BRUSSELS - Seeking to revive the region's rapidly deteriorating economy, the European Commission on Wednesday proposed a stimulus package totaling 200 billion euros, or $256.22 billion.
The commission, the executive arm of the European Union, said in Brussels that the stimulus measures were necessary to bolster growth and employment in the European Union's 27 member countries. Just Tuesday, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development predicted that the 15 countries of the euro zone would contract next year by a combined 0.6 percent, and economists have begun speaking of 2009 as a "lost year."
The stimulus plan was larger than many economists had expected. It calls for a spending of "around 200 billion euros" or 1.5 percent of the European Union's gross domestic product. Most of the money - about 170 billion euros - would come from member-government spending, much of which has already been announced.
Puppet Masters
One of the detained members of an alleged Israeli-linked espionage network was involved with Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard, the official state news agency said Tuesday.
IRNA quoted Teheran General Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi as saying the network formed after Israel's Mossad spy agency recruited a man who had "previously been in connection with the Guards."
IRNA quoted Teheran General Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi as saying the network formed after Israel's Mossad spy agency recruited a man who had "previously been in connection with the Guards."
© AP
Wearing their traditional dresses, Iranian Turkmen, members of the Basij paramilitary volunteers, affiliated to the elite Revolutionary Guards, march during a parade ceremony.
Wearing their traditional dresses, Iranian Turkmen, members of the Basij paramilitary volunteers, affiliated to the elite Revolutionary Guards, march during a parade ceremony.
© unknown
What a week; world stock indexes took another serious beating while J P Morgan fired 3,000 amid speculation that total Wall Street job losses will reach 225,000 and Citibank was bailed out to the tune of $27 billion of new equity and in excess of $300 billion blanket guarantee of some of its toxic assets.
© Latuff
The big bang is not that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's majority Shi'ite/Kurdish 37-member cabinet in Baghdad has approved the draft of a security pact with the George W Bush (and Barack Obama) administrations allowing the US military to stay in Iraq for three more years; it's that the 30-strong Sadrist bloc will move heaven and Earth - including massive nationwide protests - to bloc the pact in the Iraqi National Assembly.
"The few who can understand the System (Cheque Money and Credits) will either be so interested in its profits, or so dependent on its favours, that there will be no opposition from that class. While on the other hand, the great body of people mentally incapable of comprehending the tremendous advantage that capital derives from the system, will bear its burdens without complaint and perhaps without even suspecting that the system is inimical* to their interests." - Extract from a letter written by Rothschild Bros of London to a New York firm of bankers on 25 June 1863
* (hostile, hurtful)
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* (hostile, hurtful)
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© Sinead Lynch/AFP/Getty Images
Emergency vehicles similar to these are suspected of having been purchased at auctions for use as suicide bomber vehicles.
Emergency vehicles similar to these are suspected of having been purchased at auctions for use as suicide bomber vehicles.
So serious is the problem that counter-terrorism officials at the Home Office have written to eBay, the Internet auctioneer, asking them to stop selling emergency service vehicles, equipment and uniforms.
But eBay has insisted it can only halt the sales if a new law is passed by Parliament. That could take many months to enact.
The use of ambulances is of particular concern to Britain's terrorist chiefs. They say the tactic has already been used in Iraq with devastating effects.
Comment: There is a great deal of evidence that suggests the tactics attributed to terrorists, are in actual fact the work of the occupying forces. See: "Suicide Bombings" - The Cover Story For US Military Ops In Iraq
In any conflict, warring parties strive to convince the public that justice is on their side. The most effective way of doing this is through the media. It is imperative that journalists cast a critical eye on information they receive to avoid becoming unwitting tools in the propaganda war. In particular, they should not report claims as facts.
There were several fundamental failings in the British press coverage of the recent US raid into Syria. For example, Richard White in the Sun and the Independent correspondent Patrick Cockburn both reported as fact that the raid killed Abu Ghadiya, an alleged al-Qaida figure who smuggled fighters into Iraq.
There were several fundamental failings in the British press coverage of the recent US raid into Syria. For example, Richard White in the Sun and the Independent correspondent Patrick Cockburn both reported as fact that the raid killed Abu Ghadiya, an alleged al-Qaida figure who smuggled fighters into Iraq.
© trueblueliberal
Amid the euphoria and angst of the Obama apotheosis, the unreality of a mismanaged, two trillion dollar, taxpayer funded bailout of freewheeling capitalists, and the wars of limbo in Iraq and Afghanistan, one little thing is being overlooked.
George W Bush.
The Decider. The psychopath responsible for this appalling mess we're in. The architect of America's ignoble descent into moral darkness. The washed up and universally despised pseudo-despot who reveled in torture, kidnapping and assassination. The War-Monger.
"Bring 'em On!"
"Dead or Alive!"
The raving ignoramus whose words will haunt us forever.
The spoiled child of privilege playing with the lives of our sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, friends and lovers, as if they were his personal toys.
The mass murderer who illegally invaded and occupied a foreign nation, killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people, utterly destroying their cities and bridges, power plants and schools, and scattering millions of them to the wind, as if he were GOD!
The Comic Book Madman obsessed with Death, reading CIA memos about Al Qaeda, sending kidnappers and hit teams and drones around the world, anywhere he wanted, to kill his imaginary enemies, while America burned.
The Super Traitor.
The London-based Islamic cleric Abu Qatada, accused by America of being a key member of Osama bin Laden's network, claims British security services offered him a chance to escape to Afghanistan.
Abu Qatada, whose Bolton bank account was frozen last week when he was named on a US list of suspected terrorists, told The Observer that MI5 approached intermediaries to offer him a passport and an Iranian visa so he could leave the country.
Home Office sources last night confirmed that the presence of Abu Qatada was 'of deep concern' to the British intelligence service. But they admitted there was not enough hard evidence to bring charges against him. The authorities cannot deport him to Jordan because the country still has the the death penalty.
The Palestinian-born cleric, who has been living in west London on benefits since he was granted political asylum in 1993, refused the offer of escape. 'I do not trust this government,' he said. 'If I get on a plane, I am afraid I will be shot or handed over to the Jordanians, the Egyptians or the Saudis.' The Home Office refused to comment on Abu Qatada's claim.
Abu Qatada, whose Bolton bank account was frozen last week when he was named on a US list of suspected terrorists, told The Observer that MI5 approached intermediaries to offer him a passport and an Iranian visa so he could leave the country.
Home Office sources last night confirmed that the presence of Abu Qatada was 'of deep concern' to the British intelligence service. But they admitted there was not enough hard evidence to bring charges against him. The authorities cannot deport him to Jordan because the country still has the the death penalty.
The Palestinian-born cleric, who has been living in west London on benefits since he was granted political asylum in 1993, refused the offer of escape. 'I do not trust this government,' he said. 'If I get on a plane, I am afraid I will be shot or handed over to the Jordanians, the Egyptians or the Saudis.' The Home Office refused to comment on Abu Qatada's claim.
Comment: It is worthwhile to review the history behind the formation of Hamas, see:
Israeli Roots of Hamas are being exposed