Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Even America's Liberal Élites Concede that Obama's Presidency Is Crumbling

TELEGRAPH – BLOGS – NILE GARDINER: Democrats in Congress are no longer asking themselves whether this is going to be a bad election year for them and their party. They are asking whether it is going to be a disaster. The GOP pushed deep into Democratic-held territory over the summer, to the point where the party is well within range of picking up the 39 seats it would need to take control of the House. Overall, as many as 80 House seats could be at risk, and fewer than a dozen of these are held by Republicans.

Political handicappers now say it is conceivable that the Republicans could also win the 10 seats they need to take back the Senate. Not since 1930 has the House changed hands without the Senate following suit.
Read on and comment >>> Nile Gardiner | Wednesday, September 08, 2010
David Cameron's Father, Ian Cameron, Dies

THE TELEGRAPH: David Cameron's father Ian has died in hospital in France after suffering a stroke.

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David Cameron with his parents Ian and Mary Cameron in Swindon in April. Photo: The Telegraph

The Prime Minister was at his father's bedside, having broken off his political engagements to rush to Toulon where his parents had been in the middle of a two-week holiday.

His mother, Mary, had called with news of the illness shortly before 7am, prompting him to cancel a scheduled appearance at Prime Minister's Question Time.

The Prime Minister travelled without his wife Samantha, who gave birth to the couple's fourth child last month. However he was accompanied on a commercial flight from London's City airport by his brother Alex and sister Clare.

Downing Street said Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, intervened to arrange a helicopter to rush Mr Cameron to the hospital so he could see his father.

Sources close to the PM said he was "incredibly grateful" that the French authorities had provided air transport. It is understood he would probably not have been able to reach his father in time otherwise.

Friends said he was "relieved" to have been at the bedside, and was "pleased" that his father died peacefully and during a "happy family holiday". >>> Andrew Porter, Political Editor | Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Related >>>
Castro 'Criticises Ahmadinejad for Anti-Semitic Attitude'

THE TELEGRAPH: Fidel Castro has reportedly criticised Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, for what he called his anti-semitic [sic] attitudes.

Castro, who has been a fierce critic of Israel, reportedly chided Mr Ahmadinejad for denying the Holocaust, according to a blog on The Atlantic magazine.

The former Cuban leader said Iran could further the cause of peace by "acknowledging the 'unique' history of anti-Semitism and trying to understand why Israelis fear for their existence."

"I didn't know what a Jew was. I knew of a bird that was a called a 'Jew,' and so for me the Jews were those birds," Castro reportedly said. Castro later added, "This is how ignorant the entire population was."

Castro reportedly said: "I don't think anyone has been slandered more than the Jews. I would say much more than the Muslims." >>> | Tuesday, September 07, 2010
9/11 Koran Burning 'Disrespectful' and 'Disgraceful', Hillary Clinton Says

THE TELEGRAPH: A Florida church's threat to burn copies of the Koran to mark the September 11 attacks has been condemned by Hillary Clinton as "disrespectful" and "disgraceful".



The American Secretary of State is the highest ranking US official to criticise the plans by the evangelical Dove World Outreach Centre to destroy the Muslim holy book on its grounds on Saturday.

"I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths, from evangelical Christians to Jewish rabbis, as well as secular US leaders and opinion-makers," she said.

"Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation."

The diplomatic chief's comments came as she hosted an Iftar meal at the State Department to celebrate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Earlier, military leaders warned the decision could trigger outrage around the Islamic world. and put the lives of US soldiers at risk.

Gen David Petraeus, the top US commander in Afghanistan, urged the plans be dropped.

"Images of the burning of a Koran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan – and around the world – to inflame public opinion and incite violence," said Gen Petraeus.

"It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems. Not just here but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community," he said in a statement.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Nato Secretary General, also expressed concerns about the risk to troops' security and said that "such actions are in strong contradiction with all the values that we stand for and fight for". Continue reading and comment >>> Andrew Hough, and Alex Spillius in Washington | Wednesday, September 08, 2010
David Cameron Rushes to France after Father Taken Ill

THE TELEGRAPH: David Cameron has broken off his political engagements to rush to France where his father Ian has been taken seriously ill.

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David Cameron with his father Ian in April 2010. Photo: The Telegraph

The Conservative leader will miss the first Prime Minister's Question Time session following the summer recess, with Nick Clegg filling in.

His father, Ian, 77, suffered a stroke and heart complications while on holiday, Downing Street said.

After talking with doctors at the hospital where his father is being treated Mr Cameron decided to fly to be with him.

The half-hour Commons session today would have marked Mr Cameron return from paternity leave, following the birth of his daughter, Florence. >>> Andrew Porter, Political Editor | Wednesday, September 08, 2010
New Poll Shows Majority of Americans Disapprove of Obama


Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


MAIL ONLINE: New poll shows majority of Americans disapprove of Obama as he announces $50bn infrastructure plan to rebuild U.S. >>> David Gardner and Daniel Bates | Tuesday, September 07, 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: US dollar falls to 15-year low against the Yen on recovery fears: The dollar fell to a 15-year low against the yen Tuesday, at one point slumping to ¥83.52, as investors took refuge in the Japanese currency amid global economic uncertainty. >>> AFP | Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

L'OTAN condamne le projet d'une église chrétienne de brûler publiquement le Coran

LE MONDE: La Maison Blanche s'est dite "préoccupée" par le projet d'un groupe évangélique américain de brûler publiquement un exemplaire du Coran à l'occasion du neuvième anniversaire des attentats du 11 septembre 2001. Cette réaction rejoint de sévères mises en garde, notamment de l'OTAN, qui craint pour la vie des soldats américains.

Le Dove world outreach center, groupe fondamentaliste chrétien créé en 1986, accuse l'islam, "religion diabolique", de chercher à dominer le monde. Il a invité à brûler des exemplaires du Coran, samedi, devant les portes de son siège à Gainesville (Floride) et a appelé d'autres centres religieux à en faire autant pour se souvenir des victimes des attentats du 11-Septembre.

Si elle était mis à exécution, cette action servirait la propagande des talibans en Afghanistan et renforcerait le sentiment anti-américain dans le monde musulman, a averti le général David Petraeus qui commande la force de l'OTAN (ISAF) et les troupes américaines en Afghanistan. "C'est précisément le genre d'actions que les talibans utilisent et cela pourrait engendrer des problèmes significatifs. Pas seulement ici mais partout dans le monde où nous sommes présents au côté de la communauté musulmane", a déclaré dans un communiqué.

Ces mises en garde ont été confirmées par le secrétaire général de l'OTAN, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, qui a lui aussi condamné le projet : il bafouerait les "valeurs" de l'Alliance atlantique et "il risque d'avoir des conséquences néfastes sur la sécurité de nos troupes", a-t-il déclaré à quelques journalistes pendant une visite à Washington. >>> LeMonde.fr avec AFP | Mardi 07 Septembre 2010

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Report: 99 Lashes for Iranian Woman [Sakineh] on Death Row

FOX NEWS: Lawyer: Woman could be stoned soon


New Dark Age Alert! About The Islamic Standard

THE ISLAMIC STANDARD: The Islamic Standard, bringing the news of the Ummah to our UK brothers and sisters – whether they want to hear it or not!

Yes we are radicals, Islam is a radical way of life. Definition of a radical: believing or expressing the belief that there should be great or extreme social or political change.

All good Muslims in the west are radicals, if they are not then they are showing approval of the Munkar around them, as Muslims we have to call towards the Ma’ruf (Tawhid and all that is good in Islam) and forbid the Munkar (Shirk and all the evils of non-Islamic society).

We want to change your society in a radical way – for the better. There are large parts of western society which are perfectly compatible with Islamic teachings, and there are large parts which quite frankly stink and need changing for the better – towards what God determined through the Messengership of Muhammad (pbuh).

We are also Political [sic], Islam is a complete Deen, a way of life, not just a religion. It contains aspects of Politics [sic] just as it contains spiritual aspects and social aspects, and economic aspects and judicial aspects.

But we are not in favour of using violence in the UK except in matters of self-defence, nor do we condone those who use violence t[o] achieve their aims, we feel that on us the Covenant of security is binding and if we felt otherwise we would leave, not do any act that the west might use to bash Islam – even though they do 10x worse in the Muslim lands.

We also don’t condemn our brethren who do violent acts in the UK, they have their evidence, we have our’s [sic] and we love them for the sake of Allah, they are our brothers and sisters and we would never agree to hand them over to the kufr Taghoot authorities and believe to side with the Kuffar, aid them in their war against Islam by either spying on the Muslims or joining their crusading armies and police forces are acts of Kufr Akbar (major disbelief).

The Islamic Standard is primarily a news website, a blog now, but a website soon Inshallah, bringing the news that affects the Muslims from the UK and wider world and passing it onto our readers in our attempt to radicalize them.

I say it again, our aim is to radicalize the Muslims, to infuse them with energy to change things for the better and the more people out doing Da’wah, calling the Muslim and non-Muslim alike to the Ma’ruf and forbidding them from the Munkar, the better we are doing, Alhamdulillah, all praise is due to Allah alone.

We ask Allah to grant us success in our efforts, to reward our good deeds, to forgive and guide us where we are mistaken and help us in our efforts to wake up the Muslims in the UK and wider Ummah, ameen.

Daw’ud, Ed. The Islamic Standard [Source: The Islamic Standard]

THE ISLAMIC STANDARD: Allah’s punishment on the idol worshippers: Yesterday In Leicester a fire engulfed the hare Krishna temple destroying most of the structure of this place of evil where other than Allah is worshipped and invoked, up to 60 worshippers fled the temple to escape from the fire and smoke which was present inside the temple. >>> Hussain Ludlow | Saturday, September 04, 2010

THE ISLAMIC STANDARD: Leicester Muslims forbidding the Munkar of Homosexuality >>> | Sunday, September 05, 2010
Italien will auch EU-Bürger abschieben können

DIE PRESSE: Wieder einmal ein umstrittener Vorstoß aus Rom: Innenminister Robert Maroni fordert ein Recht auf Ausweisung von EU-Bürgern. Die Abschiebung von Roma aus Frankreich unterstützt der Politiker freilich auch.

Wieder einmal sorgt ein italienisches Regierungsmitglied mit einem umstrittenen Vorschlag für Aufsehen: Innenminister Robert Maroni will, dass auch EU-Bürger abgeschoben werden können. Freilich nur, wenn sie die Standards ihres Gastlandes nicht erfüllen.

"Derzeit gibt es keine einschneidenden Maßnahmen zur Abschiebung von EU-Bürgern, diese Lücke muss gefüllt werden. Es muss möglich sein, auch Bürger der Gemeinschaft auszuweisen", erklärte Maroni am Montag nach Angaben italienischer Medien. >>> DiePresse.com | Montag, 06. September 2010
Österreich: Zitate der Woche

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''Toleranz ist ein absolutes No-go im Islam'' – Maria Fekter (Österreichische Volkspartei) >>>
SPD-Organisation wirft Thilo Sarrazin hinaus

WELT ONLINE: Der Managerkreis der SPD-nahen Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung verzichtet auf Thilo Sarrazin: Der umstrittene Bundesbank-Vorstand, der den Managerkreis mitgegründet hatte, fliegt aus dem Vorstand der Organisation.

Die Wirtschaftszeitung "Handelsblatt" berichtet unter Berufung auf den Managerkreis-Geschäftsführer Werner Rechmann, die Organisation habe sich „im gegenseitigen Einvernehmen“ darauf verständigt, dass Sarrazin nicht, wie geplant, für das Amt des stellvertretenden Vorsitzenden des Kreises kandidiere. Nicht nur das: Sarrazin solle auch aus dem Vorstand ausscheiden. Hintergrund ist Sarrazins umstrittenes Buch "Deutschland schafft sich ab". In den vergangenen Tagen wurden laut dem Bericht Gespräche geführt, an deren Ende die Entscheidung gegen Sarrazin stand. >>> dino | Dienstag, 07. September 2010
US-Christen wollen Koran verbrennen – Nato besorgt

WELT ONLINE: Die anti-islamische Aktion einer US-Gemeinde gefährde in Afghanistan das Leben von Soldaten, warnt der Nato-Befehlshaber David Petraeus.

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Die afghanischen Demonstranten beschmutzten die US-Flagge. Foto: Welt Online

Der Oberbefehlshaber der Nato-Truppen in Afghanistan, David Petraeus, hat sich besorgt über Pläne einer US-Kirche gezeigt, zum Jahrestag der Anschläge vom 11. September 2001 den Koran zu verbrennen. Die Verbrennung des Heiligen Buchs der Muslime könne das Leben von Soldaten am Hindukusch gefährden, sagte der US-General dem „Wall Street Journal“. Die Aktion von einer Evangelikalen-Gruppe aus Florida spiele der Propaganda der Taliban in die Hände und könne „schwerwiegende Probleme“ hervorrufen – und das nicht nur in Afghanistan. Die geplante Koran-Verbrennung hat bereits für erste heftige Reaktionen und Proteste in der islamischen Welt gesorgt.

Die Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville im US-Bundesstaat Florida hatte angekündigt, am 11. September Exemplare des Koran zu verbrennen. Die 50 Mitglieder zählende Gruppe von Evangelisten wirbt auf ihrer Seite im Online-Netzwerk Facebook mit dem Slogan „Islam kommt vom Teufel“. Die Gemeinde bezeichnet sich als neutestamentarische, charismatische Kirche. Sie ist nicht mit einer der großen Kirchen der USA assoziiert, sondern eher eine jener sektiererischen Glaubensgemeinschaften, mit denen die Vereinigten Staaten seit ihrer Gründung so reich gesegnet sind. Pastor Terry Jones erläuterte der Tageszeitung „Houston Chronicle“, der Islam sei „eine Religion der Unterdrückung und der Koran definitiv ein gefährliches Buch“.

Auf der Webseite der Gemeinde liest man zur Begründung der Aktion, dass der Islam eine totalitäre Religion sei und dass „wir mit dieser Aktion vor den Lehren und der Ideologie des Islam warnen wollen, die wir hassen, weil sie hasserfüllt ist. Wir hassen jedoch keine Menschen. Wir lieben – wie Gott – alle Menschen auf der Welt und möchten, dass sie in den Besitz der Wahrheit kommen.“ >>> AFP/KNA/ks | Dienstag, 07. September 2010

Koran Book Burning Will Endanger American Lives, Warns Gen Petraeus

THE TELEGRAPH: General David Petraeus, the US military commander in Afghanistan, has warned that the lives of American troops will be endangered if evangelical Christians in Florida go ahead with plans to burn the Koran on Saturday's ninth anniversary of September 11.

The US military commander in Afghanistan has warned that the lives of American troops will be endangered if evangelical Christians in Florida go ahead with plans to burn the Koran on Saturday's ninth anniversary of September 11.

Gen Petraeus said that burning Islam's holy book would be a propaganda coup for the Taliban in Afghanistan and stoke anti-US sentiment across the Muslim world.

"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan," he said.

"It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems. Not just here but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community." >>> | Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Pakistani Government Minister: Obama For Caliph!

HUMAN EVENTS: The caliph in Sunni Islam is the symbol of the supranational unity of the Muslims, and is the successor of Muhammad as the military, political, and spiritual leader of the Islamic community. There hasn’t been a caliph for nearly 90 years, but now Pakistan’s Minister of State for Industries, Ayatullah Durrani, has a novel idea for just the right man for the job: Barack Obama!



The caliphate was abolished in 1924 by the secular Turkish government; foremost on the agenda of Islamic supremacists worldwide is its restoration. Hamstringing that effort, however, has been the lack of a candidate who would be acceptable to everyone concerned. The elusive one-eyed Islamic cleric who leads the Taliban in Afghanistan, Mullah Omar, was declared caliph—Emir al-Momineen, or Leader of the Believers—by his followers in 1994.

Omar went to the Shrine of the Respectable Cloak of Muhammad in Kandahar, climbed up onto its roof, and wrapped himself in the Muslim prophet’s cloak, to the jubilation of his followers below. But Omar's claim to the caliphate has been complicated by a number of matters since then—notably the toppling of the Taliban from state power by American forces—and his claim to the caliphate has been acknowledged by only one group outside Afghanistan: Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a group formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat—a name that shares none of the U.S. government’s delicacy about identifying Islamic preaching as a not infrequent source of jihad violence.

The restoration of the caliphate is foremost on the agenda of the global mujahedin because, according to Islamic law, the caliph alone can declare offensive jihad against infidel nations—which is why Osama bin Laden and other jihad theorists cast all the present actions of Islamic jihadists as defensive.

Islamic supremacists also see the abolition of the caliphate as the loss of the unity of the umma, the Islamic community worldwide; they see a divided Islamic umma as a weakened one, subject to buffeting and humiliation from colonialist and neo-colonialist powers. >>> Robert Spencer | Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Related >>>
Belgique : les Wallons lèvent le tabou de la scission

LE FIGARO: Après l'échec des négociations entre Flamands et francophones, les politiques wallons évoquent pour la première fois une éventuelle scission.

L'hypothèse d'une scission du pays commence à faire son chemin dans le monde politique belge francophone. Plusieurs représentants de premier plan ont ouvertement évoqué cette éventualité dimanche après l'échec des négociations entre Wallons et indépendantistes Flamands qui auraient dû aboutir vendredi à la formation d'un gouvernement. Les déclarations sont toutes venues du parti socialiste, vainqueur des récentes élections législatives du 13 juin en Wallonie. >>> Par lefigaro.fr | Lundi 06 Septembre 2010
Prince Charles Embarks on Lavish Train Trip to Spread Green Message

THE GUARDIAN: Eight carriages for a core party of 14 people to preach a message of sustainability on week-long tour of Britain

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Prince Charles boards the royal train at Glasgow Central station. Photograph: The Guardian

As a mode of transport, the royal train suits Prince Charles down to his hand-made brogues: resolutely old-fashioned, rather costly for the taxpayer, but just possibly ahead of its time.

The locomotive this afternoon hauled the prince out of Glasgow station, furnished with the prince's bespoke study, a grand dining room and bedroom suite, complete with bath and his and hers beds, on the start of a four-day tour of Britain that will cost the taxpayer at least £50,000.

The contrast between the train's opulence, which seemed worthy of an oligarch, and the purpose of its journey was, to some, jarring. Charles has begun a week-long trip to persuade his "subjects" to go green, and the train from which he has chosen to assert his voice in the climate debate has been converted to run on cooking fat, which, its suppliers estimate, creates just one-eighth of the carbon dioxide of oil-based diesel.

Until Friday the prince will criss-cross Scotland, England and Wales to "extol the virtues of a sustainability revolution", preaching the benefits of towelling nappies, cycling, and European city breaks by train. The "Start" campaign, as he is badging the initiative, "doesn't lecture or hector anyone, nor does it attempt to frighten", he insisted today. To run the campaign, which could cost £2m a year, he has hired a leading marketing executive from B&Q, Jo Kenrick, and signed up major sponsors including Asda, BT and EDF.

"What I hope to get across to as many people as possible is that, however awful the predicament we face with climate change and the unsustainable use of resources that keep us all alive, we aren't going to get anywhere by telling everyone they need to stop doing things," he said on the platform. "There has been quite enough of that in recent years."

But even before his train set off to the sound of a lone piper, the prince was facing perhaps inevitable accusations of double standards for using lavish transport – eight carriages for a core party of just 14 people – to preach a message of sustainability.

"I'm not sure he'll get that many people jumping on his bandwagon," said Nicky Coles, 38, a child carer who watched Charles roll up to the launch in a motorcade of petrol-guzzling cars. "He's a royal. He has the money to go green while Joe Bloggs hasn't. He can get his gardener to grow organic vegetables while the rest of us go to the supermarket and pay more." Read on and comment >>> Robert Booth | Monday, September 06, 2010
Anniversary of the Blitz: 'I Thought, I Cannot Be Alive'



THE TELEGRAPH: On the 70th anniversary of the start of the aerial bombing that devastated British cities, Juliet Gardiner recalls eight months of terror and hardship, and the rise of the 'Blitz spirit'.

Len Jones spent the night of Saturday September 7 1940 in a brick-built public shelter in Poplar, east London, which "lifted and moved, almost as if it was a ship in a rough sea. And the suction and the blasts were coming in and out of the steel door, smashing backwards and forwards, bashing us against the walls…

"The worst part was the poor little kids, they were screaming and crying and clutching their parents. The heat was colossal; the steel door was so hot you couldn't touch it. And everybody was being sick, and people were having to carry on their normal bodily needs, and the smell was terrible."

It was the first night of the Blitz that would last for eight exhausting and perilous months, with German bombs pounding the towns, cities, ports and industrial sites of Britain. The Battle of Britain, in which the Luftwaffe targeted British airfields and aircraft in an attempt to gain air supremacy, had clearly not succeeded in persuading the British to surrender as Hitler had hoped. Although he had no particular wish to fight Britain, since his ambitions lay east, towards Russia, the Führer needed British acquiescence and it was clear that this was not forthcoming. Britain would "fight on, if necessary alone", said Churchill after the fall of France. "We will never surrender."

So German tactics changed: although the dogfights in the air over southern England continued, the Luftwaffe switched its bomber force to attack London in an attempt to destroy Britain's capacity to wage war. London would be bombed without cessation for 57 consecutive nights. And, although in November the aerial attacks fanned out to the provinces, starting with Coventry and extending to Merseyside, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Clydeside, Hull, Southampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, Portsmouth, Plymouth and many other places, it was as if London was a magnet attracting the bombers back to devastate the capital.

That first terrible night set the pattern for the Blitz. First, the bombers would drop incendiary bombs; if left unattended, these would start fires that would absorb the resources of the Civil Defence workers and act as a beacon for the next wave of bombers, which would drop deadly high explosive bombs, ranging in weight from 112lb to the "Max" at 5,500lb. Although the targets were munitions factories, docks and administrative centres, the notion of precision bombing was a chimera and, in any case, in the 1940s industrial and residential areas lay cheek by jowl in Britain's towns and cities. "Collateral damage" invariably included a grim tally of homes and lives. >>> Juliet Gardiner* | Tuesday, September 07, 2010

* Juliet Gardiner is the author of 'The Blitz: The British Under Attack' published this week (Harper Press, £25)

Picture Gallery: Wartime propaganda >>>

Picture Gallery: Vintage Ministry of Food posters >>>

Related >>>
Australia Election: Labour's Julia Gillard Retains Power after Securing Support of Independents

THE TELEGRAPH: Julia Gillard, the Australia's Labour Prime Minister, has clung onto power after forming a fragile coalition government with a majority of one seat in the country's parliament.



The country's first woman leader, who came to office after a Labour revolt just 10 weeks ago, scraped over the line to form a government with support from the "kingmakers" after 17 days of frantic post-election talks.

After two weeks of negotiations following inconclusive election results, the country's first woman leader scraped over the line to form a government ahead of conservative rival Tony Abbott.

"Labour is prepared to govern," she said. "I believe the Australian people, given the closeness of this vote, want us to find more common ground in the national interest."

"I will work tirelessly to do what we said we would do, and that is to forge a new paradigm of modern government in this country," We are prepared to go forward to serve the Australian people. I begin this task more optimistic and more confident than ever before in the Australian people and our hopes and aspirations." >>> | Tuesday, September 07, 2010