Afghanistan: Karsai lässt sich von Iran sponsern
ZEIT ONLINE: Afghanistans Präsident Karsai hat zugegeben, Geld aus Teheran zu erhalten. Er spricht von "offiziellen Hilfen", Mitarbeiter berichten aber von Schmiergeld.

Laut Hamid Karsai leistet die iranische Regierung "ein oder zwei Mal pro Jahr" Zahlungen in Höhe von jeweils 500.000 bis 700.000 Euro an seine Regierung. Sein Stabschef Umar Daudsai habe das Geld seinen "Anordnungen entsprechend" entgegengenommen, sagte der afghanische Präsident in Kabul. Die Zahlungen seien transparent gewesen und als "offizielle Hilfe" eines Landes zu sehen. Der afghanische Präsident reagierte damit auf einen Bericht der New York Times vom Samstag.

Darin hieß es, mit den Zahlungen versuche Teheran, seinen Einfluss im Nachbarland auszuweiten. Die Summen in Höhe von mehreren Millionen US-Dollar seien in eine geheime Kasse geflossen. Aus dieser würden Karsai und Daudsai afghanische Abgeordnete, Stammesführer und Talibanvertreter bezahlen, um sich deren Loyalität zu sichern. Iran verfolge mit den Zahlungen auch das Ziel, einen Keil zwischen Afghanistan sowie die Nato und die USA zu treiben. Weiter lesen und einen Kommentar schreiben >>> AFP | Montag, 25. Oktober 2010

Iranian Freerun[n]ers Practise High-flying Stunts
THE TELEGRAPH: Young Iranians have embraced the urban sport of Parkour.
To the video >>>

World War II: The Lost Color Archives

Baroness Warsi Told by David Cameron Not to Appear at Islamic Conference
THE OBSERVER: Conservative leader's stance exposes coalition government differences on tackling Islamist extremists

The Conservative party chair[woman], Baroness Warsi, has been banned by David Cameron from attending a major Islamic conference today, igniting a bitter internal row over how the government tackles Islamist extremism.

Warsi, Britain's first female Muslim cabinet minister, was told by the prime minister to cancel her appearance at the Global Peace and Unity Event, which is being billed as the largest multicultural gathering in Europe.

The London-based conference is aimed at improving community relations, yet critics have pointed out that a number of speakers who are due to appear have justified suicide attacks and promoted al-Qaida, homophobia and terrorism.

An influential voice among the international Muslim community, Warsi believes that confronting extremists at public events is a more effective way to tackle fundamentalism than a refusal to engage with them. A Whitehall source said: "She had hoped to attend, but there is a conflict of opinion on how extremists should be dealt with and the prime minister, supported by Theresa May [the home secretary], were adamant no Tories should attend."

Paul Goodman, the former Tory communities minister, said: "The aim of the organisers is to exploit politicians by using their presence to gain muscle, influence and credibility among British Muslims. Politicians shouldn't play their game." >>> Mark Townsend, home affairs editor | Sunday, October 24, 2010

Filip Dewinter: „Belgien existiert nicht“
Filip Dewinter. Foto: Die Presse
DIE PRESSE: Der Fraktionsvorsitzende des ultrarechten flämischen Vlaams Belang, Filip Dewinter, spricht sich für eine sofortige Spaltung Belgiens aus. Den Islam bezeichnet er als den größten Feind der europäischen Lebensweise.

Die Presse: Die Koalitionsverhandlungen in Belgien dauern schon über vier Monate. Flämische und wallonische Parteien können sich nicht auf eine Lösung einigen. Ist das Land unregierbar?

Filip Dewinter: Belgien existiert nicht, es ist ein künstliches Land. Es gibt keine belgische Nationalität oder Identität. Flamen und Wallonen haben nichts gemeinsam. Weder Wirtschaft, Sprache noch Kultur. Die beiden Landesteile wählen sogar unterschiedlich – die Wallonen sozialistisch, die Flamen liberale und rechte Parteien. In Wahrheit gibt es doch nur einen Belgier, und das ist der König. Dieser versucht nun seinen Job zu retten, indem er immer wieder neue Mittelsmänner findet, die die Koalitionsverhandlungen endgültig vor dem Scheitern bewahren sollen. Wird es also zur baldigen Spaltung des Königreichs kommen? >>> Anna Gabriel | Freitag, 22. Oktober 2010

Vers une organisation faîtière
20 MINUTES ONLINE: Le dialogue entre les autorités et les communautés musulmanes de Suisse doit être simplifié.

Trente représentants de celles-ci se sont réunis samedi à Berne pour étudier la possibilité de créer une organisation faîtière nationale, a communiqué dimanche la Commission fédérale contre le racisme (CFR). >>> ap | Dimanche 24 Octobre 2010

Pound Forecast to Tumble on 'Insane' Spending Cuts
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Britain's spending cuts have been branded as "absolutely insane" by one of the world's leading currency traders, who expects the pound to tumble beyond the low it has set this year.

"I think what Britain is doing is absolutely insane" John Taylor, the founder of the $8bn FXConcepts fund, told The Sunday Telegraph. "The Conservatives will lose their stomach for this."

Reducing Britain's £156bn budget deficit is the cornerstone of the government's plan for restoring the economy's health. George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, told Parliament last week that the £81bn in spending cuts would pull "Britain back from the brink."

Although Mr Osborne's plan has won support from many economists, there remains concern that it will damage a recovery that is already showing signs of faltering.

"The last retail sales numbers were pretty ugly and then we have to go through the VAT hit," said Mr Taylor, who at 67 is one of the oldest operators in the foreign-exchange markets. The pound will fall below 1.40, possibly this year, he expects. Sterling reached 1.43, its weakest against the dollar this year in May.

The Bank of England has publicly welcomed sterling's decline since the financial crisis erupted in 2008, but the central bank is not alone. Having already yanked hard on monetary and fiscal levers, an increasing number of governments are eyeing a weaker currency as a way of securing their share of an uneven global recovery. >>> Richard Blackden in New York | Sunday, October 24, 2010

Since when do currency traders understand economics? – © Mark

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Al-Kaida ruft zu Anschlägen in den USA und Europa auf
KRONE: Ein amerikanischer Sprecher des Terrornetzwerks Al-Kaida hat Muslime zu Anschlägen in den USA und Europa aufgerufen. In einem Video, das am Samstag auf einer von Extremisten betriebenen Internetseite veröffentlicht wurde, richtet sich Adam Gadahn (Bild) an Einwanderer islamischen Glaubens in den "erbärmlichen Vororten" von Paris, London und Detroit sowie an Gaststudenten und -arbeiter. >>> | Sonntag, 24. Oktober 2010

Video Tells Muslims to Attack U.S., Europe
FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE: CAIRO – A U.S.-born al-Qaida spokesman on Saturday urged Muslims living in the United States and Europe to carry out attacks there.

In a 48-minute video posted on militant websites, Adam Gadahn directed his appeal to Muslim immigrants in what he called the “miserable suburbs” of Paris, London and Detroit, as well as those in the West for study or work.

“It is the duty of everyone who is sincere in his desire to defend Islam and Muslims today, to take the initiative to perform the individual obligation of jihad ... by striking the Zio-Crusader interests,” he said, referring to Western and Jewish interests.

Gadahn, who has been hunted by the FBI since 2004, also sought to discredit attempts by moderate Muslim leaders to suppress the “jihadi awakening.”

He spoke in Arabic in the video, which was made available by the U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity. [Source: FWJG] Associated Press | Sunday, October 24, 2010

Facing The Axe: Diocese That Has Twice As Many Muslim Worshippers As Anglicans
Contrasting fortunes: A rooftop scene in Bradford, showing a mosque and nearby church spire. Photograph: The Mail On Sunday
THE MAIL ON SUNDAY: A historic Church of England diocese where Muslim worshippers outnumber Anglican churchgoers by two to one is set to be scrapped.

According to sources, the Dioceses Commission is drawing up proposals to axe the cash-strapped Diocese of Bradford in Yorkshire and merge it with neighbouring Ripon and Leeds.

Some are pressing for both dioceses to be subsumed into the adjoining Diocese of York, to create a ‘superdiocese’ under Archbishop of York John Sentamu, the Church’s second-most powerful leader.

The first major shake-up of dioceses for almost 100 years could also see senior ­bishops replaced by lower-paid juniors, and ­millions of pounds shaved off central administration costs.

The move comes at a time when the Church is facing a severe financial squeeze, with £1billion wiped off its national assets last year.

Insiders said the crisis was particularly acute in parts of the country where population shifts had accelerated a general decline in churchgoing, hitting church collections which feed diocesan coffers.
One said: ‘Some areas with a high concentration of Muslim migrants have experienced “white flight” and the Church is struggling to maintain a foothold.’

Statisticians have predicted that there will be more Muslims in Britain’s mosques on Fridays than Anglicans in church on Sundays within a decade – though Church spokesmen point out that Anglicans increasingly worship at other times of the week. >>> Jonathan Petre | Sunday, October 24, 2010

Successive governments refuse to do anything about the ludicrous multicultural policies we have been pursuing. The truth is that they have opened up a Pandora's box; and they haven't got the wherewithal to put the lid back on again. They are bereft of the necessary courage to do anything meaningful about the problems we face. As a result, if current policies are to be continued, Britain as we have known and loved it will soon cease to exist. British Christian culture will be subsumed into Islamic ‘culture’. Britain will become part of the Dar ul Islam. The time for this is fast approaching. And what does Cameron go on about? His fatuous 'big society'. A meaningless concept if ever I heard one.

This country needs strong government: a government that will be prepared to take all the necessary measures to halt the process of Islamization, and turn back the tide where possible.

If the politicians cannot find it within them to do this, Britain is finished. Amen – © Mark

This comment should appear here if the newspaper has the courage to put it up.

Tony Blair's Sister-in-law Lauren Booth Converts to Islam After a 'Holy Experience' in Iran
THE MAIL ON SUNDAY: Tony Blair’s sister-in-law has converted to Islam after having a ‘holy experience’ in Iran.

Broadcaster and journalist Lauren Booth, 43 – Cherie Blair’s half-sister – said she now wears a hijab head covering whenever she leaves her home, prays five times a day and visits her local mosque ‘when I can’.

She decided to become a Muslim six weeks ago after visiting the shrine of Fatima al-Masumeh in the city of Qom.

‘It was a Tuesday evening and I sat down and felt this shot of spiritual morphine, just absolute bliss and joy,’ she told The Mail on Sunday.

When she returned to Britain, she decided to convert immediately.

‘Now I don’t eat pork and I read the Koran every day. I’m on page 60.

‘I also haven’t had a drink in 45 days, the longest period in 25 years. The strange thing is that since I decided to convert I haven’t wanted to touch alcohol, and I was someone who craved a glass of wine or two at the end of a day.’

Refusing to discount the possibility that she might wear a burka, she said: ‘Who knows where my spiritual journey will take me?’ Read on and comment >>> Mail On Sunday Reporter | Sunday, October 24, 2010

This was the comment that the MOS didn't have the courage to print. And this lack of courage is proof, if proof indeed were needed, why this spineless country is going to be subsumed by this death cult, otherwise known as Islam!

Another bleeding heart falls for the 'religion of peace'. But is there any wonder if she's been working for Press TV?

For Christ's sake, find your gonads! – © Mark (This comment should have appeared in the comments section, but the MOS doesn't have the courage to place it up on the comments section.)

THE ISLAM TIMES: Blair condemned over new book >>> | Monday, September 06, 2010

European Far-right Parties Want Referendum on Turkey in EU
AFP: VIENNA — Europe's far-right parties want an EU-wide referendum on Turkey's plans to join the current 27-nation bloc, the leader of Austria's populist Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache, said Saturday.

Strache, who had invited right-wing parties from Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Slovakia and Sweden to a two-day meeting in the Austrian capital, told a news conference that the parties believed Turkey had no place in Europe and ordinary citizens should be given a say in the matter.

Europe would be "straying down the completely wrong path" if it were to admit "non-European countries" into the European Union, the far-right party leader said.

"That would be the end of the European Union. It would be the beginning of a Euro-Asian-African Union, which goes completely against the project of peace in Europe and must therefore not be allowed," Strache said. >>> AFP | Saturday, October 23, 2010

KRONE: Volksbegehren gegen EU-Beitritt der Türkei geplant: Europas Rechtsparteien planen ein Bürgerbegehren gegen den EU-Beitritt der Türkei. Dies kündigte FPÖ-Chef Heinz-Christian Strache am Samstag nach einem zweitägigen Treffen von Parteienvertretern in Wien an. Die Freiheitlichen und ihre europäischen Gleichgesinnten wollen sich, so Strache, künftig besser koordinieren, um "Fehlentwicklungen in der Europapolitik" entgegenzuwirken. >>> | Samstag, 23. Oktober 2010

Bankers 'Caused Credit Crisis for Kicks'
THE TELEGRAPH: Forget the thorny problems of risk, regulation and even reward: bankers blew up the financial system for the thrill of it, according to one British academic.


A New York trader holding his head in his hands in 2008, as the Dow Jones dropped below 9,000 for the first time in five years Photo: The Telegraph
With a theory that will alarm Business Secretary Vince Cable, Dr Paul Crosthwaite of Cardiff University has argued that bankers and other investors took on excessive risks not just to make money but for the "desire" and "exhilaration" of destruction.

"For its participants and speculators alike, the crash is not simply an object of fear or anxiety, or even of mere fascination, but also of an inchoate but urgent desire," Dr Crosthwaite wrote in an article published in Angelaki: Journal of the Theoretical Humanities. Continue reading and comment >>> Louise Armitstead, Chief Business Correspondent | Saturday, October 23, 2010

I believe that these irresponsible gits should be jailed for causing such pain to others. The fact that they get such huge bonuses for their destruction just adds insult to injury. Fie on them all! – © Mark

This comment also appeared here

Obama Brands Republicans as Radicals
THE TELEGRAPH: US President Barack Obama on Friday branded Republicans as radical and reactionary, in campaign appearances for high-profile Democratic senators under threat in November's midterm polls.

Mr Obama rallied crowds in Los Angeles, California, and was to move on to gambling paradise Nevada in a bid to rescue wobbling Democratic Senate majority leader Harry Reid, on the third day of a four-day campaign blitz.

He charged that the first Republican president, his political hero Abraham Lincoln would not be able to win the opposition party's presidential nomination in the modern age.

"Seriously, can you imagine him trying to run with these folks?" Mr Obama said, in a bid to portray the Republican Party as outside the mainstream ahead of November 2 congressional polls in which his Democrats fear heavy losses.

Mr Obama accused Republicans of sitting on their hands while he saved the economy from a second Great Depression and of wanting to go back to the same lax regulatory regimes that caused the crisis in the first place.

"This agenda that poses as conservatism is not conservative. It resulted in a radical shift from record surpluses to record deficits, allowed Wall Street to run wild, nearly destroyed our economy," Mr Obama said. >>> | Saturday, October 23, 2010

Americans Are Starting to S*** on Themselves! Juan Williams: First Comments After Being Fired by NPR!


Related >>>

Judges Told to Step Down in Wilders Trial
Geert Wilders says freedom of speech in the Netherlands is on trial. Photo: BBC
BBC: Judges in the hate speech trial of Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders have been ordered to step down by an independent appeals panel.

The move follows a request by Mr Wilders' lawyers who said they feared the judges were biased against him.

The legal process that began in January must now begin again with new judges. The trial itself started in October.

Mr Wilders faces five charges of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims.

If found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail.

Mr Wilders' lawyer Bram Moszkowicz had argued that the bench at Amsterdam District Court had created "an impression of partiality" by putting off a decision on the defence's request to recall a witness.

Being denied the opportunity to recall the witness would "make it impossible for the defence to substantiate a crucial part of its case", he added.

A hastily convened panel said on Friday that it found the trial judges' decision to be "incomprehensible in the absence of any motivation".

They said that Mr Wilders' fear of bias as a result was "understandable". >>> | Friday, October 22, 2010

Geert Wilders Trial Faces Restart After Judges Dismissed
THE TELEGRAPH: The trial of Geert Wilders on charges of inciting racial hatred against Muslims will have [to] begin all over again after the controversial Dutch anti-Islam politician won an appeal to have his judges sacked for bias.

A Dutch court ruled in favour of a request by Mr Wilders' defence lawyer to have new trial judges installed after allegations of improper conduct by a member of a judicial appeals panel directly involved in the case.

"This gives me a new chance of a new fair trial. I am confident that I can only be acquitted because I have broken no law, but spoken the truth," he said.

Mr Wilders, 47, went on trial on October 4 for inciting hatred by describing Islam as Nazism and for comparing the "fascist" Koran to Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf", which is banned in the Netherlands.

The charges were laid before Dutch elections last June returned Mr Wilders' Freedom Party as the third largest in the country's parliament.

He and his party's 23 other MPs have lent their support to a minority Dutch conservative government in return for key policy concessions, such as a burka ban and new curbs on immigration. >>> Bruno Waterfield | Friday, October 22, 2010

OJ Simpson Appeal Denied by Nevada Supreme Court
THE TELEGRAPH: The Nevada Supreme Court has refused to overturn former American football star O.J. Simpson's armed robbery and kidnapping convictions stemming from a Las Vegas hotel room heist at gunpoint.

The court said in its ruling on Friday that it concluded that all of Simpson's arguments for appeal were without merit.

But the court ordered the conviction of Simpson's co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart to be reversed and a new trial held.

The 63-year-old Simpson is serving nine to 33 years at a state prison. His co-defendant, Stewart, is serving 7 and a half to 27 years at High Desert State Prison, northwest of Las Vegas.

Both men were convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery, conspiracy and other crimes for what Simpson maintained was an attempt to retrieve family photos and mementoes. >>> | Friday, October 22, 2010

Loki Schmidt (†91) ist tot


Loki Schmidt (91) ist gestorben


STERN: Leise Trauer um die Frau von nebenan: Hamburg nimmt Abschied von Hannelore "Loki" Schmidt, Ehefrau des ehemaligen Bundeskanzlers Helmut Schmidt. Während viele Trauernde sich im Hamburger Rathaus ins Kondolenzbuch eintragen, fährt stern.de-Redakteur Gerd Blank nach Langenhorn, um sich von Loki zu verabschieden. >>> | Freitag, 22. Oktober 2010

Verbunden >>>

North African States at Risk of Being Overrun by Al-Qaeda
THE TELEGRAPH: Al-Qaeda is poised to overrun five states in North Africa and the Middle East, creating terrorist safe havens from which the network can launch attack on the West, Europe and the US have been warned.

Mauritania, Mali and Niger have seen a steady escalation of al-Qaeda activity targeting Western aid workers and experts. Somalia, to their east, has disintegrated in the face of Islamist assault. In Yemen, across the Red Sea from Somalia, security forces have been waging a losing battle against resurgent jihadist armies that have claimed the lives of dozens of troops.

Amadou Marou, the President of Niger's National Consultative Council has been in Europe with a grim message for governments. "Somalia got away from us", he said, "and northern Mali is in the process of getting away from us".

Mohamed Abdillahi Mohamed, Somalia's new Prime Minister, has also called on the US and Europe to "step up to the plate". Aid to Somalia, he said, "is not an option, it's a necessity. We are dealing with al-Shabaab, who are extremists and seeking to take their war throughout the world". >>> Praveen Swami, Diplomatic Editor | Thursday, October 21, 2010

Firing of Juan Williams for Muslim Comments Attacked by US Rightwingers
THE GUARDIAN: Sacked NPR man Juan Williams cheered on by US rightwingers including Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Mike Huckabee

The sacking of a Washington public radio broadcaster over remarks about Muslims turned into a political row last night.

Juan Williams was fired as a news analyst with National Public Radio, the closest equivalent in the US to the BBC, after saying on the Fox News Channel that Muslims in traditional dress boarding planes made him nervous.

NPR issued a statement expressing regret at his departure after so many years' service but said his comments "were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR."

Prominent rightwing figures, from Sarah Palin to radio talkshow host Rush Limbaugh, rushed to his defence and Fox offered him a three-year $2m (£1.3m) contract. Williams, 56, has been a decade-long contributor to NPR, but has also worked elsewhere, including at Rupert Murdoch's Fox. >>> Ewen MacAskill in Washington | Friday, October 22, 2010

THE GUARDIAN: Soros donates $1m to the fight against Fox News >>>

The Words That Got Juan Williams Fired From NPR


THE TELEGRAPH: Sacking of US broadcaster Juan Williams sparks Muslim debate: An American broadcaster has been sacked for saying he did not like sharing flights with Muslims, prompting a high-profile row about censorship and political correctness. >>> Jon Swaine in New York | Friday, October 22, 2010

President Obama: It Gets Better


THE GUARDIAN: Barack Obama video supports gay teenagers: It Gets Better Project receives backing of US president amid concerns over spate of gay American teenagers killing themselves >>> Dan Glaister in Los Angeles | Friday, October 22, 2010