”Bush Would Be Truly Dangerous If He Could Do As He Wished. But He Can't”, Says Former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt
SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Helmut Schmidt, the former German chancellor who initiated the US arms buildup against the Soviet during his term in office, considers the Russia of today less dangerous than the United States. This is as surprising as it is provocative.

Former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt used to refer to journalists derisively as "highwaymen." There is a certain cruel irony in the fact that Schmidt himself is a journalist today, although members of the profession might be inclined to interpret this as a sign of its irresistibility. A man with his range of experience -- as a soldier, a cabinet minister and chancellor for almost eight years -- can expect that people will listen when he speaks. Of course, listening to Schmidt doesn't necessarily mean agreeing with him, at least not automatically. Even former chancellors can be wrong or guilty of exaggeration, especially when they address us as journalists. And being wrong or exaggerating isn't exactly unheard of in journalism.

"I do not believe that someone who disagrees with me should be criticized for that reason alone," Schmidt said at a ceremony to celebrate his 85th birthday in 2003. And he added: "But he must be criticized if he states an opinion that is not real." Let us subject the various opinions to a reality test. Schmidt says: "Russia poses far less of a threat to world peace today than, for example, the United States. You can go ahead and print that." These were the words Schmidt uttered in an interview with his own paper, the weekly Die Zeit. He also said that although he does not see Russian President Vladimir Putin as a flawless democrat, he does consider him an "enlightened potentate."

But why are the Americans more dangerous than the Russians? Why should we be more afraid of the cradle of democracy than of a potentate, no matter how "enlightened" Schmidt says he is. And is it even relevant whether the censor is educated, disadvantaged, harsh or amiable? What is important, however, is that the censor engages in censorship, while the potentate gives arbitrariness free rein. How Dangerous Is America? (more) By Gabor Steingart

Mark Alexander

Churchill’s Great-Grandson Brings Shame on Family Name
THE GUARDIAN: A great-grandson of the former British prime minister Winston Churchill pleaded guilty today to taking part in a multimillion-dollar ecstasy racket.

Australian police arrested Nicholas Jake Barton at his home in Sydney in June last year during a series of raids in which officers seized 250,000 ecstasy tablets worth around A$15m (£6.5m).

The 33-year-old, who is the son of James Barton and Arabella Spencer Churchill, pleaded guilty before a Sydney court to knowingly taking part in the supply of a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug. Churchill great-grandson admits drugs charge (more)

THE TELEGRAPH:
Churchill's relative facing jail on drug charge By Nick Squires

Mark Alexander

France Paralysed by Strikes
· Teachers and postal staff protest at job cuts and pay
· President firm over reform as transport chaos goes on

THE GUARDIAN: President Nicolas Sarkozy faces a crucial test of his nerve today as a transport strike continues into its seventh day of commuter chaos, and civil servants stage a walkout that could see up to half of France's schools closed and disrupt air traffic control, the postal service and even weather forecasts.

France's rail and bus strike is continuing despite trade union leaders agreeing to begin talks with the government and state employers tomorrow. They are protesting at plans to change special pensions deals which allow certain workers to retire as young as 50 on favourable terms.

But the strike has been prolonged to overlap with Sarkozy's latest industrial headache: an unrelated 24-hour stoppage by public sector workers, including teachers, hospital staff and postal workers. State employees from defence ministry secretaries to weather office staff will stop work in protest at low salaries and public sector job cuts. But the president is said to be standing firm on his modernising agenda, in the face of a "black November" of protests against his reforms.

Sarkozy's senior adviser on industrial relations, Raymond Soubie, insisted that this week's snowballing strikes were not the president's "Thatcher moment". He said the transport workers' pension deals would be reformed, but added: "Sarkozy has not wanted to force it through à la Thatcher, but through dialogue." Striking civil servants turn heat on Sarkozy (more) By Angelique Chrisafis

BBC:
Huge new strike paralyses France

WATCH BBC VIDEO:
French strike action spreads

FINANCIAL TIMES:
French strikes widen as civil servants walk out

Mark Alexander

Nervosität an der Schweizer Börse
NZZ: Die positiven Vorgaben aus Fernost haben der Schweizer Börse am Dienstag nur kurz Auftrieb gegeben. Im frühen Handel tendierten die Kurse zunächst etwas fester, die Gewinne schmolzen aber rasch wieder dahin. Kurz vor Mittag lag der Leitindex SMI leicht im Plus. Nervosität an der Schweizer Börse: Stimmung bleibt schlecht – Finanztitel erneut unter Druck

Mark Alexander

Christian Group Tries to Prosecute for Blasphemous Libel
THE GUARDIAN: A Christian group trying to prosecute the producer and broadcaster of Jerry Springer - The Opera under blasphemy laws will take its case to the high court in London today.

Christian Voice wants to bring a case against Mark Thompson, the director general of the BBC, and Jonathan Thoday, producer of the award-winning musical, for blasphemous libel, but was refused permission by City of Westminster magistrates court. The group is hoping to launch what would be only the third prosecution in more than 80 years for an offence which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The last successful prosecution was brought by Mary Whitehouse in 1977 against Gay News for publishing a poem, The Love that Dares to Speak its Name, about a Roman soldier's homosexual love for Christ. The human rights group Liberty, which has been allowed to intervene in the high court judicial review, says the law is outdated and argues that free speech rights must protect sacred, profane and secular language alike. Christians seek right to sue BBCf or blasphemy (more) By Clare Dyer

THE TELEGRAPH:
Jerry Springer opera puts blasphemy in dock By Jonathan Petre

Mark Alexander

Pope to Purge Modern Music
Photo of Pope Benedict XVI courtesy of The Telegraph
THE TELEGRAPH: The Pope is considering a dramatic overhaul of the Vatican in order to force a return to traditional sacred music.

After reintroducing the Latin Tridentine Mass, the Pope wants to widen the use of Gregorian chant and baroque sacred music.

In an address to the bishops and priests of St Peter's Basilica, he said that there needed to be "continuity with tradition" in their prayers and music.

He referred pointedly to "the time of St Gregory the Great", the pope who gave his name to Gregorian chant.

Gregorian chant has been reinstituted as the primary form of singing by the new choir director of St Peter's, Father Pierre Paul. Pope to purge the Vatican of modern music (more) By Malcolm Moore

Why the Pope is right to purge modern music By Damian Thompson

Holy Smoke By Damian Thompson

Mark Alexander

Chávez berief sich zweimal auf Jesus Christus vom dem saudischen König Abdullah
In Saudi-Arabien sind christliche Bekundungen in der Öffentlichkeit verboten. Doch Venezuelas Präsident Hugo Chavez liebt Provokationen. Seine neueste: Bei seiner Eröffnungsrede auf dem OPEC-Gipfel am Wochenende bekreuzigte er sich vor dem saudischen König Abdullah.

In Saudi-Arabien, wo der Islam Staatsreligion ist, sind nichtislamische religiöse Bekundungen in der Öffentlichkeit verboten. Der saudische König trägt auch den Titel "Diener der zwei heiligen Moscheen", weil in seinem Land die heiligen Stätten von Mekka und Medina liegen. 
In seiner Rede berief sich Chavez dann auch noch zweimal auf Jesus Christus. Tabubruch: Chavez bekreuzigt sich vor König Abdullah

Mark Alexander

Hollywood Gives Jesus Christ a Multi-Culti Makeover
THE GUARDIAN: Film based on Aquarian Gospel to cover years left out of New Testament

Hollywood is to fill in the Bible's "missing years" with a story about Jesus as a wandering mystic who travelled across India, living in Buddhist monasteries and speaking out against the iniquities of the country's caste system.

Film producers have delved deep into revisionist scholarship to piece together what they say was Jesus's life between the ages of 13 and 30, a period untouched by the recognised gospels.

The result is the Aquarian Gospel, a $20m movie, which portrays Jesus as a holy man and teacher inspired by a myriad of eastern religions in India. The Aquarian Gospel takes its name from a century-old book that examined Christianity's eastern roots and is in its 53rd reprint. Hollywood takes action hero Jesus to India (more) By Randeep Ramesh

Mark Alexander

The Crash of 1987: Precisely Twenty Years Ago


Mark Alexander

Bushonomics!
Image courtesy of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
BBC: The euro has hit a fresh high against the dollar, as negative views of the US economic outlook continue to take their toll on the US currency.

A steady sell-off of the dollar meant that one euro was worth $1.4571 at one point, while the pound hit $2.09 for the first time since the 1980s.

A steady stream of bad news coming from the US mortgage sector has sparked fears for the health of the economy.

These fears have prompted investors to sell dollars and buy euros or pounds. Euro climbs to fresh dollar peak (more)

Mark Alexander

Portugal - Oporto: Europe’s Tallest Christmas Tree
WATCH TELEGRAPH TV: Europe’s Tallest Christmas Tree is Lit
Mark Alexander

Shirin Ebadi Criticises Iran’s Nuclear Policy
Photo of Shirin Ebadi courtesy of Google Images
BBC: Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi has called on Iran to suspend its controversial nuclear work to avert what she says is a mounting threat of war with the US.

"Using nuclear energy is every nation's right, but we have obvious other rights including security, peace and welfare," she told a press conference.

Iranian lawyer and human rights activist Ms Ebadi won the Nobel peace prize in 2003.

Criticism of Iran's nuclear policy is rare in the Islamic Republic.

Correspondents say Ms Ebadi's comments represent an unusually explicit condemnation of the government's entrenched policy at a time of mounting tension with western powers.

"We can hear the evil sounds of war drums, however far away.
We don't like it but there is probability of war," she said.

"In the past 30 years there has been a revolution and eight years of war. People are tired and want peace and quiet to lead their lives." Iran nuclear work 'not worth war' (more)

Mark Alexander

West Midlands Police and Crown Prosecution Services Rebuffed by Ofcom over Dispatches Documentary
BBC: Media regulator Ofcom has rejected police claims that a Channel 4 programme was distorted.

The programme, Dispatches, tackled claims of Islamic extremism and featured preachers at various mosques.

West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution Service said the programme was heavily edited and distorted what the preachers were saying.

But Ofcom said it found no evidence the broadcast, Undercover Mosque, had misled its audience.

In a statement it said the one-hour documentary shown in January, was a legitimate investigation, uncovering matters of important public interest. Mosque programme claims rejected (more)

WATCH TELEGRAPH TV:
Video on ‘Undercover Mosque’

WATCH DOCUMENTARY HERE:
Dispatches: Undercover Mosque

Mark Alexander

Global Warming?
Photo courtesy of the BBC
BBC: Dozens of ski resorts across the Alps have begun running their lifts after unprecedented levels of snow this month.

Some parts have had the most snow in November since 1956.

Last winter was a bad season for the multi-million pound ski industry and there were real fears that some resorts might go out of business due to a lack of snow.

But the ski industry is now breathing a collective sigh of relief as bookings are picking up for the all-important Christmas period.

Many villages and towns in the Alps rely on skiing for up to 80% of their income.

Last December the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned that some resorts could become unviable due to climate change.

It said resorts under 1,500m (4921ft) should focus on other activities.

Huge snow storm

Last week, though, a massive storm dumped over 1m (3ft 3in) on parts of the Eastern Alps and then it spread west. Early snows boost Alpine ski resorts (more) By James Cove

Mark Alexander

King Juan Carlos’ “Shut Up” Comment to Chávez Becomes Ring Tone Hit
Photo courtesy of the BBC
BBC: The king of Spain's recent undiplomatic outburst at the Venezuelan president has become a ringtone hit across Spain.

An estimated 500,000 people have downloaded the insult featuring the words "Why don't you shut up?", generating a reported 1.5m euros ($2m).

King Juan Carlos asked Hugo Chavez to "shut up" at a summit in Chile last week after the president said Spain's ex-PM Jose Maria Aznar was a "fascist".

Branded mugs, t-shirts and websites featuring the row are also profitable.

In Venezuela, a group of students who oppose Mr Chavez's government have also been downloading the ringtone, a US newspaper reported.

"It's a form of protest," a 21-year-old student in Caracas told the Miami Herald. "It's something that a lot of people would like to tell the president."

Companies selling the ringtones have avoided legal problems concerning breach of the king's image rights by using an actor to voice the line. 'Shut up' Chavez is ringtone hit (more)

Mark Alexander

Ahmadinejad: The Dollar “Is a Worthless Piece of Paper”
BBC: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has suggested an end to the trading of oil in US dollars, calling the currency "a worthless piece of paper".

The call came at the end of a rare Opec summit, and was opposed by US ally Saudi Arabia.

The Iranian president had wanted to include the attack on the dollar in the summit's closing statement.

The communique made little mention of the dollar, however, focusing instead on energy security and the environment. Iran leader dismisses US currency (more)

BBC:
Dollar continues near record lows

Mark Alexander

Ahmadinedschad macht sich über den Dollar lustig
SPIEGELONLINE: Der Dollar schwächelt. Die Opec-Staaten Iran und Venezuela, nicht gerade Freunde der USA, würden Erdöl daher künftig lieber in anderen Währungen als dem Dollar abrechnen. Irans Präsident Ahmadinedschad sagte, man würde für wertvolles Öl nur noch "wertloses Papier" von den USA bekommen.

Hamburg - "Sie kriegen unser Öl und sie geben uns dafür ein wertloses Stück Papier", sagte Irans Präsident Mahmud Ahmadinedschad am Rande der Opec-Konferenz im saudi-arabischen Riad, wie die "Financial Times" berichtet. Iran und Venezuela drängen die Opec-Staaten, die Abrechnung von Öl in der US-Währung zu beenden und eine andere Währung zu nutzen. Gastgeber Saudi-Arabien weist diese Forderung zurück und will die Währungsfrage nicht zum Thema der Konferenz machen. Ahmadinedschad macht sich über den Dollar lustig (mehr)

Mark Alexander

Pakistan: Imran Khan droht mit Hungerstreik bis zum Tod
WELTONLINE: Der ehemalige Kricket-Star sitzt im Gefängnis und fordert die Wiedereinsetzung der von Präsident Musharraf entlassenen Richter. Der General hatte mehrere hohe Juristen durch ihm loyale Personen ersetzt. Dagegen protestiert Khan – und setzt sein Leben aufs Spiel.

Fünf Tage nach seiner Festnahme im ostpakistanischen Lahore hat der frühere Kricket-Star und jetzige Oppositionspolitiker Imran Khan einen Hungerstreik begonnen. Khans Sprecher Hafizullah Niazi sagte dem Nachrichtensender Aaj nach einem Besuch im Gefängnis, der Oppositionspolitiker fordere die Wiedereinsetzung der von Präsident Pervez Musharraf entlassenen Verfassungsrichter. Andernfalls werde er „bis zum Tode“ keine Nahrung mehr zu sich nehmen. Imran Khan droht mit Hungerstreik bis zum Tod (mehr)

THE TELEGRAPH:
Imran Khan on hunger strike in prison By Richard Holt and Duncan Hooper

Mark Alexander

Saudi Arabia: Rape Victim’s Lawyer Refuses to Give in
Photo of Saudi Lawyer, Abdul Rahman Al-Lahem, courtesy of Arab News
ARAB NEWS: JEDDAH, 19 November 2007 — The lawyer representing a Saudi rape victim in Qatif has criticized the second ruling issued by the Kingdom’s Higher Court of Justice doubling the woman’s punishment to 200 lashes and six months in jail, saying that the ruling “sums up the major problems that the Saudi judiciary faces.”

Abdul Rahman Al-Lahem, 36, also criticized the General Court in Qatif for confiscating his license to practice law. On Wednesday the Qatif General Court announced the Higher Court of Justice’s verdict. Al-Lahem had previously asked the Ministry of Justice and the Human Rights Commission to review the first ruling issued by the General Court in Qatif, which had ordered the rape victim be given 90 lashes.

“Basic Islamic law states that an appeal shall not harm the person appealing,” said Al-Lahem, adding that lodging an appeal is the right of anyone accused of a crime and something crucial for a just trial. “Once this rule is ignored, then people who appeal verdicts are only left terrorized. From now on people will be apprehensive to appeal fearing they might be punished or have their sentences doubled. That’s exactly what’s happened to the rape victim, who only wanted justice,” he said. Rape Victim’s Lawyer Refuses to Give In (more) By Ebtihal Mubarak

Mark Alexander

Muslims in Antwerp Want a Ban on Christmas Trees and Easter Eggs
Hat tip to Anti Dhimmi 321 for this:

EXPATICA: ANTWERP – "If headscarves are banned for employees who work at the desk at city services in order to guarantee neutrality of services, then we demand that no Christmas trees be set up in city buildings and that no Easter eggs be given out." Antwerp trade union representative Badia Miri said this on Wednesday [back in August] in the Gazet van Antwerpen.

Miri is one of the seven Muslim women who were forced to remove their headscarves if they wanted to continue working at the desk. Three of the seven staff members of the city of Antwerp who wore headscarves agreed to stop wearing one. Different positions - not involving contact with the public - were found for the others. No one was dismissed. There is still opposition to the dress code however, which came into effect in March. The seven Muslim women are now urging that "neutrality of service provision be actually enforced." Muslims want ban on Easter eggs

Mark Alexander

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words
Photo of ‘Red Ken’ courtesy of the Daily Mail
Read the full story: Turban-charged Ken defends spending £740,000 of public money on trip to India

Mark Alexander

Arab States Talk of Revaluation
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: GULF states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, could revalue their currencies while maintaining their pegs to the US dollar.

Such a move would probably have the effect of further undermining faith in the flagging greenback and perhaps prompt Asian nations also to consider unhooking their currencies from the dollar.

The Arab states may revalue by an unspecified amount in as soon as a month, a well-placed source - who declined to be identified because the matter was confidential - said on Saturday. No decision had been made on whether to revalue, he said.

The comments came as heads of state of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries began a summit meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Gulf states are facing record inflation, caused partly by the weakening dollar which has made imports from Europe more expensive. Consumer prices rose a record 4.9 per cent in Saudi Arabia in August while inflation in the UAE increased to a record 9.3 per cent last year. Qatar has the highest inflation in the region, reaching 14.8 per cent.

"It makes sense for them to do it," said Jens Nordvig, senior global markets economist at Goldman Sachs in New York. "Given the emerging inflation pressures, there are very good reasons for them to allow currency appreciation." Arab states talk of revaluation (more) By Matthew Brown and Anchalee Worrachate

Mark Alexander

Our Demoralised Forces
THE TELEGRAPH: The head of the Army has warned that years of Government under-funding and overstretch have left troops feeling "devalued, angry and suffering from Iraq fatigue", The Sunday Telegraph can reveal.

General Sir Richard Dannatt, the Chief of the General Staff, reveals in a top-level report that the present level of operations is "unsustainable", the Army is "under-manned" and increasing numbers of troops are "disillusioned" with service life.

Gen Dannatt states that the "military covenant is clearly out of kilter", and the chain of command needs to improve standards of pay, accommodation and medical care. Our forces can't carry on like this, says General Sir Richard Dannatt (more) By Sean Rayment

Mark Alexander

Tutu Chides Church Over Stance on Homosexuality
Photo of Archbishop Desmond Tutu courtesy of the BBC
BBC: South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has criticised the Anglican Church and its leadership for its attitudes towards homosexuality.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4, he said the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, had failed to demonstrate that God is "welcoming".

He also repeated accusations that the Church was "obsessed" with the issue of gay priests.

He said it should rather be focusing on global problems such as Aids.

"Our world is facing problems - poverty, HIV and Aids - a devastating pandemic, and conflict," said Archbishop Tutu, 76.

"God must be weeping looking at some of the atrocities that we commit against one another.

"In the face of all of that, our Church, especially the Anglican Church, at this time is almost obsessed with questions of human sexuality."

Criticising Dr Williams, he said: "Why doesn't he demonstrate a particular attribute of God's which is that God is a welcoming God." Tutu chides Church for gay stance (more)

Mark Alexander

The War to Defend the Free World
THE SPECTATOR - MELANIE PHILLIPS: The government’s position on combating Islamist extremism now ranges from the farcical to the dangerously flawed. First we had the spectacle of the security minister, Admiral Lord West, saying he didn’t see the need for more than 28 days’ detention before charge for terrorism suspects and then, an hour later, being forced to say that he did. I’m sure that makes us all feel a lot more secure. Then there was Gordon Brown’s statement on beefing up security and dealing with Islamist extremism. In a withering commentary in yesterday’s Telegraph, Michael Burleigh pointed out that the sensible things the Prime Minister said were staggeringly overdue and anyway largely filched from the Tories, while there was still an alarming absence of substance and an even more alarming failure to distinguish between Islamist extremism and those trying to draw attention to its dangers:

Mr Brown also intimated that he will be seeking to persuade senior media figures to tone down reporting that allegedly gives rise to ‘Islamophobia’. This is sinister, especially since it will not be accompanied by attempts to inhibit the expressions of hatred or disgust that Muslims direct at Western society. Nor did Mr Brown have anything to say about organisations such as Hizb-ut Tahrir -- which function as sectarian totalitarian parties bent on dominating institutions they manage to infiltrate -- beyond the pathetic assurance that they would not receive grants from local authorities.

‘Hearts and minds’ cuts two ways. It is not just up to us to avoid giving egregious offence to Muslims. There was nothing in Brown's speech about the plans to build a 25,000-capacity mega-mosque near the 2012 Olympic stadium in West Ham, which is intended to serve as a Muslim quarter for athletes and spectators during the Games, in flagrant violation of everythin the Olympic Games represent. And no categorical rebuttal of insidious attempts by Islamists to introduce Sharia courts, thereby sanctioning what would amount to exclaves outside the law.

What seems to be happening is that the government is adopting some sensible policies on beefing up physical security but is going completely wrong over how to combat the ideas driving the terror. Its ‘hearts and minds’ policy – on which the fingerprints of the security service are clearly visible -- appears to be promoting a kind of twin track approach: tough measures against Islamic extremism while encouraging ‘moderate’ Islam. But the first part of this seems ineffectual, while the second seems to be merely another variation on the disastrous existing strategy of trying to buy off Muslim rage by adopting what is actually an Islamist agenda without the violence. It is beyond depressing that the Prime Minister actually praised the

recent remarkable letter by 138 Muslim scholars from a diversity of traditions within Islam, which paid tribute to the common roots of Islam, Christianity and Judaism and called for deeper dialogue. The War to Defend the Free World (more)

Mark Alexander

Ahmadinejad adresse des récriminations à Nicolas Sarkozy
LE FIGARO: Le président de la République a reçu lundi dernier une missive de son homologue iranien.

Dans son édition datée d’aujourd’hui, Le Monde fait état d’une lettre au ton «acrimonieux» adressée par le président iranien Mahmoud Ahmadinejad à son homologue français Nicolas Sarkozy. Dans cette missive, le président iranien qualifierait, selon le quotidien, le chef de l’État français de «jeune et inexpérimenté» et proférerait des «menaces voilées» à l’adresse de Paris. L’Élysée n’a pas réagi officiellement hier à ces informations. La France prône la mise en place d’autres mesures coercitives par l’Union européenne, outre un durcissement des sanctions contre l’Iran à l’étude à l’ONU. Mais ces deux options apparaissent, l’une comme l’autre, problématiques. Prévue lundi, la réunion des cinq membres permanents du Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU et de l’Allemagne en vue de l’adoption d’un nouveau train de sanctions a été annulée en raison de la défection de la Chine qui a prétexté des problèmes de calendrier. Une décision qui traduit surtout les réticences persistantes de la Chine à alourdir les sanctions contre l’Iran. Ahmadinejad adresse des récriminations à Nicolas Sarkozy (suivant)

Mark Alexander

NHS Doctors Revolt Ant-White Bias
THE SUNDAY TIMES: ONE of Britain’s most eminent consultants has claimed white male doctors are being denied bonuses because of politically correct “reverse discrimination” by the National Health Service.

David Rosin, a former vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons, says female and ethnic minority consultants are being given preferential treatment to meet artificial quotas.

Rosin, also a former president of the Association for Cancer Surgery, failed to get the top “platinum award” award 10 years in a row despite being backed in his application by the royal college and his NHS trust.

He said: “When I asked a previous president [of the Royal College of Surgeons] why I had been unsuccessful, the answer came back immediately: ‘What do you expect? You are not black, you are not female and you have all four limbs.’ ”

Rosin’s comments are likely to provoke a row about whether policies to promote equal opportunities in the NHS have led to positive discrimination. Figures show a dramatic increase in the number of women and ethnic minorities winning merit awards over the past five years. They can add up to £73,000 to a consultant’s annual salary of about £112,000.

Ministers and NHS chiefs have been encouraging more women and ethnic minorities to apply. Supporters say that in the past the vast majority of the extra payments went to an “old boys’ network” of sometimes “mediocre” white male consultants.

However, Rosin, who retired from his NHS post as a senior consultant surgeon at St Mary’s NHS Trust hospital, London, in June, believes it has now tipped into positive discrimination.

“It is time that someone spoke up concerning the reverse discrimination with respect to merit awards,” he wrote in a letter to the magazine Hospital Doctor. “In the politically correct environment in which we live, there is now definitely reverse discrimination.” Doctors’ revolt at anti-white bias (more) By Sarah-Kate Templeton

Mark Alexander

Mormon Smears Turn Republican Race Sour
THE SUNDAY TIMES: THE only Mormon in the 2008 presidential race, Mitt Romney, is coming under attack for his religious beliefs as the battle for the Republican nomination becomes increasingly acrimonious.

Telephone calls to voters accusing the former governor of Massachusetts of subscribing to outlandish beliefs and “flip-flop-ping” on big issues have been made under the guise of polling in Iowa and New Hampshire, crucial early voting states that Romney must win.

These “push-polling” calls drew attention to Romney’s deferment of military service during the Vietnam war while serving as a missionary for the Mormons in France and pointed out that none of his five sons had enlisted in the military.

Callers also claimed the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints did not consecrate blacks as bishops until the 1970s and believes the Book of Mormon supersedes the Bible. Romney called the attacks “unAmerican”.

Robert Redford, the film star, joined in the Mormon-bashing this month, claiming that church followers were “very adept at not being fazed and speaking fluently and gracefully” because they “learn how to deflect blows and stay on message” when they go on missions “when they are 19 or 20”.

He added: “So when you see Mitt Romney, he’s already been practising how to deflect blows and stay on message. But it’s plastic.”

The race is growing dirtier as the fight for the nomination intensifies between Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, and Romney. Mormon smears turn Republican race sour (more) By Sarah Baxter

Mark Alexander

Erziehungsratgeber für Terroristenmütter
Foto dank der Presse
DIE PRESSE: Die Terrororganisation hat ein Handbuch für Frauen ins Internet gestellt. Es erklärt ihnen, wie sie ihre Kinder zu Märtyrern erziehen können. Mehrere Extremistengruppen rekrutieren ihren Nachwuchs bereits über das Internet.

Das Terrornetzwerk al-Qaida hat ein Handbuch für Frauen ins Internet gestellt. Dem rosafarben gehaltenen Ratgeber ist zu entnehmen, "wie man sein Kind erzieht, damit es sich als 'Märtyrer' für den Jihad opfert", berichtete der Kommunikationswissenschaftler Gabriel Weimann. Die Frauen würden beraten, wie sie ihren Ehemann unterstützen könnten oder was sie tun müssten, um selbst einen Selbstmordanschlag zu verüben. Weimann stellte fest: "Die Mütter sind die neue Zielgruppe." al-Qaida: Erziehungsratgeber für Terroristenmütter (mehr)

Mark Alexander

Islamic Fashion: Fashion for the Sand People?
WELTONLINE: I bring you these images of Islamic fashion courtesy of WeltOnline:


Mark Alexander

A Warning from Chávez
Photo of Chávez and Ahmadinejad courtesy of the BBC
BBC: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned oil prices could double if the US attacked Iran, as a key summit of oil exporters opened.

Mr Chavez told the summit of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) the price of crude could reach $150 or even $200 a barrel.

Oil has been hitting record peaks of well over $90 a barrel as markets believe Opec will not boost production.

The Opec summit in Saudi Arabia is only the organisation's third in 47 years.

Saudi moderation

Mr Chavez kicked off the summit with a blistering attack on the US.
"If the United States was mad enough to attack Iran or aggress Venezuela again the price of a barrel of oil could reach $150 or even $200," he said. Chavez warning opens Opec summit (more)

Mark Alexander

Prime Minister Brown’s First Christmas Card
Image courtesy of the BBC
BBC: Prime Minister Gordon Brown's first Christmas card to be sent from Number 10 will feature a drawing of a group of children moving a Christmas tree.

The charity card marks a shift from his predecessor Tony Blair who favoured cards featuring himself and his family. PM picks charity Christmas cards (more)

PM praises Brown's Christmas card

Mark Alexander

Dollars No Longer Acceptable as Payment for Entrance Fee to the Taj Mahal
Photo of the Taj Mahal courtesy of the BBC
BBC: Foreign tourists to many of India's most famous landmarks will no longer be able to pay the entrance fee in dollars, the government says.

The ruling is aimed at safeguarding tourism revenues following the recent falls in the dollar.

Until now, foreign tourists to sites such at the Taj Mahal have had the option of paying in dollars or rupees.

The ruling will affect nearly 120 sites of interest run by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Of these, at least 27 are World Heritage sites, including the Taj Mahal. Dollars no good for the Taj Mahal (more) By Jyotsna Singh

Mark Alexander

Yesterday’s Very Interesting Gathering Storm Radio Show
Listen to WC & Always On Watch’s Interview with Elisabeth of Austria and Fausta
The Gathering Storm Blogspot
Always On Watch

Mark Alexander

Himmelfahrt!
WELTONLINE: Der Islam schaltet in den fünften Gang. Stand die Religion des Friedens bisher vor allem für ungefragte Hochhausabrisse, gottgefälliges Beleidigt-sein und alternative Frauenrechte, setzt sie nun neue Prioritäten. Bald schon soll das erste islamische Auto fahrbereit sein.

Malaysia, der Iran und die Türkei wollen das islamische Auto gemeinsam bauen. Es wird Fächer für den Koran und für Kopftücher haben, außerdem, laut Ahmadinedschad, einen Atommotor, „daran haben wir die ganzen Jahre getüftelt, es sollte eine Überraschung werden.“ Die Türken lassen derweil prüfen, ob es mit der islamischen Verkehrsordnung in Einklang gebracht werden kann, dass das Überfahren von Kurden straffrei bleibt und Malaysia ist eigentlich alles egal, solange „nur mal wieder der Name unseres Landes in der Zeitung steht.“ Erstes islamisches Auto kommt auf den Markt (mehr) Von Gideon Böss