The War Profiteering Continues In Afghanistan

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ow754mDrX9qmGYukzKgYJ2DS5juqq_GSzdg-093pZ5GKXtkDCB5g76K0H2iqqWdDF-P2HN0WDiJRHgAEQVuC7e0iOCcjSwDmD-9mTj9W4XPXreb1e2H4zYJiFA6wBmReFEw_7hubygVW/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ow754mDrX9qmGYukzKgYJ2DS5juqq_GSzdg-093pZ5GKXtkDCB5g76K0H2iqqWdDF-P2HN0WDiJRHgAEQVuC7e0iOCcjSwDmD-9mTj9W4XPXreb1e2H4zYJiFA6wBmReFEw_7hubygVW/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>'Windfalls Of War': Companies With Spotty Records Making Billions Off Afghanistan -- FOX News</b></span></div><br />The United States government has paid a company based in Switzerland more than $5 billion to feed the troops in Afghanistan, and thanks to a succession of no-bid contract extensions, the company, Supreme Foodservice, overcharged American taxpayers as much as $757 million, officials say.<br /><br />The U.S. has appropriated more than $100 billion for Afghan reconstruction, which includes not only building and development, but training and arming the Afghan security forces -- and the dispute over the massive payments to this single company is just one example of how, more than 12 years into the war, America is struggling to account for how its money has been spent. <br /><br />So who's getting rich off the war? <br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/20/windfalls-war-contractors-with-spotty-records-made-billions-off-afghanistan/?intcmp=latestnews">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> Stories like this one always makes my blood boil. One more reason to get out of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan The War Profiteering Continues In Afghanistan

'Windfalls Of War': Companies With Spotty Records Making Billions Off Afghanistan -- FOX News The United States government has paid ...

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The Start Of The U.S. - China Cold War

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvHVQZDOCqNpVSy9gdL8JaE-5dRnJGJPowxtN-KD1E1LWmeKaO8QJF67oXcuhGIlgt9Xm82zIXT3KEf47x5_wRLAkSeI7BrxtGDVw4fzuMLMHFXM0n-lOfLHPCK0nLEJn6vr6IGBy-Tab/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/AVvXsEjEvHVQZDOCqNpVSy9gdL8JaE-5dRnJGJPowxtN-KD1E1LWmeKaO8QJF67oXcuhGIlgt9Xm82zIXT3KEf47x5_wRLAkSeI7BrxtGDVw4fzuMLMHFXM0n-lOfLHPCK0nLEJn6vr6IGBy-Tab/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The People's Republic of China flag and the U.S. Stars and Stripes fly along Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol in Washington during Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit, January 18, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Hyungwon Kang</span></div><br /><b>WNU Editor: </b>The Financial Times has a must read article on the growing tensions between China and the U.S.. As China's relations with most of it's neighbors become strained over border disputes .... they are beginning to learn that many of these countries are actually U.S. allies bounded by political and national security treaties and agreements. By pushing these countries it is only natural that the U.S. will get involved .... not only to save face, but also because of if they do not ..... U.S. credibility and reliability will be completely discredited. The link to this Financial Times article <b><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/78920b2e-99ba-11e3-91cd-00144feab7de.html#axzz2u1UBSTWn">is here.</a></b>

The Start Of The U.S. - China Cold War

The People's Republic of China flag and the U.S. Stars and Stripes fly along Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol in Washington dur...

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Pentagon Downplays Their Own Intelligence Assessment On China

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHrKV7lZJa0vF7GYeIW0LfqzsVWIEOKrUgEDXv6Bb-T_9QSSiHWKj9O1VHHgS13kyYRjpfPRwxMrS01Un_e5jZDFQxL20de2azaM_LG7gsHNdahjH-TNnLsxIf3CByNm_xO8l3WzAwXdG/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHrKV7lZJa0vF7GYeIW0LfqzsVWIEOKrUgEDXv6Bb-T_9QSSiHWKj9O1VHHgS13kyYRjpfPRwxMrS01Un_e5jZDFQxL20de2azaM_LG7gsHNdahjH-TNnLsxIf3CByNm_xO8l3WzAwXdG/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vessels from the China Maritime Surveillance and the Japan Coast Guard are seen near disputed islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea, in this photo taken by Kyodo on Sept. 10, 2013. <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/china-preparing-short-sharp-war-japan-over-disputed-east-china-sea-islands-us-officer-1556687">Reuters </a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pentagon Plays Down Intelligence Officer's Provocative China Assessment -- Reuters</b></span></div><br />(Reuters) - The Pentagon on Thursday played down remarks by a senior Navy intelligence officer who told a public forum that he believed China was training its forces to be capable of carrying out a "short, sharp" war with Japan in the East China Sea.<br /><br />The comments by Captain James Fanell, director of intelligence and information operations at the U.S. Pacific Fleet, were little noticed when he made them last week at a conference on maritime strategy called "West 2014" in San Diego. They can be seen here: link.reuters.com/qyq96v<br /><br />Fanell also predicted China, which declared an air defense zone last year in the East China Sea where it is locked in a territorial dispute with Japan over a string of small islands, would declare another air defense zone by the end of 2015, this time in the South China Sea.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-usa-china-pentagon-idUSBREA1K04B20140221">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>Previous Post:</b> <a href="http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.ca/2014/02/china-prepares-for-war-against-japan.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+WarNewsUpdates+%28War+News+Updates%29">China Prepares For War Against Japan (Updated)</a> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On The Pentagon Downplaying It's Own Intelligence Assessment On China</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/pentagon-distances-itself-from-china-warning/1856054.html">Pentagon Distances Itself from China Warning</a> -- Voice of America<br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/21/280698489/u-s-official-beijing-preparing-for-short-sharp-war-with-japan">U.S. Official: Beijing Preparing For 'Short, Sharp' War With Japan</a> -- NPR<br /><a href="http://japandailypress.com/pentagon-shrugs-off-navy-intel-officers-controversial-china-assessment-2144698/">Pentagon shrugs off navy intel officer’s controversial China assessment </a>-- Japan Daily Press<br /><a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/02/21/351623/us-downplays-provocative-words-on-china/">US downplays officer's provocative China remarks</a> -- Press TV<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> There is nothing provocative on Captain James Fanell's assessment of Chinese intentions .... he is reporting what he is seeing. But the Pentagon has moved fast on this one .... and I suspect that it's opposition to this assessment is driven more by political considerations rather than on intelligence assessments.

Pentagon Downplays Their Own Intelligence Assessment On China

Vessels from the China Maritime Surveillance and the Japan Coast Guard are seen near disputed islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in...

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Top US Army General Meets China Officials

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtdUkS6Mc1UxTHaQd_iVCtJgRon_fZS1ZQd1UgOiRaXZ5jdkA-0bhyphenhyphenMalOffl1DwNRvBwCPTHxqOuAVmGbCkvfduzEiaNimVGWGutzUz9ER_LrkuiISnXsplxRPaBXxKED7aAlbopsnf0/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtdUkS6Mc1UxTHaQd_iVCtJgRon_fZS1ZQd1UgOiRaXZ5jdkA-0bhyphenhyphenMalOffl1DwNRvBwCPTHxqOuAVmGbCkvfduzEiaNimVGWGutzUz9ER_LrkuiISnXsplxRPaBXxKED7aAlbopsnf0/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fang Fenghui (R), Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and also a member of China's Central Military Commission, shakes hands with U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno during their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2014. (<a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-02/22/c_133134343.htm">Xinhua/Li Tao</a>)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Top US Army Officer: We Have 'Common Objectives' With China -- Voice of America</b></span></div><br />The U.S. Army's top officer pledged more dialogue on "common objectives" as he met Chinese generals in Beijing.<br /><br />Army Chief of Staff Ray Odierno was greeted Friday with full military honors at China's Defense Ministry.<br /><br />His visit comes amid U.S. criticism of China's policies toward its neighbors over territorial claims in the East and South China Seas.<br /><br />However, before holding closed-door meetings, Odierno said he would focus on concerns that both sides share.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/top-us-army-officer-we-have-common-objectives-with-china/1856136.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On America's Top Army General Meeting Chinese Officials</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/2014/02/20/army-chief-staff-meets-top-chinese-generals/hcQxwFwW7GtGNxprZ9VttL/story.html">US Army chief of staff meets top Chinese generals </a>-- AP<br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-02-21/u-dot-s-dot-army-chief-in-china-for-talks-with-top-military-officials">U.S. Army General Meets China Officials Amid Regional Tensions</a> -- Bloomberg Businessweek<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/us-army-chief-of-staff-meets-top-chinese-generals/2014/02/20/9cb7d270-9aa2-11e3-9900-dd917233cf9c_story.html">China and US establish dialogue between armies</a> -- Washington Post/AP<br /><a href="http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140221/NEWS08/302210001/Odierno-meets-top-Chinese-generals">Odierno meets top Chinese generals</a> -- Army Times<br /><a href="http://english.cri.cn/7146/2014/02/21/2702s814126.htm">Chinese Generals Meet with US Army Chief to Deepen Trust</a> -- CRI English<br /><a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-02/22/c_133134343.htm">Senior military officials meet U.S. army chief</a> -- Xinhuanet

Top US Army General Meets China Officials

Fang Fenghui (R), Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and also a member of China's Central Military...

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President Obama To Award The Medal of Honor To 24 Veterans That Includes 19 Who Were Previously Overlooked Because Of Their Racial Or Ethnic Backgrounds.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8wzLlqzAq-Y4Hdsf0CdRId81Vt2EGFq6ghvtd8M4ViiQ2F8RqPrd_vjVLH0dsErXDwcoN-1VaxCbXKVdKP3uly-M9e4P_Tzj-1WEnztEw77vfs5ddgXVpLIs-ooGDv-_4kDo9zOzbZ4y/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8wzLlqzAq-Y4Hdsf0CdRId81Vt2EGFq6ghvtd8M4ViiQ2F8RqPrd_vjVLH0dsErXDwcoN-1VaxCbXKVdKP3uly-M9e4P_Tzj-1WEnztEw77vfs5ddgXVpLIs-ooGDv-_4kDo9zOzbZ4y/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Medals of Honor awarded by each of the three branches of the U.S. military, and are, from left to right, the Army, Coast Guard/Navy/Marine Corps and Air Force. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Medalsofhonor2.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Obama To Award Medal Of Honor To 19 Overlooked Minority Service Members -- Washington Post</b></span></div><br />President Obama will correct a historical act of discrimination next month when he awards the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest commendation for combat valor, to 19 Hispanic, Jewish and African-American veterans overlooked previously because of their racial or ethnic backgrounds.<br /><br />The unusual presentation will culminate a 12-year Pentagon review ordered by Congress into past discrimination in the ranks, and will hold a particular poignancy hosted by the nation’s first African-American president.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-to-ward-medal-of-honor-to-19-soldiers-who-were-overlooked-because-of-their-ethnicity/2014/02/21/209594e8-9b10-11e3-975d-107dfef7b668_story.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On President Obama Will Be Awarding The Medal of Honor To 24 Veterans</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/02/21/full-list-of-overlooked-minority-medal-of-honor-winners/">Full list of overlooked minority Medal of Honor recipients</a> -- Washington Post<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/overlooked-medal-of-honor-recipients/2014/02/21/2d778dfe-9b2b-11e3-ad71-e03637a299c0_gallery.html#photo=1">Overlooked Medal of Honor recipients</a> -- Washington Post<br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/us/obama-to-award-24-medals-of-honor-1.269228">Obama to award 24 Medals of Honor</a> -- Stars and Stripes<br /><a href="http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140221/NEWS/302210025/White-House-24-soldiers-receive-Medal-Honor">White House: 24 soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor</a> -- Army Times<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-to-award-medal-of-honor-to-24-army-veterans/2014/02/21/38101e3a-9b39-11e3-8112-52fdf646027b_story.html">Obama to award Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans</a> -- Washington post/AP<br /><br /><b>My Comment: </b>That is going to be one awesome ceremony.

President Obama To Award The Medal of Honor To 24 Veterans That Includes 19 Who Were Previously Overlooked Because Of Their Racial Or Ethnic Backgrounds.

The Medals of Honor awarded by each of the three branches of the U.S. military, and are, from left to right, the Army, Coast Guard/Navy/Mari...

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Ukraine Burning: A Video Recap Of The Ukraine Uprising

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7eTuFAR169s" width="560"></iframe></div><br /><b>My Comment</b>: This is an "on the ground report" of the Ukraine uprising .... from start to finish.

Ukraine Burning: A Video Recap Of The Ukraine Uprising

My Comment : This is an "on the ground report" of the Ukraine uprising .... from start to finish.

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Is Turkey Now Financing The World's Top Terror Groups?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBh-yYET8mD2XL3zZjo2gcyqrmV3FxHQSMsFB4NMkoUL6giElMuTXOOTtHqS-ZDqbc1_dTawp3-f6tuFnlb5_VibAiX6CFfEKQKSBVEa2KYP0fyVEzUW6bsjc-2jLMVHRRoWQZNyQi2_10/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/AVvXsEgBh-yYET8mD2XL3zZjo2gcyqrmV3FxHQSMsFB4NMkoUL6giElMuTXOOTtHqS-ZDqbc1_dTawp3-f6tuFnlb5_VibAiX6CFfEKQKSBVEa2KYP0fyVEzUW6bsjc-2jLMVHRRoWQZNyQi2_10/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (R) meets with Khalid Mashaal, the Hamas chief in exile (C), and Gaza’s prime minister Ismail Haniyeh in Ankara. </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Report: Turkey Financing Top Global Terror Groups --Washington Free Beacon</b></span></div><i><br /></i> <i>Turkey becoming world’s leading terrorism finance hub</i><br /><br />Turkey has become a principal financial hub for terrorists under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government has helped Iran skirt sanctions, supported jihadi groups in Syria, and provided financial backing to Hamas, according to a new report by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).<br /><br />Turkey, a key U.S. ally, “has turned a blind eye” to terror financing and is potentially on the verge of crossing the line to becoming an official state sponsor of terrorism, according to the Friday report, which cites the Erdogan government’s close ties to some of the world’s top terror organizations and operatives.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://freebeacon.com/report-turkey-financing-top-global-terror-groups/">Read more </a></b>....<br /><br /><b>My Comment: </b>You are the company that you keep .... and Turkey has made the decision to be with some unsavory characters.

Is Turkey Now Financing The World's Top Terror Groups?

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (R) meets with Khalid Mashaal, the Hamas chief in exile (C), and Gaza’s prime minister Ismail Ha...

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Is The U.S. Military Hiding It's Weapon Equipment Failures?

<script height="360px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=7d6243b6b5f74a6fb09a179d33842db2&ec=g4Z2hyazo55OrjEvwWJlnIApaLosJVYZ" width="640px"></script><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cover-Up? Army Historian Says Report On Deadly Afghan Battle Was Altered To Absolve Faulty Gun -- Washington Times</span></b></div><br /><i>Survivors of bloody battle report M4 jams</i><br /><br />A former Army historian who chronicled the infamous Battle of Wanat in Afghanistan, where nine U.S. soldiers died after their M4 carbines jammed, tells The Washington Times that his official account was altered by higher-ups to absolve the weapons and senior officers.<br /><br />M4 critics have long pointed to the Afghanistan battle on July 13, 2008, as evidence that the rifle’s design was flawed. They cite reports from soldiers on the ground that their guns overheated and jammed that day.<br /><br />But the gun’s supporters have pointed to a single sentence in the official Wanat history issued in 2010 by the Army’s Combat Studies Institute at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. It blamed the gun’s sustained rapid fire that day, not its design, for the malfunctions.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/20/cover-up-army-historian-says-report-on-deadly-afgh/">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>Previous Post:</b> <a href="http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.ca/2014/02/the-us-armys-most-important-weapon-in.html">The U.S. Army's Most Important Weapon In it's Arsenal Is Not Working Properly</a><br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> These are serious accusations .... but nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the equipment and weapons purchases the Pentagon does everyday.

Is The U.S. Military Hiding It's Weapon Equipment Failures?

Cover-Up? Army Historian Says Report On Deadly Afghan Battle Was Altered To Absolve Faulty Gun -- Washington Times Survivors of bloody battl...

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A Look AT Honeywell's Military Drone RQ-16A T-Hawk

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aSqvc226ojU" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><b>WNU Editor:</b> For more info on this drone .... <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeywell_RQ-16_T-Hawk">go here</a></b>.

A Look AT Honeywell's Military Drone RQ-16A T-Hawk

WNU Editor: For more info on this drone .... go here .

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- February 21, 2014

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9frArQeIWzQ" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>At Stake In Ukraine's Drama Is The Future Of Putin, Russia And Europe -- Timothy Garton Ash, The Guardian</b></span></div><br />Ukraine may yet show us that the default model of revolution has changed to one of negotiated transition<br /><br />Beyond the burning barricades and the corpses in the streets, here are five big things that are at stake in Ukraine's insurrectionary drama. They mean that what happens in Ukraine will affect not just the Ukrainians, but also Russia, Europe and our sense of what makes a revolution.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/21/ukraine-putin-russia-europe-independence-disintegration">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2014/02/21/a-good-deal-for-the-ukrainian-opposition/">A Good Deal for the Ukrainian Opposition</a> -- Max Boot, Commentary<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2014/mar/20/fascism-russia-and-ukraine/?insrc=hpss">Fascism, Russia, and Ukraine</a> -- Timothy Snyder, New York Review Of Books<br /><br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-ukraine-crisis-russia-role-20140221,0,2074173.story#axzz2tseORMfW">Kremlin aggravated Ukraine crisis but won't intervene, analysts say</a> -- Carol J. Williams, LA Times<br /><br /><a href="http://rt.com/news/ukraine-maidan-protest-developments-982/">From sea of flags to rivers of blood: How Kiev peaceful protest turned into Maidan mayhem </a>-- RT<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/rubin-in-ukraine-and-syria-vladimir-putin-wants-to-work-with-dictators-1.7161240">Rubin: In Ukraine and Syria, Vladimir Putin wants to work with dictators </a>-- Trudy Rubin, National Iinterest<br /><br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-21/seven-reasons-putin-wont-give-up-ukraine">Seven Reasons Putin Won't Give Up Ukraine</a> -- Peter Coy, Bloomberg Businessweek<br /><br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/02/20/putin-olympics-sochi-corruption-russia-column/5655815/">Putin's Olympic corruption</a> -- Ilan Berman, USA Today<br /><br /><a href="http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/20/why-u-s-should-care-about-syria-crisis/">Why U.S. should care about Syria crisis </a>-- Nader Hashemi, Special to CNN<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/robcrilly/100260197/the-grinning-generals-who-highlight-flaws-in-our-afghanistan-exit/">The grinning generals who highlight flaws in our Afghanistan exit strategy</a> -- Rob Crilly, Daily Telegraph<br /><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2014/0221/Chinese-fume-over-Obama-Dalai-Lama-meeting.-Will-there-be-blowback-video">Chinese fume over Obama-Dalai Lama meeting. Will there be blowback?</a> -- Peter Ford, Christian Science Monitor<br /><br /><a href="http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/singapores-foreigner-problem/">Singapore’s Foreigner Problem </a>-- Mark Fenn, The Diplomat<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100260605/venezuela-the-lefts-favourite-socialist-paradise-is-sliding-into-poverty-and-dictatorship/">Venezuela: the Left´s favorite´socialist paradise´ is sliding into poverty and dictatorship </a>-- Tim Stanley, The Telegraph<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116703/venezuela-protests-started-sexual-assault-san-cristobal">The College-Town Sexual Assault That Sparked the Venezuelan Violence</a> -- Emiliana Duarte, New Republic<br /><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/Latin-America-Monitor/2014/0221/Venezuela-s-protests-The-who-what-and-why">Venezuela's protests: The who, what, and why </a>-- David Smilde, Christian Science Monitor<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cato.org/blog/understanding-protests-ukraine-venezuela">Understanding the Protests in Ukraine and Venezuela</a> -- Dalibor Rohac and Juan Carlos Hidalgo, CATO

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- February 21, 2014

At Stake In Ukraine's Drama Is The Future Of Putin, Russia And Europe -- Timothy Garton Ash, The Guardian Ukraine may yet show us that t...

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World News Briefs -- February 21, 2014 (Evening Edition)

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XEJSbhQf40g" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ukraine President, Opposition Sign EU-Brokered Agreement On Ending Crisis -- RT</div><br />Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovich and opposition leaders have signed an EU brokered agreement on ending the political crisis in the country.<br /><br />The Ukrainian opposition representatives included the leader of the UDAR political party, Vitaly Klitschko, the head of the Batkivshchyna opposition party, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, and the leader of the nationalist Svoboda opposition party, Oleg Tyagnibok. <br /><br /><b><a href="http://rt.com/news/ukraine-president-opposition-sign-agreement-114/">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MIDDLE EAST</b></span></div><br />Clashes rage in <b><a href="http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2014/02/22/07/09/clashes-rage-in-syrian-capital-s-northeast">Syrian capital's northeast</a></b>. <br /><br />U.S., allies agree on aid <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-allies-agree-on-standards-for-which-opposition-groups-in-syria-will-receive-aid/2014/02/20/7b5b8b02-9a53-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html">for Syrian rebels</a></b>.<br /><br />Dozens killed as mortars <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/dozens-killed-as-mortars-hit-town-iraq-201422135331552974.html">hit town in Iraq</a></b>.<br /><br />UN alarmed at spike<b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/un-alarmed-at-spike-in-executions-in-iran/1856635.html"> in executions in Iran</a></b>.<br /><br />Iran’s most sensitive <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/irans-most-sensitive-uranium-stockpile-shrinks-after-nuclear-deal/2014/02/20/82230d14-9a64-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html">uranium stockpile shrinks</a></b>.<br /><br />Fears of Syria militancy expand <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-saudi-princemohammed-insight-idUSBREA1K0MW20140221">influence of Saudi prince</a></b>.<br /><br />Injuries reported in <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/injuries-reported-israel-palestine-clashes-201422116590836192.html">Israel-Palestine clashes</a></b>.<br /><br />Gaza's fragile ceasefire threatened by<b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/gaza-ceasefire-threatened-border-clashes-hamas-weak-palestinian"> border clashes as Hamas weakens</a></b>.<br /><br />Lebanon detains top suspect <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/lebanon-detains-top-suspect-in-car-bomb-campaign/1856271.html">in car bomb campaign</a></b>.<br /><br />One killed in south Yemen <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-yemen-south-protests-idUSBREA1K18C20140221">pro-independence protests: sources</a></b>.<br /><br />Iran, Britain officially resume <b><a href="http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13921202000308">diplomatic relations</a></b>.<br /><br />Turkey scraps coup plot courts<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-turkey-courts-idUSBREA1K0WE20140221"> in battle over judiciary</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ASIA</b></span></div><br />North Korea rejects <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2014/02/north-korea-rejects-un-report-atrocities-201422119632432387.html">UN report on atrocities</a></b>.<br /><br />Suicide attack kills, wounds several <b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/21/suicide-attack-kills-wounds-several-afghan-police-/">at Afghan police complex</a></b>.<br /><br />Afghan women <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/afghan-women-campaign-for-peace/1856204.html">campaign for peace</a></b>.<br /><br />Thai Prime Minister denies corruption allegations <b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/20/world/asia/thailand-protests/">over rice program</a></b>. Thai rice farmers give government <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/thai-rice-farmers-give-government-a-week-to-make-payments/1856234.html">a week to make payments</a></b>.<br /><br />Nepal to deploy security on <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26285028">Everest after brawls</a></b>.<br /><br />Musharraf will not be tried <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/musharraf-not-to-be-tried-in-military-court/1856178.html">in military court</a></b>.<br /><br />South Korea to develop <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26287527">Stuxnet-like cyberweapons</a></b>.<br /><br />Japan to review testimony of women <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-japan-history-idUSBREA1K0SU20140221">who served in wartime brothels</a></b>.<br /><br />China denounces Barack Obama's<b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/china-us-barack-obama-dalai-lama"> meeting with Dalai Lama</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AFRICA</b></span></div><br />200,000 remain <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/mali-displaced-21feb14/1856590.html">displaced in Mali.</a></b><br /><br />Former Madagascar President rules <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-former-madagascar-president-rules-himself-out-of-prime-minister-job/1856826.html">himself out of PM job.</a></b><br /><br />Somali presidential HQ a<b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/02/somali-presidential-hq-attacked-al-shabab-201422112586270319.html">ttacked by al-Shabab</a></b>. 11 die in attack by militants <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-somalia-blast-idUSBREA1K0KF20140221">on Somali president's compound</a></b>. Somalia's Shebab launch suicide attack<b><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5imP6own5YjAFfzB22AFB8wrgBktg?docId=1d8db902-321b-4d20-9ff0-515ee97a6ddf"> on presidential palace</a></b>.<br /><br />UN chief urges rapid <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/02/un-chief-urges-rapid-reinforcements-car-2014220215313877691.html">reinforcements for CAR</a></b>.<br /><br />Poor turnout in Libyan vote for <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-poor-voter-turnout-for-libyas-constitution-drafting-body/1855978.html">constitution-drafting body</a></b>.<br /><br />With hundreds jailed, Egypt's Islamists <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/hundreds-jailed-egypt-39-islamists-demand-protest-strategy-120003334.html">demand new protest strategy</a></b>.<br /><br />Robert Mugabe celebrates 90th birthday as <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/mugabe-celebrates-90th-birthday-zimbabwe-international-pariah">Zimbabwe's international pariah</a></b>.<br /><br />Zimbabwe court orders deportation <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-zimbabwe-court-orders-deportation-of-former-us-congressman/1856275.html">of former US congressman</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>EUROPE</b></span></div><br /><b><a href="http://winter-games.reuters.com/">Sochi 2014: Live</a></b><br /><br />Deal signed <b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/21/world/europe/ukraine-protests/">to end Ukraine crisis</a></b>.<br /><br />Ukrainian president and opposition<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26289318"> sign early poll deal</a></b>. Ukraine peace deal signed, <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-ukraine-idUSBREA1G0OU20140221">opens way for early election</a></b>.<br /><br />Ukraine credit rating cut by S&P<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26285792"> as violence continues</a></b>.<br /><br />Ukrainian parliament votes to free <b><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/ukrainian-parliament-votes-free-jailed-opposition-figure-n35526">jailed opposition figure.</a></b> Ukraine’s Yulia Tymoshenko may be freed: A look at the <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraines-yulia-tymoshenko-may-be-freed-a-look-at-the-jailed-opposition-leader/2014/02/21/b89d57b0-9b30-11e3-975d-107dfef7b668_story.html">jailed opposition leader</a></b>.<br /><br />Tears for tragic 'heroes': Funerals for victims of Ukraine's bloodshed held in Independence Square on day fragile peace deal is reached after Polish minister warns protestors: <b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2564573/Is-end-bloodshed-sight-Deal-reached-Ukraine-crisis-week-violence-thats-left-75-people-dead.html">'You'll die if you don't sign'.</a></b><br /><br />Wounded medic whose fate gripped <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/wounded-medic-whose-fate-gripped-ukraine-tweets-im-alive/1856689.html">Ukraine tweets 'I'm alive'</a></b>.<br /><br />Anti-Kremlin protesters found guilty amid scenes <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/anti-kremlin-putin-protesters-guilty-verdict-court">of violence outside court</a></b>.<br /><br />Basque separatists Eta set to take historic step <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/20/basque-separatist-eta-historic-weapons-mariano-rajoy">by handing over weapons</a></b>.<br /><br />Italy's Renzi set to<b><a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/italy-politics-idINL6N0LQ1SA20140221"> unveil new cabinet</a></b>.<br /><br />Germany arrests three suspected Auschwitz guards — aged 88, 92 and 94 — <b><a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/02/21/germany-arrests-three-suspected-auschwitz-guards-aged-88-92-and-94-and-uncovers-nazi-documents/">and uncovers Nazi documents</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AMERICAS</b></span></div><br />White House stresses Ukraine conflict <b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/21/24-soldiers-receive-medal-honor-white-house/">is not “proxy” war</a></b>.<br /><br />24 soldiers to receive Medal of Honor <b><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-stresses-ukraine-conflict-is-not-proxy-war/">from White House.</a></b><br /><br />Ignoring China's protest, <b><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/obama-host-dalai-lama-friday-white-house-22610446">Obama hosts Dalai Lama.</a></b><br /><br />With 2015 budget request, Obama will call <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/with-2015-budget-request-obama-will-call-for-an-end-to-era-of-austerity/2014/02/20/332808c2-9a6e-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html?hpid=z1">for an end to era of austerity</a></b>.<br /><br />Venezuela's President Maduro accuses Obama <b><a href="http://rt.com/news/maduro-accuses-obama-venezuela-988/">of inciting violence</a></b>.<br /><br />From jail, Venezuela protest leader<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1K17A20140221"> urges resistance</a></b>.<br /><br />Venezuela threatens to cut off fuel<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-threatens-cut-off-fuel-protest-areas-205822959.html;_ylt=AwrBEiQUvwdTszwANQPQtDMD"> to protest areas</a></b>. Venezuela sends troops to border region <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/venezuela-troops-border-protests-police">as violence escalates</a></b>.<br /><br />UPDATE: Venezuela revokes <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-revokes-cnn-press-credentials-184711546.html;_ylt=AwrBJR5woAdTSmwArCLQtDMD">CNN press credentials</a></b>. Venezuela’s President Maduro threatens <b><a href="http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/21/venezuela-s-president-maduro-threatens-to-expel-cnn-over-its-coverage/">to expel CNN over its coverage</a></b>.<br /><br />Exclusive: Argentina, Repsol to sign <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-repsol-argentina-idUSBREA1K00E20140221">$5 billion YPF deal - source.</a></b><br /><br />Thousands of extra security agents <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-26283966">for World Cup 2014</a></b>.<br /><br />Venture capitalist in bid to<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/20/us-usa-california-split-idUSBREA1J22W20140220"> split California into six states.</a></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR</b></span></div><br />Lithuania opens probe into <b><a href="http://rt.com/news/cia-rendition-prisons-terrorism-976/">‘secret CIA rendition prisons’</a></b>.<br /><br />Report: U.S. drone may have <b><a href="http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140220/NEWS/302200002/Report-U-S-drone-may-killed-Yemeni-civilians">killed Yemeni civilians</a></b>.<br /><br />Sources: Airlines warned to beware <b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/19/us/airline-security-threats/index.html">of possible shoe bombs</a></b>.<br /><br />In Yemen, a woman's life entangled <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/yemen-woman-39-life-entangled-al-qaida-070459824.html">with al-Qaida</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS</b></span></div><br />Global growth under scrutiny at <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/global-growth-under-scrutiny-at-sydney-g20-finance-meeting/1856170.html">Sydney G20 finance meeting</a></b>.<br /><br />U.S. leads pushback against <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-g20-australia-oecd-idUSBREA1K05K20140221">emerging market angst at G20</a></b>.<br /><br />Mexico to trump Japan as<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/mexico-trump-japan-no-2-car-exporter-us-053738480--finance.html"> No. 2 car exporter to US</a></b>.

World News Briefs -- February 21, 2014 (Evening Edition)

Ukraine President, Opposition Sign EU-Brokered Agreement On Ending Crisis -- RT Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovich and opposition lea...

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The Optimist's Guide to Western Housing Certainty (Musical Tribute)

The following chart shows the annual change in the semiannual average of new one family homes sold in the West Census Region.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBu2vQpu42lXNBB1NKkV9vkY96mDt3jVwJ86WY4-VNdyCuhMMrKuWa83-XHRkC5Bh6R04Jj9p6h6F6Su43rGxvlAR391zE2G-4XK4k6DtPwDkJh4jh4lKr7iCtKkRM9Z0cd8XMcE7cnOU/s1600/The+Cone+of+Western+Housing+Certainty.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBu2vQpu42lXNBB1NKkV9vkY96mDt3jVwJ86WY4-VNdyCuhMMrKuWa83-XHRkC5Bh6R04Jj9p6h6F6Su43rGxvlAR391zE2G-4XK4k6DtPwDkJh4jh4lKr7iCtKkRM9Z0cd8XMcE7cnOU/s320/The+Cone+of+Western+Housing+Certainty.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />What's the worst that could happen from here? Okay, sure. The growth rate is currently negative and has been falling for 18 months. That's just this winter's East Coast's polar vortex temporarily rippling back through space and time though. Any rational optimist can see that.<br /><br />Further, we already knew that the East Coast's weather would <a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=slJ">carry over to existing home sales in the West</a>. To think otherwise is just crazy talk!<br /><br />In all seriousness, the housing optimists better hope we not only stay in the channel but move back above 0% soon, or <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2013/08/15/report-half-of-all-homes-are-being-purchased-with-cash/?mod=e2tw">speculators may someday wish that they had embraced their fistfuls of dollars</a> instead.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/I8vFO9Bl5co" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=slI">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

The Optimist's Guide to Western Housing Certainty (Musical Tribute)

The following chart shows the annual change in the semiannual average of new one family homes sold in the West Census Region. Click to enlar...

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U.S. And Allies Agree On Who Will Receive Aid In The Syrian Rebel Movement

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJm2-ybLBnzZpgV_i4i5lNBOOD0L7tgdsbedY51OGdfiBa9VG97Of8_7Pdacq-A_my5alo83I15zM4l2CpD6686qkjkcaankU5wZ_Di9LYOrBa14aJtZNiCIv5fZF7adyUvdt2ZEWkvGd7/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJm2-ybLBnzZpgV_i4i5lNBOOD0L7tgdsbedY51OGdfiBa9VG97Of8_7Pdacq-A_my5alo83I15zM4l2CpD6686qkjkcaankU5wZ_Di9LYOrBa14aJtZNiCIv5fZF7adyUvdt2ZEWkvGd7/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>U.S., Allies Agree On Standards For Which Opposition Groups In Syria Will Receive Aid -- Washington Post</b></span></div><br />The United States and its principal European and Arab allies have agreed on a unified way of providing Syrian rebel groups with aid, classifying them into those who should receive arms supplies and other assistance, those who are ineligible because of clear extremist ties, and those whose eligibility requires further discussion, according to U.S. and allied officials.<br /><br />Along with new initiatives by the United States and others to increase weapons shipments, rebel training, intelligence and other support, the plan — set during a U.S.-led meeting of intelligence chiefs here last week — is designed to overcome divisions among governments that have been deeply split over which opposition groups to aid and what to supply.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-allies-agree-on-standards-for-which-opposition-groups-in-syria-will-receive-aid/2014/02/20/7b5b8b02-9a53-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment: </b>While the U.S. and its allies are debating among themselves on what aid will the Syrian opposition groups receive .... the Iranians are<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-syria-crisis-iran-insight-idUSBREA1K0TV20140221"> stepping up their military shipments</a></b> to the Syrian regime. It does not take an expert to figure out who will win in the end if this dithering on the part of the West continues.

U.S. And Allies Agree On Who Will Receive Aid In The Syrian Rebel Movement

U.S., Allies Agree On Standards For Which Opposition Groups In Syria Will Receive Aid -- Washington Post The United States and its principal...

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It's A Nice Benefit

One small bonus of working swing shift is the fact that I don't even own an alarm clock.<br /><br />I wake up naturally every day.<br /><br />No blaring music, no screaming alarm, I get to sleep until I wake up.<br /><br />I can't tell you how nice that is.<br /><br />For years I struggled to get woke up enough to get my ass to work, I am definitely not a morning person.<br /><br />They say hate is a strong word but it fits my parameters for describing how I feel about alarm clocks.<br /><br />Hate those sonsabitches.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheI1U4lVz1EJZaUQayruKMNCIjYntz3bHXv-bWDbxE9XzRBjDgGyUsxiPMEJj5ywHAp8kUG1U394JhiUvucRZXNGUA28OqNm_asqRvqcUdrfqc1KWap9bKry2hwexm8sr9mhyE_PHY_FNk/s1600/smashed-radio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheI1U4lVz1EJZaUQayruKMNCIjYntz3bHXv-bWDbxE9XzRBjDgGyUsxiPMEJj5ywHAp8kUG1U394JhiUvucRZXNGUA28OqNm_asqRvqcUdrfqc1KWap9bKry2hwexm8sr9mhyE_PHY_FNk/s640/smashed-radio.jpg" /></a></div><br />I usually get home about eleven thirty, screw around on the computer until three or four in the morning, go fall down and crash and wake up anywhere from ten to noon.<br /><br />lately it's been noon.<br /><br />Don't ya hate me?<br /><br /><br />I also normally work my homesick ass off so I am pretty beat when I get home too though.<br /><br />The wife is going to her sisters house tonight to get our taxes done and watch movies all night, then Sunday is going back to where she used to live for a retirement party for a preacher.<br /><br />That means I am not going to work Sunday for once.<br /><br />That also means I just may get to watch the Daytona 500 without a bunch of distractions.<br /><br />That's a win in my book.<br /><br /><br />Y'all have a nice day now.

It's A Nice Benefit

One small bonus of working swing shift is the fact that I don't even own an alarm clock. I wake up naturally every day. No blaring music...

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Syria's Civil War Comes Closer To The Israeli Border

<iframe frameborder="0" height="234" src="http://www.cnn.com/video/api/embed.html#/video/world/2014/02/20/pkg-robertson-israel-golan-border.cnn" width="416"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Heavy Shelling Rocks Golan Heights Area Between Syria, Israel -- CNN</b></span></div><br />Golan Heights (CNN) -- Heavy shelling and gunfire echoed close to the Syrian-Israeli frontier at the Golan Heights on Friday as the long-running war between Syrian rebels and government forces raged in a strategic area.<br /><br />Plumes of smoke rose from Syria's southern villages, only a few miles across Israel's northern frontier, and bursts of automatic weapons fire were audible from the rocky plateau of the occupied Golan.<br /><br />In the space of a few hours Friday, a CNN team overlooking the village of Bir Ajam, less than a mile from the fence marking the frontier, saw at least 11 shells land on a community where earlier farmers had been seen and children heard playing.<br /><br />A government artillery position about a mile and a half from the village was seen to fire, and heavy machine gun fire was also heard.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/21/world/meast/syria-civil-war/">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-air-force-steps-up-attacks-in-south/2014/02/21/4b2db9b8-9aef-11e3-8112-52fdf646027b_story.html">Syrian air force steps up attacks in south</a> -- Washington Post/AP<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> I am surprised that the Syrian civil war has not impacted the border region as much as many were expecting (myself included) when the conflict first started. But the Syrian civil war is now entering a new phase .... the killing has escalated to a levels that have not been seen before .... and the carnage is now happening throughout the country. If I was the Israelis .... I would be putting my military forces on the border to a more heightened alert .... if they are not there already.

Syria's Civil War Comes Closer To The Israeli Border

Heavy Shelling Rocks Golan Heights Area Between Syria, Israel -- CNN Golan Heights (CNN) -- Heavy shelling and gunfire echoed close to the S...

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As The Unrest And Suffering Escalates In Venezuela, Chavez's Hugo Chavez's Daughters Have Refused To Move Out Of The Presidential Palace

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilozcDTEUBnd5v7yP81k-ZvrmJDKvcB4WvwzPDXyOyvN6JGWfV780tDTfTsuaVwgQOiHWx-AmQR24-35yYybk8vESHg9I0EnTcRigU9o9wZIvug-kq1H83c7jKbMAqDa2XgV2zu8gUyJ0s/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilozcDTEUBnd5v7yP81k-ZvrmJDKvcB4WvwzPDXyOyvN6JGWfV780tDTfTsuaVwgQOiHWx-AmQR24-35yYybk8vESHg9I0EnTcRigU9o9wZIvug-kq1H83c7jKbMAqDa2XgV2zu8gUyJ0s/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Holding on: The daughters of former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez are reportedly refusing to leave the luxurious presidential palace, and are holding 'deafening' parties there</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hugo Chavez's Daughters Refuse To Move Out Of Presidential Palace And Hold 'Deafening' Parties As Five Die In Violent Protests On The Streets Of Venezuela -- Daily Mail</b></span></div><br />* Former Venezuela president Hugo Chavez died in March 2013<br />* Daughters Rosa Virginia and Maria Gabriela won't leave presidential villa<br />* Neighbors complain of 'deafening' parties<br />* Restaurants won't deliver over unpaid bills<br />* Meanwhile, anti-government protests rage on the streets and five people have died in clashes so far<br />* A 22-year-old beauty queen died after being shot in the head<br />* On Thursday President Maduro threatened to expel CNN from the country<br /><br />While violence rages on the streets of Venezuela, the children of former president Hugo Chavez have refused to move out of the presidential palace and turned it into a party pad.<br /><br />Rosa Virginia, 35, and Maria Gabriela Chavez, 33, are reportedly holding raucous nights in the luxurious six-bedroom villa, complete with a swimming pool and private movie theater.<br /><br />Current president Nicolas Maduro has a constitutional right to live there, but this problem may be low down his list of priorities, as civil unrest engulfs the country killing five people so far.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2564825/Hugo-Chavezs-daughters-refuse-presidential-palace-hold-deafening-parties-five-die-violent-protests-streets-Venezuela.html">Read more </a></b>....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On The Unrest In Venezuela</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1K17A20140221">From jail, Venezuela protest leader urges resistance</a> -- Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/21/Venezuela-anti-government-protests-rage/UPI-78601392962940/?spt=rln&or=2">Murder, terrorism charges dropped against opposition politician Lopez</a> -- UPI<br /><a href="http://www.news24.com/World/News/Venezuela-opposition-denounces-repression-20140221">Venezuela opposition denounces 'repression'</a> -- News24<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/world/americas/protests-swell-in-venezuela-as-places-to-rally-disappear.html">Protests Swell in Venezuela as Places to Rally Disappear </a>-- New York Times<br /><a href="http://world.time.com/2014/02/21/paratroopers-deployed-against-venezuelan-protesters/">Paratroopers Deployed Against Venezuelan Protesters</a> -- Time<br /><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2014/02/venezuela-sends-troops-violence-hit-state-2014221142325800297.html">Venezuela sends troops to violence-hit state</a> -- Al Jazeera<br /><a href="http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/844007.shtml#.UweagYXPz1o">Venezuela deploys paratroopers</a> -- Global Times/AFP/Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2014-02-21/slain-beauty-queen-mourned-in-venezuela">Slain beauty queen mourned in Venezuela</a> -- Bloomberg Businessweek/AP<br /><a href="http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2014/02/21/Genesis-Carmona-Venezuelan-beauty-queen-shot-to-death-at-22/UPI-12041393005537/?spt=rln&or=1">Genesis Carmona, Venezuelan beauty queen, shot to death at 22</a> -- UPI<br /><a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/cnn-threatened-with-explusion-as-venezuela-protests-continues-1.1700022">CNN threatened with explusion as Venezuela protests continues</a> -- Irish Times<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/21/world/americas/profile-leopoldo-lopez/">The face of Venezuela's opposition</a> -- Rafael Romo, Senior Latin American Affairs Editor/CNN<br /><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2014/02/pictures-venezuela-protests-esc-201422111385801202.html">In Pictures: Venezuela's protests escalate</a> -- Al Jazeera

As The Unrest And Suffering Escalates In Venezuela, Chavez's Hugo Chavez's Daughters Have Refused To Move Out Of The Presidential Palace

Holding on: The daughters of former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez are reportedly refusing to leave the luxurious presidential palace, and...

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Parabolic Corporate Debt

The following chart shows real nonfinancial corporate business credit market liabilities per capita (September 2013 dollars).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_fr-bIfJkNFcOrtXFLaeoOSnbgqHydEHqfzo9Jggiki_Norh1gAIlNx8h-g4E75wynVG13-j7LtOCuB7ab4b-DcYFmwtvT3u-h-l-G70KC-EHrosM24Hq4tWKvpSs7b7AjhMXcNnVyA/s1600/Parabolic+Corporate+Debt.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_fr-bIfJkNFcOrtXFLaeoOSnbgqHydEHqfzo9Jggiki_Norh1gAIlNx8h-g4E75wynVG13-j7LtOCuB7ab4b-DcYFmwtvT3u-h-l-G70KC-EHrosM24Hq4tWKvpSs7b7AjhMXcNnVyA/s320/Parabolic+Corporate+Debt.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />An exponential trend channel did not fit the data well at all but a parabolic trend sure did.<br /><br />Parabolic moves are not sustainable over the long-term. This is a mathematical certainty. About the only thing open for debate here is the timing of the failure(s).<br /><br />There's a reason that so few of the companies in the S&P 500 still have AAA ratings. It is not something pointed out on CNBC though. No, sir. It's just piles and piles of corporate cash that's talked about. Why won't they spend their hoard? Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.<br /><br />1. Over the short-term, we're pretty much at the top of the channel again. This data ends in the 3rd quarter of 2013. Keep in mind that 5 months have elapsed since then. This is not even remotely the ideal investment environment that we saw in 1982 (where we were right at the bottom of the trend channel with plenty of room to grow).<br /><br />2. Over the long-term, to put it bluntly, we are so @#$%ed.<br /><br /><b>March 21, 2012</b><br /><a href="http://www.financialsense.com/contributors/tim-wood/parabolic-moves-always-have-their-reasons">Parabolic Moves Always Have Their Reasons</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>A parabolic advance will continue as long as there is an inflow of money to keep the move going. But, then at some point the inflow of funds begins to fade and when it does gravity sets in. It is at that point that price begins to soften. As price begins to soften the smarter money begins to exit and prices begin to soften more. In the end <span style="color: red;">all parabolic advances end pretty much the same</span><span style="color: red;"> and the late-comers to the party are typically left holding the bag</span>.</i></div><br />I can't say when the parabolic trend will fail (either in the short-term or the long-term) but I will say this. I became a permabear over debt concerns. I remain a permabear over debt concerns.<br /><br />When the @#$% hits the fan again, and it certainly will if we continue to follow parabolic debt paths, then I'd much rather be owning "bubbly" inflation protected US treasuries backed by a monetary printing press than "bubbly" corporate debt backed by <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/28898151">"private jets, office renovations, and custom-built commodes."</a> Of course, that's just an opinion. Your opinion may vary.<br /><br />This is not investment advice.<br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=slj">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

Parabolic Corporate Debt

The following chart shows real nonfinancial corporate business credit market liabilities per capita (September 2013 dollars). Click to enlar...

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President Obama Meets The Dalai Lama Over Chinese Protests

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SoSrDPK91lQ" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Obama Meets With Dalai Lama Despite China Warnings -- Reuters</b></span></div><br />(Reuters) - President Barack Obama met exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Friday in a show of concern about China's human rights practices, and in spite of warnings from China the visit would "seriously damage" ties between the two countries.<br /><br />The private meeting appeared to last about an hour, although the Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was not seen by White House photographers as he entered or exited the complex.<br /><br />The White House was expected to release a statement about the meeting later on Friday.<br /><br />It was the third time Obama had met the Dalai Lama, who the White House calls "an internationally respected religious and cultural leader." Previous meetings were in February 2010 and July 2011.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-usa-china-tibet-idUSBREA1K01P20140221">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On President Obama Meeting The Dalai Lama Over Chinese Protests</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-to-host-dalai-lama-on-friday-at-white-house/2014/02/20/d5d38498-9a91-11e3-9900-dd917233cf9c_story.html">Obama meets with Dalai Lama; visit rankles China</a> -- Washington Post/AP<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-21/obama-to-welcome-the-dalai-lama-for-white-house-meeting.html">Obama Meets With Dalai Lama at White House </a>-- Bloomberg<br /><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hwhjsgQ5IMdstOuv1RIdb0xjkj-g?docId=7f39f21b-b579-4277-a1b9-fdc7c304b025">Obama-Dalai Lama meet 'powerful message': Tibet PM in exile</a> -- AFP<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-demands-obama-cancel-dalai-lama-meeting/2014/02/21/536dc4dc-9aff-11e3-ad71-e03637a299c0_story.html">Obama meets Dalai Lama at White House despite Chinese objections</a> -- Washington Post<br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/02/21/china-dalai-lama-obama/5672589/">China angry at Obama's meeting with Dalai Lama </a>-- USA Today<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/02/21/china-is-angry-about-obama-meeting-the-dalai-lama-but-the-u-s-shouldnt-worry/">China is angry about Obama meeting the Dalai Lama. But the U.S. shouldn’t worry.</a> -- Anup Kaphle, Washington Post <br /><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_world_/2014/02/21/china_threatens_grave_damages_from_obama_dalai_lama_meeting_but_does_it.html?wpisrc=burger_bar">Does China Back Up Its Dalai Lama Threats?</a> -- Joshua Keating, Slate

President Obama Meets The Dalai Lama Over Chinese Protests

Obama Meets With Dalai Lama Despite China Warnings -- Reuters (Reuters) - President Barack Obama met exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dal...

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Oops, I forgot Ruben Last Week, But He is Staying Steady on the BillBoard Chart!

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeHuglo-FliUv6trMYTMyEANuuSLU8_W71J1keVZWzxskDJdmkCZCkxSkZ38bRm9hPzK0koeTj7CPHo_n_MkbnbIysSZcQJ09eoEKDBKzNXPY621mBsv3dBfK72naRn6mOE2-pn4C3WZ5/s1600/bb200-20140221.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeHuglo-FliUv6trMYTMyEANuuSLU8_W71J1keVZWzxskDJdmkCZCkxSkZ38bRm9hPzK0koeTj7CPHo_n_MkbnbIysSZcQJ09eoEKDBKzNXPY621mBsv3dBfK72naRn6mOE2-pn4C3WZ5/s1600/bb200-20140221.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yellow = Ruben, orange = Daughtry, red= Scotty</td></tr></tbody></table>It appears <a href="http://aistats.blogspot.com/2014/02/two-christian-music-idols-pop-back-onto.html" target="_blank">last week</a> I forgot that American Idol Season 2 winner, Ruben Studdard, released his new album "Unconditional Love" which debuted at #46 on the <a href="http://www.mjsbigblog.com/billboard-chart-date-02222014.htm" target="_blank">BillBoard 200 album chart</a>. I have added him to my chart as a level little yellow line which is again at #46 <a href="http://www.mjsbigblog.com/billboard-chart-date-03012014.htm" target="_blank">this week on the chart</a>. It sold <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5908250/toni-braxton-babyfaces-triumphant-no-1-return-to-top-rbhip-hop-albums" target="_blank">6,000 copies last week</a> so since it is at #46 again this week is must have sold about the same amount again this week. The two Christian artists who popped back on the chart last week, Colton Dixon and Mandisa, have popped back off, which means we are back to having Daughtry's "Baptized" and Scotty McCreery's "See You Tonight" on the chart to keep Ruben company. Scotty's position on the chart improved for the second straight week, from #160 to #133 to #106. Daughtry's position has been falling the other way, but quite slowly, from #90 to #94 to #99. Over the past three weeks, both their trajectories have been amazingly linear, which means absolutely nothing, but which I find fascinating because I am a math nerd! If the linearity continues, Scotty will be at #79 and Daughtry will be at #103 or #104 (or #105 if his slide goes from 4 to 5 to 6 positions each week). If any of that actually holds true I will be astonished and amazed!

Oops, I forgot Ruben Last Week, But He is Staying Steady on the BillBoard Chart!

yellow = Ruben, orange = Daughtry, red= Scotty It appears last week I forgot that American Idol Season 2 winner, Ruben Studdard, released h...

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Al-Shabaab Militants Launch A Suicide Attack Against The Somali Presidential Palace In Mogadishu

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ucm2nBLCEbo" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Al-Shabaab Militants Attack Somali Presidential Palace In Mogadishu -- CNN</b></span></div><br />Mogadishu, Somalia (CNN) -- Militants carried out a deadly attack on Somalia's presidential palace Friday, officials and eyewitnesses said.<br /><br />An explosion at the gate was followed by an exchange of gunfire between the fighters and security guards, police officer Abdi Mohamed said.<br /><br />A U.N. representative said in a post on Twitter that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told him by phone that he was unharmed.<br /><br />Terror network Al-Shabaab, al Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, claimed responsibility for the attack.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/21/world/africa/somalia-attack/">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On Al-Shabaab Militants Launching A Suicide Attack Against The Somali Presidential Palace In Mogadishu</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/02/shabaab_suicide_assa_1.php">Shabaab suicide assault team attacks Somali presidential compound</a> -- Long War Journal<br /><a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/somalia-blast-idINDEEA1K07S20140221">11 die in attack by militants on Somali president's compound</a> -- Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/somali-presidential-palace-attacked-mogadishu-bomb">Somali presidential palace attacked</a> -- The Guardian/AP<br /><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5imP6own5YjAFfzB22AFB8wrgBktg?docId=1d8db902-321b-4d20-9ff0-515ee97a6ddf">Somalia's Shebab in major suicide attack on presidential palace</a> -- AFP<br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-02-21/militants-in-somalia-attack-presidential-palace-in-mogadishu">Militants in Somalia Attack Presidential Palace in Mogadishu </a>-- Bloomberg Businessweek<br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26288846">Somali presidential palace: 'Car bomb' attack in Mogadishu</a> -- BBC<br /><a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/2/21/somali-presidentattackhousealshabaab.html">Somalia: Al-Shabab attacks presidential compound </a>-- Al Jazeera<br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/al-shabab-attacks-somali-presidential-palace/1856221.html">Somali President Unharmed in Palace Attack, Killing 17</a> -- Voice of America<br /><a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/21/Device-explodes-at-Somali-presidential-palace-gate-president-unhurt/UPI-57561392997293/?spt=rln&or=1">Device explodes at Somali presidential palace gate, president unhurt</a> -- UPI<br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-suicide-bomb-rocks-somali-presidential-palace-20140221,0,2564498.story#axzz2tseORMfW">Suicide car bomber rocks Somalia's presidential palace</a> -- L.A. Times

Al-Shabaab Militants Launch A Suicide Attack Against The Somali Presidential Palace In Mogadishu

Al-Shabaab Militants Attack Somali Presidential Palace In Mogadishu -- CNN Mogadishu, Somalia (CNN) -- Militants carried out a deadly attack...

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