Bewegender Abschied: Loki Schmidt "bestellte" selber ihre Trauerrede
WELT ONLINE: Am Ende konnte auch Helmut Schmidt seine Tränen nicht zurückhalten. Seine Frau Loki hatte die Trauerfeier selber mit vorbereitet.

Mit einem Staatsakt in der Hauptkirche St. Michaelis im Hamburg haben Herr Schmidt und mehrere hundert Ehrengäste Abschied genommen. Foto: Welt Online
Am liebsten, hat Loki Schmidt vor wenigen Jahren in einem Gespräch gesagt, am liebsten wäre es ihr, sie und ihr Mann Helmut gingen am Ende zur gleichen Zeit, gemeinsam. Mit liebevollem Spott fuhr ihr Mann ihr damals in die Parade. „Das hast Du nicht zu entscheiden.“

Jetzt sitzt Helmut Schmidt im Hamburger Michel allein in der ersten Reihe, nur seine Tochter Susanne und deren Mann Brian Kennedy an der Seite. Er muss Abschied nehmen von der Frau, mit der er mehr als sieben Jahrzehnten lang verwachsen war.

Wie schwer ihm dies fällt, ist dem sonst so spröden, stets um Haltung bemühten früheren Bundeskanzler anzumerken.

Er ist nicht durch das Hauptportal gekommen, sondern hat sich im Rollstuhl durch den Kapellenzugang auf kürzestem Weg in das Kirchenschiff schieben lassen, weil er noch einen Moment für sich sein wollte.

Als Bachs Ouvertüre in h-Moll erklingt, ringt Helmut Schmidt um Fassung. Neben dem eigenen trägt er den Ehering seiner Frau an der Hand. Tochter Susanne streicht ihm über den Rücken.

2000 Gäste sind in die Hauptkirche St. Michaelis gekommen, darunter Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel und die früheren Bundespräsidenten Richard von Weizsäcker und Horst Köhler, Ex-Kanzler Gerhard Schröder, amtierende und frühere Ministerpräsidenten. >>> Von Insa Gall | Montag, 01. November 2010

Das Video vom Abschied Loki Schmidts hier abspielen.
Kondolenzbuch >>>

The Great Issues Forum: Immigration and Islam: The Graduate Center, CUNY

Al Qaeda’s Perfect Breeding Ground

Deutschland sperrt Luftraum für jemenitische Flugzeuge: Reaktion auf Transport von Sprengstoff-Paketen
NZZ ONLINE: Deutschland hat auf die versuchten Anschläge mit Paketbomben aus Jemen reagiert: Ab sofort werden keine Flugzeuge aus Jemen mehr in den deutschen Luftraum gelassen. Das gilt auch für Maschinen, die ohne zu landen nur über Deutschland fliegen würden.

Nach dem Fund von zwei Paketbomben in Frachtflugzeugen aus dem Jemen hat Deutschland für alle Flüge aus dem Land ein Einflugverbot verhängt. Die deutsche Flugsicherung sei angewiesen worden, direkte und indirekte Flüge aus Jemen abzuweisen, sagte ein Sprecher des Verkehrsministeriums am Montag in Berlin. >>> afp/ddp | Montag, 01. November 2010

NZZ ONLINE: Die Kaida hat es sich in Jemen bequem gemacht: Warum das Regime wenig gegen die Terrororganisation unternimmt >>> hoh. | Montag, 01. November 2010

Nicolas Sarkozy. Photograph: Google Images
Paketbombe an Sarkozy adressiert: Detonation einer Bombe in Athen – weitere Pakete entschärft
NZZ ONLINE: In der griechischen Hauptstadt Athen haben am Montag mehrere Paketbomben für Aufregung gesorgt. Eine Bombe detonierte und verletzte eine Angestellte eines Kurierdienstes an der Hand. Die Absender der explosiven Fracht werden dem linksnarchistischen Spektrum zugeordnet.

In der griechischen Hauptstadt Athen sind mehrere Paketbomben gefunden worden, von denen eine an Frankreichs Staatschef Nicolas Sarkozy adressiert war. Wie die griechische Polizei am Montag mitteilte, wurde die an Sarkozy gerichtete Sendung bei zwei Verdächtigten gefunden, die der linksanarchistischen Szene in Griechenland zugerechnet werden. Weiter lesen und einen Kommentar schreiben >>> ddp/afp | Montag, 01. November 2010

Baroness Thatcher Returns Home from Hospital
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Baroness Thatcher has arrived home after being released from a London hospital this afternoon.

The former Prime Minister looked frail as she appeared on her doorstep to give a brief wave and a smile before returning inside.

She had been whisked by car out of the private Cromwell Hospital in west London for the short journey back to her Belgravia home.

Lady Thatcher was admitted almost two weeks ago with an infection after suffering from the flu.

Her spokesman said she had now been given the all-clear by doctors. Read on and comment >>> Victoria Ward | Monday, November 01, 2010

Younge America: The Old Farts' Club
THE GUARDIAN: On the eve of the US midterm elections, Gary Younge attends a breakfast and bull meeting in rural Nevada, where local conservatives discuss jobs, judges and the pros and cons of armed insurrection

Watch Guardian video here | Presented by Gary Younge and produced by Laurence Topham | Monday, November 01, 2010

Thilo Sarrazin sagt die Wahrheit

Thilo Sarrazin im Dialog

FAKT - Türken und Araber - Hat Sarrazin doch Recht

Cargo Plane Bomb Plot: Passengers to Face 'Ludicrous Security Measures'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Airline passengers could be faced with "ludicrous" new changes to airport security in the wake of the al-Qaeda parcel bomb plot, industry figures have warned.

Airport security official uses sniffer dog to search for food in luggage of incoming passengers. Industry figures fear new wave of measures. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
Airport screening changes would leave passengers facing a raft of "inaffective [sic]", "useless" and unnecessary safeguards, warned Michael O'Leary, the boss of budget airline Ryanair.

But while he cautioned against overreacting, some industry experts called for an urgent overhaul of passenger security and the introduction of "package to package" checks.

A review of airline security is now likely after investigators concluded that the terrorists had designed a package to blow up passenger jets in a Lockerbie-style terrorist outrage. >>> Andrew Hough | Monday, November 01, 2010

Elwood McQuaid: Assessing the Fear Factor
THE JERUSALEM POST – BLOG – ELWOOD MCQUAID: When concessions are the fruit of fear, the bullies always win.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, leader of the crusade to build a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City, trashed his “moderate” pose when he disregarded millions of concerned Americans and declared that moving the proposed facility could cause a violent backlash from Muslim extremists and endanger national security.

Rauf told CNN, “The headlines in the Muslim world will be that Islam is under attack... Anger will explode in the Muslim world.” The fury, he said, could be worse than the violence that followed the publication of Danish cartoons of Muhammad in 2005.

No moderation here. Islamist muscle-tactics are now in full swing, threatening violence and retaliation and creating an air of intimidation that offers surrender as the only alternative to placing innocent lives in jeopardy.

And why not use fear as a weapon of choice? The publication of the cartoons of Muhammad by the Jyllands-Posten newspaper in Denmark was used by radical Muslim clerics to foment extreme violence. Muslims rioted, burned embassies, and boycotted Danish goods. Many people died because Muslims claimed they had a right to commit murder and mayhem because their religious sensibilities were offended.

The editor of the Danish newspaper explained he commissioned the cartoons to respond to the self-censorship being imposed in Europe when dealing with issues related to Islam. In other words, he objected to the press being intimidated into silence. Islamic extremists justify their long list of atrocities as Sharia-compliant and therefore acceptable for striking fear in the hearts of “infidels.”

Extremist Muslim aspirations were made clear when Islamic cleric Anjem Choudary told ABC’s Christiane Amanpour in October, “We believe that one day the flag of Islam will fly over the White House.” Those who dismiss his statement as the ranting of the radical fringe are not listening. His words echoed a pledge made by the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat who vowed the Palestinian flag would eventually fly over the churches of Jerusalem.

These are not idle threats. They are the long-term goals of Islamists who want a global caliphate that will destroy Israel and reduce Western Christianity to humiliating subservience. >>> Elwood McQuaid | Friday, October 29, 2010

Les erreurs d'Obama
Photo officielle de la Maison-Blanche. Photo : La Presse
LA PRESSE: (New York) Deux ans après avoir élu Barack Obama à la Maison-Blanche, les électeurs américains retourneront aux urnes mardi, pour les élections de mi-mandat. Même si son nom ne figurera pas sur les bulletins de vote, le président sera en partie responsable du verdict électoral, qui pourrait être dévastateur pour ses alliés démocrates du Congrès et lui.

Le candidat qui a su inspirer des millions d'Américains grâce à ses talents d'orateur durant la campagne présidentielle de 2008 a cédé la place à un président dont l'une des plus grandes erreurs aura été de communiquer au public un message confus sur ses réalisations.

Barack Obama a commis d'autres erreurs qui pèseront sur le vote des Américains. Le verdict pourrait être sévère, voire humiliant pour le président et ses alliés démocrates - le Sénat et la Chambre des représentants pourraient bien passer aux mains des républicains. >>> Richard Hétu, collaboration spéciale,
La Presse | Samedi 30 Octobre 2010

Terror-Bekämpfung: Saudi-Arabien könnte zum Edelhelfer der USA werden
WELT ONLINE: Der saudische Geheimdienst war über al-Qaidas Anschlagspläne erstaunlich gut informiert. Womöglich haben sie das Terrornetzwerk infiltriert.

John Brennan und Prinz Muhammad Bin Nayef kennen sich persönlich und stehen regelmäßig in Kontakt. Schließlich hat Präsident Obamas heutiger Sicherheitsberater für Terrorismusbekämpfung einst die CIA-Niederlassung im saudi-arabischen Riad geleitet. Dennoch wird Brennan eine böse Ahnung gehabt haben, als der für den Geheimdienst seines Landes zuständige Prinz ihn dringend persönlich sprechen wollte.

Bin Nayef hatte tatsächlich beunruhigende Informationen: Zwei im Jemen aufgegebene Paketbomben befänden sich auf dem Weg in die USA. Der Saudi war überraschend gut informiert. Selbst die Nummern zur Nachverfolgung der explosiven Pakete hatte er parat und er konnte den Amerikaner auch darüber informieren, wie der Sprengstoff getarnt worden war. >>> Von Michael Borgstede | Montag, 01. November 2010

Les étudiants démocrates entre apathie et désillusion
LE FIGARO: REPORTAGE - À l'université de Columbia (New York), qui compte Barack Obama parmi ses anciens élèves, les élections ne mobilisent que très peu les étudiants.

Sur les campus new-yorkais, engager la conversation sur les élections de mi-mandat est un exercice peu gratifiant : le sujet provoque le plus souvent grimaces et bâillements. Deux ans après le raz-de-marée des jeunes pour Barack Obama - ils étaient deux fois plus nombreux à avoir voté pour lui que pour John McCain -, la mobilisation s'est largement dissipée. Kaley Hanenkrat en sait quelque chose. La présidente du club démocrate de l'université de Columbia essaie depuis des semaines de sortir ses pairs de leur léthargie préélectorale. Barack Obama, lui, parcourt les universités du pays pour tenter de retrouver l'élan de 2008, mais la magie n'est plus la même et, de toutes façons, les élections de mi-mandat ennuient profondément les jeunes. En 2006, seuls 25 % des 18-29 ans avaient voté. Demain, 27 % ont l'intention d'aller aux urnes, d'après un sondage de l'université de Harvard. >>> Par Adèle Smith | Lundi 01 Novembre 2010

Un couple suisse assassiné à Saint-Domingue
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: CARAÏBES | Le site 20 minutes online révèle qu'un couple suisse a été assassiné en République dominicaine. Les deux ressortissants suisses ont été tué à l'arme blanche, suite à un cambriolage.

Le double meurtre, rapporte 20 minutes online, s'est déroulé vendredi soir non loin de la station balnéaire de Boca Chica, à une vingtaine de kilomètres de la capitale Santo Domingo.

Les victimes seraient une femme de 66 ans et un homme de 47 ans. Le couple établi depuis peu avait l'intention de passer l'hiver sur place. Les identités n'ont pas encore été confirmées par les autorités compétentes. Informé du crime touchant deux de ses ressortissants, l'ambassade de Suisse de Saint-Domingue «cherche à déterminer leur identité», selon le porte-parole du DFAE. D'après un lieutenant de la brigade des homicides de Boca Chica, leurs passeports auraient été délivrés à Lausanne. >>> Rédaction online | Lundi 01 Novembre 2010

Brandanschlag auf Synagoge in Mainz
NZZ ONLINE: Unbekannte haben in der Nacht zum Sonntag nahe der neuen jüdischen Synagoge in Mainz einen Brandsatz gezündet. Wie die Polizei am Sonntag mitteilte, handelte es sich offenbar um eine Art Molotowcocktail.

Der rheinland-pfälzische Innenminister Karl Peter Bruch (SPD) verurteilte den mutmasslichen Anschlag als «verabscheuungswürdigen Akt». Zeugen hatten Polizeiangaben zufolge eine Stichflamme in unmittelbarer Nähe der Synagoge beobachtet. >>> sda/ddp | Montag, 01. November 2010

Baghdad Church Hostage Drama Ends in Bloodbath
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Up to 25 hostages were killed during a shoot-out between US and Iraqi forces and al-Qaeda-linked gunmen in a Catholic church in Baghdad on Sunday.

American soldiers and Iraqi security forces had entered the church in the centre of the city to free 40 worshippers being held by eight gunmen.

Seven members of Iraq's security forces, police and at least five of the attackers were also killed during the joint rescue operation in the Sayidat al-Nejat church.

The gunmen had stormed the church in the Karrad neighbourhood during evening mass after killing two guards at the nearby headquarters of the Baghdad stock exchange.

At least one of the deaths came before the rescue operation. One of the freed hostages, an 18-year-old man, said the first thing the gunmen did when they entered the church was to shoot the priest.

"They entered the church with their weapons, wearing military uniforms. They came into the prayer hall, and immediately killed the priest," said the young man who declined to give his name.

All the hostages had been huddled into the main prayer hall when the gun battles began with security forces, he said.

"We heard a lot of gunfire and explosions, and some people were hurt from falling windows, doors and debris," he added. >>> Telegraph’s Foreign Staff | Sunday, October 31, 2010

Barack Obama's Final Midterm Rally Highlights Declining Popularity
THE GUARDIAN: Voter disenchantment with US president was reflected by 5,000 empty seats during event at Cleveland's Wolfstein centre

Barack Obama speaks to supporters in Cleveland during his last rally before the midterm elections. Photograph: The Guardian
Thousands of empty seats at Barack Obama's last campaign rally of the midterm elections today highlighted the decline in his popularity and the potential meltdown facing the Democrats at the polls on Tuesday.

Screens at Cleveland's Wolfstein centre showed the Obama logo from the 2008 White House race, the old campaign songs were played and the crowd chanted his slogan 'Yes, we can'. But the excitement and euphoria of that campaign were long gone. About 8,000 people turned out to see Obama in the 13,000-capacity stadium, compared with the 80,000 at a rally in the city two days before the 2008 election.

Speaking in Cleveland at the end of a whirlwind four-state tour , Obama said it was an important election. "We have the chance to set the direction of this country for many years to come," he said. He warned that the Republicans could roll back all the progress of the last two years if they won big.

He admitted it was "a difficult election" because of the state of the economy, and blamed the Republicans for creating the federal deficit – a theme he has repeated throughout the campaign but one that has failed to resonate with the electorate.

The Democrats face defeat on a scale that political analysts say has not been seen in more than 60 years. A CNN poll today put support for the Republicans at 52% and 42% for the Democrats , a big enough lead to ensure the Republicans take control of the House of Representatives and cut deep into the Democratic majority in the Senate. >>> Ewen MacAskill in Cleveland | Sunday, October 31, 2010

10% of Germans Want Führer Back - Survey

RT: One in ten Germans would like to see a Führer in power; they see dictatorship as the best option for the country, a survey has revealed.

According to a social study conducted by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the longing for a strong hand is still common among Germans.

The poll, aimed at revealing ultra-right and nationalistic feeling, covered 2,400 Germans aged 14 to 90, and yielded unexpected results.

Ten per cent of respondents said that for its own sake, Germany needs a strong leader, a Führer who can rule the country with a steady hand. They pointed out that dictatorship was the best form of government. >>> | Published: Friday, October 15, 2010; Edited: Monday, October 18, 2010

Building of Mosques in Poland – Sign of Islamisation or Tribute to Human Rights?

RT: Activists say the construction of a second mosque in Warsaw is part of the Islamisation of the country and could eventually lead to radicalism and terrorism.

But local Muslims claim religious discrimination.



Mohammed moved from Egypt to Warsaw several years ago. Poland’s accession to the EU promised greener pastures. However, he says it’s been hard to settle in.

“I do only freelance jobs as it is very difficult for me to find any permanent work,” he said. “And not because I’m not skilled, but because my applications are turned down as soon as employers learn that my name is Mohammed.”

Poland has long been a mono-ethnic nation with the Muslim community making up less than one percent of the population. Most Muslims are ethnic Tatars who have been here for centuries. But the head of Warsaw’s only Islamic centre says the number of migrants from Muslim countries is growing rapidly. >>> | Published: Friday, October 08, 2010; Edited: Monday, October 11, 2010

There Mustn't Be Any False Tolerance - German Politician

RT: Society does not have to adopt cultural traditions and the laws of immigrants. There can be no compromise between the German rule of law and Sharia law, which has no place in Germany – a German politician told RT.

The problem with the integration of immigrants into German life is that newcomers want society to adopt their culture – and not vice versa, insists Wolfgang Bosbach, a member of the Christian Democratic Union Party which is part of Germany’s leading coalition. >>> | Published: Tuesday, October 26, 2010; Edited: Friday, October 29, 2010

Moscow Muslims Want More Mosques, Residents Stage Protests

RT: Muslims in Moscow say there are not enough mosques in the capital to serve the needs of their community. City Hall refutes the claims.

In recent years, the Muslim community of the capital has repeatedly complained that they need more mosques – the four existing ones are too little for the nearly 2 million believers living in Moscow.

The capital’s officials, however, say that more than enough land has been given over for the purpose of building places of worship.

The lack of mosques has even resulted in Muslims worshipping in Orthodox churches. Islamic leaders are strictly opposed to the initiative, saying that this only triggers hostility between the communities.

At the same time, building new mosques does not help establish better relations between the churches either.

Recently, around 2,000 signatures were collected by residents in the city’s south who did not want a mosque in their area. Instead, they say, the place could be turned into the park.

Orthodox Christian groups added fuel to the fire, saying that they also wanted to use the site for a church but could not get zoning permission, and questioning how their Muslim colleagues were able to get one. >>> | Published: Tuesday, October 12, 2010; Edited: Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Go Back to Where You Are Happy – German Author on Immigration Issue

RT: Immigration tensions are rising in Germany following Chancellor Angela Merkel's statement that multiculturalism has failed in the country.

Udo Ulfkotte, a noted German journalist and author, known for his severe criticism of Islam, shared with RT his view on what is behind the integration dispute and where it may lead.

“What I believe is there is a place for Muslim in this world and for their culture, they have a place to live in,” Ulfkotte told RT. “And there is a place for European and Western culture to live in. What I don’t believe is they will live peacefully together. We have a clash not only of civilizations and religions, we have a clash of ideologies, like we had a clash between communism and capitalism. Now we have a clash because Islam is also an ideology. I believe that Islam is not going to win a battle.”

>>> | Published: Tuesday, October 19, 2010; Edited: Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Turquie : Un attentat-kamikaze sur une place d'Istanbul aurait fait 22 blessés
L'attaque s'est produite sur l'esplanade de la place de Taksim, centre névralgique de la métropole fréquenté par des dizaines de milliers de personnes chaque jour. Photo : Le Point
LE POINT: Un attentat-suicide a blessé 22 personnes dimanche en plein centre d'Istanbul, la plus grande métropole de Turquie, et les premiers soupçons se portaient sur les rebelles kurdes. "Nous pensons qu'il s'agit d'un attentat-suicide", a indiqué le chef de la police de la ville, Hüseyin Capkin, qui a fait état dans un premier temps de 15 blessés : six civils et neuf policiers. Plus tard, il a évoqué un nouveau bilan de 22 blessés, dont 10 policiers et 12 civils, tout en rassurant que leurs jours n'étaient pas en danger. Aucun responsable de la ville n'a évoqué le sort du kamikaze, un homme, selon Capkin, qui aurait été tué sur le coup.

Les chaînes de télévision ont montré des images de policiers recouvrant une personne inanimée en sang gisant au sol. Selon les témoins cités par les chaînes d'information, une violente déflagration s'est produite vers 10 h 30 locales sur l'esplanade de la place Taksim, sur la rive européenne de la ville, où des policiers antiémeutes sont en faction 24 heures sur 24. Selon Hüseyin Capkin, l'assaillant aurait visé les policiers. "Il a tenté de pénétrer dans un car de police mais n'a pas réussi", a-t-il souligné. >>> Source AFP | Dimanche 31 Octobre 2010

Turkey Suicide Bomb Injures 15 in Centre of Istanbul
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: A suicide bomber has blown himself up in the centre of Istanbul, wounding 15 people.

"We think it was a suicide attack," said Istanbul police chief Huseyin Capkin, adding that two of the wounded were in a serious condition.

Six of the injured were civilians and nine were police, he said. >>> | Sunday, October 31, 2010

THE GUARDIAN: Suicide bomb attack on Istanbul's main square: Bomber detonated device near police in Taksim Square, wounding 22 people >>> Associated Press | Sunday, October 31, 2010

Türkei: Verletzte bei Selbstmordanschlag in Istanbul
WELT ONLINE: Ein Selbstmordattentäter hat mitten auf Istanbuls belebtem Taksim-Platz eine Bombe gezündet. Zehn Polizisten wurden verletzt, zwei davon schwer.

Ein Selbstmordattentäter hat am Sonntag im Zentrum der türkischen Metropole Istanbul mit einer Bombe mindestens 22 Menschen verletzt. Bei einer am Tatort gefundenen Leiche handele es sich um den Attentäter, sagte ein Polizeisprecher. Der Mann habe versucht, auf dem belebten Taksim-Platz in einen Polizeibus einzudringen, sei aber abgewehrt worden. Unter den Verletzten seien zehn Polizisten und zwölf Passanten. Zwei der Polizisten sind schwer verletzt.

Kurz nach dem Anschlag ist laut Polizei ein weiterer Sprengsatz gefunden worden. Die zweite Bombe befinde sich bei der Leiche des Attentäters auf dem Taksim-Platz, sagte Polizeichef Hüseyin Capkin. >>> dpa/pku | Sonntag, 31. Oktober 2010

Yemen Bomb Plot: Protests After Woman Arrested
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: A female engineering student has been arrested in Yemen on suspicion of posting the packages containing bombs found on two cargo jets in Dubai and Britain.

Women protest outside the university in Sana'a where Hanan al Samawi is studying medicine. Photo: The Sunday Telegraph
The 22-year-old woman, named locally as Hanan al Samawi, was traced through a phone number left with a cargo company. Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president, said the information that identified her was provided by the US and the United Arab Emirates.

She was arrested at a house in a poor area in the west of Sana'a, where she is studying medicine at the university. Her mother was also arrested, but is not a prime suspect according to her lawyer.

A group of women gathered outside the university carrying banners, some of them written in English, saying the arrested women is being used as a scapegoat.

The bomb intercepted in Britain on its way to America was designed to explode in mid-air and may have been targeted at the UK.

David Cameron said he believed the device was constructed to detonate while the aircraft was in flight.

He said a plot to blow it up over British soil could not be ruled out.

The Prime Minister's dramatic intervention came as the investigation into the plot was centring on one of al-Qaeda's most senior commanders.

US and British security officials believe Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born figurehead of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) was behind the foiled attack in which two ink cartridge bombs, posted in Yemen, were intercepted in Britain and Dubai on the way to America.

Al-Awlaki, who is in hiding in Yemen, is regarded by the CIA and MI6 as the driving force behind the transformation of AQAP from a regional group into an international terrorist organisation.

Fears of more plots emerged after investigators in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital, said they were examining 24 other suspect packages. Read on and comment >>> Sean Rayment, Patrick Hennessy and David Barrett | Sunday, October 31, 2010

Britons Held at Amsterdam EDL Demo
BELFAST TELEGRAPH: Five Britons were among several dozen people arrested during a demonstration by the right-wing English Defence League in Amsterdam.

Around 60 EDL activists turned up in the Dutch city on Saturday to support Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders.

The Britons were among 34 people arrested during the day, Amsterdam Police spokesman Rob van der Veen said. It is understood the five were held for not producing identification while on their way to the demonstration. >>> | Sunday, October 31, 2010

German Far Right Emerges from Shadows to Join Cologne Campaign Against Mosque
THE OBSERVER: A populist party fighting the building of a Turkish cultural centre has found willing allies among Austrian extremists

Members of the right-wing organisation Pro Cologne protest against plans to build a new mosque in the Cologne in 2007. Photograph: The Observer
The buzz of drills and whine of cranes fill the air as scores of workers in yellow hard hats scuttle around the concrete shell of a building which, even in its unfinished state, dominates the working-class Cologne district of Ehrenfeld. For the thriving local Turkish community, the sprawling complex represents the chance for an entire infrastructure under one roof – from a mosque to a hairdresser's to a travel agency.

But for others in the city the new mosque and cultural centre has provoked fears that the multimillion-euro project will do little to encourage integration and give the Turks free rein to live in their own autonomous world. The right-wing populist Pro Cologne movement has campaigned against the mosque and moved a step closer to its goal last week after joining forces with Austria's far-right Freedom party (FPO [sic]).

"Every new movement needs a unique selling point," said Bernd Schöppe, of Pro Cologne. "Ours is the mosque. If ever you needed a sign of the real threat of Islamisation in Germany, it's that mosque, with its huge dome and 55m-high minarets." Pro Cologne, a small but growing movement which recently won seats on the city council, hopes to boost its profile by associating itself with the FPO [sic], which made its name a decade ago after sweeping to power under the leadership of the late extreme-right firebrand Jörg Haider.

This month the FPO [sic] was celebrating another feat, after securing 26% of the vote in the Vienna elections. One of its slogans urged Muslims to "go home", and among the election paraphernalia it dished out was a computer game where players score points for shooting at mosques and minarets. >>> Kate Connolly in Cologne | Sunday, October 31, 2010

Midterm Elections 2010: Prepare for a New American Revolution
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Popular rage against the elite could change the nature of US politics, says Janet Daley.

More than three centuries ago, the residents of America staged a rebellion against an oppressive ruler who taxed them unjustly, ignored their discontents and treated their longing for freedom with contempt. They are about to revisit that tradition this week, when their anger and exasperation sweep through Congress like avenging angels. This time the hated oppressor isn't a foreign colonial government, but their own professional political class.

In New York last week I was struck by the startling shift of mood since my last visit, during Barack Obama's first year in office. This phenomenon took varying forms, of course, depending on the political orientation of my interlocutor, but the underlying theme of despair and disgust was almost universal. Liberal Democrats (who hugely outnumber most other factions in that city) were despondent and disappointed with the collapse of Obama's popularity. A few of them (remarkably few, actually) were ready to blame this on a "Right-wing conspiracy" of vaguely racist motivation. But most of them were frankly critical of the strategic mistakes they believed the White House had made, and the baffling inability of their President to connect with the people in an engaging way. His shocking lack of emotional expression during last month's commemoration of 9/11 – a point of particular significance to New Yorkers – was remarked upon by a number of people I met.

There was a general sense that his personality was over-controlled and repressed, and that this was perhaps a function of his self-invention: the effect of having made a conscious choice to adopt an identity and a history (the Chicago black activist) which was unconnected to his real past. It occurred to me that, in an odd way, he was a Gatsby-like figure who had reinvented himself but whose new persona could be sustained only with a tremendous act of will. This psychological analysis seemed not unconnected to the political one, which revolved around his peculiar inability to sense what most Americans would regard as alienating and contrary to their own values and culture.

My Republican friends, perhaps surprisingly, were not gloating. They were too furious. But contrary to the superficial British assumption (heavily promoted by the BBC), they were not devoting their excoriation exclusively to the Obama Administration – or even to its clique of Congressional henchmen, led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. That they were opposed to the Big State, European social democratic model of government which Obama had imported to Washington went almost without saying. But they were at least as angry with the leadership of their own party for having conceded far too much of the argument. Read on and comment >>> Janet Daley | Saturday, October 30, 2010

THE OBSERVER: The Tea Party: on the road with America's right-wing radicals – The Tea Party has dramatically changed US politics in just two years. As jobless figures and house repossessions soar, a growing number of anxious voters are warming to the Party's pledge - to make America great again. In the run-up to the midterm elections, Andrew Neil went on a whistlestop tour of the US to assess the mood of the nation >>> Andrew Neil | Sunday, October 31, 2010

CNBC's Rick Santelli's Chicago Tea Party

Photograph: Mail Online
That Guy Obama Loses His Cool!
MAIL ONLINE: The pressure is on Barack Obama - and it is starting to show.

The famously-cool President lost his temper in Connecticut today after hecklers interrupted a speech he was giving at a rally.

Astonished attendees watched as Mr Obama interrupted his own speech as the hecklers - believed to be activists seeking more global Aids funding - began chanting at him.

'Excuse me, excuse me,' he said repeatedly, trying to speak over the hecklers. When they kept chanting, he fell silent for several seconds, looking visibly angry and raising one hand in frustration as the crowd began to boo around him.

'Let me just say this,' he said, addressing the hecklers. 'You've been appearing at every rally we've been doing.

'We're funding global Aids,' he continued defensively. 'And the other [Republican] side is not.

'So I don't know why you think this is a useful strategy to take,' he finished, jabbing his finger angrily in the direction of the hecklers. Barack loses his cool: Angry Obama yells BACK at hecklers... as new poll shows his own party isn't sure he should be President in 2012 >>> Daily Mail Reporter | Saturday, October 30, 2010

A Closer Alliance with France Will Be Good for Britain
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: This week's summit will lead to unprecedented military co-operation between our countries, says Defence Secretary Liam Fox.

Entente cordiale: David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy will establish far greater co-operation between their militaries. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
Too often, the debate on defence within Europe has been focused on what the EU should or should not do. Yet it has always been my view that defence must be a sovereign, and therefore an inter-governmental issue. When nations can benefit from co-operation without losing sovereignty, they should aim to do so – which is why this week will mark the beginning of a long-term commitment to closer defence and security links with France.

There are many reasons why this co-operation makes sense. We are Europe's only nuclear powers. We have the largest defence budgets and are the only two countries with real, large-scale expeditionary capability. We are both permanent members of the UN Security Council, and leading members of the G8 and G20. And there is no better time to deepen our relationship with France. Since President Sarkozy came into office we have seen a vigorous attempt to bring Europe and America closer together, and to bring France deeper into Nato. >>> Liam Fox | Saturday, October 30, 2010

Yemen: The New Breeding Ground for Terror
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The explosive devices intercepted en route to the US started their journey in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qaeda’s latest stronghold, reports Con Coughlin.

Sir John Sawers, the head of Britain's MI6 foreign intelligence-gathering operation, last week singled out Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born terrorist who is believed to be the head of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
For an organisation that is supposed to be the poor relation of Osama bin Laden’s terror network, the sheer sophistication of the plot to plant two bombs on cargo planes en route to the US demonstrates that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is rapidly emerging as a major threat to Western security. Not since the 1988 Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am flight 103, which killed 270 people, has a terror group sought to smuggle primed explosive devices in the cargo holds of commercial aircraft.

The fact that al-Qaeda’s Yemen-based branch appears – according to the initial reports, at least – to have been able to plant a number of explosive devices on aircraft whose ultimate destination was the United States is a graphic illustration of the sophisticated techniques it is able to employ in its attempts to wreak havoc on the streets of Western cities.

The main focus of the war against Islamist terrorism is focused on the lawless border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where al-Qaeda’s main command structure continues to be based in spite of the massive military operation being undertaken by Nato and Pakistani forces. Senior Western intelligence officials, though, are becoming increasingly concerned about the rapid emergence of the off-shoot organisation that has successfully established itself in Yemen. >>> Con Coughlin | Saturday, October 30, 2010

Bill Maher Afraid of Mohammedans

Does Islam make Women Outdated?

Men and Women in Islam

Headscarf Row Mars Turkey's Anniversary Celebration
Hayrunnisa Gul [sic] was once denied enrolment at a university because she wore a headscarf
BBC: Turkey's main opposition leader and military officials have failed to attend the Republic Day reception hosted by President Abdullah Gul [sic].

Mr Gul [sic] had decided to allow his wife to wear the Islamic headscarf at the event in Ankara. In previous years he had held two separate receptions.

The fiercely secular army held its own reception, just before the president's.

Mr Gul's [sic] move is seen as a symbolic challenge to restrictions on wearing the scarf in public.

It also reflects the government's growing confidence that it can overturn the restrictions, correspondents say.

The Supreme Court recently has warned their relaxation violated the constitution.

Women are currently forbidden from covering their heads in many universities and all government offices, but few universities are complying and the education ministry says it will back any student flouting the ban.

President Gul [sic] had in the past held two receptions, so secular officials and military staff would not have to shake hands with his headscarf-wearing wife, Hayrunnisa. 'Creeping Islamisation' >>> | Saturday, October 30, 2010

'More Immigrants Should Work for the State': German Chancellor Angela Merkel Adds to the Country's Roaring Immigration Debate
MAIL ONLINE: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has risked causing further outrage by saying that more immigrants should work for the state.

The country has been in the grip of a tense debate about the integration of Muslims for several weeks.

Fuelled by divisive comments about Turks and Arabs by central banker Thilo Sarrazin, Germany has been debating how to balance an economic need for more workers with growing public concern over integration of immigrants.

Merkel spakred controversy earlier this month when she said that multiculturalism had 'utterly failed' in Germany.
Her latest comments are now likely to cause more anger among citizens who feel alienated by the influx of immigrants to the country.

Interviewed by a 31-year-old Berlin policeman of Turkish origin for her latest internet podcast four days ahead of an integration summit at her chancellery, Merkel said:
'Today, people with a migrant background are under- represented in the public sector, and that needs to change.'

However, Merkel conceded that this was not always easy.
'I've also noticed that if someone has a name that doesn't sound German they can often have trouble being taken on at all in some professions,' she said.

Since Sarrazin inflamed opinion by asserting Turks and Arabs sponged off the state and refused to integrate, some of Merkel's conservatives become more critical of Muslims, who make up an estimated 4 million of Germany's 82 million population. >>> Daily Mail Reporter | Saturday, October 30, 2010

How Obama Surrendered at Home and Waged War Abroad
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As the midterms loom, the President is facing annihilation at the ballot box. Tariq Ali examines how the promise of Obama's election campaign has been so dramatically lost.

Barack Obama with the Daily Show host, Jon Stewart, this week. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
As the midterms rapidly approach, the beleaguered US President’s ratings are in steep decline, putting him on the defensive with little to offer his supporters except fine words. Those supporters have been voicing their discontent on the television networks but, much more seriously, are likely to punish Obama by staying at home and ignoring the ballot box on Tuesday.

Indeed, this has been a humiliating time for the once seemingly messianic President. This week’s decision for Obama to appear on the US satirical current affairs TV programme The Daily Show – which is largely watched by liberal voters – was a disaster. The audience openly laughed at him; the presenter, Jon Stewart, gave Obama the honour of being the first President to be called ''Dude’’ to his face on national television; and, worst of all, Obama was forced to recant on the most effective marketing slogan of his generation. ''Yes we can,” Obama admitted, had become ''Yes we can, but...’’ Not exactly a rallying cry.

The desperate move to try to rescue himself from disarray, if not extinction, was misguided. While the audience laughed at him, Obama’s self-justificatory response was wooden and dull. “When we promised 'Change you can believe in’, it wasn’t 'Change you can believe in in 18 months’.”

So how has Obama ended up in this mess? The question voters are asking is whether anything has altered substantially since the White House changed hands? To which I can answer: very little, apart from the mood music. The high hopes aroused during Obama’s galvanising election campaign have receded rapidly. Two wars and an economic crisis would test the capacity of any president, but Obama has been found wanting on many levels. His desire to please all has succeeded in antagonising many of his own supporters. Read on and comment >>> Tariq Ali | Saturday, October 30, 2010

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: US midterm elections: Barack Obama's world turned upside down as Democrats face electoral disaster: By abandoning his own rhetoric of bipartisanship, President Obama divided America and set the course for a heavy Democratic defeat in Tuesday's midterm elections, argues Toby Harnden. >>> Toby Harnden, American Way | Saturday, October 30, 2010

Islamization of London (French with English subtitles)

Interview mit Oskar Freysinger, Schweizer Nationalrat
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German Apostate of Islam from Turkey: Deutsch Abtrünniger des Islam aus der Türkei

Integrationsdebatte: Thilo Sarrazin verhöhnt Merkel, Wulff und Gabriel
WELT ONLINE: Thilo Sarrazin ist zurück: In einem Interview rechnet er mit seinen Kritikern ab. Wulffs Türkei-Reise nennt er "Harmonie-Kitsch-Sauce".

Der frühere Bundesbank-Vorstand und SPD-Politiker Thilo Sarrazin hat mit seinen Gegnern aus der Politik abgerechnet. “Ich habe mein Amt aufgegeben, weil nach der beispiellosen Kampagne aus der Spitze des Staates ein gedeihliches Arbeiten im Vorstand der Bundesbank nicht mehr möglich gewesen wäre“, sagte Sarrazin im Interview mit "Bild am Sonntag".

“Ich habe keinen Streit angefangen, sondern schwierige Sachverhalte schlüssig dargelegt. Der Zorn kam nicht von mir, sondern von meinen Gegnern in Politik und Medien.“ Sarrazin fügte hinzu: “Wer, wenn nicht einer wie ich – 65 Jahre alt, politisch erfahren und ohne materielle Bedrohungsängste – soll denn in Deutschland unangenehme Wahrheiten aussprechen? Manchmal habe ich den Eindruck, wir sind auf dem Weg in die Duckmäuser-Republik.“

Scharf kritisierte Sarrazin das Verhalten von Bundespräsident Christian Wulff während seines Türkei-Besuchs: “In der Türkei wurde und wird der christliche Glaube bestenfalls geduldet. Die Zahlen sprechen da eine deutliche Sprache: Gab es 1914 noch 25 Prozent Christen in der Türkei, sind es heute gerade noch 0,2 Prozent. Und an der deutschen Schule in Istanbul ist seit einigen Jahren der Deutschunterricht in den unteren Klassen verboten. Der Bundespräsident hat über diese nicht sehr erfreulichen Zustände eine Harmonie-Kitsch-Sauce gegossen.“

Auch die Äußerungen von Wulff in der Islam-Debatte wies Sarrazin zurück: “Es ist falsch zu sagen, dass der Islam zu Deutschland gehört. Die deutsche Kultur ist weitgehend ohne Bezug auf den Islam entstanden. Die Tatsache, dass bei uns Millionen Mitbürger islamischen Glaubens leben, ändert daran nichts. Ministerpräsident Erdogan hat die Türken hier vor einer Anpassung an Deutschland gewarnt.“ >>> WON/pku | Samstag, 30. Oktober 2010

Harriet Harman Rebuked for Calling Minister 'a Ginger Rodent'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Harriet Harman has been rebuked for calling a senior member of the government "a ginger rodent".

As a former Equalities Minister who was dedicated to helping minority groups, Harriet Harman perhaps should have known better.

But in an outspoken attack, the Labour Deputy Leader yesterday called Danny Alexander a "ginger rodent".

Delegates at Labour's Scottish conference could barely conceal their shock as Ms Harman, who is known for her strict adherence to politically correct views, turned her fire on the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the least correct way imaginable, mocking his red hair and comparing him to a squirrel.

Speaking to the conference in Oban, she also said the Lib Dems in Scotland had become "political mutants" after joining a coalition with Conservatives.

Ms Harman began her attack saying people had been dismayed after the election to wake up and see "Nick Clegg with David Cameron in the rose garden of Number 10".

She said there was then "incredulity" at seeing Mr Alexander, an MP from the north of Scotland, becoming "the frontman for the Tory cuts".

"Now, many of us in the Labour Party are conservationists and we all love the red squirrel," Ms Harman said. "But there is one ginger rodent which we never want to see again in the Highlands – Danny Alexander." >>> Melissa Kite | Saturday, October 30, 2010

THE GUARDIAN: Harman says sorry for 'ginger rodent' jibe: Deputy Labour leader's joke about Danny Alexander backfires as she is accused of insulting all of Scotland's redheads >>> Press Association | Saturday, October 30, 2010

Irak : Tarek Aziz aurait entamé une grève de la faim
LE POINT: L'ancien ministre du dictateur irakien Saddam Hussein, Tarek Aziz, condamné à mort mardi par la Haute Cour pénale irakienne, est depuis jeudi en grève de la faim, a déclaré vendredi son fils à l'AFP, à Amman. "Mon père ainsi que 25 autres détenus sont en grève de la faim depuis hier", jeudi, a affirmé Ziad Aziz, qui réside à Amman, comme la famille proche de l'ancien vice-Premier ministre irakien. >>> Source AFP | Vendredi 29 Octobre 2010

Terrorisme : Le Yémen sous pression pour lutter contre Al-Qaeda
À Sanaa, capitale du Yémen, les autorités sont confrontées à une lutte nécessaire contre les réseaux d'Al-Qaeda. Photo : Le Point
LE POINT: Les autorités de Sanaa sont une nouvelle fois sous pression pour lutter contre les réseaux d'Al-Qaeda actifs sur son territoire, après l'interception, à Dubaï et en Grande-Bretagne, de colis contenant apparemment des explosifs en provenance du Yémen. Al-Qaeda au Yémen est devenue une cible privilégiée des États-Unis depuis l'attentat raté de Noël dernier, dont l'auteur, un jeune Nigérian qui a séjourné au Yémen, a tenté de faire exploser un avion reliant Amsterdam à Detroit.

Samedi, un porte-parole officiel a déclaré que le Yémen continuerait de "déployer ses efforts dans le domaine de la lutte contre le terrorisme en collaboration avec la communauté internationale". Il a assuré que la détermination du Yémen était justifiée par le fait que le terrorisme est "un péril qui menace tout le monde", indiquant que les services de sécurité et les autorités de l'aviation civile avaient commencé une "enquête" sur les colis suspects. "Cette enquête se déroule en coordination avec les autorités compétentes aux Émirats arabes unis, en Grande-Bretagne et aux États-Unis, et ses résultats seront annoncés en temps voulu", a-t-il ajouté. La police de Dubaï a indiqué que le colis intercepté à l'aéroport de Dubaï contenait des explosifs et un système de mise à feu "portant l'empreinte d'organisations terroristes comme celle d'Al-Qaeda". >>> Source AFP | Samedi 30 Octobre 2010

Turkey's Relationship with West on the Line in European Missile Defence Negotiations
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Turkey's government has been told that its relationship with the West could be seriously damaged if it rejects Nato's request to house part of a £165 million ballistic missile-defence shield that is being built to protect Europe from nuclear attack.

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state and Robert Gates, the US secretary of defence, have held out the warning in behind-the-scenes talks with Turkish officials ahead of a Nato summit to be held in Lisbon on November 19, where a final decision is expected to be made on the missile-defence plan.

"Essentially we've told Turkey that missile-defence is an acid test of its commitment to the collective security arrangements it has with its western allies," a senior US official told The Daily Telegraph.

Nato's missile-defence programme is designed to protect Europe's population from nuclear-armed missiles the West fears Iran may acquire in coming years. The plans involve radar stations that can detect ballistic missile launches, and advanced interceptor missiles which can shoot them down.

Turkey is critical to the project, since its geographical location means radar sited on its soil will be able to detect Iranian ballistic missile launches early.

The November 19 deadline has left Recep Erdrogan, Turkey's Prime Minister, torn between his Islamist supporters and his country's western allies. Mr Erdrogan has made improving his country's relationship with Iran a central foreign policy. Turkey voted against a slew of new sanctions imposed by the United Nations on Iran this summer in an effort to slow down its nuclear programme.

"Sacrificing the Iranian friendship to Nato would mean an end to the independent foreign policy Turkey has followed in recent years, and the respect that that has earned it in the Islamic world," Hakan Albayrak, an influential pro-government commentator, said. >>> Praveen Swami, Diplomatic Editor | Friday, October 29, 2010

Explosive Devices 'Intended for Chicago Synagogues'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: An international terrorist alert over an al-Qaeda parcel bomb plot has been triggered following the discovery of a package containing explosive material at a British airport.

The plot – described as a “credible threat” originating in Yemen - was uncovered by MI6 after a tip-off to one of its officers based in the Middle East.

On Friday night, airports in the United States were on high alert after parcels containing explosive material, and addressed to synagogues in Chicago, were discovered on cargo aircraft at East Midlands airport and in Dubai. >>> Richard Edwards, Duncan Gardham and Gordon Rayner | Saturday, October 30, 2010

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Cargo plane bomb plot: Yemen doubts its link to the plot: The government of Yemen has expressed astonishment at the cargo plane bomb plots, claiming there were no UPS cargo planes that had taken off from Yemen >>> | Saturday, October 30, 2010

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Cargo plane plot: Anwar al-Awlaki profile: Anwar al-Awlaki, the senior al-Qaeda figure linked to the East Midlands Airport cargo plane bomb plot, is rapidly becoming enemy number one for British intelligence organisations. >>> Duncan Gardham, Security Correspondent | Saturday, October 30, 2010

Retired US Chaplains Warn Against Gays in Military
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Dozens of retired military chaplains say that serving both God and the U.S. armed forces will become impossible for chaplains whose faiths consider homosexuality a sin if gays are allowed to serve openly in the military.

If a chaplain preaches against homosexuality, he could conceivably be disciplined as a bigot under the military's non-discrimination policy, the retired chaplains say. The Pentagon, however, says chaplains' religious beliefs and their need to express them will be respected.

Clergy would be ineligible to serve as chaplains if their churches withdraw their endorsements, as some have threatened to do if "don't ask, don't tell" – the 1993 law that says the military cannot inquire into service members' sexual orientation and punish them for it as long as they keep it to themselves – ends.

Critics of allowing openly gay troops fear that clergy will leave the service or be forced to find other jobs in the military that don't involve their faiths.

"The bottom line is religious freedom," said retired Army Brig. Gen. Douglas Lee, one of 65 former chaplains who signed a letter urging President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates to keep "don't ask, don't tell". >>> | Friday, October 29, 2010

David Cameron and the Euro Millions Roll-over
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: What has happened in the past couple of days is an affirmation of business as usual, writes Simon Heffer.

Business as usual for Mr Cameron. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
Since Lady Thatcher left office it has been easy to predict the outcome of EU summit meetings. A prime minister talks tough beforehand – especially in election campaigns – about defending British interests. Yet when he arrives it is a matter of moments before he is on his knees, doing exactly as he is bidden by our masters in Brussels.

Dave is no exception, and nor did I expect him to be. It is not just that he reminds us more of Ted Heath every day. It is that he is a natural appeaser, a man born to take the line of least resistance. He is also in bed with serious Leftists and federalists posing as Liberal Democrats, whose enthusiasm for the European project, and indeed for the disastrous notion of a single currency, remains undimmed. And it is part of Dave’s own project to realign his party on the centre-Left, which means, in the end, he will always do what he is told by Brussels. Read on and comment >>> Simon Heffer | Friday, October 29, 2010

Terror Alert: Suspicious Devices 'Dry Run' for Terror Campaign Against US Synagogues
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A series of suspicious packages found in Britain and Dubai could have been part of a “dry run” by al-Qaeda for a mail bomb plot in the United States, authorities believe.

The packages were found on an American-registered cargo plane at East Midlands airport in England, en route from Yemen to Chicago, via Cologne in Germany, and on aircraft in Dubai which had also come from Yemen.

"We know that these packages originated in Yemen and we are looking into potential links to terrorism," said one U.S. official.

It was claimed the devices were destined for synagogues in Chicago. Jewish organisations and synagogues in Britain said they were already on high alert. >>> Andrew Hough, and Peter Hutchison | Friday, October 29, 2010

Richard Dawkins Answers Question from the Audience

There's Probably No God! - Richard Dawkins, Ariane Sherine, And The Atheist Bus Ad Campaign

Pat Condell: God or Nothing

Islam Is Spreading Worldwide!

O Dhimmi Canada!

"Mohammed is a Pedophile": Movement for Italy Leader Daniela Santanchè on Domenica Cinque 11/08/09

Brits Are Sick of Islam

Iran Tells EU It Is Willing to Restart Nuclear Talks
THE GUARDIAN: Tehran ready to hold talks 'in a place and on a date convenient to both sides', says letter to EU foreign policy chief

Iran has said it is willing to resume the stalled international talks over its contentious nuclear programme, the EU said today.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, sent the EU's foreign policy chief, the British peer Lady Ashton, a letter saying he was prepared to continue the talks, which halted a year ago, "in a place and on a date convenient to both sides" after 10 November.

"I think this is a very significant move," Ashton told reporters at the EU summit in Brussels. Earlier this month Ashton – who is the main contact point for Iran in talks involving Britain, France and Germany along with the US, Russia and China – invited Jalili for three days of negotiations in Vienna next month.

One unnamed EU diplomat told Reuters the meeting could now take place in Geneva instead and that the aim was for three days of talks with "everything on the table", including a general discussion of Iran's nuclear activities. "We see this all as a very positive sign, there is a strong sense of optimism," the diplomat said. >>> Peter Walker and agencies | Friday, October 29, 2010

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Iran agrees to nuclear talks as sanctions bite: Iran has succumbed to international pressure to enter talks on its nuclear programme with the EU's top diplomat next month, after the country suffered a series of economic setbacks as sanctions began to bite. >>> Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Friday, October 29, 2010

Muslim Man told Skype Divorce Joke Stands
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A Muslim man who told his wife "I divorce thee" three times in an online Skype messenger conversation has been told the separation stands.

The ruling, made in an online fatwa by the Darul Uloom Deobandi seminary in northern India, regarded as one of Islam's leading authorities on religious law said that the woman would have to first marry another man before she could remarry her first husband.

The man, from Qatar, wrote to the seminary following his Skype joke to seek clarification.

"Jokingly typed 'talak, talak, talak' (I divorce thee, I divorce thee, I divorce thee) to my wife on Skype chat. I don't understand Islam very much and did not know about how talaq works. We love each other very much and want to be together but right now [we are] caught in this thing. Want to know a way out," he wrote. >>> Dean Nelson in New Delhi | Friday, October 29, 2010