase in federal deposit insurance and other measures -- include many items that are appealing to Republicans. View details of some of the incentives »
Senate bailout bill
The Senate bill passed Wednesday night included measures that:
Allow Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to buy up to $700 billion in bad mortgage-related securities and other bad assets.
Allow the Treasury Department to modify mortgage terms to help homeowners avoid foreclosure.
Permit the government to receive equity in companies it helps so taxpayers get a share of any future profits.
Restrict executive pay for companies aided by the program.
Create an independent oversight board to oversee the Treasury Department program.
Source: Senate Banking Committee President Bush on Thursday urged the House to pass an "improved" bill.
Bush said the plan "has got the best chance" to help small-business owners function.
Congressmen who voted against the bill on Monday told The Associated Press that they might approve it on Friday. Watch one congressman who says he won't support bailout »
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, told the AP the sweeteners had won her approval.
"Monday what we had was a bailout for Wall Street firms and not much relief for taxpayers and hard-hit families," Ros-Lehtinen told AP. "Now we have an economic rescue package."
"I hate it," but "inaction to me is a greater danger to our country than this bill," Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tennessee, told AP.
Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, who voted "no" on Monday, told AP he was close to approving the new version after discussions with his party's presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama.
"I've got a man who I'm hoping will be president who's saying that's he's going to do the very things that I want done. It makes me feel a lot better," he said.
After talking with Obama, Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, told fellow Democrats that he would support the bill this time.
"The reality has hit some members," Rep. Barney Frank, chief Democratic negotiator of the bill in the House, said. "The main change is reality. It's not possible now to scoff at the predictions of doom if we don't do anything." Watch reaction to the Senate's passage of the bill »
Don't Miss
CNN/Money: Senate passes bailout bill
House Web site overwhelmed
Democrats offer alternative 'no bailouts act'
iReport.com: Nader: 'Don't ram this through Congress'
Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated the House "will act in a bipartisan way to restore market confidence as well as Main Street's confidence in our economic future."
The modified bailout package included the core measures the House rejected -- a plan that would allow Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to buy up to $700 billion in bad mortgage-related securities and other bad assets that are undermining credit markets worldwide -- as well as a mix of other measures that previously passed in the Senate.
The bailout plan has new provisions, including an increase in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. cap from $100,000 to $250,000. It makes $250 billion immediately available to purchase bank assets, leaving $100 billion at the president's discretion and $350 billion subject to congressional review.
The bill also includes a "mental-health parity" provision, which would require health insurance companies to cover mental illness at parity with physical illness. Watch what "pork" was added to bill »
Because tax bills must originate in the House, the Senate attached the rescue plan to a bill that deals with renewable energy tax incentives. This allowed the Senate to vote before the House to approve a bailout bill.
Before Monday's vote, House members were bombarded with constituent calls in opposition to the bill. The calls to one Republican opponent of the measure, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, were running 85 percent to 90 percent against the bailout, said Bill Smith, Pence's chief of staff
Protect Taxpayers Not Speculators
Obama is likely to support a bailout but "Fearing a political backlash against Democrats," Roll Call reported, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has told the White House that it must serve up support from Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) if it hopes to ensure bipartisan backing for a massive economic bailout package by week's end."
Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich hammered the $700 billion financial sector bailout as a "really bad idea."
Conservative Leaders to Rally Behind Gingrich to Oppose Bailout.
Select Below to Demand Congress Protect Taxpayers Not Speculators
FAX All Congressmen - Tell Them No Bailout!
Gingrich said "Only in this city and on Wall Street does this bailout have any hope, and they may be able to ram it through, but it's very clear to the country at large that this is a dead loser and it's going to be a dead loser in October, and it's going to be a dead loser on Election Day,"
Gingrich said at a briefing to discuss a poll conducted for his outfit, American Solutions for Winning the Future, "And [elected officials] are going to go home and say, ‘I didn't have any choice' and people are going to say, ‘Ok, I need to get somebody new who has a choice.
68% of Americans Say Save Main Street Not Wall Street
An overwhelming number of voters do not support the government's bailout proposal, with 68% of respondents to the Gingrich poll saying they'd rather see the companies go in to bankruptcy even if it harms investors and the stock market.
No corporate bonuses for manager of mismanaged failing companies.
Falling for this scam by Sen. Reid and the other Obama supporters in the US Senate could severely damage Sen. McCain's campaign.
McCain should reject the plan and use the issue to draw a distinction between himself and President Bush for good policy reasons.
Barack Obama is clearly going to go along with Reid and the Democrats. After all financial institutions have given more donations to Obama that anyone else except Sen. Dodd (CT).
Wall Street is in trouble because of misplaced bets on derivatives and other financial instruments. It is not the purpose of tax dollars to limit the damage to multi-millionaires for trading mistakes they have made.
Average Americans should be concerned. Concerned they are being taken again. The bailout plans are being crafted by the same mistake prone multi-millionaires to protect themselves and includes the insuring of money-market funds with over $3.4 trillion in assets.
This amounts to the nationalization by the US Treasury of the commercial-paper market.
Select Below to Demand Congress Protect Taxpayers Not Speculators
FAX All Congressmen - Tell Them No Bailout!
When risks are divorced from investments, you naturally have an increased opportunity for fraud.
America has over 200 years of bankruptcy law that should be governing these transactions.
If managers who accumulated too much risk by not adequately qualifying lenders are allowed to continue in their jobs, we are doing a disfavor to the intelligent managers who accepted lower returns for more prudent lending practices.
The shareholders and management at imprudent firms should be wiped out.
This allows new managers and companies to fill the void. This type of creative destruction always strengthens the economy in the long run.
_________________________________
Bush administration seeks 'dictatorial power unreviewable by the third branch of government, the courts' 20 Sep 2008 The Bush administration asked Congress for unchecked power to buy $700 billion in bad mortgage investments from U.S. financial companies in what would be an unprecedented government intrusion into the markets.
The bill would bar courts from reviewing actions taken under its authority. "It sounds like [Treasury Secretary Henry] Paulson is asking to be a financial dictator, for a limited period of time,'' said historian John Steele Gordon, author...
The Bush administration seeks "dictatorial power unreviewable by the third branch of government,
the courts, to try to resolve the crisis,'' said Frank Razzano, a former assistant chief trial attorney at the Securities and Exchange Commission now at Pepper Hamilton LLP in Washington.
____________________________________
[See: Brigade homeland tours start Oct. 1 for deployment during 'civil unrest,' 'horrific scenarios' 08 Sep 2008.]
___________________________________
U.S. Treasury to Bail Out Foreign Banks 21 Sep 2008 In a change from the original proposal sent to Capitol Hill, foreign-based banks with big U.S. operations could qualify for the Treasury Department’s mortgage bailout, according to the fine print of an administration statement Saturday night.
The theory, according to a participant in the negotiations, is that if the goal is to solve a liquidity crisis, it makes no sense to exclude banks that do a lot of lending in the United States.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson confirmed the change on ABC's "This Week," stating that coverage of foreign-based banks is "a distinction without a difference to the American people." [We need to show them a distinction with a difference.]
SPECIAL CONVENTION EDITION
Sen. McCain Picks Gov. Sarah Palin
Sen. McCain selected Gov. Palin to be his running mate. What do you know about her?
See Gov. Palin's Biography and Contact Her
Read Roll Call's Interview with Gov. Palin
Tell Sen. McCain What You Think of His Choice and the ticket
Post Your Comments About Gov. Palin on Her Biography Page
Voters need to wake up! Obama and the democrats,Our opponents in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee desperately want to give away 550,000 American jobs!
If it were to pass, H.R. 5882 would bring in 550,000 permanent greencard holders, above the 1 million immigrants already planned! With U.S. unemployment shooting up to a five-year high, this is the very worst time to add more competition to Americans.
But Nancy Pelosi and her allies backed down yesterday before they could get the immigration increase past the Judiciary Committee. They thought it would be easy. Instead, they ran into a buzzsaw.
That's because our army of hundreds of thousands of citizen activists swung into action, swamping the opposition with phone calls and faxes.
By last night it became clear our opponents just couldn't make it happen. So they delayed action till next week, hoping opposition will die down.
Fat chance! We're never going to give up or give in. But our danger is SEVERE!
John McCain! as well as Obama and Senator Feinstein of the democrats.
1. They supports giving thousands of jobs to France while millions of Americans are out of work. To make it worse we are paying France billions out of our pockets to pay each person in France that McCain created jobs for,what kind of a man that calls himself an american would do such a thing. He is taking away our ability to build out own aircraft a national security threat.
p>
_______________________________________
IMMIGRATION, ILLEGALS, DRUGS, CRIME
About 600 detained in MS immigration raid
Sorry, Postville -- it looks like this might be the biggest workplace immigration raid in U.S. history.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
East LA Handyman Accused Of Massacre Of 19 In Baja Drug War
EAST LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Neighbors in East Los Angeles were surprised over the weekend to learn that the handyman next door was a suspected drug lord believed to have participated in the massacre of 19 men, women and children in a Baja California drug war 10 years ago.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group of illegal aliens rescued in desert
A group of 14 illegal aliens found in distress near the Barry M. Goldwater Range in Maricopa County were rescued by Border Patrol Agents and the Maricopa Search and Rescue Team.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man Scams Illegal Immigrants
CANTON, Ga. -- Cobb County Police charged an Atlanta man with bilking undocumented immigrants out of thousands of dollars. Police say he promises them drivers licenses, but leaves them high and dry at the Department of Driver Services.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
MCCAIN IS GIVING THOUSANDS OF JOBS TO FRANCE AND YOU ARE PAYING FOR IT.
The commonest error in politics," said Lord Salisbury, "is sticking to the carcass of dead policies."
Lord Salisbury's rule comes to mind on reading of
John McCain's delight at the $40 billion contract awarded the French-led parent of Airbus -- to build the next generation of U.S. Air Force tankers.
The contract could run to $100 billion and is a body blow to Boeing in its duel to the death with Airbus. Two-thirds of all air-to-air refueling tankers are used by the United States.
The contract gives a 30-year lease on life to the expiring Airbus A330 and means early death for Boeing's 767, the U.S. Model for the tanker
Congratulating himself for having exposed corruption in the Boeing bid, McCain purred, "I have always insisted that the Air Force buy major weapons through fair and open competition."
If McCain thinks Airbus has prospered through "fair and open competition," he is beyond recall. In its first 25 years, Airbus sold 770 planes but did not make a dime in profit. It was started as a socialist cartel, subsidized by the governments of Spain, France, Britain and Germany, to invade and capture a market owned by Americans who built the planes that won World War II.
Airbus drove Lockheed and McDonnell-Douglas out of the business of commercial aircraft and almost took down Boeing. And like indolent buffalo munching grass as they are shot one by one, we let it happen.
Lost U.S. Jobs should not be our primary concern, said McCain,
"I've always felt the best thing to do is to create the best weapons system we can at minimum cost to taxpayers."
_______________________________________
Egypt seizes Israeli radioactive cargo 28 Jul 2008 Egypt has refused to allow entry to an Israeli truck carrying 3.5 tone of ceramics after high radiation levels were detected in the shipment. Egyptian officials seized the goods at the Al-Oja border crossing after radiation detection equipment showed a high presence of radioactive material in the cargo, a security official told AFP. A special team from the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) was expected to inspect the shipment immediately, he added.
Pakistani journalist in US jail on terrorism charges 28 Jul 2008 Nayyar Zaidi, the well-known US-based Pakistani-American journalist who has been a citizen of the United States for more than 30 years, has been in US custody for the last four months on what are said to be terrorism-related charges. According to one report, Zaidi is being held on the charge of "obstruction of justice", a very serious offence. He is also said to be awaiting a trial. The Homeland Security Department or the FBI have made no announcement about his arrest or incarceration.
Barack Obama unveils 13-minute Keating Five documentary 06 Oct 2008 Barack Obama's campaign unveiled... a 13-minute documentary on John McCain's ties to Charles Keating, the chairman of the Lincoln Savings and Loan Assn. who was charged with fraud, racketeering and conspiracy in the savings-and-loan scandal of the late 1980s. It debuted at noon EDT (9 a.m. PDT) today on a website specifically created for it.
KEATING ECONOMICS: John McCain & The Making of a Financial Crisis --Posted by BarackObama.com 06 Oct 2008 (Video)
The ABCs of John McCain, Charles Keating & the Savings & Loan (S&L) Crisis (keatingeconomics.com) 06 Oct 2008 (.pdf)
Obama camp cites SC school invites to Ayers 07 Oct 2008 Barack Obama's campaign is citing the University of South Carolina's speaking invitations to William Ayers and Republican Gov. Mark Sanford's role as school trustee to counter GOP efforts to link the presidential candidate to the 1960s radical. In an e-mail to reporters, the Obama campaign said Ayers is a "distinguished scholar" at the University of South Carolina, where Sanford serves as the ex-officio trustee while governor.
Obama camp: McCain would gut health coverage for old and poor 06 Oct 2008 Barack Obama's White House campaign Monday accused John McCain of plotting to impose savage cuts on government-run health care programs that insure the elderly and the poor. The Obama campaign seized on a Wall Street Journal report that cited independent analysts as estimating the Republican's policies would cut 1.3 trillion dollars over 10 years from Medicare and Medicaid.
McCain Plans Federal Health Cuts --Medicare, Medicaid Spending Would Be Reduced to Offset Proposed Tax Credit 06 Oct 2008 John McCain would pay for his health plan with major reductions to Medicare and Medicaid, a top aide said, in a move that independent analysts estimate could result in cuts of $1.3 trillion over 10 years to the government programs. The Republican presidential nominee has said little about the proposed cuts, but they are needed to keep his health-care plan "budget neutral," as he has promised. The McCain campaign hasn't given a specific figure for the cuts, but didn't dispute the analysts' estimate.
Is Palin Trying to Incite Violence Against Obama? McCain Camp Talks 'Character Assassination,' Supporters Shout for Real Assassination By Jeffrey Feldman 07 Oct 2008 At her last rally in Florida, Sarah Palin told the audience that Barack Obama "palled around with terrorists" adding,"I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way you and I see America." Upon hearing the Republican VP candidate's concern that Sen. Obama might be a terrorist, a voice in the crowd cried out 'Kill him!'
Press kept under a watchful eye --'Negative things had been written.' 06 Oct 2008 (Clearwater, FL) Constantly under the watchful eyes of security, the media wasn't permitted to wander around inside Coachman Park to talk to Sarah Palin supporters. When reporters tried to leave the designated press area and head toward the bleachers where the crowd was seated, an escort would dart out of nowhere and confront him or her and say, "Can I help you?'' and turn the person around. When one reporter asked an escort, who would not give her name, why the press wasn't allowed to mingle, she said that in the past, negative things had been written.
Does Barack Hussein Obama want to SILENCE RUSH?
His campaign now says he doesn't support the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" (a measure that liberals are trying to impose to get rid of the only medium that gives equal time to conservative thoughts and opinions; namely, conservative talk radio) -- athough he supported it several months ago.
Michael Ortiz, the Obama campaign's press secretary, told Broadcasting and Cable:
Demand that they bring Congressman Mike Pence's Broadcaster Freedom Act -- which is specifically designed to STOP the imposition of the so-called Fairness Doctrine -- to the floor for a fair up-or-down vote. The American people need to know which Members of Congress value the First Amendment!
Russian UN mission gets letter from McCain seeking election cash 20 Oct 2008 Russia's permanent mission to the UN has received a letter from U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain asking for financial support of his election campaign, the mission said in a statement on Monday. "We have received a letter from Senator John McCain with a request for a financial donation to his presidential election campaign. In this respect we have to reiterate that neither Russia's permanent mission to the UN nor the Russian government or its officials finance political activities in foreign countries," the statement said.
McCain camp hits up Russian envoy By Ben Smith 20 Oct 2008 On a day on which McCain campaign manager Rick Davis hinted that Obama was taking foreign money, the Russian Mission to the United Nations has released a standard-issue fundraising letter gone a bit astray: It was addressed to the Russian envoy to the U.N., Vitaly Churkin, at the mission's address, but without his title.
McCain linked to private group in Iran-Contra affair 07 Oct 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain has past connections to a private group that supplied aid to guerrillas terrorists seeking to overthrow the leftist government of Nicaragua in the Iran-Contra affair. The U.S. Council for World Freedom was part of an international organization linked to former Nazi collaborators and ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America. The council's founder, retired Army Maj. Gen. John Singlaub, said McCain became associated with the organization in the early 1980s as McCain was launching his political career in Arizona.
John McCain's ties to Charles Keating --The Obama campaign raises the Republican's connection to the convicted S & L scandal figure in reference to today's financial crisis. 07 Oct 2008 McCain's ties to a convicted S&L owner: Probably the biggest political embarrassment of John McCain's career emanated from his close ties to Charles H. Keating Jr., the high-flying owner of Lincoln Savings & Loan who later went to federal prison. Lincoln's failure would ultimately cost taxpayers $3.4 billion, the most expensive rescue of the S&L crisis in the late 1980s.
Humanitarian community voices concern over economic crisis
Aid and development officials warn that the world's deepening economic crisis may have disastrous effects on humanitarian aid and multilateral efforts to fight disease and poverty and care for refugee populations. "It would be tragic if the funds available to the humanitarian community in general and the UNHCR in particular were to decline at the very time when the demands upon us are increasing so dramatically," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said Monday. AlertNet.org/Reuters (10/6)
___________________________________
___________________________________
Ban urges review of Georgia mission
China's HIV/AIDS problems growing
Penguins wash up on tropical Brazilian beach
Iraqi women balance patriotism and fear
Chechens in Georgia watched war with Russia with knowing eyes
Career Center
Wildcam puts spotlight on Belize Barrier Reef
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Skip to a section: United Nations | Development Health and Poverty | Development Energy and Environment | Human Rights | Peace and Security | UN Foundation and Better World Campaign
Of the 42 poor countries most at risk of conflict or natural disaster, one third do not have a humanitarian coordinator. So in some of the worst disasters there is no one on the ground to lead the international response. That lack of leadership costs lives.
______________________________________
______________________________________
UK international development minister Gareth Thomas. Read the full story.
______________________________________
______________________________________
UN DISPATCH: American-Eritrean relations are at a historic low point, with American officials accusing the Eritrean government of sponsoring terrorism in Somalia. It's a long story, having to do with the chaos in Somalia and the poisonous relationship between Eritrea and its much larger neighbor, Ethiopia, which happens to be America's new B.F.F. (best friend forever) in Africa and is currently occupying Somalia. The Eritreans paint themselves as victims of a Western conspiracy.
UN Dispatch
____________________________________
Ban urges review of Georgia mission
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the mandate of the UN mission monitoring the cease-fire between Georgia and Abkhazia to be extended for four months, as officials consider whether to continue UN involvement in the aftermath of the Russia-Georgia war. The Washington Times/The Associated Press (10/6)
U.K. minister warns about UN leadership's response to global calamities
U.K. International Development Minister Gareth Thomas will release a statement warning that serious reforms are required to address the UN's handling of man-made and environmental disasters, as these disasters are happening with greater frequency and deficiencies and the UN's responses are costing lives. The Guardian (London) (10/7)
______________________________________
China's HIV/AIDS problems growing
HIV/AIDS infections rates are rising and spreading across China, according to a study published in the journal Nature. Infections have spread to all Chinese provinces, and rates in groups not previously considered to be in China's high-risk category are now rising quickly. The New York Times (10/7)
_______________________________________
Expulsion of missionaries blamed for deaths among Amazon tribe
Leaders of Venezuela's forest-dwelling Yanomami tribe allege that the expulsion of American missionaries in 2004 -- accused by President Hugo Chávez of espionage -- has led to deaths by negligence of more than 50 people in the southern rain forest. Missionaries supplied medicine as well as fuel used to transport sick tribesmen to medical facilities for urgent care. The New York Times (free registration) (10/6)
_______________________________________
Economy, governance looking better across Africa
Even as the West grapples with a deepening economic crisis, Africa is on track to post solid growth this year, a trend led by many former war zones, including Angola, Mozambique and Liberia. Alongside the economic successes, many African countries are also posting progress in good governance. TIME (10/6)
___________________________________
___________________________________
Poverty contributing to Kenya trafficking scourge
Economic woes are contributing to the vulnerability of thousands of Kenyans every year who fall victim to human traffickers and now represent one out of every 40 trafficked persons worldwide. In some cases, victims are promised employment; in others, they are taken advantage of after paying transport fees for passage to wealthier countries. AllAfrica Global Media/The Nation (10/5)
______________________________________
______________________________________
Other News
Uganda reports rise in male circumcision as HIV preventative
Mail & Guardian (South Africa) (10/7)
______________________________________
Penguins wash up on tropical Brazilian beach
A plane typically used to transport military equipment was used to fly hundreds of penguins from tropical beaches in Brazil, where 270 Magellanic penguins washed up, to Pelotas, in South Brazil, where it is hoped upon release that the older penguins will then lead the younger penguins to Patagonia. The Guardian (London) (10/7)
______________________________________
______________________________________
Other News
World Bank review prompts DRC action on logging contracts
The Toronto Star/Reuters (10/6)
FAO: World needs to reassess biofuel strategies
AlertNet.org/Reuters (10/7)
______________________________________
______________________________________
Iraqi women balance patriotism and fear
As Iraq prepares to hold elections, women interested in standing as candidates must balance the desire to serve with security concerns. Unlike previous elections where ballots carried only party symbols, this time candidates' names will appear -- raising fears female legislators and their families might face a backlash from ultra-conservative elements of Iraqi society. TIME (10/6)
_______________________________________
Israel's first integrated school opens doors
Israel's first bilingual Jewish-Arab high school, which has admitted its first class of 14 Arab citizens of Israel, faces exceptional challenges as the nation's first institutional effort to integrate students. The school has not received accreditation from the education ministry, which will make it difficult to receive government funding or administer matriculation exams; the ministry says the school failed to file complete paperwork by the deadline. The Christian Science Monitor (10/7)
Georgia media plight highlights failure to uphold standards
Georgia's lack of press freedoms is drawing fire from critics at home and abroad as a glaring example of the country's failure to live up to the democratic standards it claims to espouse. The New York Times (10/7)
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Chechens in Georgia watched war with Russia with knowing eyes
Chechens who fled a civil war with Russia in the 1990s to join the Muslim Kisti -- ethnic Chechens living in the mountainous region of Georgia -- watched the war between Georgia and Russia with a knowing cynicism. Some fled to the Turkish border when Russian aircraft begin flying over Georgian territory. The Christian Science Monitor (10/7)
______________________________________
______________________________________
China suspends talks, port calls after U.S. sells arms to Taiwan
Protesting the announcement of a $6.5-billion defensive arms sale to Taiwan, China canceled a senior military visit to the U.S. in addition to suspending port calls by U.S Navy ships. Analysts suggest that China may seek to repair relations with a new administration in January. Los Angeles Times (free registration) (10/7)
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
U.S. bailout does not allay fear of global recession
Though the bailout package recently approved by the U.S. Congress and signed by President George W. Bush offers assistance to foreign banks, the plan has not reassured European investors. The supranational European Union bloc has no formal mechanism for dealing with an international European financial crisis, a fact that has led to bank failures and mass withdrawals across Europe. The New York Times (free registration) (10/6)
______________________________________
_____________________________________
UN gears up emergency food aid in North Korea
Scaled back in 2005, emergency aid distribution operations resumed in North Korea, after the UN World Food Programme declared a state of emergency. A total of $500 million will be spent over the next two weeks to help feed more than 5 million people, who are experiencing the worst food crisis since the 1990s famine. North Korea has permitted greater oversight in the distribution of food supplies to the UN and the U.S. The Washington Post
