U.S. Begins Annual Military Drills And Exercises With South Korea

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cwzZzFYIOmv-EKKjVlh3F1C-k6X-kKXjzUIK962wDrbZdDgxOiU9rg_eTuHKJr5X-ZjcBYbvHLlIcDuc6Muv25rkTSNKsXpCcbQLPTKf7SGV8D-eiD2HDGtNFa29GAVFu4hHwoMitwTS/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cwzZzFYIOmv-EKKjVlh3F1C-k6X-kKXjzUIK962wDrbZdDgxOiU9rg_eTuHKJr5X-ZjcBYbvHLlIcDuc6Muv25rkTSNKsXpCcbQLPTKf7SGV8D-eiD2HDGtNFa29GAVFu4hHwoMitwTS/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">South Korean soldiers of an artillery unit take part in an artillery drill with 155mm Towed Howitzers as part of the annual joint military exercise "Foal Eagle" by the U.S. and South Korea, near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) which separates the two Koreas, Apr. 9, 2013.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>US-South Korea Joint Military Drills Begin -- Voice of America</b></span></div><br />South Korea and the United States have begun annual military exercises over the objection of North Korea, which has claimed they are rehearsals for an invasion.<br /><br />The drills - called Key Resolve and Foal Eagle - kicked off Monday, despite Pyongyang's repeated calls for their cancelation at the threat of scrapping family reunions the North later agreed to carry out.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/us-south-korea-begin-joint-military-drills/1857740.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On The Start Of US-South Korea Joint Military Drills</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/24/south-korea-military-drills-us-north-korea">South Korea begins military drills with US despite North Korean opposition </a>-- The Guardian<br /><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/threats-hang-over-u-s-south-korea-war-games-n37271">Threats Hang Over U.S.-South Korea War Games</a> -- NBC<br /><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/02/24/us-south-korea-begin-joint-military-drills-against-backdrop-family-reunions/">US, South Korea begin joint military drills against backdrop of family reunions</a> -- FOX News/AP<br /><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2014/02/us-s-korea-kick-off-annual-military-drills-201422482543872139.html">S Korea begins annual military drills with US</a> -- Al Jazeera<br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26284618">South Korea-US military drills begin</a> -- BBC<br /><a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/global-security-newswire/u-s-south-korea-kick-off-annual-military-drills-20140224">U.S., South Korea Kick Off Annual Military Drills </a>-- National Journal/Global Security Newswire<br /><a href="http://www.dw.de/us-south-korea-begin-annual-joint-military-exercises-as-pyongyang-cries-foul/a-17452847">US, South Korea begin annual joint military exercises as Pyongyang cries foul</a> -- Deutsche Welle<br /><a href="http://www.dw.de/south-korea-and-us-kick-off-joint-drills/a-17454268">South Korea and US kick off joint drills </a>-- Deutsche Welle<br /><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/140224/s-korea-us-go-ahead-military-drills-subdued-manner-0">S. Korea, U.S. go ahead with military drills in subdued manner</a> -- Global Post/Kyodo News Agency<br /><a href="http://english.cntv.cn/20140224/102482.shtml">S. Korea, U.S. begin annual war games amid thawing inter-Korean ties</a> -- CCTV

U.S. Begins Annual Military Drills And Exercises With South Korea

South Korean soldiers of an artillery unit take part in an artillery drill with 155mm Towed Howitzers as part of the annual joint military e...

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WINDOWS XP Support Ends April 8, 2014

<br /><div class="xn-content"> CINCINNATI, Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Windows XP support will end April 8 and many organizations have not yet decided how to address the problem. IGEL Technology recommends a painless and highly cost-effective solution: the <a href="https://www.igel.com/us/products/software/universal-desktop-converter-2-udc2.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IGEL UDC2 software thin client.</a> <br /> <br /><b>TO READ MORE CLICK BELOW: </b><br /><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br />The IGEL Universal Desktop Converter 2 (UDC2) software turns PCs, laptops, and the thin clients of other manufacturers into IGEL Linux thin clients allowing all of these devices to come under user-friendly, central management. Rather than investing IT budget in new hardware, companies can set up a virtual infrastructure and use the UDC2 to standardize their existing hardware. The UDC2 will install IGEL's Linux 5 operating system on almost any PC hardware, including desktop and mobile PC's. Additionally, the UDC2 can be installed as a Live USB stick to run IGEL Linux 5 on a temporary basis and still provide access to a Windows operating system. <br /> <b> </b><br /><b>Significant cost reduction</b> <br /> <br />The low cost of the UDC2 represents significant savings for organizations seeking a solution to replace Windows XP. The software comes with <a href="https://www.igel.com/us/products/software/universal-management-suite-ums.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IGEL's Universal Management Suite (UMS)</a>, the industry's leading device management platform, which enables user-friendly, centralized deployment and administration of an organization's thin client inventory. With total device management in one location, the administrative cost of maintaining end points falls markedly. Extending the life of existing hardware also frees IT budget to be invested in other projects. <br /> <br />"IGEL's software thin client has become increasingly popular," notes Jeff Kalberg, General Manager of IGEL Technology America. "Many organizations still have a large number of PC's running Windows XP, and they are looking for a way to move away from the unsupported Windows XP platform while minimizing the drain on their budgets a forklift upgrade would mean. Our software thin client really is the ideal solution. Not only does the UDC2 equate to lower capital expenditure, which in many cases could be classified as an operating expense, but the time and effort saved by standardizing the operating system on a wide variety of existing PC hardware, as well as bringing everything under a truly enterprise-class, centralized, remote management system, is tremendous. No more support calls dealing with individual PC's. All administration happens remotely. For IT support staff, the prospect is huge!" <br /> <b> </b><br /><b>About IGEL Technology</b> <br /> <br />A world leader in thin client solutions, IGEL Technology helps organizations improve the agility, efficiency, and security of their virtual desktop and application delivery systems. IGEL produces one of the industry's widest range of thin clients, based on Linux and Microsoft Windows, allowing customers to access a broad spectrum of server-based infrastructures and applications. IGEL also offers a powerful and intuitive management software for easy deployment and administration of thin clients throughout any size organization. Partnerships with industry leaders like Red Hat, Citrix, VMware, and Microsoft ensure that IGEL provides the most up-to-date technology and trustworthy security to clients in industries that include Healthcare, Education & Research, Public Sector, Financial, Insurance, Retail, Logistics, and Manufacturing. IGEL has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore and is represented by partners in over 50 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit <a href="http://www.igel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.igel.com</a> <br /> <br />SOURCE IGEL Technology <br /> </div>

WINDOWS XP Support Ends April 8, 2014

CINCINNATI, Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Windows XP support will end April 8 and many organizations have n...

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Are you a VICTIM of WORKPLACE BULLYING?

<br /><div class="xn-content"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Targets of WORKPLACE BULLYING lost their jobs 61% of the time</b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Serious health-harming abuse</b></span></div><br />BELLINGHAM, Wash., Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) defined workplace bullying as "abusive conduct that is threatening, intimidating, humiliating, work sabotage or verbal abuse" in its 2014 national survey. Key results: 27% of all adult Americans have directly experienced it, 21% have witnessed it, 56% of perpetrators are bosses, 68% of perpetrators are men, and 60% of targets (recipients) are women. <br /><br />Since WBI introduced workplace bullying to the country in 1997 public awareness has risen to 72% according to the new survey. Similarly positive is that the percentage of bullies who are bosses has declined over the years. <br />Employers do little to stop workplace bullying. The majority (72%) reacted to complaints in inappropriate ways: 25% did not investigate, 31% either discounted it as not serious or considered it routine, 11% defended bullies, and 5% actively encouraged the abuse. <br /><br />In cases where bullying ended, targets lost their jobs 61% of the time — either terminated, forced to quit (constructively discharged), or voluntarily quit. <br /><br />"Unfortunately the victims of this serious health-harming abuse are the ones asked to stop it," says WBI director Dr. Gary Namie, "If there were a law as in Canada and other industrialized nations, employers would have to protect workers." <br />According to the survey an overwhelming majority of Americans (93%) supported enactment of a new law that would protect all workers from repeated abusive mistreatment at work. Only 1% strongly opposed such a measure. <br /><br />Complete results can be downloaded at: <a href="http://www.workplacebullying.org/wbiresearch/wbi-2014-us-survey/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.workplacebullying.org/wbiresearch/wbi-2014-us-survey/</a> <br /><br />WBI commissioned Zogby Analytics to conduct the survey of a national representative sample of all adult Americans (MOE ± 3.2%). Major funding from OnLock Digital Authentication LLC. <br /><br />WBI is the first and only U.S. organization dedicated to the eradication of workplace bullying that combines help for individuals, research, books, public education, training for professionals-unions-employers, legislative advocacy, and consulting solutions for organizations. workplacebullying.org <br /><br />Contact: Gary Namie, PhD, Workplace Bullying Institute, 360-656-6630 <br /><br />SOURCE The Workplace Bullying Institute </div>

Are you a VICTIM of WORKPLACE BULLYING?

Targets of WORKPLACE BULLYING lost their jobs 61% of the time Serious health-harming abuse BELLINGHAM, Wash., Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNews...

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North Korean Naval Boat Violating The Maritime Border Sparks Alarm In South Korea

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggaBft43LGzgExyi4trhSiYoUe5ADempc4MsJcFPnxJImGBOAhfrlR_GQVPrlC_C8XpnrI_5LY60fNrAmXRTSd56O4XoOO5WcCGBn9mOatYDCIg8OE3xerzi-IVY9tZoIO76bgELlMLaO/s1600/us_postal_service_logo-325.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggaBft43LGzgExyi4trhSiYoUe5ADempc4MsJcFPnxJImGBOAhfrlR_GQVPrlC_C8XpnrI_5LY60fNrAmXRTSd56O4XoOO5WcCGBn9mOatYDCIg8OE3xerzi-IVY9tZoIO76bgELlMLaO/s1600/us_postal_service_logo-325.gif" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>North Korea 'Violates' Sea Border With South Amid Drills -- BBC</b></span></div><br />A North Korean patrol boat violated a sea border with the South several times late on Monday, officials in Seoul say.<br /><br />The ship spent a few hours south of the border, nearing a South Korean border island, before returning after repeated warnings from the South, they added.<br /><br />North Korea disputes the maritime border and has sent boats across it in the past.<br /><br />The incident comes amid joint military drills between the US and South Korea which are opposed by Pyongyang.<br /><br />The North Korean patrol ship crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), which South Korea considers the maritime border between the two sides, at around 22:46 local time (13:46 GMT), South Korea's defence ministry said.<br /><br />The South broadcast warnings 10 times before the ship returned, at around 02:25 local time (17:25 GMT), the ministry added.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26333574">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>North Korean Naval Boat Violating The Maritime Border Sparks Alarm In South Korea</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/north-koreas-patrol-vessel-sparks-alarm-south-korea-border-amid-military-drill-1437757">North Korea's Patrol Vessel Sparks Alarm on South Korea Border amid Military Drill</a> -- IBTimes<br /><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/02/25/north-korean-ship-enters-south-korea-waters-seoul-says/?intcmp=latestnews">North Korean ship enters South Korean waters, Seoul says </a>-- FOX News/Wall Street Journal<br /><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/North-Korea-patrol-boat-violated-maritime-border/articleshow/30996291.cms">North Korea patrol boat 'violated' maritime border</a> -- Times of India/AFP<br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/korea/north-korean-naval-boat-crosses-disputed-sea-boundary-with-south-1.269798">North Korean naval boat crosses disputed sea boundary with South </a>-- Stars and Stripes/Bloomberg News<br /><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/yonhap-news-agency/140224/n-korean-patrol-ship-violates-sea-border-amid-family-reunion">N. Korean patrol ship violates sea border amid family reunions</a> -- Global Post/Yonhap News Agency<br /><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/140224/n-korea-patrol-ship-crosses-disputed-sea-border-s-kore">N. Korea patrol ship crosses disputed sea border with S. Korea</a> -- Kyodo News Agency

North Korean Naval Boat Violating The Maritime Border Sparks Alarm In South Korea

North Korea 'Violates' Sea Border With South Amid Drills -- BBC A North Korean patrol boat violated a sea border with the South seve...

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Bitcoin Foundation Announces Bitcoin 2014 Event in Amsterdam

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="single-title"><h1><br /></h1><div class="single-info"> <span class="single-author"><a href="http://www.coindesk.com/author/pete-rizzo/" rel="author" title="Posts by Pete Rizzo">Pete Rizzo</a> (<a class="authortwitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/pete_rizzo_" target="_newwindow">@pete_rizzo_)</a> | </span> <span class="single-date">Published on February 25, 2014 at 11:00 GMT | </span> <span class="single-category"><strong><em><a href="http://www.coindesk.com/companies/bitcoin-foundation/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Bitcoin Foundation">Bitcoin Foundation</a>, <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/news/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in News">News</a></em></strong></span></div></div><div class="picture featured"><img alt="shutterstock_13019560" class=" wp-post-image" height="185" src="http://media.coindesk.com/2014/02/shutterstock_13019560-300x185.jpg" width="300" /></div><span class="wpsr_floatbts_anchor" data-offset="31"></span>The Bitcoin Foundation has officially announced “<a href="https://bitcoinfoundation.org/blog/?p=472" target="_blank">Bitcoin 2014: Building the Digital Economy</a>”, an international exhibition centred on digital currencies.<br />The event will be held at the Passenger Terminal venue in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 15th-17th May. Registration is now open at <a href="http://www.bitcoin2014.com/">bitcoin2014.com</a>.<br />Bitcoin 2014 follows <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/bitcoin-2013-to-draw-1000-and-the-winklevii-to-san-jose-this-weekend/">last year’s inaugural event</a> in San Jose, California, which drew more than 1,000 attendees over the course of its three-day run, and covered the future of payments as its overarching topic.<br />Speakers for this year’s event have not yet been announced, however, attendees in 2013 included principals of Winklevoss Capital Management Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss; <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/companies/bitcoin-foundation/">Bitcoin Foundation</a> chief scientist Gavin Andresen; and <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/companies/bitpay/">BitPay</a> co-founder and CEO Tony Gallippi, among others.<br /><a href="http://www.coindesk.com/author/jon-matonis/">Jon Matonis</a>, executive director at the Bitcoin Foundation, said this year’s event will be a “must attend” for not only bitcoin industry professionals, but those from the broader financial technology industry as well:<br /><blockquote>“It’s where we facilitate  the cross-pollination of traditional executives with industry experts and where we collectively envision and practically develop a roadmap to the future.”</blockquote><h2>The venue</h2><a href="http://media.coindesk.com/2014/02/amsterdam-map.png"><img alt="Amsterdam map" class="alignright" height="185" src="http://media.coindesk.com/2014/02/amsterdam-map-300x185.png" width="300" /></a>If the choice of venue is any indication, the Bitcoin Foundation anticipates a higher turnout for this year’s proceedings, as Passenger Terminal can accommodate <a href="http://www.maxumi.co.uk/tag/passenger-terminal-amsterdam/" target="_blank">up to 3,000</a> event visitors.<br />The official city port for cruise ships, Passenger Terminal is located just outside of the centre of Amsterdam and boasts impressive views of the nearby canals.<br />The venue is located just 19 minutes from Schiphol Amsterdam Airport by car, and is also accessible by public transportation.<br />For more information on accessing Passenger Terminal by car and public transport, visit Amsterdam Cruise Port’s guide <a href="http://www.amsterdamcruise.nl/getting-here-pta" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><h2>The itinerary</h2>The official release disclosed only a rough outline of the event’s content, noting that feature presenters will “cast vision for the long-term potential of bitcoin”, while panel discussions will address “immediate challenges”.<br />Notably, day one will be partly devoted to helping the Bitcoin Foundation further its international partnerships, with related proceedings taking place in the morning and ending at lunch time.<br />The organisation added its first two international affiliate chapters <a href="https://bitcoinfoundation.org/blog/?p=337" target="_blank">in December</a>.<br /><h2>Last year’s event</h2>Though the release provides a broad outline for the event, what remains to be seen is how sharply Bitcoin 2014 will differ from its predecessor, which gave representation to recently labeled “fringe elements” of the community, such as libertarians and medical marijuana activists.<br />This could be a sensitive subject, since January’s <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/bitcoin-businesses-regulation-new-york/">bitcoin hearings in New York</a> saw major investors distance themselves from such groups.<br />Less controversial will likely be the inclusion of corporate booths meant to inform attendees about more basic elements of bitcoin.<br />While not confirmed, the presence of vendors – such as last year’s lineup of <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/companies/coinbase/">Coinbase</a>, <a href="http://gigaom.com/2013/05/14/google-ventures-invests-in-opencoin-the-firm-behind-bitcoin-exchange-ripple/" target="_blank">OpenCoin</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/coinlab" target="_blank">CoinLab</a> – as well as other major corporate names in bitcoin, can likely be expected.<br /><em><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-13019560/stock-photo-passengers-terminal-in-amsterdam-harbor-in-the-netherlands.html?src=bDaMm2N13FPY81H96ivrMw-1-0" target="_blank">Passenger Terminal</a> image via Shutterstock</em></div>

Bitcoin Foundation Announces Bitcoin 2014 Event in Amsterdam

Pete Rizzo ( @pete_rizzo_) | Published on February 25, 2014 at 11:00 GMT | Bitcoin Foundation , News The Bitcoin Foundation has officia...

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World News Briefs -- February 25, 2014

<iframe frameborder="0" height="363" scrolling="no" src="http://english.share.voanews.eu/flashembed.aspx?t=vid&id=1858534&w=640&h=363&skin=embeded" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ukraine Votes To Send Yanukovych To Hague -- Voice of America</span></b></div><br />Ukraine's parliament voted on Tuesday to send fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych to be tried for 'serious crimes' by the International Criminal Court once he has been captured.<br /><br />A resolution, overwhelmingly supported by the assembly, linked Yanukovych, who was ousted on Saturday and is now on the run, to police violence against protesters which it said had led to the deaths of more than 100 citizens from Ukraine and other states.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-delays-announcement-of-new-government/1858553.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MIDDLE EAST</b></span></div><br />Leader of Syrian militant group <b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/02/25/world/middleeast/ap-ml-syria-al-qaida.html?ref=world">challenges rivals</a></b>.<br /><br />Official: Iran has studied <b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/02/25/world/middleeast/ap-ml-iran-military.html?ref=world">Israeli strike tactics</a></b>.<br /><br />Israeli intel minister reaffirms <b><a href="http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/israel-reaffirms-right-act-iran/">right to act on Iran</a></b>.<br /><br />Iranian oil exports rise markedly <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/02/24/iranian-oil-exports-rise-markedly-since-interim-deal/">since interim deal: Report</a></b>.<br /><br />US presses Iraq on reports of <b><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140224/DEFREG02/302240036/US-Presses-Iraq-Reports-Arms-Deal-Iran">arms deal with Iran</a></b>. US presses Iraq on reports of <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26335449">Iran arms deal.</a></b><br /><br />Sunni anger in Lebanon <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/sunni-anger-lebanon-against-army-grows-125950527.html">against army grows</a></b>.<br /><br />Turkey PM Erdogan says 'tapped' <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26336354">phone call to son 'fabricated'</a></b>.<br /><br />Israel hosts German cabinet <b><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140224/DEFREG04/302240031/Israel-Hosts-German-Cabinet-Jerusalem">in Jerusalem</a></b>.<br /><br />Jordan opposition calls for Israel peace treaty <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/25/jordan-opposition-israel-peace-treaty-al-aqsa">to be frozen over al-Aqsa debate</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ASIA</b></span></div><br />Philippines says China fired water cannon<b><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140224/DEFREG03/302240034/Philippines-Says-China-Fired-Water-Cannon-Disputed-Shoal"> at disputed shoal</a></b>.<br /><br />Pakistan army launches new air strikes <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/25/us-pakistan-airstrikes-idUSBREA1O05S20140225">near Afghan border</a></b>. Pakistan air strikes against militants <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26333578">in tribal areas</a></b>.<br /><br />Thai trade slumps alongside tourism as <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/25/us-thailand-protest-idUSBREA1M02H20140225">protest violence takes toll</a></b>.<br /><br />North Korean naval boat crosses <b><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/korea/north-korean-naval-boat-crosses-disputed-sea-boundary-with-south-1.269798">disputed sea boundary with South</a></b>. North Korea 'violates' <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26333574">sea border with South amid drills</a></b>.<br /><br />US-South Korea joint <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/us-south-korea-begin-joint-military-drills/1857740.html">military drills begin.</a></b> <br /><br />Military drills to test <b><a href="http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Military_drills_to_test_inter-Korean_detente_999.html">inter-Korean detente</a></b>.<br /><br />South Korea committee to prepare <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/south-korea-forming-committee-to-prepare-for-reunifcation-with-north-korea/1858571.html">for reunifcation with North</a></b>.<br /><br />China labels Japan <b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/02/25/world/asia/ap-as-china-japan.html?ref=world">a 'trouble maker'</a></b>.<br /><br />China rejects Indian politician's <b><a href="http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_rejects_Indian_politicians_expansionism_charge_999.html">expansionism charge</a></b>.<br /><br />Kashmir villagers clash <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2014/02/kashmir-villagers-clash-with-indian-troops-201422595211803184.html">with Indian troops.</a></b><br /><br />Sri Lanka rejects call <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/southasia/2014/02/sri-lanka-rejects-call-war-crimes-probe-20142254460713165.html">for war crimes probe</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AFRICA</b></span></div><br />Nigeria school raid <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26338041">'leaves dozens dead'.</a></b> Suspected militants kill 29 <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-nigerian-islamists-kill-29-pupils-in-boarding-school-attack/1858604.html">in northeastern Nigeria</a></b>.<br /><br />Thousands fleeing Boko Haram <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/thousands-fleeing-boko-haram-little-comfort-niger-143056348.html">find little comfort in Niger</a></b>.<br /><br />Nigeria leader defends army's role <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26332968">against Boko Haram</a></b>.<br /><br />France to vote on extending Central African Republic <b><a href="http://rt.com/news/french-extend-car-mission-672/">military mission</a></b>.<br /><br />Algerian opposition parties <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/algerian-opposition-urges-election-boycott/1858673.html">urge election boycott</a></b>.<br /><br />Uganda president:<b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/24/world/africa/uganda-homosexuality-interview/index.html?hpt=hp_t1"> Homosexuals are 'disgusting'</a></b>.<br /><br />Egypt housing minister <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/egypt-housing-minister-form-new-government-2014225123636437550.html">to form new government</a></b>.<br /><br />Pistorius case: Partial televising <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26334682">of trial allowed.</a></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>EUROPE</b></span></div><br />Ukraine crisis: Turchynov warns<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26333587"> of 'separatism' risk</a></b>.<br /><br />Ukraine delays announcing <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/02/ukraine-announce-interim-government-201422571956775789.html">interim government</a></b>.<br /><br />Russia evokes World War Two <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/russia-evokes-world-war-two-media-blitz-ukraine-143446995--sector.html">in media blitz on Ukraine</a></b>.<br /><br />Mass arrest of protesters <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26337693">at rallies in Russia</a></b>. Police detain 420 people near Red Square; protesters <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/police-detain-420-people-near-red-square-protesters-fear-post-olympic-crackdown/2014/02/24/1ec7aafa-9d8d-11e3-9ba6-800d1192d08b_story.html">fear post-Olympic crackdown</a></b>.<br /><br />European Commission sees recovery<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26338372"> 'gaining ground'</a></b>.<br /><br />Scottish leader: Opinion polls show <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-scottish-leader-opinion-polls-show-independence-race-tightening/1857779.html">independence race tightening</a></b>.<br /><br />Pope makes first overhaul <b><a href="http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/2014/02/24/pope-takes-step-reform-vatican-finance/VxGFiKn1sYiyczdsqlW41N/story.html?">of Vatican in 25 years</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AMERICAS</b></span></div><br />US governors discuss economy, jobs,<b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/us-governors-discuss-economy-jobs-other-issues-with-obama/1858452.html"> other issues with Obama</a></b>.<br /><br />Venezuela death toll rises to 13 <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/25/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1N14E20140225">as protests flare.</a></b><br /><br />Venezuela's Maduro criticised <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-26334703">by party loyalist</a></b>.<br /><br />Costa Rica seeks court ruling on <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/costa-rica-seeks-court-ruling-nicaragua-border-dispute-025303941.html">Nicaragua border dispute</a></b>. Costa Rica seeks court ruling on <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/25/us-costarica-nicaragua-idUSBREA1O05520140225">Nicaragua border dispute</a></b>.<br /><br />Informants who helped US catch drug lords say rewards<b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/25/informants-us-catch-drug-lords-rewards-not-paid"> have not been paid.</a></b><br /><br />Seven U.S. court districts <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/seven-us-court-districts-bring-indictments-against-mexican-drug-lord-guzman/2014/02/24/0af29144-9d82-11e3-9ba6-800d1192d08b_story.html">indict drug lord Guzmán</a></b>.<br /><br />Mysterious polio-like illness <b><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/23/polio-like-illness-california/5703827/">affects kids in California</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR</b></span></div><br />Iraq: Sunni Arabs turn<b><a href="http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/iraq/articles/20140225.aspx"> on Al Qaeda again</a></b>.<br /><br />Norway in danger from Syria jihadis: <b><a href="http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Norway_in_danger_from_Syria_jihadis_intelligence_agency_999.html">intelligence agency.</a></b><br /><br />British police arrest<b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/02/25/world/europe/ap-eu-britain-terrorism-arrests.html?ref=world&_r=0"> ex-Guantanamo detainee</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS</b></span></div><br />Top Bitcoin exchange<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26333661"> MtGox goes offline</a></b>. Bitcoin exchange MtGox offline <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/feb/25/bitcoin-exchange-mtgox-offline-amid-rumours-of-theft">amid rumours of theft</a></b>.<br /><br />Worst drought in decades hits Brazil coffee belt <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/25/brazil-drought-threatens-coffee-crops">as buyers brace for price rise</a></b>.<br /><br />Sina Weibo: Profits at <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26333438">'China's Twitter' surge</a></b>.<br /><br />Facebook quietly ends <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26332191">email address system</a></b>.

World News Briefs -- February 25, 2014

Ukraine Votes To Send Yanukovych To Hague -- Voice of America Ukraine's parliament voted on Tuesday to send fugitive President Viktor Ya...

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 25, 2014

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=350&w=0&img=/dodcmsshare/photoessay/2014-02/hires_140224-D-HU462-063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=350&w=0&img=/dodcmsshare/photoessay/2014-02/hires_140224-D-HU462-063.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, brief reporters on the fiscal year 2015 defense budget proposal at the Pentagon, Feb. 24, 2014. DOD photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sean K. Harp</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">'American Dominance In The Seas, Sky And Space can No Longer Be Taken For Granted,' Admits Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel As He Slashes Army To Smallest Size In 74 YEARS -- Daily Mail</span></b></div><br />* Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel seemed to throw in the towel on Monday as he advocated for a smaller standing army and fewer military bases<br />* One out of every seven slots for Army soldiers will be eliminated under his plan, putting the armed forces on their smallest footing since before WWII<br />* He also aims to completely eliminate several lines of aircraft from American military fleets, including the Air Force's U-2 spy plane<br />* Congress could tinker with Hagel's plan or reject it entirely, as Republicans are complaining about cuts that result from a failure to rein in entitlements<br />* The House Armed Services Committee chairman slammed the White House for 'trying to solve our financial problems on the back of the military.'<br /><br />Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has proposed shrinking the Army to its smallest size in 74 years through a series of base closures and troops cuts, and by completely eliminating several Air Force aircraft fleets.<br /><br />The move comes as the U.S. Army moves into the final phases of a massive troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Congress raises new red flags about American deficit spending.<br /><br />Hagel surprised some observers on Monday when he outlined a global military philosophy that removed America from the center of its universe.<br /><br />'The development and proliferation of more advanced military technology of other nations – it means that we are entering an era where American dominance on the seas, in the skies, and space can no longer be taken for granted,' Hagel said.<br /><br />'As a consequence of large budget cuts, our future force will assume additional risks in some areas,' he added.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2566638/Hagel-proposes-big-cuts-Army-2015-budget.html#ixzz2uH9GdzNZ">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Military And Intelligence News Briefs</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2014/02/congress_skeptical_about_plan_to_shrink_military">Congress skeptical about plan to shrink military</a> -- AP<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140224/DEFREG02/302240030/US-Lawmakers-Push-Back-Against-DoD-Budget-Plans">US Lawmakers Push Back Against DoD Budget Plans</a> -- Defense News<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/02/24/winners-and-losers-in-the-2015-budget/">Winners and Losers in the 2015 Budget </a>-- DoD Buzz<br /><br /><a href="http://defensetech.org/2014/02/24/hagel-moves-to-kill-cold-war-aircraft-fleets/#more-22401">Hagel Moves to Kill Cold War Fleets </a>-- Defense Tech<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/navy/hagel-orders-cut-to-lcs-plans-reduced-operations-for-carriers-1.269789">Hagel orders cut to LCS plans; reduced operations for carriers</a> -- Stars and Stripes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140224/DEFREG02/302240026/Pentagon-Changes-Course-Halts-LCS-32-Ships">Pentagon Changes Course, Halts LCS at 32 Ships</a> -- Defense News<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/hagels-cuts-us-military-retain-nuclear-triad/">Nuclear Triad to Survive Hagel Cuts in Pentagon Spending </a>-- Global Security Newswire<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140224/DEFREG02/302240032/Ayotte-Decision-Cut-10-Serious-Mistake-">Ayotte: Decision To Cut A-10 'Serious Mistake' </a>-- Defense News<br /><br /><a href="http://rt.com/usa/us-military-cuts-budget-423/">US military plans steep cutbacks, roils ranks </a>-- RT<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140224/DEFREG02/302240029/Pentagon-Ground-Forces-Can-Fight-One-Theater-Support-Air-Sea-Forces-Another">Pentagon: Ground Forces Can Fight in One Theater, Support Air, Sea Forces in Another</a> -- Defense News<br /><br /><a href="http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/24/hagel-cuts-would-reshape-military-after-longest-war/">Get real, Hagel tells nation in proposing military cuts</a> -- CNN<br /><br /><a href="http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russia_to_map_out_next_ten_year_space_program_999.html">Russia to map out next ten-year space program</a> -- Space Daily/Voice of Russia<br /><br /><a href="http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsurf/articles/20140223.aspx">Surface Forces: China Rebuilds The Nigerian Navy</a> -- Strategy Page<br /><br /><a href="http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Japans_ruling_party_seeks_to_ease_ban_on_arms_exports_999.html">Japan's ruling party seeks to ease ban on arms exports </a>-- Space Daily/UPI<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/2014/02/22/will-chinas-new-aircraft-carriers-spark-a-multi-bi/">Will China's New Aircraft Carriers Spark a Multibillion-Dollar Weapons-Buying Bonanza?</a> -- Daily Finance/Motley Fool<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20140223000089">Vietnam joins submarine arms race amid South China Sea tensions </a>-- Want China Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/us-south-korea-begin-joint-military-drills/1857740.html">US-South Korea Joint Military Drills Begin</a> -- Voice of America<br /><br /><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10656958/1bn-HMS-Dauntless-abandons-training-exercise-after-power-trouble.html">£1bn HMS Dauntless abandons training exercise after technical trouble </a>-- The Telegraph<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26328398">Millions paid to consultants as MoD jobs go unfilled, MPs told</a> -- BBC<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/02/25/world/middleeast/ap-ml-iran-military.html?ref=world">Official: Iran Has Studied Israeli Strike Tactics</a> -- New York Times/AP<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/heli-expo-israel-could-double-v-22-order-size-bell-396274/">Israel could double V-22 order size, Bell says</a> -- Flight Global<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/101438440">India becomes biggest foreign buyer of US weapons </a>-- CNBC/Financial Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/mckeon-us-should-formally-accuse-russia-violating-arms-control-pact/">McKeon: U.S. Should Formally Protest Russian Arms Control Breach</a> -- Global Security Newswire<br /><br /><a href="http://rt.com/news/french-extend-car-mission-672/">France to vote on extending Central African Republic military mission</a> -- RT<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/report-iran-pursue-iraqi-arms-sale-violation-un-sanctions/">Iran-Iraq Weapons Deal a Possible U.N. Sanctions Breach: Report</a> -- Global Security Newswire<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140224/DEFREG02/302240036/US-Presses-Iraq-Reports-Arms-Deal-Iran">US Presses Iraq on Reports of Arms Deal with Iran</a> -- Defense News/AFP<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/soldiers-getting-new-mountain-climbing-gear-from-army-1.269633">Soldiers getting new mountain climbing gear from Army </a>-- Stars and Stripes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/us/for-f-a-18-super-hornet-the-end-may-be-on-horizon-1.269851">For F/A-18 Super Hornet, the end may be on horizon</a> -- Stars and Stripes/L.A. Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140224/DEFREG02/302240033/Pentagon-Air-Force-Doubles-Down-Engine-Technology">Pentagon, Air Force Doubles Down on Engine Technology</a> -- Defense News<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/pentagon-confirms-requested-missile-decommissioning-study/">Pentagon Confirms it Requested Missile-Decommissioning Study </a>-- Global Security Newswire<br /><br /><a href="http://rt.com/news/five-eyes-online-manipulation-deception-564/">Western spy agencies build ‘cyber magicians’ to manipulate online discourse</a> -- RT<br /><br /><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/199009-clapper-says-us-might-not-be-prepared-to-stop-another-edward">US not ready for another Edward Snowden?</a> -- The Hill<br /><br /><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/199080-gop-block-votes-on-military-sexual-assault-bills">GOP block votes on military sexual assault bills</a> -- The Hill<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2566892/Extraordinary-wartime-service-one-Britains-greatest-fighter-aces-shot-23-planes-career-spanning-Battle-Britain-North-African-campaign-Normandy-landings.html">For sale, the medals of RAF ace who shot down 25 planes in a career spanning the Battle of Britain, North African campaign and Normandy landings </a>-- Daily Mail<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/blogs/stripes-central/stripes-central-1.8040/what-happens-when-a-navy-officer-gets-real-on-china-1.269604">What happens when a Navy officer gets real on China?</a> -- Stars and Stripes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2014/02/24/weapons-cuts-in-2015-budget-leave-soldiers-marines-at-risk/">Weapons Cuts In 2015 Budget Leave Soldiers, Marines At Risk</a> -- Loren Thompson, Forbes

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 25, 2014

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, brief reporters on the fiscal year 201...

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Mob Wives: Carmela's Take on Graziano Stuffed Peppas

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrdVlZ42HtgTWpfbH16YuRJ6yUIlb1g7eoX7FCiViY9FgqMEd9RtIdmx82iGgJO3hOivstu2Uo1k328uJFxXf1lWfkP3y_5KYOFzCmbk8LRIpr9XFXPZ3wCS31e4kzNAapseTnIPgJFY/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrdVlZ42HtgTWpfbH16YuRJ6yUIlb1g7eoX7FCiViY9FgqMEd9RtIdmx82iGgJO3hOivstu2Uo1k328uJFxXf1lWfkP3y_5KYOFzCmbk8LRIpr9XFXPZ3wCS31e4kzNAapseTnIPgJFY/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" width="295" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>One of my finished peppers up close!</b></span></div><br /><br />Looks like <b>"How to Use a Meat Cleaver"</b> is getting a big response from Mob Wives fans. I've seen a few pictures of recipes that the fans have cooked up. I decided to give a few a try. The first one I tried is the "Stuffed Peppers." The recipe is outlined in the book.<br /><br />The process is very easy. As the book explains, you brown the ground meat, set it aside. Saute the onions, garlic, fresh tomatoes & basil. Then the mixture is all combined adding back in the meat, the rice, grated cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese. Stuffed the peppers. Then you bake it at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here's my take</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9sCfjgX5F2zMmXdhOSNL6XgCMJxkvgQzYxV9JxXbCkAHs9cDMV9O4wqQyc6Qto_A8Fitp10XQgDtXVDNRLQHTReClNlJKTIn9aABntKt0ICgCX1f1h21PflCMPgEID7sN8gMiLXGu7c/s1600/photo+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9sCfjgX5F2zMmXdhOSNL6XgCMJxkvgQzYxV9JxXbCkAHs9cDMV9O4wqQyc6Qto_A8Fitp10XQgDtXVDNRLQHTReClNlJKTIn9aABntKt0ICgCX1f1h21PflCMPgEID7sN8gMiLXGu7c/s1600/photo+%25287%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>First you gather the ingredients</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieK2j8uCm3RPOg_yI10UgeJb28HQIyYwrKFJNQ0yX_Nh6vXNyfHbQkd46HtabqzFCAS4PFAZH08iOAlSNWlxwlI_L4VXb_ULFP90nyzcJhdhTVorydhmZyyY589XnU725M7D7VTaX92Pw/s1600/photo+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieK2j8uCm3RPOg_yI10UgeJb28HQIyYwrKFJNQ0yX_Nh6vXNyfHbQkd46HtabqzFCAS4PFAZH08iOAlSNWlxwlI_L4VXb_ULFP90nyzcJhdhTVorydhmZyyY589XnU725M7D7VTaX92Pw/s1600/photo+%25288%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Then you brown the meat</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKxfV38Fy7hFFxEYnG5z7U-TxKSQjNLwvziQU6ekpKgSN64iU2efzjX2S-WpiHa24YcEjaksiGTpDmtiKBGyTgbVjBIHXfIPo9tBFxx-3Aye7CE3E6z40p4S5l2uGjQi9BesWQkEOPBM/s1600/photo+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKxfV38Fy7hFFxEYnG5z7U-TxKSQjNLwvziQU6ekpKgSN64iU2efzjX2S-WpiHa24YcEjaksiGTpDmtiKBGyTgbVjBIHXfIPo9tBFxx-3Aye7CE3E6z40p4S5l2uGjQi9BesWQkEOPBM/s1600/photo+%25289%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sautee the ingredients and stuff peppers</b></div><br />In Lana's method she says to drain the meat from the juices and set it aside. I decided to leave the fat in my mixture. I also brown the meat and added everything in my frying pan. I am one-step kinda gal. I then filled my peppers. I sat them in a shallow water bath. I found 20 minutes was not long enough to cook the thick peppers thoroughly so I cooked them covered for 1/2 an hour and uncovered for another 15 minutes. Below is the end result. They proved to be very tasty.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQ5YgcsSuD6_uyiDWhXnBIPON6Rhcb__f9Rmfex5rAkzThW3EB5pLQnuAQvDPoRY6JrEfyyz_6TVlUmCiqkrc7dFqK5SHfgG7KICia46GqueF_nliwqU_pWjxC232KhI6Tf9wyrfPZuE/s1600/photo+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQ5YgcsSuD6_uyiDWhXnBIPON6Rhcb__f9Rmfex5rAkzThW3EB5pLQnuAQvDPoRY6JrEfyyz_6TVlUmCiqkrc7dFqK5SHfgG7KICia46GqueF_nliwqU_pWjxC232KhI6Tf9wyrfPZuE/s1600/photo+%252810%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>My finished peppers! Bon Appetite!</b></div><br /><br />Go out and get your copy of <b>How To Use A Meat Cleaver</b> and give it a try...Have fun!<br /><br /><b>Written By: Carmela Corleone </b>

Mob Wives: Carmela's Take on Graziano Stuffed Peppas

One of my finished peppers up close! Looks like "How to Use a Meat Cleaver" is getting a big response from Mob Wives fans. I'...

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Is Non-Lethal Force The Future Of Warfare?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=318&w=478&img=/dodcmsshare/homepagephoto/2014-02/hires_140216-M-VH365-052c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=318&w=478&img=/dodcmsshare/homepagephoto/2014-02/hires_140216-M-VH365-052c.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Diamond Aranda scans the area while providing security during a downed vehicle recovery in the Now Zad district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Feb. 16, 2014. Aranda, an assaultman, is assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sean Searfus</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Future of Military Force -- Robert Kozloski, Real Clear Defense</b></span></div><br />Non-Lethal Force Could Be the Future of Warfare<br /><br />“Killing people and destroying things for some political purpose” is how prominent defense scholar Richard Betts describes the essence of military force. Betts’ description reflects the pervasive view of military force held by most military and foreign policy experts. However, it does not account for a variety of non-lethal options that policy makers will have to consider using in future conflicts.<br /><br />America’s use of conventional military force since World War II has achieved mixed political results. In the future, the traditional instruments of national power may be even less effective because of America’s domestic problems and shifts in the geopolitical environment. These conditions will force security experts to develop new approaches to national power projection. As America struggles to maintain its position in the international system, it will be faced with the dilemma that its expensive military tools may not be appropriate for the political task at hand.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2014/02/24/the_future_of_military_force_107102.html">Read more </a></b>....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> You cannot change human nature .... and human nature has been a violent one. And while casualty rates from global warfare have decreased in the past few decades .... it will not take much for such a condition to be blown out of the water and casualty rates approach horrific levels of slaughter that would make the Second World War pale in comparison.

Is Non-Lethal Force The Future Of Warfare?

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Diamond Aranda scans the area while providing security during a downed vehicle recovery in the Now Zad district...

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ALIBABA AND JULIUS D GENIUS AGWU SET TO HOST THIS YEAR'S SHIFT CELEBRITY PRAYSE

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL6UFSAPd2mW-RGIHtpRwDykdtDdg6akDMLGK1sf9qCvmc70WmGdspJaAP6MNApDOec6sbRhtZGHbJrvzva5J9Ma6QCOxWL2RZQGMzjMXM2oRvmbuQ78yGjquKb_HUmBVlUtSFlEYmyo/s1600/Shift+2014+white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL6UFSAPd2mW-RGIHtpRwDykdtDdg6akDMLGK1sf9qCvmc70WmGdspJaAP6MNApDOec6sbRhtZGHbJrvzva5J9Ma6QCOxWL2RZQGMzjMXM2oRvmbuQ78yGjquKb_HUmBVlUtSFlEYmyo/s1600/Shift+2014+white.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1393326786936_2236" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 19px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> 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QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Celebrity Prayse media in conjunction with the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Presents her yearly thanksgiving / prayer event for the entire Nigerian entertainment industry and the theme for this year's event is "count your blessings”.<br /><br /></div><a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MTmmYtEg1i8?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTmmYtEg1i8" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">click to watch</span></a><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This event is geared towards rallying the entire industry together where prayers can be said for the industry; entertainers can also find a reason to say thank you to God for the gift of life in 2013 and the talents that's made the world celebrate them; also an avenue to thank fans and major stakeholders, sponsors, brands both within and outside the entertainment industry for loving and standing by them; also its not only when evil or bad things happen in the industry that entertainers should gather to pray, if we can have Headies, NMVA, NEA, comedy awards and other award events in Nigeria, then the industry should not gate-crash into God only when evil happens, we should be organised hence, this event; to foster unity, tolerance, coexistence and love among entertainers ;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">This event is for entertainers, celebrities, fans, families and all those who love their favourite celebrity to come together and stand with them in thanksgiving to God for the entire entertainment industry.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Alibaba and Julius D Genius Agwu will host the event.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Performances By Gbenga Adeyinka, AY, Tee A, Elenu, Yaw, Okey Bakassi, Akpororo, Mc Abbey, Funny Bone, Senator, Pencil, Acapella.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Music By: Ojb, Eben, Buchi, Midnight Crew <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tim Godfrey, Tosin Martins, Sabina, Charles Granville, Pita, Dusky, The Reel Laif Band, Dj Gosporella.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Testimony Service By Ojb<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Date: March 2nd, 2014 by 4pm at the Lagoon Restaurant on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island Lagos.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The event is absolutely <span style="color: red;">free</span>, no gate fee.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This event is been put together by entertainers and hence we want Nigerians and fans to all converge at the 4th edition of this epoch making event.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Brought to you by CELEBRITY PRAYSE MEDIA.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><!--EndFragment--></div>

ALIBABA AND JULIUS D GENIUS AGWU SET TO HOST THIS YEAR'S SHIFT CELEBRITY PRAYSE

Celebrity Prayse media in conjunction with the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Presents her yearly thanksgiving / prayer event for the...

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U.S. Spy Chief Admits That There May Be More Edward Snowdens In The Future

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxDEpu-RdAkEnEUOPiHt5zBIW37BsaK9hz6X9yweyyM6gRynN2msEAcepNWaBfPBnDJ3MTCwaoIw9PHOaBksEFUNVfk6O_6cMiAQhyRRzeiS4NkkPVXzk_GmTdT55QGMsSQeAqfiJOEwU/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxDEpu-RdAkEnEUOPiHt5zBIW37BsaK9hz6X9yweyyM6gRynN2msEAcepNWaBfPBnDJ3MTCwaoIw9PHOaBksEFUNVfk6O_6cMiAQhyRRzeiS4NkkPVXzk_GmTdT55QGMsSQeAqfiJOEwU/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">President Barack Obama greets James Clapper, his nominee for director of national intelligence, in the Oval Office, Saturday, June 5, 2010. Photo credit: Pete Souza</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Spy Chief James Clapper: We Can’t Stop Another Snowden -- Eli Lake, Daily Beast</b></span></div><br /><i>President Obama's Director of National Intelligence spent his life protecting secrets. Then came the biggest leak of all.</i><br /><br />Every morning at around 4:30 a.m., James Clapper wakes up and prepares for the worst job in Washington. He is the nation’s top intelligence officer at a time when the intelligence community is derided because it can’t keep its secrets, and loathed because some of the secrets it has tried to hide concern the same American citizens it was charged with protecting. Thanks to rogue contractor Edward Snowden, the machinations of the shadow bureaucracy Clapper heads have for the last eight months been exposed one news story at a time. Clapper is often the guy who has to call newspaper editors to tell them not to print stories that they usually publish anyway.<br /><br />Clapper, 72, a 51 year veteran in the intelligence community, is also the first director of national intelligence to hold the post when the annual intelligence budgets are being slashed instead of fattened. (Between 2002 and 2010 the annual intelligence community budget doubled from around $40 billion to $80 billion.) Add to this the fact that the legal authority Clapper needs to command the 16 intelligence agencies under his control is murky at best. <br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/23/spy-chief-we-can-t-stop-another-snowden.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> A little public honesty from spy chief James Clapper in this puff piece from Eli Lake.

U.S. Spy Chief Admits That There May Be More Edward Snowdens In The Future

President Barack Obama greets James Clapper, his nominee for director of national intelligence, in the Oval Office, Saturday, June 5, 2010. ...

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Poof! All Your Bitcoins Are Belong To Us

Holy crap!<br /><br />I think it's a reasonable thing to say that I am DAMN glad I don't have one thin dime invested in those things.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/02/25/bitcoins-mt-gox-shuts-down-loses-409200000-dollars-recovery-steps-and-taking-your-tax-losses/"><br /><b>Bitcoin's Mt. Gox Shuts Down, Loses $409,200,000 Dollars -- Recovery Steps and Taking Your Tax Losses</b></a></blockquote><blockquote>Mt. Gox’s shutdown is circulating like wildfire. Its repercussions are being felt throughout the world. Mt. Gox was the most public and well-known brand that represented Bitcoin’s exchange market. The company’s shutdown is rumored to be caused by a “hack” or “security breach” that resulted in a loss up to 744,000 BTC or $409,200,000 Dollars. (Based on the approximate value just hours ago from Coindesk.com) This is truly an unfortunate event that has caused the international community to shake its trust in Bitcoin as evidenced by the massive price drop. This is par the course, when a pillar in the community falls in such a funeral pyre. The best parallel would be the Bear Stearns’ failure during the 2008 global financial crisis. Hopefully, Bitcoin won’t follow in the financial system’s footsteps post-Bear Stearns.</blockquote><br />Here is a handy chart that illustrates what happened to the value of a Bitcoin yesterday.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBuWMr4fKZB835EsEhgen6uUImJQYsRDvpac0z9oPca-NtyXlZ5nV-gFyE8NROixPrhfrJIymXlEDhzfUyqd0ZaaExBYerFW7B2eDx2wV7lYgaTS4eP8rVq1IyBkq0xRgo9vs6jvoPhjT/s1600/Screen-Shot-2014-02-25-at-1.53.40-AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBuWMr4fKZB835EsEhgen6uUImJQYsRDvpac0z9oPca-NtyXlZ5nV-gFyE8NROixPrhfrJIymXlEDhzfUyqd0ZaaExBYerFW7B2eDx2wV7lYgaTS4eP8rVq1IyBkq0xRgo9vs6jvoPhjT/s640/Screen-Shot-2014-02-25-at-1.53.40-AM.png" /></a></div><br />Basically, if you had a bunch of those, they are either gone or worth one hell of a lot less.<br /><br /><br /><br />409 million dollars worth disappeared yesterday,causing panic and the price crashed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimESgXgC3eXoevoSouG6TWN6ORlDOu9BRz3pkKAbigCifKWkQZepe9wxrH3EY8ANDC4mvjMPNDKVM845do83mMEYNrJJnRGgxNEMiJHSL4L6pkqwEZYG7bO7qnZoBeHvia4W7aM25dIWdH/s1600/computer-theft-hacker-protection-1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimESgXgC3eXoevoSouG6TWN6ORlDOu9BRz3pkKAbigCifKWkQZepe9wxrH3EY8ANDC4mvjMPNDKVM845do83mMEYNrJJnRGgxNEMiJHSL4L6pkqwEZYG7bO7qnZoBeHvia4W7aM25dIWdH/s640/computer-theft-hacker-protection-1000.jpg" /></a></div><br />I'm thinking this is a damn good instructional moment here for me personally.<br /><br />I need to get some intangible currency. I can certainly imagine waking up some day in the not too distant future to find out that a roll of toilet paper will do me more good than a fist full of dollar bills. I certainly don't trust the banking system even though I use it.<br /><br />I don't know of any employers who pay in cash and still withhold taxes and such.<br />They either pay by paper check or electronic deposit.<br /><br />I actually had someone gift me some Bitcoins several years ago when they first came out but I had no freakin' clue about what to do with them. They had absolutely no value to me.<br />I put 'em in some electronic wallet thingy and then promptly lost the location and password for it.<br />Writing it down didn't do me a bit of good either because that's back when I was hittin' the bottle really hard and I know that info got tossed. They didn't cost me anything and I'm not out anything the way I see it.<br /><br />There are a whole bunch of people out there right now who just found out the hard way what imaginary money is really worth.<br /><br />Even worthless paper money is good for starting fires if it has no other value.<br /><br /><br />

Poof! All Your Bitcoins Are Belong To Us

Holy crap! I think it's a reasonable thing to say that I am DAMN glad I don't have one thin dime invested in those things. Bitcoin&#...

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Does President Obama Prefer To Spend Money On Food Stamps Than On The Military?

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zZUq-Yduhvo" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cheney: Obama Would ‘Much Rather Spend The Money On Food Stamps’ Than Military -- Daily Caller</b></span></div><br />Former Vice President Dick Cheney responded Monday night to the Obama administration’s proposal to cut the U.S. Army to its lowest point since before World War II.<br /><br />Calling into Fox News’ “Hannity,” Cheney declared the proposed cuts to be “absolutely dangerous” and “just devastating.”<br /><br />“I have not been a strong supporter of Barack Obama. But this really is over the top. It does enormous long-term damage to our military,” Cheney said. ”They act as though it is like highway spending and you can turn it on and off. The fact of the matter is he is having a huge impact on the ability of future presidents to deal with future crises that are bound to arise.”<br /><br /><b><a href="http://dailycaller.com/2014/02/24/cheney-obama-much-rather-spend-the-money-on-food-stamps-than-the-military/">Read more</a></b> .....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> Sorry Vice President Cheney .... elections have consequences .... and the American people have spoken. They rather have money for food stamps than allocating money to the military. Is this a wise policy .... probably not .... but we live in a democracy and this is what the majority of Americans want.

Does President Obama Prefer To Spend Money On Food Stamps Than On The Military?

Cheney: Obama Would ‘Much Rather Spend The Money On Food Stamps’ Than Military -- Daily Caller Former Vice President Dick Cheney responded M...

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History's Greatest Aircraft Carrier

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o8YT4RUGUq0Oub6qfEibsrNHMTU691m3iATjMTHqooGZfCr3_sGnEnHIT4zj5LPfIzgcgs2xBmvRgIjs2UaUvJ0i1pl0sOOhKpT7XjPF6hWvRGd5lauFmFL9iDT4jlipb2M3ed_-35kY/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o8YT4RUGUq0Oub6qfEibsrNHMTU691m3iATjMTHqooGZfCr3_sGnEnHIT4zj5LPfIzgcgs2xBmvRgIjs2UaUvJ0i1pl0sOOhKpT7XjPF6hWvRGd5lauFmFL9iDT4jlipb2M3ed_-35kY/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">USS Enterprise (CV-6) making 20 knots during post-overhaul trials in Puget Sound, Washington, 13 September 1945.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_%28CV-6%29"> Wikipedia</a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Five Greatest Aircraft Carriers of All Time -- James Holmes, National Interest</b></span></div><br />Anyone who's tried to compare one piece of kit—ships, aircraft, weaponry of various types—to another will testify to how hard this chore is. Ranking aircraft carriers is no exception. Consulting the pages of Jane's Fighting Ships or Combat Fleets of the World sheds some light on the problem. For instance, a flattop whose innards house a nuclear propulsion plant boasts virtually unlimited cruising range, whereas a carrier powered by fossil fuels is tethered to its fuel source. As Alfred Thayer Mahan puts it, a conventional warship bereft of bases or a coterie of logistics ships is a "land bird" unable to fly far from home.<br /><br />Or, size matters. The air wing—the complement of interceptors, attack planes and support aircraft that populate a carrier's decks—comprise its main battery or primary armament. The bigger the ship, the bigger the hangar and flight decks that accommodate the air wing.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/the-five-greatest-aircraft-carriers-all-time-9916">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> No disagreement on the choice. For more info on this great aircraft carrier's history, <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_%28CV-6%29">go here.</a></b>

History's Greatest Aircraft Carrier

USS Enterprise (CV-6) making 20 knots during post-overhaul trials in Puget Sound, Washington, 13 September 1945. Wikipedia The Five Greates...

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Would President Obama Still Use Force In Iran?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aRXBd0g390JROVSpyvNKoIoaHPrUj_6iXH29KwK5AIoozs6NNKGMCZ2cUxd4Lg3V0_Xvkx23VZqYBmAAd2PJCdc0y0HeNvN1ZEI14gisiAYKlVMLHV6P4aW-fGzJc0Rf9UynvSCKWZA7/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aRXBd0g390JROVSpyvNKoIoaHPrUj_6iXH29KwK5AIoozs6NNKGMCZ2cUxd4Lg3V0_Xvkx23VZqYBmAAd2PJCdc0y0HeNvN1ZEI14gisiAYKlVMLHV6P4aW-fGzJc0Rf9UynvSCKWZA7/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">President Obama in the Situation Room. Pete Souza/White House</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, Obama Would Use Force in Iran -- Jeffrey Goldberg , Bloomberg</span></b></div><br />A question I'm frequently asked -- several times a week during periods when the Barack Obama administration is especially focused on achieving a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis -- goes something like this: “Do you still believe that there are circumstances in which President Obama would use military force to stop Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon, given that [choose one, or more] he didn’t enforce his own chemical weapons red line on Syria; he’s so eager for any sort of substantial achievement in the Middle East that he’s ready to make a bad deal with the Iranians; he’s abandoning the U.S.'s Sunni and Jewish allies in the Middle East in favor of Iran’s Shia; he is himself secretly a Shia, through a distant relative on his mother’s side?”<br /><br />The answer is, yes, I still believe that there are circumstances in which Obama would use force to stop Iran from gaining possession of a nuclear weapon. It's no secret that he prefers a diplomatic solution (one brought about by a crippling sanctions regime he orchestrated with significant help from Congress) to this problem. It is also no secret that he believes a military strike might have unintended consequences that could actually lead to a redoubling of the Iranian effort to cross the nuclear finish line. But there are certainly circumstances -- two immediately come to mind -- in which I think he would use force to prevent the Middle East from falling into a destructive spiral of nuclear proliferation.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-21/yes-obama-would-use-force-in-iran.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> I just do not see such a scenario breaking out (President Obama ordering a military strike on Iran). This would be a war of choice .... and after Iraq this is something that the American public and especially President Obama would be loathed to undertake .... even in the worst scenario. If there is a scenario in which U.S. forces would become engaged against Iran .... it would be a scenario in which Iranian forces have launched an overt attack against U.S. allies in the Middle East.

Would President Obama Still Use Force In Iran?

President Obama in the Situation Room. Pete Souza/White House Yes, Obama Would Use Force in Iran -- Jeffrey Goldberg , Bloomberg A question ...

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Will Russia Annex Crimea?

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jwAeqHyvyIU" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>New Ukraine Leader Pleads For Unity As Protesters In Crimea Shout 'Russia, Russia' And Experts Say Moscow Might ANNEX Territory To Protect Its Naval Bases -- Daily Mail</b></span></div><br />* Olexander Turchynov has warned of the dangers of separatism<br />* It comes as pro-Russian crowds gather in southern region of Crimea<br />* Opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko also reveals he will stand in election<br />* Former Kremlin advisor warns annexation could happen within a week<br />* Move would be similar to Nazi Germany's takeover of Austria, he said<br />* Vladimir Putin 'sweeping aside Western warnings and preparing troops'<br />* Dmitry Medvedev said he did recognise new authorities in Kiev<br /><br />Ukraine's new leader has made a desperate plea for unity as experts warn Russia might annex the increasingly tense region of Crimea.<br /><br />Interim President Olexander Turchynov warned of the dangers of separatism following the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych.<br /><br />Addressing parliament, Mr Turchynov said he would meet law enforcement agencies to discuss the risk of separatism in regions with large ethnic Russian populations.<br /><br />Separatism was a 'serious threat', he said.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2567060/Is-Russia-plotting-send-army-annex-Crimea-Former-Kremlin-adviser-warns-Ukrainian-port-Sebastopol-targeted-week.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> Crimea is 99% Russian .... and it has always been Russian. If a poll for independence (or unification with Russia) was to be done today .... it would garner an overwhelming percentage of the vote. The fact that it now belongs to Ukraine was a decision made by the Communist leadership in the 1950s as a sign of "friendship". My prediction .... if the Ukrainian nationalists who have taken over Kiev pursue an aggressive anti-Russian agenda (banning the language, discriminatory laws, etc.) .... that vote and push for independence or reunification with Russia is all but guarantee.

Will Russia Annex Crimea?

New Ukraine Leader Pleads For Unity As Protesters In Crimea Shout 'Russia, Russia' And Experts Say Moscow Might ANNEX Territory To P...

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With The Olympic Games Over, Will Putin Pursue A More Aggressive Domestic And Foreign Policy?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflC05KHKhTzdCdGUwSylTFZP8BzPQI8rJ8wKi38rYpf6_EwRqbSaoS8Am9k_soVVg9ylKhBQiiBlqTfht9DcPjKIBbo57WNIHVbEBFa3MiS05k13VB0uqzbKShpHGQMz8zipX8P7ByNzE/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflC05KHKhTzdCdGUwSylTFZP8BzPQI8rJ8wKi38rYpf6_EwRqbSaoS8Am9k_soVVg9ylKhBQiiBlqTfht9DcPjKIBbo57WNIHVbEBFa3MiS05k13VB0uqzbKShpHGQMz8zipX8P7ByNzE/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Russian President Vladimir Putin walks out from the presidential lounge to take his seat as he is introduced during the closing ceremony for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, February 23, 2014. REUTERS/David Goldman/Pool</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sochi Games Over, Will Putin Take The Gloves Off? -- Timothy Heritage, Reuters</b></span></div><br />(Reuters) - For more than two weeks while Russia hosted the Winter Olympics, President Vladimir Putin did his best to show the world that he and his country have a soft side.<br /><br />Now the Sochi Games are over, Western governments are concerned the smile will disappear and the gloves come off in Russia's tug-of-war with Europe over the fate of Ukraine.<br /><br />The circus artists, dancers and flag bearers hardly had time to leave the stadium after the closing ceremony in Sochi before Russia announced it had recalled its ambassador from Ukraine for consultations in Moscow.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/putin-sochi-athletes-mission-accomplished-113650068--oly.html;_ylt=AwrSyCR_cQtTxSkABKTQtDMD">Read more </a></b>....<br /><br /><b>My Comment</b>: All eyes are now on Ukraine .... and on what Russian President Putin may do there. But my prediction is that there is going to be no changes in how he conducts policy .... both domestic and international. He may permit a small crackdown on dissidents, and no financial aid to Ukraine .... but as to issues like Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, EU and U.S. relations .... I see nothing changing. Where he may react is if Ukraine becomes a failed state and the Russian community is under threat .... in that event it would not surprise me if he sends the military to protect the Russian dominated part of Ukraine .... such a move would be supported in Russia, and definitely by Ukrainian Russians.

With The Olympic Games Over, Will Putin Pursue A More Aggressive Domestic And Foreign Policy?

Russian President Vladimir Putin walks out from the presidential lounge to take his seat as he is introduced during the closing ceremony for...

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Picture Of The Day

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=350&w=0&img=/dodcmsshare/photoessay/2014-02/hires_140217-M-VH365-080a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=350&w=0&img=/dodcmsshare/photoessay/2014-02/hires_140217-M-VH365-080a.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">U.S. Marines travel in mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles while conducting a patrol in the Now Zad district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Feb. 17, 2014. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sean Searfus </span></div>

Picture Of The Day

U.S. Marines travel in mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles while conducting a patrol in the Now Zad district of Afghanistan's Helm...

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Another Scandal Rocks The Turkish Government

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/OnAsOI6HUi4" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Another Sensational Scandal Rocks Turkey -- Al-Monitor</b></span></div><br />Since the Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power over a decade ago, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has relentlessly argued that single-party government is what this country needs to assure political stability and economic welfare. This approach has been more or less accepted as a reference to a February 2001 incident where then-President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, at a National Security Council meeting, threw the booklet of the Constitution in the face of Bulent Ecevit, the head of the coalition government. That incident caused severe economic turbulence and led Turks to oust the mainstream political parties from powerhouse positions while giving the Erdogan government — which was new and untested — a chance to prove itself. Time, however, has shown that the threat to Turkey's economic and political stability is not one-party or multiparty government — or the secular or Islamist camp — but rather a weak democratic system characterized by the absence of true checks and balances.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/02/another-turkish-scandal-wiretapping.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On Another Scandal Rocking The Turkish Government</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26332860">Turkey prosecutors 'tapped thousands of phones'</a> -- BBC<br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-02-24/erdogan-resignation-demanded-by-turkish-opposition-over-tape">Erdogan Resignation Demanded by Turkish Opposition Over Tape</a> -- Bloomberg Businessweek<br /><a href="http://www.skynews.com.au/world/article.aspx?id=953193">Turkey says PM among thousands bugged</a> -- SKY news<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkish-pms-office-denies-corruption-tapes/2014/02/24/ae2f5b84-9da1-11e3-878c-65222df220eb_story.html">Turkish PM’s office denies corruption tapes </a>-- Washington Post/AP<br /><a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/25/turkey-erdogan-idINL6N0LT48U20140225">Turkish PM's office says Erdogan recordings are faked</a> -- Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/world/turkish-pms-office-says-erdogan-recordings-faked-20140225-hvdqc.html">Turkish PM's office says Erdogan recordings faked</a> -- Sydney Morning Herald

Another Scandal Rocks The Turkish Government

Another Sensational Scandal Rocks Turkey -- Al-Monitor Since the Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power over a decade ag...

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Israel Launches Air Strikes On The Lebanese - Syrian Border

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjJkSGSIlLy5P85SWjI_1tqKmbybGlAFClwiYUpAjxDtvLrLp5dlVw69AxGGJO9IDSFlnOCj0rQwonp8oyVuMG-3q75Dg_fLJ3AXOS1dY7stBseEaaaQFSqARvfyrVyZtDB4DkJDp7QDL/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjJkSGSIlLy5P85SWjI_1tqKmbybGlAFClwiYUpAjxDtvLrLp5dlVw69AxGGJO9IDSFlnOCj0rQwonp8oyVuMG-3q75Dg_fLJ3AXOS1dY7stBseEaaaQFSqARvfyrVyZtDB4DkJDp7QDL/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">An Israeli F-16I fighter plane takes off from Ramon Air Base in southern Israel. (File photo: Reuters) </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Israeli Warplanes 'Strike Eastern Lebanon' -- BBC</b></span></div><br />Israeli jets have carried out air strikes in eastern Lebanon near the border with Syria, Lebanon's state news agency says.<br /><br />Israel's military has not commented although an Israeli security source quoted by Reuters said there had been "air force activity in the north".<br /><br />Lebanon's national news agency said the air raids took place near the village of Nabi Sheet in the Bekaa Valley.<br /><br />The Lebanese militant Hezbollah group has a strong presence in the valley.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26332089">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On Israel Launching Air Strikes On The Lebanese - Syrian Border</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0224/Israeli-airstrikes-near-Lebanon-Syria-border">Israeli airstrikes near Lebanon-Syria border </a>-- Christian Science Monitor/AP<br /><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gUdIRsOP3vMIv2eIjhkAkteAbTWA?docId=c4197844-115d-442b-9e33-a94ee953c53d">Israel bombs Hezbollah target on Lebanon-Syria border</a> -- AFP<br /><a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/25/Israel-strikes-reputed-arms-shipment-for-Hezbollah/UPI-22601393304460/">Israel strikes reputed arms shipment for Hezbollah</a> -- UPI<br /><a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.576210">Reports: Israeli planes attack Hezbollah targets on Lebanon-Syria border</a> -- Haaretz<br /><a href="http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/164050/israel-strikes-lebanon-near-syrian-border">Israel Strikes Lebanon Near Syrian Border</a> -- Tablet<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/world/middleeast/israeli-warplanes-strike-near-the-border-of-syria-and-lebanon.html?_r=0&gwh=5EF239CA73B250D6605B305D423B2CC8&gwt=pay">Israeli Warplanes Strike Near the Border of Syria and Lebanon </a>-- New York Times<br /><a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Feb-25/248405-israel-hits-hezbollah-on-syria-border.ashx#axzz2uJ9LTtYn">Israel hits Hezbollah on Syria border</a> -- Daily Star<br /><a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/2014/02/25/Reports-Israeli-airstrikes-target-Hezbollah-sites.html">Sources: Israeli raids target Hezbollah site</a> -- Al Arabiya

Israel Launches Air Strikes On The Lebanese - Syrian Border

An Israeli F-16I fighter plane takes off from Ramon Air Base in southern Israel. (File photo: Reuters) Israeli Warplanes 'Strike Eastern...

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