Angela Merkel veut plus de fédéralisme au sein de l'UE

LE FIGARO: Le parti de la chancelière planche sur une modification des règles de fonctionnement de l'Union européenne.

La crise de la dette dans la zone euro a propulsé l'avenir des institutions européennes au cœur du débat politique outre-Rhin. À l'approche de son congrès annuel, où sont fixées les grandes orientations, la CDU, le parti conservateur de la chancelière allemande, se recompose autour des questions européennes. Alors qu'Angela Merkel affiche de plus en plus ouvertement sa volonté de prendre en main le destin de l'Union, les différents courants du parti se déchirent autour d'un projet de résolution pour le congrès prévu les 14 et 15 novembre à Leipzig.

La chancelière a abandonné son habituelle prudence depuis quelques semaines et rode son discours sur ¬l'Europe. Mercredi, Angela Merkel a ainsi affirmé qu'il était grand temps que l'Union européenne modifie ses règles de fonctionnement. Adoptant l'un de ses tons les plus dramatiques en deux ans de crise de la zone euro, elle a jugé «mauvaise» la situation actuelle en Europe et estimé que l'UE ne survivrait pas si elle ne prouvait pas au monde qu'elle pouvait surmonter la crise de la dette souveraine. » | Par Patrick Saint-Paul, correspondant du Figaro à Berlin | Le Figaro | jeudi 10 novembre 2011

Europe’s Hit Squad
THE SPECTATOR: If you thought the EU couldn’t get any less democratic, meet the Frankfurt Group

The Old Opera House in Frankfurt — once Germany’s most beautiful postwar ruin and now its most stunning recreation — has become a symbol of European rebirth. And it was here, last month, that Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy met the EU’s bureaucratic elite in what would, in another era, be described as a putsch. They had grown tired of eurozone summits, with leaders flying here and there but getting nowhere. A smaller group needed to be formed, who would wield power firmly but informally. That evening, as they gathered to hear Claudio Abbado conduct the Mozart Orchestra of Bologna, a new EU hit squad was born.

As Silvio Berlusconi has now found out, this so-called Frankfurt Group means business. Only a few months ago, it would have been unthinkable that the head of one European government would try to destabilise or depose another. Now, two EU leaders have fallen in a week. As Sarkozy knows from recent experience, to enforce regime change one need only give a helping hand to the rebels.
The group cannot be accused of being secretive. At the G20 summit in Cannes, its officials walked around with lapel badges saying ‘Groupe de Francfort (GdF)’ and met four times. Britain was not included but the Foreign Office’s officials spoke as if they were in on the act. As one official put it: ‘We’re on our way to moving out Berlusconi.’

Such a statement may once have been seen as outrageous, but by last weekend it was undeniable that an operation to remove Berlusconi had begun. When Merkel and Sarkozy were asked if they had confidence in him, they rolled their eyes and gave each other wry smiles. The European Central Bank, which is also part of the Frankfurt Group, gave only minimal support to Italy — leaving the bond markets to do their worst to Berlusconi. The International Monetary Fund, whose new leader was also at the Opera house that night, made it clear that it would be sending its auditors to Rome on a regular basis to inspect the books. All this combined to send an unmistakable Old Europe message: we have ways of making you quit.

When that night in Frankfurt’s Alte Oper on 19 October was booked, no one was intending to form a new hit squad. The plan was to have just an ordinary taxpayer-funded extravaganza, a shindig to mark Jean-Claude Trichet’s retirement from the European Central Bank. Helmut Schmidt, the 92-year-old former chancellor of Germany who is now seen as a godfather of the European project, told the assembled dignitaries that ‘a crisis in the ability to act of the EU’s political bodies’ was ‘a much bigger danger for the future of Europe than over-indebtedness’. It was time to get tough. Read on and comment » | Fraser Nelson | Saturday, November 12, 2011

THE SPECTATOR: The new German Question: The Eurocrisis has put Germany in a twofold position that it abhors. » | Daniel Korski | Thursday, November 10, 2011

Fidel Castro's Niece in Twitter Row with Cuban Dissident Yoani Sánchez

THE GUARDIAN: Mariela Castro – daughter of president Raúl – calls dissidents 'despicable parasites' hours after joining Twitter

Within hours of signing up to Twitter, the daughter of the Cuban president, Raúl Castro, has got into the online equivalent of a shouting match with a prominent dissident blogger, Yoani Sánchez.

Mariela Castro called Sánchez and her supporters "despicable parasites" in a brief exchange that may have been the first direct confrontation, verbal or otherwise, between dissidents and a member of the Castro family after years of mutual animosity.

Sánchez, who regularly criticises the lack of freedoms in communist Cuba in her Generation Y blog, touched off the dispute by sending tweets that welcomed Mariela Castro to the "plurality of Twitter" where "no one can shut me up, deny me permission to travel or block entrance".

"When will we Cubans be able to come out of other closets?" she asked, alluding to Mariela Castro's championing of gay rights as head of Cuba's national centre for sex education.
"Tolerance is total or is it not?" Sánchez tweeted.

Castro, 49, replied coolly: "Your focus of tolerance reproduces the old mechanisms of power. To improve your 'services' you need to study." » | Reuters in Havana | Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Undercover Kingdom - Bahrain
Tensions rise sharply amid systemic torture accusations
Watch Journeyman Pictures video here | Friday, November 04, 2011

Revolution Hijacked - Egypt
Promised Egypt elections may not take place until 2013
Watch Journeyman Pictures video here | Monday, November 07, 2011

Muslims Against Crusades to Be Banned from Midnight

THE GUARDIAN: Home secretary announces ban on group, which burned poppies last November and was planning Armistice Day protest this year

The home secretary, Theresa May, has ordered Muslims Against Crusades, an Islamist group which is planning to disrupt Friday's Armistice Day ceremonies, be banned from midnight.

The organisation, which burned two large poppies near the Royal Albert Hall in London on Remembrance Day during the minute's silence last year, is a renamed successor to the already banned Islam4UK and other proscribed organisations. Anjem Choudary is a leading figure in both groups.

The immediate ban is part of the government's new drive to proscribe organisations that glorify terrorism in addition to those having direct links to terrorist groups.

The ban will make membership of Muslims Against Crusades a criminal offence.

May said: "I am satisfied Muslims Against Crusades is simply another name for an organisation already proscribed under a number of names including Al Ghurabaa, The Saved Sect, Al-Muhajiroun and Islam4UK. The organisation was proscribed in 2006 for glorifying terrorism and we are clear it should not be able to continue these activities by simply changing its name."

A parliamentary order was laid at Westminster on Thursday morning implementing the ban. » | Alan Travis, home affairs editor | Thursday, November 10, 2011

NEWS.COM.AU: Remembrance Day protest called off: AN EXTREMIST Muslim group is canceling plans to demonstrate against Britain's Remembrance Day for fear of arrest. » | NewsCore | Friday, November 11, 2011

Italian Job: Can Europe Save Rome from Sinking?

USA: Kampf um die Wählergunst
Heute Abend liefern sich die republikanischen Präsidentschaftskandidaten die 11. Fernsehdebatte. Bis heute ist es keinem gelungen, einen entscheidenden Vorsprung zu gewinnen. Als qualifiziertester Kandidat gilt unbestritten Mitt Romney.

SUEDDEUTSCHE: Mit “Oops” ins Abseits: Gescheitert in 53 Sekunden: Rick Perry, Gouverneur von Texas und Hoffnung der rechten Republikaner, hat sich wohl selbst um jede Chance im Rennen um die Präsidentschaftskandidatur gebracht. Bei einer TV-Debatte leistete er sich einen peinlichen Patzer. » | Von Wolfgang Jaschensky | Donnerstag 10. November 2011

Oops! Rick Perry 'Agencies' Gaffe at GOP Debate

Australia Passes Plain-packaging Cigarette Law
THE GUARDIAN: Tobacco companies vow to challenge legislation in the high court after senate approves ban on brand logos on packets

Australia is to become the first country to enforce the plain packaging of cigarettes but tobacco companies have vowed to fight the new legislation in court.

From December next year, all cigarettes will be sold in olive green packs, which research has shown is least appealing to smokers.

Under the new laws, approved by the upper house of parliament, no trademark brand logos will be permitted on any packaging of tobacco products, although companies will be able to print their name and the cigarette brand in small, prescribed font on the packets.

The boxes will continue to carry stark health warning messages and pictures, which will cover 75% of the front of the pack and 90% of the back.

"If this legislation stops one young Australian from picking up a shiny, coloured packet and prevents them becoming addicted to cigarettes then in my view it will have been worthwhile," said John Faulkner, a Labor senator, during the parliamentary debate.

The debate in Australia has been keenly watched around the world, including in Britain, Canada and New Zealand where similar plans to curtail branding are being considered.

Cigarette giant British American Tobacco, which owns 46% of the Australian market, plans to challenge the legislation in the high court on constitutional grounds.

"The government can't take away valuable property from a legal company without compensation," said Scott McIntyre, spokesman for British American Tobacco Australia. » | Alison Rourke | Thursday, November 10, 2011

"Once the packs all look the same they will be very easy to copy," – Scott McIntyre

The Secret of Silvio Berlusconi's Success
BBC: Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has signalled that his days in power are coming to an end. Despite repeated gaffes and scandals, he won three elections and set a postwar record for the length of his premiership. The BBC's David Willey, who has covered Italian politics for four decades, asks how he did it.

Over the past century Italy has had no lack of troublesome leaders.

Silvio Berlusconi, who has been the dominant figure in Italian politics for the past 17 years, is the latest on the list.

He has been the object of at least 23 judicial investigations, mostly for corruption.

He has been heard speaking on YouTube, giving sex advice to a prostitute, Patrizia Addario, who had a hidden tape recorder under her breakfast napkin after a night of group sex.

Prosecutors accuse him of having sex with minors.

And his offensive and vulgar off-the-cuff wisecracks at international meetings, such as saying that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's behind is not worth penetrating, do little to endear him at home or abroad.

Conflicts within his fractious cabinet over how to deal with the economic crisis have meanwhile brought his government to a standstill, with the result that for months he has been hounded by the opposition, and even by some of his friends, to resign as premier.

He has infuriated businessmen and industrialists, as well the opposition by steadfastly refusing to go, until now, on grounds that he would be doing a disservice to those who voted for him and for his Freedom Party (PdL) in national general elections in 2008.

Pollsters say that his popularity with voters has sunk to 20%.

Despite all this, many Italians still defend and love him with quasi-religious fervour. He has been Italy's most prominent politician for almost two decades. He is still the single richest man in Italy and, according to Forbes magazine, the 118th wealthiest in the world in 2011. » | Wednesday, November 09, 2011

World Is Peaceful Without Islam

HT: FFI Editor@ FaithFreedom.org »

Richard Dawkins: "Islam Is One of the Great Evils in the World"

HT: Jonathan Harrell @ FaithFreedom.org »

Islamic Scholar, Hamza Abu Fas, to Guide Sharia Law in New Libya

THE AUSTRALIAN: HAMZA Abu Fas is remarkably relaxed about his new role as Libya's Minister for Religious Affairs - responsible for returning to traditional sharia law after 42 years of erratic and self-interested interpretation of Islam by slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Sitting on the floor of his lounge room in Khoms, an hour's drive from the capital, Tripoli, Professor Fas - a leading scholar on Islam and a professor in the Faculty of Law in Tripoli - talks with ease about the new Libya. "Libya was Islamic before Gaddafi, during Gaddafi and after Gaddafi," he tells The Australian.

"Gaddafi said he supported sharia law as set out in the Koran but he was a liar. He did things that were not part of sharia."

The new Libyan leader, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, has announced that a return to sharia law will be one of his priorities. Mr Jalil said: "As an Islamic country, we adopt sharia as the principal law. Any law that violates sharia is null and void legally."

Professor Fas says the new government will abandon the veto Gaddafi granted a first wife over her husband having additional spouses. "Sharia says we do not need the approval of the first wife," Professor Fas says.

What do you say to the fact that under sharia law a woman is not equal? "The woman is not equal to the man in the body. The man cannot have children. They are not equal." » | JOHN LYONS | The Australian | Monday, November 07, 2011

Berlusconi fühlt sich nach Amtsverzicht "erleichtert"

ZEIT ONLINE: Italiens Ministerpräsident will nicht wieder zu Wahlen antreten. Sein Thronfolger soll Angelino Alfano werden, Chef der Partei "Volk der Freiheit".

Italiens Ministerpräsident Silvio Berlusconi will darauf verzichten, im Fall vorgezogener Wahlen nochmals anzutreten. "Ich werde nicht wieder kandidieren", sagte er der Turiner Zeitung La Stampa, "ich fühle mich erleichtert". Berlusconi favorisierte stattdessen den 43-jährigen Generalsekretär seiner Partei "Volk der Freiheit" (PDL) und früheren Justizminister Angelino Alfano: "Jetzt schlägt Alfanos Stunde, er wird unser Kandidat sein. Er ist gut." Berlusconi lobte vor allem dessen "Führungskraft". » | ZEIT ONLINE, dpa, AFP | Mittwoch 09. November 2011

Nicolas Sarkozy Calls Benjamin Netanyahu a 'Liar'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy are facing deep embarrassment after they were inadvertently recorded disparaging Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, as a "liar".

The exchange, which took place during talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Cannes last week, has already prompted a backlash on the American right and is likely to undermine Mr Obama's claims to be a friend of Israel as he campaigns for re-election next year.

The French and American presidents, speaking during what they believed to be a private encounter week, failed to realise that a simultaneous translation of their conversation was being broadcast to journalists outside the room.

During a discussion on Israeli-Palestinian policy, Mr Sarkozy gave an unapologetic assessment of his views of Mr Netanyahu, saying[g]: "I cannot bear him, he's a liar."

Damagingly his pro-Israel credentials, the US president did not demur.

Instead he exacerbated his sin in the eyes of pro-Israeli Americans by retorting: "You may be sick of him, but me, I have to deal with him every day."

The exchange was gleefully seized on by Republicans who have accused Mr Obama of "throwing Israel under the bus" for his past criticism of Mr Netanyahu's settlement policy in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. » | Adrian Blomfield, Jerusalem and Jon Swaine in Washington | Tuesday, November 08, 2011

My comment:

I should like to say the following: Name me a politician who doesn't lie! Can anybody think of anyone? And who is Obama to call anyone else a liar? Three things we know about Obama are that he bloviates, he poses, and he lies. So this accusation coming from Obama is a bit rich, to say the least. Likewise, I don't think that Sarkozy is in any position to spout off about another politician's propensity to lie, either. Can he look in the mirror and honestly say he never lies? I very much doubt it.

It is truly astonishing that these two presidents didn't have the common sense to go out for a walk in the fresh air, or something, to discuss such a sensitive matter. They should have known that talking in a conference about such matters would be explosive if caught. How naïve and inexperienced they both were!

Further, I should like to say that I have great respect for Netanyahu as a politician. He is tough, and he understands the minefield that is politics in his region. Obama and Sarkozy, apparently, do not. Netanyahu is experienced in ME politics; Obama and Sarkozy are greenhorns.

Netanyahu is a man who, I believe, is genuinely dedicated to peace; but he is also a realist, and he knows exactly that until the Palestinians recognise Israel's right to exist, there will be no peace in the Middle East. And that's a fact which seems to go over Obama and Sarkozy's heads. – © Mark

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Prepare for Iran War
YNET NEWS: Op-ed: In wake of damning UN report on Iran’s nuclear plan, world must prepare for war

Tuesday’s dramatic United Nations report indicating that Iran has been working towards producing nuclear weapons constitutes a huge humiliation for the world. For years now, the international community has foolishly dismissed this menace as either nascent or non-existent, while refraining from earnestly confronting the ayatollahs’ obvious nuke ambitions. Did anyone honestly think this approach would make the threat go away?

The blunt revelations contained in Tuesday’s report make a mockery of the global so-called effort to curb Iran’s race to the bomb. They also highlight the extent to which Tehran has been making a mockery of the world, lying brazenly and feeding absurd explanations to statesmen all too willing to accept them. How could anyone believe that Iran’s nuclear reactor was established for “medical research” purposes? » | Yigal Walt | Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Ultra-Orthodox Pressure Takes Women Off Ads for Jerusalem Organ Donor Campaign

HAARETZ: The advertising agency handling the bus ads asked ADI for permission to replace the ads on buses in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak with ones showing men only.

The recent removal of images of women from bus ads in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak encouraging Israelis to sign organ donor cards has sparked protest, with some people threatening to revoke their agreement to donate organs after their death.

Last week, ADI, the National Transplant Center, launched a campaign urging Israelis who do not have organ donor cards to take advantage of a provision in the Organ Transplant Law of 2008 that affords priority on the transplant waiting list to candidates who sign up by December 31, 2011.
Last week, Canaan Pirsum Bitnuah, the advertising agency handling the bus ads, which feature the faces of men and women, asked ADI for permission to replace the ads on buses in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak with ones showing men only.

"The photos showed only the women's faces; there were no exposed shoulders or anything at all provocative. But we were warned that if we didn't change the images, the buses might be burned," ADI spokeswoman Dvora Sherer said. » | Dan Even | Tuesday, November 08, 2011