Puppet Masters
The European Union was announced the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2012. A heated debate emerged over the validity of the award amidst the backdrop of Europe's as-yet-unsolved economic crisis.
The 27-nation organization was awarded the prize for its role in "uniting the continent," and its contributions "to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe."
The unanimous decision was made by a five-person panel chaired by Thorbjoern Jagland, the Council of Europe's Secretary-General and a strong advocate of the EU in Norway. "The EU helped transform Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace," Jagland said.
The EU will receive a $1.2 million award on December 10 by the Nobel Committee.
The news came 60 years after the creation of the EU's predecessor organization, the European Coal and Steel Community, which helped rebuild a continent decimated by two World Wars.
Three-week defense exercise, postponed from spring, will be largest of its kind to date, simulate missile defense scenarios.
The US and Israel will commence the largest-ever joint air defense drill of its kind in Israel on October 21, an army source said on Tuesday.
The exercise, named Austere Challenge 12, was originally scheduled for last spring but was postponed due to regional tensions with Iran.
On October 14, large numbers of American soldiers are expected to begin arriving in Israel, where they will set up aerial defense positions on Israeli territory and on US Navy vessels off the Israeli coastline.
The exercise, named Austere Challenge 12, was originally scheduled for last spring but was postponed due to regional tensions with Iran.
On October 14, large numbers of American soldiers are expected to begin arriving in Israel, where they will set up aerial defense positions on Israeli territory and on US Navy vessels off the Israeli coastline.
Comment:
The exercise, named Austere Challenge 12, was originally scheduled for last spring but was postponed due to regional tensions with Iran.And there are no such tensions now? Do they expect us to believe that this is "unrelated to any pinpoint developments in the region"? And what about the curious coincidence with the earthquake drill scheduled for the 21st of October that assumes mass casualties of 7,000 and 70,000 wounded?
© Reuters/Sergio Perez
Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy
Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy
The S&P downgrade comes with a negative outlook reflecting the credit ratings agency's view that there are significant risks to economic growth and budgetary performance, plus a lack of clear direction in euro zone policies.
"In our view, the capacity of Spain's political institutions (both domestic and multilateral) to deal with the severe challenges posed by the current economic and financial crisis is declining," S&P said in a statement.
Comment: With elections looming, the U.S. government could certainly do with some additional distractions and unsettling images of a collapsing Spanish economy to scare voters with. The above speculation about Moody's next move seems redundant, given the current direction global financial manipulations.
A Supreme Court case could limit the resale of goods made overseas but sold in America.
At issue in Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons is the first-sale doctrine in copyright law, which allows you to buy and then sell things like electronics, books, artwork and furniture, as well as CDs and DVDs, without getting permission from the copyright holder of those products.
Under the doctrine, which the Supreme Court has recognized since 1908, you can resell your stuff without worry because the copyright holder only had control over the first sale.
Put simply, though Apple Inc. has the copyright on the iPhone and Mark Owen has it on the book "No Easy Day," you can still sell your copies to whomever you please whenever you want without retribution.
© AFP Photo / Behrouz Mehri
Documents obtained by Wired's Danger Room reveal that the AWG, a US military unit created during the War on Terror to provide additional means of support to American troops, may have had a rather peculiar notion about what breeds extremism among US troops. According to presentations that Danger Room has come to possess, frustration with mainstream ideologies and displaying a concentrated rhetoric among other recruits may be warning sides of radicalization, as well as factors such as being "highly emotional," involved in "social networks" or being a "youth" also indicating a great risk for expediting the process into identifying as a violent extremist.
Commissioner Raymond Kelly says New York City's police force placed on high alert as concerns mount over possible retaliation by Tehran, Hezbollah over tightening international sanctions
New York City's police commissioner said Wednesday that a potential retaliatory attack on New York City by Iran is an ongoing concern for the NYPD.
Commissioner Raymond Kelly spoke at the NYPD Shield Anti-Terrorism Conference.
According to the New York Post, Kelly said that a possible conflict between Iran and Israel was of concern to the law enforcement agency due to the city's large Jewish population.
"We've been concerned about Iran for a while, and I think the history of those events throughout the world since January give us cause for concern," he said.
"Obviously if there's any action involving Israel and Iran we have to be very cognizant of the potential of retaliation here in New York City," Kelly was quoted by the New York Post as saying.
© AP
Commissioner Raymond Kelly
Commissioner Raymond Kelly
Commissioner Raymond Kelly spoke at the NYPD Shield Anti-Terrorism Conference.
According to the New York Post, Kelly said that a possible conflict between Iran and Israel was of concern to the law enforcement agency due to the city's large Jewish population.
"We've been concerned about Iran for a while, and I think the history of those events throughout the world since January give us cause for concern," he said.
"Obviously if there's any action involving Israel and Iran we have to be very cognizant of the potential of retaliation here in New York City," Kelly was quoted by the New York Post as saying.
Comment: All that is needed now is a false-flag attack on U.S. soil and Netanyahu will have the war he so much desires. Rest assured that if there is a terror attack on the U.S. in the near future it will not be perpetrated by Iran, as Iran has everything to lose and nothing to gain from such a move. For Israel's Mossad, on the other hand, it is a different story.
US News Ohio Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich believes the deployment of American troops in Jordan - which was announced Wednesday - brings the United States "immeasurably" closer to being dragged into the civil war in Syria.
"I can see in a moment how it happens: we're a few dozen miles from the Syrian border and all of a sudden we are within the reach of physical danger. All it takes is a single incident," Kucinich said in a phone interview with U.S. News.
The Ohio congressman complained that the commander-in-chief sent the troops to Jordan "without notifying Congress." Ironically, Kucinich noted, the Obama administration announced the deployment exactly ten years after the House of Representatives authorized President George W. Bush to invade Iraq.
"I can see in a moment how it happens: we're a few dozen miles from the Syrian border and all of a sudden we are within the reach of physical danger. All it takes is a single incident," Kucinich said in a phone interview with U.S. News.
The Ohio congressman complained that the commander-in-chief sent the troops to Jordan "without notifying Congress." Ironically, Kucinich noted, the Obama administration announced the deployment exactly ten years after the House of Representatives authorized President George W. Bush to invade Iraq.
Comment: Perhaps that is the whole point?
© IDF
The drill will also include a scenario simulating a toxic chemical leak at the northern coastal port in Haifa. This is the first time a Home Front drill has dealt with a natural disaster scenario as opposed to a war scenario.
"The drill is designed to improve preparations for an earthquake, but will also prepare the public and ministries for other emergency scenarios," Home Front Commander Eyal Eisenberg said during a press conference.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayed Hassan Nasrallah
The operation code-named Hussein Ayub saw Hezbollah's drone fly hundreds of kilometers into the Israeli airspace and getting very close to Dimona nuclear plant without being detected by advanced Israeli and US radars, Nasrallah said during a televised speech late on Thursday.
"This is only part of our capabilities," he stressed, adding that Israelis have admitted to their security failure despite being provided with the latest technologies by Western powers.
© Video still from AP
Hours after Turkish authorities announced that the Syrian Airlines passenger plane intercepted by its F-16s was granted a departure clearance, the aircraft remained on the tarmac in darkness.
"Four people onboard have been beaten up, two crew and two passengers, as they tried to force them to sign documents," Sherin Azis, a hostess on the plane, told RT by phone. "We don't know what these papers are about. We are scared for the fate of the captain. He was taken away and threatened with arrest if he does not sign an emergency landing paper."
Fatima al-Saman, a passenger and a mother of three, also told RT that the captain was being forced to sign a release stating that military planes were not involved and the plane just made an emergency landing.
"If we do not agree to these terms, they will take the captain kind of hostage," al-Saman said. "They are threatening us. The captain has now returned and said that 'either I sign the document that I made an emergency landing or they are taking me hostage.'"
Comment: NATO member Turkey seems to be trying very hard lately to pick up a fight with Syria - and in the process upsetting Russia. Washington and Tel-Aviv must be getting impatient.
See also:
Turkish leader says Russian munitions found on Syrian jetliner
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