News for today's 2018

EGYPT: THE LYNCHPIN OF THE MIDDLE EAST (Part 1)

1:24 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96TmI2QKzOxxSikBFsGm6n60oS3YproECFDJBC7l9_GJ_oRmxU4gbnDc5YGq3Bz5gmzg_TXDwVnecOGpAtxbYw-ZZ0KpClJY6E9N9KzgOz4KBn0F6BmgQTUXuhf8CmVDGafR2xbSYBvLl/s1600/Nile+delta+at+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96TmI2QKzOxxSikBFsGm6n60oS3YproECFDJBC7l9_GJ_oRmxU4gbnDc5YGq3Bz5gmzg_TXDwVnecOGpAtxbYw-ZZ0KpClJY6E9N9KzgOz4KBn0F6BmgQTUXuhf8CmVDGafR2xbSYBvLl/s400/Nile+delta+at+night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">EGYPT AND HER STRATEGIC WATERWAYS ARE THE HEART OF THE ARAB ECONOMY</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: x-small; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Adapted by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring from StratRisks </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wars have been waged in the past based upon these important straits. If EGYPT falls to militarism or radical Islam like its neighbors SUDAN and LIBYA, numerous ARAB and Western nations will suffer massive economic loss. You can have unlimited oil and LNG on hand but you need safe shipping routes in which to transport it. With this understanding EGYPT is not truly sovereign and that is why it is in a constant state of flux. ISRAEL, SAUDI ARABIA, QATAR, IRAN and other actors and countries are in the midst of a covert battle royal to influence EGYPTIAN affairs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is no coincidence that crude oil prices rose above $100 on the very day General Al Sisi overthrew the government of President Morsi in EGYPT. Supply risk is a constant fear in an oil market where global spare capacity (mainly SAUDI) is only one million barrels a day (mbd). Even though EGYPT is not a major oil exporter or a member of the OPEC, it has the SUEZ CANAL and the SUEZ MEDITERRANEAN, or SUMED pipeline, where oil tankers transport 2.5 mbd of mainly GULF crude to refineries in EUROPE and NORTH AMERICA. The SUEZ CANAL is one of global gas critical chokepoints, as geopolitically significant as the STRAITS OF HORMUZ and MALACCA </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DUE TO STRATEGIC INTERESTS EGYPT WOULD NEVER BE LEFT IN THE HANDS OF THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was a foregone conclusion that a nation as important to the world as EGYPT is, would not be left in the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood. The brutality of the Mubarak regime was well known, most considered the region stable and their important business continued uninterrupted. ISRAEL’S intelligence apparatus monitors the tectonic shifts in EGYPT in relation to the Gaza Strip. If EGYPT sneezes, the Gaza Strip gets a cold. ISRAEL would find itself under a serious threat if the EGYPTIAN leadership had friendly relations with militant Islamic groups like Hamas. It is a dangerous yet delicate balance.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAEL’S foreign minister has warned his Prime Minister that EGYPT presents more of a security threat than IRAN. Subsequently the foreign minister urged the PM to create three to four southern divisions in the wake of a social and economic deterioration in EGYPT and the increasing number of EGYPTIAN arms buildup in the SINAI PENINSULA. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE ONE WHO COMMANDS THE SUEZ STRAIT CONTROLS A MAJOR PORTION OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv-MxNR3tBQd5N_6I9_C4CqtxhOVwW47YGMdC7XvtPXqBXHFr_os2cWFQk-6nlb2AStc8bBs5cwhs072QrGLHR9wUsicxqjHxiy95SIeFpTV9bw9TaB1MtUQuz3skInKW9iJ3YaE4zHuv/s1600/strategic_import_map4161333379629934.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv-MxNR3tBQd5N_6I9_C4CqtxhOVwW47YGMdC7XvtPXqBXHFr_os2cWFQk-6nlb2AStc8bBs5cwhs072QrGLHR9wUsicxqjHxiy95SIeFpTV9bw9TaB1MtUQuz3skInKW9iJ3YaE4zHuv/s320/strategic_import_map4161333379629934.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">substantially dependent upon trade and commerce. Washington’s relationship with EGYPT angled as humanitarian aid ends up being billions of dollars annually in foreign military financing grants supplying EGYPTIAN military apparatus with heavy weapons used to control and retain the allegiance of the uprising population and purge any subversion. The interdependent relationship between the U.S. and EGYPTIAN military is coherent, billions of dollars to maintain EGYPT’S military elite-led government, the uninterrupted military coordination and movement of the regions oil resources to the UNITED STATES and EUROPE and the establishment of a U.S. military bridgehead in a geo-strategic location for future military operations or conflicts in regions rich in hydrocarbon deposits, the MIDDLE EAST and the CASPIAN Basin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For US military planners, the sudden loss of access to EGYPT would present a double problem. Without EGYPT, they would find their options for shipping air and sea cargo, refueling and repairing aircraft and consolidating troop movements narrowed to those along the Persian Gulf. The loss of landing rights in EGYPT, for example, might mean that in a crisis, wide-body jets, each carrying hundreds of troops, would have to fly directly into congested Persian Gulf airfields, rather than into Cairo West, from which smaller transports would ferry troops into action, furthermore Persian Gulf facilities are increasingly vulnerable to IRANIAN ballistic missiles.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>major strategic review completed by the Pentagon last year indicated that US forces need access to bases more resilient than today’s in the face of attacks. Planners are looking for ways to fortify those bases, with missile defenses being a high priority, but protecting high value airfields and ports where troops are disembarking is somewhat of a challenge.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In war-fighting terms, the loss of EGYPT might also force a greater reliance on long range strike assets – strike fighters, bombers and missiles – at a time when the US arsenal of such weapons is limited. In a MIDEAST war, fighter jets once might have launched from EGYPTIAN airfields, without EGYPT, they’d have to operate from carriers – themselves vulnerable – or fly exhausting air refueling missions from distant bases in CYPRUS, TURKEY and EUROPE. The longer a mission lasts, the fewer daily sorties can be scheduled. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFRICA: THERE’S GOLD, URANIUM AND OIL IN THEM THAR HILLS</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cohorts of <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-expands-secret-intelligence-operations-in-africa/2012/06/13/gJQAHyvAbV_story.html">special operation forces and intelligence agencies</a> are covertly engaging NORTH AFRICA by employing combinations of political, economic, psychological and military warfare to undermine unstable governments or nations actively engaged in civil wars through an ongoing inter-agency counter-terrorism plan, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom_-_Trans_Sahara">Operation Enduring Freedom – TRANS SAHARA</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">France and its allies have <a href="http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/monde/20130607.OBS2446/mali-les-secrets-d-une-guerre-eclair.html">revitalized a military campaign for NORTH AFRICA</a>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>providing security and protection of <a href="http://www.dw.de/the-interests-behind-frances-intervention-in-mali/a-16523792">foreign economic interests, uranium sites, gold mining and oil reserves.</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.cfr.org/france/french-military-africa/p12578">FRENCH military</a>is tighten its grip on NORTH AFRICA by supporting <a href="http://carnegieendowment.org/2013/01/22/uranium-in-saharan-sands/f4ej">AREVA CORPORATE INTERESTS</a> to preserve a ’FRENCH’ dominant sphere in the region by providing vital security for the <a href="http://www.lepoint.fr/editos-du-point/jean-guisnel/niger-les-forces-speciales-protegeront-les-mines-d-uranium-d-areva-23-01-2013-1619466_53.php">key strategic Imouraren uranium mine</a> and <a href="http://theworldoutline.com/2013/06/france-and-west-africa-the-spectre-of-postcolonialism/">oil resource </a>centers. CANADIAN mining companies are actively involved in MALI gold mining and other ventures with a large<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/01/23/f-mali-canada-links.html">bulk of the investment summed up in one word: GOLD.</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FRENCH owned TOTAL SA already draws 28% of its oil output from AFRICA. The presence of significant uranium deposits in neighboring NIGER is also of utmost importance for FRANCE and other actors in the region. FRANCE in particular is reliant on uranium for a large portion FRANCES energy supply is nuclear based and thus it relies on NIGER’S uranium supply which accounts for almost 40% of Frances uranium consumption.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The strategic mobility of<a href="http://www.economist.com/node/17965537"> FRENCH Special Forces</a>, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/22/uk-special-forces-active-mali">UK Special Forces</a> , <a href="http://www.africom.mil/Newsroom/Article/10206/us-airlift-of-french-forces-to-mali">AFRICOM</a>, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/dia-to-send-hundreds-more-spies-overseas/2012/12/01/97463e4e-399b-11e2-b01f-5f55b193f58f_story.html">Defense Intelligence Agency</a>, <a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-06-13/world/35462541_1_burkina-faso-air-bases-sahara">Central Intelligence Agency</a>, <a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01/28/canadian-special-forces-on-the-ground-in-mali/">CANADIAN Special Forces</a> and <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9670274/Europe-to-send-400-special-forces-to-Mali.html">EUROPEAN UNION Special forces</a> have built up their intelligence and war fighting skills by conducting quick and surgical strike operations in<a href="http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2012/09/23/01003-20120923ARTFIG00152-mali-la-france-en-pointe-contre-aqmi.php">LIBYA</a>, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/22/uk-special-forces-active-mali">MALI </a>, the<a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2012/08/military-exercises-in-libyas-des.html">SAHEL</a> and <a href="http://northafricapost.com/740-us-deploys-aircrafts-across-mena-region-and-beyond.html">MENA</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WHAT IS THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY AGENDA IN ALL THIS?</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gYbxka25j1U27GSxteab5Lft18HgNu5cy95E6BY-FhG4VkjmvSVyjWKIQOjl9Yd5rdo97xwBigl-x99wRvmJgyiYm6iB0om1zhyZ38PMki4DuLtoSCFmWr3zwhjtk94khzPyvrS__Plv/s1600/Africa-Natural-resources-07-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gYbxka25j1U27GSxteab5Lft18HgNu5cy95E6BY-FhG4VkjmvSVyjWKIQOjl9Yd5rdo97xwBigl-x99wRvmJgyiYm6iB0om1zhyZ38PMki4DuLtoSCFmWr3zwhjtk94khzPyvrS__Plv/s400/Africa-Natural-resources-07-08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wealth protection, monopolize strategic raw materials and energy resources, <a href="http://www.worldpress.org/Africa/3783.cfm">energy security of the EUROPEAN UNION</a>, reduce dependence on RUSSIAN oil-natural gas with completion of the <a href="http://northafricapost.com/1510-trans-saharan-gas-pipeline-operational-by-2015-if-obstacles-overcome.html">TRANS-SAHARAN gas pipeline</a> and counteract<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/dont-forget-the-critical-role-of-china-in-mali-8452530.html">CHINESE encroachment</a> into AFRICAN territory rich with <a href="http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2012/3147/">hydrocarbons</a> and <a href="http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2010/myb3-2010-ml-ng.pdf">mineral deposits</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 1pt 4pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AFRICA AND CHINA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA AND AFRICA</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/china-and-its-relation-with-africa-and.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/china-and-its-relation-with-africa-and.html</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MALI AND CHINA'S 'WESTERN' FOREIGN POLICY </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/mali-and-chinas-western-foreign-policy.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/mali-and-chinas-western-foreign-policy.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THE SECRET WAR BETWEEN CHINA AND THE US FOR AFRICA'S OIL RICHES</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA’S WINNING STRATEGY IN AFRICA</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SOUTH AFRICA WELCOMES CHINESE MILITARY ASSISTANCE </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/08/south-africa-and-china.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/08/south-africa-and-china.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">OUT OF AFRICA ……AND BACK IN</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA AND ITS RELATION WITH AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/china-and-its-relation-with-africa-and.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/china-and-its-relation-with-africa-and.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SOMALILAND’S ROLL IN A POTENTIAL MILITARY CONFLICT BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND EGYPT</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/ethiopia-somaliland-and-egypt.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/ethiopia-somaliland-and-egypt.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA is increasingly searching for iron – ore supplies in AFRICA. Allegedly there are 35 billion tons of direct shipping iron – ore available in AFRICA, which amounts to a production potential of between 400 to 600 million tons a year. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Currently the 27 EU member states import 85% of their oil needs and 65% of their natural gas. It is estimated that by 2030 those numbers will be 95% and 85% respectively. Up to now EU countries have no oil and gas production or fields. This could change however if recent gas findings south of CYPRUS and in GREECE are prove to be feasible for extraction. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><b><span style="color: #db3603; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">HYDROCARBON FINDINGS</span></b><b><span style="color: #db3603; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> IN CYPRUS AND GREECE</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #db3603; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS’S HUGE UNTAPPED GAS RESERVES WILL BENEFIT THE EUROPEAN UNION</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/broke-cyprus-could-be-energy-trump-card.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/broke-cyprus-could-be-energy-trump-card.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">RECENT AEGEAN OIL AND GAS FINDINGS COULD BLOT OUT GREECE’S ENTIRE DEPT </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/hostile-takeover.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/hostile-takeover.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">COULD IT BE THAT THE TROIKA IN REALITY FOCUSES ON TAKING CONTROL OF CYPRUS’S PROCLAIMED HYDROCARBON FINDINGS? </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/cypruss-financial-crisis-and-its.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/cypruss-financial-crisis-and-its.html</a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GAS RESERVES UNDER THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ARE TOO LARGE TO OVERLOOK</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/energy-adventures-in-eastern.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/energy-adventures-in-eastern.html</a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; line-height: normal; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINAS increasing influence in AFRICA, characterized by large sums of money with few strings attached in exchange for mineral concessions, is a concern for the USA. This rivalry may come to shape the future of a continent already marked out like an imperial jigsaw puzzle. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U.S. CONTINUES TO PORTRAY THE ILLUSION OF A SECONDARY ROLE IN THE GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF CONFLICT IN NORTH AFRICA</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIRUfMJ8dug0lDdjLjylOsrvh-O3ujJxSUWMozojF30iCgV2N0d_SadZ7Jah1cYVdEhtJq8fDRve-4opRaGIdKMreUF0r0VqTLmw2fGEI0KfVCWXU7WIkPHpDB1wHlKDcl7P6byqqYffj/s1600/ksk-kommando-spezialkraefte-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIRUfMJ8dug0lDdjLjylOsrvh-O3ujJxSUWMozojF30iCgV2N0d_SadZ7Jah1cYVdEhtJq8fDRve-4opRaGIdKMreUF0r0VqTLmw2fGEI0KfVCWXU7WIkPHpDB1wHlKDcl7P6byqqYffj/s200/ksk-kommando-spezialkraefte-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German KSK in MALI</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is interesting that orthodox military operations conducted during “Operation Serval” (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Serval">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Serval</a>) have done absolutely nothing but turn the region into a big black hole of uncertainty, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/10/ozatp-mali-libya-idAFJOE81909Q20120210">blow back central</a> with printed permanent war in the SAHEL. The military’s objectives are to position forces to ensue stable perimeters of <a href="http://www.dw.de/the-interests-behind-frances-intervention-in-mali/a-16523792">high value geographic areas</a>, control risks and the neutralization of <a href="http://www.bdlive.co.za/africa/africannews/2013/07/26/news-analysis-no-mans-land-sahel-a-breeding-ground-for-islamist-terror">Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and network affiliates</a>. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced the proposal to keep <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/world/africa/mali-france-proposes-permanent-force.html?_r=1&">permanent combat forces in MALI</a> and actively seeking to install a <a href="http://www.lexpressiondz.com/actualite/159636-vrombissement-de-reacteurs-a-nos-frontieres.html">military base in LIBYA</a>. As the U.S. continues to portray the illusion of a secondary role in the geographic scope of conflict in NORTH AFRICA, <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><a href="http://www.heise.de/tp/artikel/39/39411/1.html">U.S. AFRICOM and GERMAN KSK have been active for years in MALI</a></span>. Cloaked in secrecy, the U.S. military drone base in NIGER provides<a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-03-21/world/37905284_1_drone-bases-unarmed-predator-drones-surveillance-drones/2">a strategic foothold </a>to conduct ISR missions to target and terminate high valued targets with predator drone programs. Pentagon/ private mercenary in and out warfare tactics with incidents and operational details not disclosed to the U.S. public by means of the <a href="http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30403:us-army-seeking-private-contractors-for-african-commando-transportation&catid=47:Logistics&Itemid=110">US Army seeking private contractors for AFRICAN commando transportation</a> and multitudes of <a href="http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2010/06/28/US-military-contractors-eye-Africa/UPI-96371277754990/">U.S. military contractors eyeing AFRICA</a>. The cohesive EU, NATO, Pentagon and mercenary force campaigns will continue under the guise of peace-keeping operations to take advantage of social discontent, ferment sectarian division and political regime change.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The FRENCH and the BRITISH in their heart of hearts still believe that they can control the state of affairs of various countries in the MIDDLE EAST and NORTH AFRICA. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sykes and Picot</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement</a>) have long since died and numerous rebellions have taken place to wrestle power away from EUROPE. Yet EUROPEAN influence still lingers like a ghost and their geopolitical desires are still as strong as they were in the 1900’s. Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of FRANCE introduced a regional framework called the ’UNION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN’. This power play could transform the MENA region into a satellite super state for the ultimate benefit of EUROPE and the USA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MEDITERRANEAN UNION</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUbyV6OliIlToq-BaLyfJJ6r4-86cBiJ4rRh2TJcA8q6CfAiFt5rOXoWwQ81dhrxXzDxlPxolpqannr9BWYPldyUqTw3b91_aq8jYGQ5viHFLkidz-iAKFDKT-5pIP7RoF5x-gJsE6a6r/s1600/ResizedImage375353-mediterraneanunion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUbyV6OliIlToq-BaLyfJJ6r4-86cBiJ4rRh2TJcA8q6CfAiFt5rOXoWwQ81dhrxXzDxlPxolpqannr9BWYPldyUqTw3b91_aq8jYGQ5viHFLkidz-iAKFDKT-5pIP7RoF5x-gJsE6a6r/s320/ResizedImage375353-mediterraneanunion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3083"><i>The geopolitical and political motives behind this proposal seemed fairly obvious at first sight. Politically, Sarkozy’s interest in setting up the MEDITERRANEAN UNION would be to offer TURKEY an alternative to full EU membership. This is certainly how the plan is being peddled in Paris. The second geopolitical motive would be to reinforce FRANCE’S weight on the world stage.</i></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3083"><i>The creation of a political “Club Med” is perhaps a typical example of the FRENCH love of the politics of the grand gesture, but there seems little doubt that it would institutionalise FRANCE’S leadership role in an area where she has huge historical ties and considerable political influence, from NORTH AFRICA to LEBANON and SYRIA.</i></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3083"><i>Perhaps the motives behind the MEDITERRANEAN UNION lie elsewhere, therefore. The plan, indeed, bears some resemblance to the “GREATER MIDDLE EAST” project favoured by the AMERICAN neo-conservative strategists. </i></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3083">Even more striking is the resemblance between Sarkozy’s plan and the existing Mediterranean Dialogue set up by NATO in 1994. The relevant page (in English, French, Hebrew and Arabic) can be seen here. Numerous Maghreb states have already signed partnership agreements with NATO. In other words, the MEDITERRANEAN UNION would be but a political superstructure over a military organisation which already exists and which is under US leadership</a>. –<b><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3083">Brussels Journal</a></b></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The so-called ’Arab spring’ has changed the political landscape and those countries that weren’t in favor of EUROPE might have had a change of heart. Interestingly enough, the conflict in LIBYA, the current proxy war in SYRIA, and the second coup in EGYPT help EUROPE work towards their EUROMED project tremendously. NORTH AFRICAN nations like LIBYA, ALGERIA and MOROCCO are assisting EUROPE to establish a new oil and gas route that will lessen the dependence on RUSSIA. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the UNITED STATES has made a pivot towards EURASIA, EUROPE is selling weaponry to ARAB states who hope to secure their borders for any eventualities with IRAN or SYRIA. The problem with these uprisings in the MENA region is that in the minds of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ARAB youth</b> (</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HARBINGER OF REVOLUTION</span></i></b></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/11/the-geopolitics-of-youth-unemployment.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/11/the-geopolitics-of-youth-unemployment.html</a></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ) they have no real yardstick that would measure any progress and could be easily manipulated for the geo-economic and geopolitical goals of foreign states. EUROPE could start the wildfire that could clear a path to economic security and integration or for their own demise.</span></div>

EGYPT: THE LYNCHPIN OF THE MIDDLE EAST (Part 1)

EGYPT AND HER STRATEGIC WATERWAYS ARE THE HEART OF THE ARAB ECONOMY Adapted by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring from StratRisks Wars h...

Head of Reference - Cyrenius H. Booth Library, Newtown

12:43 PM Anonymous 0

Head of Reference - Cyrenius H. Booth Library, Newtown

Head of Reference - Cyrenius H. Booth Library , Newtown, CT. The Head of Reference manages the Reference Department, including the Depart...

Librarian I (Full-time) - Lucy Robbins Welles Library, Newington

12:23 PM Anonymous 0

<strong>Librarian I</strong> (Full-time) - The <strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Lucy Robbins Welles Library</span></strong></strong>,  Newington, Connecticut, is seeking a creative, energetic,  people-oriented person to serve in its Collection Management (technical  services) Department with reference desk duties. The successful  candidate will possess strong computer technology and internet skills,  must be able to work in a team environment and to communicate  effectively with all ages. Duties include but are not limited to,  collection development which includes book selection, ordering,  cataloging, and processing of materials, troubleshooting computer  hardware and software, and backing up other public service desks as  needed. Knowledge of automated library systems is a plus. An ALA  accredited MLS is required. 35 hours per week with one evening a week  and a Saturday rotation. Salary is $47,242. Excellent benefits. EOE,  M/F, Handicap. Send resume and application form by <span style="color: red;">September 3, 2013</span> to: Town Manager, Town of Newington, 131 Cedar Street, Newington, CT.  06111. Application form may be picked up at the Town Manager’s office or  printed out from the Town Website at: <a href="http://www.newingtonct.gov/" target="_blank">http://www.newingtonct.gov</a>  click on " Town Manager's Office" then “Employment Opportunities.” For additional job information please <a href="http://www.newingtonct.gov/filestorage/78/118/150/2462/Librarian_I_JP_%26_JD_2013.pdf" target="_blank">click here</a>.

Librarian I (Full-time) - Lucy Robbins Welles Library, Newington

Librarian I (Full-time) - The Lucy Robbins Welles Library , Newington, Connecticut, is seeking a creative, energetic, people-oriented per...

Reference / Instruction & Assessment Librarian - Central Connecticut State University

12:21 PM Anonymous 0

<strong>Reference / Instruction & Assessment Librarian</strong> - [#C14-003] The Elihu Burritt Library at <strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Central Connecticut State University</span></strong></strong> [New Britain] invites innovative and energetic applicants to fill a  full-time, tenure-track librarian position. Required Qualifications:   Masters degree in Library Science or equivalent from an ALA accredited  institution; academic library reference experience; demonstrated  experience and knowledge of electronic and print information resources; a  demonstrated commitment to public service; excellent communication,  interpersonal and presentation skills; and, experience working  effectively with a highly diverse group of faculty, students, colleagues  and the general public. Preferred Qualifications:  Experience with  commercially or institutionally developed testing of information  literacy skills; experience with the development and the implementation  of a program for the assessment of library instruction; experience with  online learning management systems; experience providing concise  information to undergraduate and graduate students in brief library  instructions sessions covering a wide range of subject areas; experience  teaching semester long information literacy credit course; demonstrated  ability to effectively use instructional technologies.  For full  consideration, applications must be received by <span style="color: red;">September 16, 2013</span>.  To begin the application process, go to <a href="http://www.ccsu.edu/jobs" target="_blank">www.ccsu.edu/jobs</a>.

Reference / Instruction & Assessment Librarian - Central Connecticut State University

Reference / Instruction & Assessment Librarian - [#C14-003] The Elihu Burritt Library at Central Connecticut State University [New Bri...

Librarian IV - Silas Bronson Library, Waterbury

12:20 PM Anonymous 0

<strong></strong><strong>Librarian IV</strong> - <strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Silas Bronson Library</span></strong></strong>,  Waterbury. Salary: $ 60,919.06 - 79,194.78 per yr. FRINGE BENEFITS:  Choose from three available health insurance plans (employee  contributions vary) Prescription Drug Rider, Dental Plan; Group Life  Insurance for Individual; Retirement Plan; paid Holidays; paid Vacation;  paid Sick Leave; Personal Days. LAST DAY FOR FILING APPLICATIONS:  Applications, which may be obtained at the Civil Service Office, or by  visiting our website at <a href="http://www.waterburyct.org/" target="_blank">www.waterburyct.org</a> will be accepted at the Civil Service Office, Chase Municipal Building, 236 Grand St., Waterbury, CT 06702 by 4:50 p.m. on: <span style="color: red;">August 28, 2013</span>.  IMPORTANT: 1. Veterans - Veteran’s points will be awarded in accordance  with the Connecticut State Statute. Five (5) for non-disabled veterans,  ten (10) for disabled veterans. Proper documentation must be submitted  to the Personnel Director before the date of the examination. 2.  Residents - Residency points shall be added in accordance with the  amendment to the Civil Service Ordinances dated March 18, 2011. Proper  documentation and proof of residence must be submitted no later than the  closing date for applications. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: Serves as head of  one of the four major divisions in the library (Circulation Technical  Services, Adult Services or Youth Services) and branches. This position  involves responsibility for professional work in supervising the  activities of a division of the library. Work is performed under the  direction and supervision of the Library Director. Supervision is  exercised over the professional, paraprofessional and clerical staff.  Working closely with the heads of all library divisions, organizes and  develops overall plans for providing library services to library users;  directly or indirectly supervises all personnel in a division; develops  training programs for subordinates instructs them and evaluates their  performance; conducts staff meetings; maintains current collections in  various formats; directly or indirectly supervises the selection of  library materials as well as the selection and installation of on-line  computerized services; keeps informed of current and new developments in  the library profession and on materials published; recommends  purchases; keeps necessary statistics and makes monthly, quarterly and  annual reports; attends professional library meetings and serves as  library representative within formalized library groups; directs  short-term and ongoing special projects as assigned (e.g. public  programming, outreach, public relations, grant writing, etc.); handles  employee relations. Does related work as required. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES,  SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of library  services (techniques; philosophy, procedures); knowledge of library  administration practices and techniques; ability to design and implement  procedures; computer literacy for system and personal computers;  ability to train and supervise staff; ability to speak and write  effectively; good judgment. IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION  YOU MUST INDICATE ON YOUR APPLICATION THAT AS OF THE CLOSING DATE YOU  HAVE THE FOLLOWING EXPERIENCE: Five years of professional library work,  two years of which were in a responsible and administrative capacity,  and a master’s degree in Library Science. This position is covered under  the written agreement between the City of Waterbury and the Waterbury  Municipal Administrators Association Union. The Parts and Weights for  this examination will be determined prior to conducting the exam.  Individuals appointed shall be required to serve a working test period  which will be, in effect, the final phase of the examination. APPEAL  PROCESS: An applicant may appeal a notice of not meeting the minimum  qualifications (Civil Service Rules and Regulations, Section 3741,  Subsection B, Article 9) to the Civil Service Commission within seven  (7) days of receipt of such notice. THE CITY OF WATERBURY IS AN EQUAL  OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 8-14-13 RL E.O.E. M/F/H/V

Librarian IV - Silas Bronson Library, Waterbury

Librarian IV - Silas Bronson Library , Waterbury. Salary: $ 60,919.06 - 79,194.78 per yr. FRINGE BENEFITS: Choose from three available he...

Part-Time Library Clerk - Levi E. Coe Library, Middlefield

12:19 PM Anonymous 0

<strong>Part-Time Library Clerk</strong> - The <strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Levi E. Coe Library</span></strong></strong>,  in Middlefield, Connecticut is seeking a year-round, part-time Library  Clerk.  The schedule includes flexible hours throughout the week for  approximately ten to twelve hours per week. Required hours include  Saturdays from 9:30am-2pm from September through May; and two evenings  per week from 4:00pm-7pm throughout the year. Additional daytime and/or  evening hours are possible, depending on the need for additional staff  coverage. The hourly compensation for this position is $10.75 per hour.  The successful candidate should be able to perform a wide variety of  library related tasks and have the ability to meet the public  courteously. Additionally, candidates should be prepared to work in both  the Adult and Childrens’ departments. Computer literacy is necessary  and prior experience in a library is preferable.  Interested candidates  should send a letter of interest, resume and the names of three  references no later than Wednesday, <span style="color: red;">September 18, 2013</span>, to the Levi E. Coe Library, P.O. Box 458, Middlefield, CT 06455. No phone calls, please.

Part-Time Library Clerk - Levi E. Coe Library, Middlefield

Part-Time Library Clerk - The Levi E. Coe Library , in Middlefield, Connecticut is seeking a year-round, part-time Library Clerk. The sc...

Part-Time Library Assistant - Town of Mansfield

12:17 PM Anonymous 0

<strong>Part-Time Library Assistant</strong> - The <strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Town of Mansfield</span></strong></strong> is recruiting for a part-time library assistant.  Sample duties include  operating the circulation desk, preparing materials for circulation,  and providing assistance to library patrons.  The ideal candidate will  have: general knowledge of basic library procedures, methods and  techniques; general knowledge of the library circulation functions;  general knowledge of office procedures and records maintenance  techniques; and excellent customer service skills. The selected  candidate will work 10 hours a week.  Work schedule may include early  evenings and Saturdays.  $17.74/hr with no benefits. Please submit  resume to <a href="mailto:HR@mansfieldct.org">HR@mansfieldct.org</a> and official application at <a href="http://www.mansfieldct.gov/jobapp" target="_blank">http://www.mansfieldct.gov/jobapp</a>. Applications will be accepted through <span style="color: red;">August 29, 2013</span>. EOE/AA

Part-Time Library Assistant - Town of Mansfield

Part-Time Library Assistant - The Town of Mansfield is recruiting for a part-time library assistant. Sample duties include operating the...

AOL worker fired in front of 1,000 coworkers

11:14 AM Tukiyooo 0

AOL CEO Tim Armstrong abruptly fired a worker in front of a thousand of his coworkers at AOL Patch (you know, that chain of local newspapers). Because he took a photo.<br /><br />Media commentator <a href="http://jimromenesko.com/2013/08/10/listen-to-aol-ceo-tim-armstrong-fire-his-creative-director-during-a-conference-call/" rel="nofollow">Jim Romenesko</a> covered the story like a cheap suit.<br /><br />It happened Friday during a conference call Armstrong hosted the day after he told investors the company would shrink from 900 to 600 websites. Employees figured some of them would lose their jobs. Armstrong decided to hold a conference call to boost morale.<br /><br />Perhaps he didn't realize that firing someone on the spot wasn't exactly the way to rally the troops.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/leaked-audio-listen-to-aol-ceo-tim-armstrong-fire-a-patch-employee-snapping-a-photo-2013-8" rel="nofollow">Business Insider </a>explains what happened:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">During the first minute or so of the recording, Armstrong says things like: "If you don't believe what I'm about to say, I'm going to ask you to leave Patch…We have to get Patch into a place where it's going to be successful." </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">But then things go suddenly awry. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">At exactly two minutes into the recording, Armstrong addresses someone in the room with him.  </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">He says, "Abel, put that camera down, now." </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Then, without taking a breath, Armstrong says, "Abel, you're fired. Out." </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">It's pretty shocking stuff. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">The person Armstrong is talking to in the recording is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/aol-ceo-tim-armstrong-appeared-to-fire-this-man-in-front-of-1000-coworkers-2013-8" rel="nofollow">Abel Lenz</a>, Patch's Creative Director. Obviously, Lenz is no longer with the company.</blockquote>Continuing his efforts at damage control, Armstrong sent a memo to the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/aol-ceo-apology-2013-8" rel="nofollow">AOL employees</a> he didn't fire (yet), saying he made an emotional mistake in firing Lenz. He sent a letter to Lenz, too, and apologized.<br /><br />Lenz is still fired.<br /><br />Click here to see the <a href="http://jimromenesko.com/2013/08/14/the-last-photos-abel-lenz-shot-before-he-was-fired-by-aol-boss-tim-armstrong/tim/" rel="nofollow">photo</a> that got Lenz fired. Click <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/leaked-audio-listen-to-aol-ceo-tim-armstrong-fire-a-patch-employee-snapping-a-photo-2013-8" rel="nofollow">here</a> to hear Armstrong fire Lenz.<br /><br />Bet they wish they belong to a union.

AOL worker fired in front of 1,000 coworkers

AOL CEO Tim Armstrong abruptly fired a worker in front of a thousand of his coworkers at AOL Patch (you know, that chain of local newspapers...

TPP opposition is growing around the world

10:45 AM Tukiyooo 0

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cracks continue to appear in support for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Big businesses’ favorite trade pact is now raising concerns from </span><a href="http://infojustice.org/archives/30448" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">three Chilean senators, who are asking President Sebastián Piñera to open up the agreement to public debate</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: blue;">. </span></u></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Those questions come just one week before a meeting of trade representatives from Pacific Rim nations in Brunei, which they hope will seal this very bad deal.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5GNPh4L9dyFEjafZgdiLgok9fpP5_M0vgNOuTOWAXZejHvGXGnGsP1spLECr7NtKsbzE1Y7RlXgK3QNdhzmGV_vRO4iWp0vuqjkx_b7TV33eLlje3d5hnhidRw71jJ4kMMouyRMMkqih/s1600/tpp.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5GNPh4L9dyFEjafZgdiLgok9fpP5_M0vgNOuTOWAXZejHvGXGnGsP1spLECr7NtKsbzE1Y7RlXgK3QNdhzmGV_vRO4iWp0vuqjkx_b7TV33eLlje3d5hnhidRw71jJ4kMMouyRMMkqih/s320/tpp.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The request comes as more and more nations are raising questions about whether the TPP will benefit working families rather than big corporations. </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/other-countries-sound-off-on-TPP.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Attendees at a Malaysian forum</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> on the “free trade” agreement earlier this month openly questioned whether the deal would benefits their workers or just multinational corporations. They too are concerned what it would mean for jobs in their country. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Others have also spoken out against this unfair trade deal. The former prime minister of Malaysia announced his opposition to the deal in July. In the United States, </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/07/growing-congressional-criticism-exposes.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">nearly 170 House lawmakers</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> raised concerns about textile provisions contained in the TPP last month. And </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/06/freshmen-house-dems-dont-give-away-our.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">36 House freshmen</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> urged the Obama administration to oppose the TPP in June.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in Chile, lawmakers want to know whether the Pacific Rim trade pact would be fair to workers. There is good reason for concern. They note the secrecy surrounding the TPP is raising worries that there may be little for Chile to gain from signing onto the agreement. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In the U.S., trade deals very similar to the TPP resulted in lost jobs, shuttered plants and hollowed-out communities. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/06/freshmen-house-dems-dont-give-away-our.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Five million manufacturing jobs</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> have been lost since NAFTA. And an </span><a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/trade-pacts-korus-trans-pacific-partnership/" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Economic Policy institute report</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> released last month showed a similar deal with South Korea that took effect a little over a year ago has already cost 40,000 American jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Buffalo, N.Y., resident Peter Ciurczak, </span><a href="http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130813/OPINION/130819730/1119&template=printart" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in a letter to the editor</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> appearing in The Buffalo News earlier this week, summed up the TPP perfectly:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What has been revealed about this agreement is very distressing.</span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Exactly.</span></div>

TPP opposition is growing around the world

Cracks continue to appear in support for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Big businesses’ favorite trade pact is now raising concerns from...

Ups and Downs

10:31 AM Tukiyooo 0

This is a few days worth of ups and downs.  I'd start writing, not finish, then life would turn another way.  Wanted to keep it all on here even though my feelings have changed.  <br /><br /><b><u>Monday</u></b><br />I planned a date night that required my mother in law to watch the kids.  I'm funny about babysitters and now that my niece has left for college there's just nobody I have a good level of trust with. There's friends, but they've got their kids to worry about and it was a school night.  It was all worked out that she'd pick up kids from their schools, handle the entire day and put them to bed for us.<br /><br />MIL put a damper on the evening as MIL's sometimes have a tendency to do.  Basically she is convinced I'm the reason hubby is going to keel over from a heart attack.  I can't say anything in situations like this because every word out of my mouth is twisted into something even worse.  There were lots of those not so nice underhanded comments like she's good for.  She's pretty much fine most of the time but if she's got something on her mind, watch out.  Always with a smile, always so sweet...  <br /><br />Thanks. Bitch.<br /><br />Ooopsy, did I just say that? <br /><br />I didn't say anything to hubby.  He's not a mamma's boy and is very critical about things she says.  He won't say anything to her though, so my reporting just adds to his stress. And if he does it'll be so utterly sarcastic and ridiculous that it'll just add to her fire against me.  Have I mentioned communication isn't his strong suit?<br /><br />So we went to an Italian restaurant we like.  It's kinda far and it's pricy so it's a rare treat.  It's not the typical Italian place with grapes painted on the walls and an air of pretentiousness.  It's kinda over the top vintage, almost like an old speakeasy or something.  <br /><br />We didn't talk.  At all.  It was bizarre.  We watched people, which I love to do, but I like talking about them and he's not into that.  There were bits of talk, like about when we've got to be back home and if I remembered to pay a bill - that of course I'd neglected to take care of.  Even small talk seemed forced and I kind of gave up.  It was terribly upsetting.  I did enjoy the company of some lovely white wine and an overly friendly waiter.<br /><br />For the last few years, my thoughts are always wavering between making this marriage work and just keeping the peace until it's financially feasible to move on.  But he's a good man and the grass is rarely greener anyway.  We do have good times and he isn't trying to be a jerk, least I don't think he is.<br /><br />I got thinking while sitting in near silence.  I'm waaaay too good at thinking.  Which means I'm bad at thinking.  Or that nothing good can come from it.<br /><br />Maybe he's thinking the same thing.  Maybe he's just buying time until he can move on.<br /><br />He pretends there's nothing wrong and won't ever acknowledge anything I say to the contrary... but am I digging my own grave by pointing out what a shrew I am?  Is there a big secret score board in his head?  Why won't he tell me the score?  Why won't he tell me specifically how the score got there?  Are we on different teams?  <br /><br />I've always been thinking if I left, he'd be completely blindsided.  Even though I've been trying to talk about things, he's not hearing a word of it.  I wouldn't want to hurt him like that.  But maybe he is hearing every word of it and I'm just writing myself out of the picture. So I'd be the one blindsided.<br /><br />How did we get to this point of not being able to have a pleasant dinner together?  And if he is miserable why won't he try to be un-miserable?<br /><br />Or am I just being a girl?  Am I reading into it too much?  Maybe he was just thinking about work...<br /><br />We walked around after, mostly because we didn't have to be home yet.  Lots of shops and brick walkways and fountains and stuff around there.  He let me put my fingers into his hand that was halfway in his pocket.  So not really holding hands but he was tolerating my presence in his space.  It's nice to get that closeness sometimes!!!  It's not often that I'm allowed to initiate touching, especially in public so even though it sounds weird it's big to me.<br /><br />Which of course then had my thoughts thinking in more positive ways as we walked around almost like other couples do.  It felt good, walking about half a step behind him, letting him choose which way we went and which shops we went into.<br /><br />Back home, sent his mother packing, and then... nothing.  He sat on the couch with a tv show he knows I dislike.  I did all my nighttime stuff for the kids and dog and whatnot.  I asked if he wanted to come to bed with me.  No.<br /><br /><b><u>Tuesday</u></b><br />In the morning everybody was ready fast and it left us time to eat breakfast together.  I got almost 8 hours of sleep and I think gramma had a "be good" talk with the kids before bed.  It was strangely relaxed.  <br /><br />Until I screwed it up.<br /><br />I'd planned to ask him at the restaurant and didn't.  Morning somehow seemed a good time.<br /><br />I want a lot of things, obviously, but he's not receptive and I can say about myself that I am not a nag.  One thing - that was my new plan.  Tell me one thing that you need/want me to do each day and I'll make sure I do it.  I'll continue to find a way to muddle through the rest of it.  Just give me a focus, give me something I can do for you. <br /><br />It needn't be personal.  Between all our businesses, there's always a massive list of things that need to be taken care of.  Much is very quick and easy.  My brain isn't currently capable of prioritizing anything, so tell me what matters to you today and I'll do it.  Something from the many lists, something you just thought of, whatever.  Let me help you.<br /><br />Silence.<br /><br />Is he thinking about what he needs?  Is he tuning me out?  WTF?<br /><br />I finished getting ready, came back to the kitchen and asked again, "Is there anything you'd like me to take care of today?"<br /><br />Silence.<br /><br />I've been up and down in a whirlwind of emotions.  I'd walled myself off from Mr. Grumpy and accidentally let him in a little again.  Showed my soft underbelly and got stomped on it.<br /><br />And so without a word, I left for the day. <br /><b><br /></b><b><u>Wednesday</u></b><br />As I was packing up to leave in the morning, he said he'd appreciate it if i could do this one little thing.  A google search to see if a work-related product is available in our area of the state.  It took me just a few seconds.<br /><br />He stared at me dumbfounded.  Didn't say thank you, I don't think he said anything actually.  Perhaps that's what happens to people in shock.  He didn't faint though.  <br /><br />"Okay, I'm heading out now.  Let me know if you need anything else."<br /><br /><u><b>Thursday (today)</b></u><br />Today, I was sent out the door with three things on a list that must be done today.  Equally tiny, equally stupid things.<br /><br />Maybe this is a breakthrough for him?  Cannot wrap my mind around why it's so hard.  Personal stuff, I understand his reservations of leading us.  But business stuff?  He's my boss lol.  Whatever... just a nice settled feeling.<br /><br />Wish I understood why I need this from him...

Ups and Downs

This is a few days worth of ups and downs. I'd start writing, not finish, then life would turn another way. Wanted to keep it all on h...

Colbert asks 'Why do we need a middle class?'

9:38 AM Tukiyooo 0

inequality middle class Colbert asks 'Why do we need a middle class?'

What happened to two middle-class families after they lost their good factory jobs? That was the question Stephen Colbert asked broadcast le...

Essential Information On Zerona Arlington TX Residents Need To Know

9:29 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Cathy Mercer</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>Zerona is a new laser technology that is used for non-invasive procedures aimed at contouring the body by stimulating the removal of localized parts in various parts of the body. Most patients prefer this procedure since there is no downtime as it allows them to continue with their daily activities. It is one of the most powerful cold laser treatments performed to encourage fat cells to release the fatty tissue they contain. To benefit from zerona Arlington TX patients are advised to get adequate information about the procedure and ensure it suits their needs.<br />  <br />  This technology has been under scrutiny with critics claiming that it does not deliver effective results. It is common for such procedures to attract criticism. There are two main reasons why this criticism is understandable. First, the varied nature of human bodies causes different individuals to obtain different results. Secondly, many facilities perform this procedure on patients without checking whether they are ideal candidates. The results obtained can therefore not be generalized.<br />  <br />  Research has shown it is one of the most effective non-invasive procedures that guarantee the safety of the patients. Patients are not exposed to risks such as cancer, injuries or other complications. The fat is usually absorbed and eliminated by the lymphatic and digestive systems. The main advantage is that no fat cells are destroyed or damaged during the procedure. These cells release the tissues, shrink in size and cause the treated area to reduce in mass.<br />  <br />  A majority of individuals qualify for this procedure. However, it is most appropriate for those individuals with an extra 10 or 15 pounds that are resistant to other weight loss techniques. It is also ideal for those with an intention to kick start a new fitness or diet regimen. People who are medically obese are not likely to have good results. Any kidney or liver conditions may affect the outcome. It is not recommended for pregnant women and those who wear a pacemaker.<br />  <br />  The treatment is easy, carefree and painless and therefore no anesthesia is necessary. It does not cause any form of discomfort and patients are able to continue with their usual activities soon after the treatment. Each treatment session usually lasts for one hour. The recommended period for the treatment is two weeks with a total of six treatment sessions, three in each week. The laser has to be applied on the area with localized fat for almost twenty weeks.<br />  <br />  Patients are highly encouraged to follow and commit to the specified treatment protocol. They are required to refrain from caffeine and alcohol. This is because these substances interfere with the removal of fats through the lymphatic system and may decrease the results obtained. Patients are required to drink plenty of water to assist in flushing the fat. They are also required to refrain from fatty foods and engage in regular physical exercises.<br />  <br />  The results obtained vary from one person to another. After weight loss, individuals feel good about themselves thus increasing their self-esteem levels. Improved mental health averts aches, headaches, pains and other maladies.<br />  <br />  There are a number of benefits <A href="http://www.regencyhealingmedclinic.com">zerona Arlington TX</A> residents should know. By lowering the level of cholesterol in the body, chances of suffering from heart attack or atherosclerosis are reduced. It also lowers the risk of suffering from heart disease, diabetes and any hormonal problems.<br />  <br />  </div><br />  <div class='uawresource'><br />  	<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br />  		About the Author:<br />  	</div><br />  	<div class='uawlinks'>You can visit the website <a href="http://www.regencyhealingmedclinic.com">www.regencyhealingmedclinic.com</a> for more helpful information about General Information On Zerona Arlington TX Residents Need To Know </div><br />  </div><br />

Essential Information On Zerona Arlington TX Residents Need To Know

By Cathy Mercer Zerona is a new laser technology that is used for non-invasive procedures aimed at contouring the body by stimulating th...

Strategies From Programs Such As Vive Weight Loss

9:29 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Lucy Cho</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>Weight loss systems such as Vive weight loss use various useful methods to approach shedding pounds. There are varying general ideas that can be learned from programs like Vive weight loss without actually paying to be members of them. Those striving to achieve the weight loss Salt Lake City residents might want will discover that the world is saturated in an array of ideas, services and products, and approaches for losing weight. There are so many that it can be troublesome to learn how to start. Some may not get what they need from programs like Vive weight loss, while other people are benefitted a great deal by their help and support. This brief article will go over a number of the quality ideas diet programs use.<br />  <br />  First, we'll discuss how an individual exercise and dieting plan is part of many successful weight-loss journeys. Second, we will talk about analysis of each individual's body, which can be a key to weight control programs such as Vive weight loss. Third, we will look into how obtaining the right training and support can be extremely important.<br />  <br />  As you know, we are all quite different. A person that is morbidly obese and someone who only has a couple pounds to lose will probably have to approach this issue very differently. Setting goals is a wise idea to get the specific weight loss Salt Lake City residents want. But most of us probably need to create specific personal goals. That is why it's very important to consider personal needs and desires at the start of the process. Plenty of people desire to just jump right into someone else's system and have it succeed for them just like it did for somebody else. Customizing diet and exercise plans for individual needs is optimal.<br />  <br />  Weight loss programs such as Vive weight loss or others frequently encourage starting with gathering a complete idea of the status of your body. In addition to the measure of weight, it is also potentially useful to know things such as body fat percentage. These measures might give you a clue as to how much of your weight is fat or muscle. Your body mass index (frequently shortened to BMI) may be another measure of your body composition you might want to learn.<br />  <br />  Programs like Vive weight loss can provide a lot of great help. Accountability is something that is crucial for most people in getting healthy. If you don't have anyone to hold you accountable and to answer your questions, you might quit your efforts or even hurt yourself. As you progress, having somebody coach and encourage you is usually very beneficial. Selecting a good workout partner or other source for guidance and accountability, such as a coach, is a smart idea.<br />  <br />  Many of the methods programs have clients utilize may be helpful for those seeking the weight loss Salt Lake City residents may want, but programs like Vive weight loss and others might not be for everyone who wants to lose weight.<br />  <br />  </div><br />  <div class='uawresource'><br />  	<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br />  		About the Author:<br />  	</div><br />  	<div class='uawlinks'>Learn more about <a href='http://www.elase.com/utah/vive-weight-loss'>weight loss Salt Lake City</a>. Stop by Lucy Cho's site where you can find out all about this and options like <a href='http://www.elase.com/utah/lip-augmentation'>lip injections Utah</a> and what they can do for you.</div><br />  </div><br />

Strategies From Programs Such As Vive Weight Loss

By Lucy Cho Weight loss systems such as Vive weight loss use various useful methods to approach shedding pounds. There are varying gener...

Firefox Phone launches in Us, Britain by ZTE

9:03 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVuD0wufSH_jlVMFaTYHRfwJs4vvpmQtedd86LUaNGHC0YN-UJ2RcbOCDVF03g7JRbeZ8wh0KPlMtr2-XEVzo2dx-BS90_nQOM_2v16EV65ghHUcANJkpeibFLE06rJytoqIqlf54psFA/s1600/edac087c-17c5-4040-bcae-f94fa9225a98mediumRes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVuD0wufSH_jlVMFaTYHRfwJs4vvpmQtedd86LUaNGHC0YN-UJ2RcbOCDVF03g7JRbeZ8wh0KPlMtr2-XEVzo2dx-BS90_nQOM_2v16EV65ghHUcANJkpeibFLE06rJytoqIqlf54psFA/s1600/edac087c-17c5-4040-bcae-f94fa9225a98mediumRes.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Chinese telecom company ZTE announced to sell a low-cost smartphone using the open source Firefox operating system in US and Britain.<br /><br />According to ZTE it will be sold through eBay in the US for $79.99 and in Britain for 59.99 pounds.<br /><br />It can use on a variety of mobile networks and uses the open source Firefox OS by nonprofit Mozilla Foundation which is aiming of breaking the dominance of Google's Android and Apple's iOS.<br /><br />ZTE vice president Dai Wenhong said that "company is devoted in providing more options to customers globally and enabling them to live better lives via advanced technology. The ZTE Open offes customers a smartphone experience at a very reasonable rates specially for those looking to upgrade to a smartphone for the first time.<br /><br />The phone will be orange in color for US and British, blue for sale in Spain and Venezuela , and black for Colombia.<br /><br />The Firefox OS uses applications on HTML5, a Web standard which operates across platforms, unlike those developed for specific systems such as Apple iOS or Google Android.</div>

Firefox Phone launches in Us, Britain by ZTE

Chinese telecom company ZTE announced to sell a low-cost smartphone using the open source Firefox operating system in US and Britain. Accord...

World of Warcraft: Patch 5.4 Siege of Orgrimmar video

8:29 AM Tukiyooo 0

<p> <div id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:f778e00c-d715-4515-9374-4e6d76d5edea" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><div><object height="480" width="853"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/slzQOyS5TqQ?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/slzQOyS5TqQ?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="853" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div></div></p> <p> </p> <p align="justify"><font size="3">All I can say is, I’ve never wanted to kill a boss more than I want to repeatedly slaughter Garrosh Hellscream.  As everyone knows, I’m not a raider and thank god I can handle raiding in LFR groups.</font></p> <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4ddc0557-36e4-4756-b4b5-e25b70a9c57a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/World+of+Warcraft" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/WOW" rel="tag">WOW</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Patch+5.4" rel="tag">Patch 5.4</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Siege+of+Orgrimmar" rel="tag">Siege of Orgrimmar</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Garrosh+Hellscream" rel="tag">Garrosh Hellscream</a></div>

All I can say is, I’ve never wanted to kill a boss more than I want to repeatedly slaughter Garrosh Hellscream. As everyone knows, I’m...

Can Fasting Help In Your Weight Loss

8:05 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Stephen Sulaski</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>Like most different types of restricting your food intake (or ones own intake of particular foods), fasting may be used to quickly attain memorable but temporary reduction of your weight.<br />  <br />  You may head off for a long rapidly, taking much more than juice or taking in grapes and also taking other low calorie dish substitute for many period, keeping in view you are on the fast you will positively shed weight. Nonetheless, throughout this fast you will be unable to help you bear onto your typical social cooperation. It isn't really so easy to sit approximately sampling carrot juice while your family members is consuming standard meal.<br />  <br />  Coupled these facial lines, does fasting have anywhere in a weight loss program? Yes it does. Occasional fasting is one of the insider facts on the long and sound life. Our body digestive organs demand rest now and then, similarly once we need days off from work. One-day starting a fast done within a deliberate and consistent way allows the rest which aides our gi system, helps in the disposal involving poisons from our system, and, without a doubt, likewise motivates us to lose weight in a solid, healthy and livable approach. Just check out for your <a href="http://free-skincareproducts.com"> free skincare products </a> .<br />  <br />  Planning: If you are not geared up; both actually and mentally you will find it challenging to look one morning without healthy eating plan. The internal planning is simple, however really significant. The night after the fast you have to take a good decision that tomorrow you are set to help fast, that you're not set to enjoy any nutrition. In the expensive vacation event you will be undecided and also waffling it is possible to dependably locate a hundred logic behind why you may as well begin consuming! Just check out for your <a href="http://free-member-lafitness.com"> free member la fitness </a> .<br />  <br />  Physical planning is additionally critical. Built preceding your fast, you might as well consume a regular measure of food and receive a great way of measuring fluids (particularly should you be set to remain fasting without the need of taking any sort of fluids). Providing you miss a few dishes relating to the day preceding fasting, then you definitely might get started feeling eager in the fasting span. Provided you don't take enough fluids, particularly throughout the night soon after the easily, then you will feel uncomfortable when you are fasting.<br />  <br />  </div><br />  <div class='uawresource'><br />  	<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br />  		About the Author:<br />  	</div><br />  	<div class='uawlinks'>Check your updates with <a href="http://free-homegyms.com"> free home gyms </a>, visit my website about <a href="http://free-hairremoval.com"> free hair removal </a> and other accessories.</div><br />  </div><br />

Can Fasting Help In Your Weight Loss

By Stephen Sulaski Like most different types of restricting your food intake (or ones own intake of particular foods), fasting may be us...