A Christmas celebrated without mention of the birth of Christ is an "empty holiday," said Benedict XVI in a meditation given during the final days of Advent. "What sense does it make to celebrate Christmas if we don't acknowledge that God has become man," the Pope asked today upon delivering a reflection on Christmas at the general audience in Paul VI Hall.
(Also: Full text of address)
A Russian human-rights activist has warned about a rise in the number of attacks on the Catholic Church. He reported that attacks on the Catholic faith have "dramatically increased during the past 2 years." He said that he saw the rise in anti-Catholicism as a reaction against the leadership of Pope Benedict XVI, whose policies he sees as "more dangerous for the anti-Christian forces."
Pope Benedict XVI has offered a couple of recent previews of what's likely to be his core message to the UN next April, the projected highlight of his first visit to the US. But if the pope's words have fed expectations of a "High Noon"-style showdown, they are likely to be dashed.
Benedict had no intention of making an anti-UN jeremiad. Like every pope since the birth of the UN in 1945, Benedict supports robust global governance, in a fashion that has long bewildered neoconservative critics of the UN in the US and elsewhere.
While the Vatican may have its differences with UN agencies over sex, it also sees the organization as the lone realistic possibility for putting a human face on international politics and economics.
Nicholas Sarkozy met Pope Benedict today in Rome. "Bienvenue!" said Pope Benedict and offered to conduct the meeting in French, commenting that he had learned it "at school". The conversation continued for around half-an-hour, and touched on the role of religion in France.
Despite his failed marriages, Sarkozy describes himself as a "lapsed Catholic" and had a Catholic upbringing. He was abandoned by his father, a Hungarian immigrant, and was heavily influenced instead by his grandfather, a Sephardic Jew who converted to Catholicism.
The near-collapse of SachsenLB, Saxony's state bank, uncovered major flaws in the German state-owned banking system. The banks are inflexible, outdated and lack a convincing business model. Consolidation may be on the way.
Many state-owned banks are not even in a position to help in a bailout. Most of them have also been involved in high-risk deals with US mortgage-backed securities. In fact, the state-owned banks have committed significantly larger shares of their assets to these investments than the private banks.
The world's key central banks did what they could to help ease the crisis. In a concerted move, the European Central Bank and US Federal Reserve injected fresh, low-interest cash into the credit markets to avoid liquidity shortfalls. But this effort only helps offset the banks' most serious problems, while at the same time making it clear that the situation is precarious. Germany, and especially its state-owned banks, has been especially hard-hit.
Chancellor Merkel has opposed EU plans to cut pollution from new cars, saying it was "not economically favourable". She said the move would burden Germany and its carmakers disproportionately.
Back from the brink?
After all-night negotiations, the caretaker Prime Minister has managed to hammer out a deal allowing for a 3-month interim government in Belgium. But the country is still looking for a more permanent solution.
European nations bring down the last remnants of the Iron Curtain on Friday when they form a vast free-movement zone embracing 24 countries from Spain to Estonia. From the first moment of Friday 400 million Europeans will find travelling by road, rail and ship easier as internal border controls are scrapped with nine mostly eastern European EU members.
"It is a visible sign that the former divisions in Europe, the borders on the ground and in people's minds, are being overcome. This will lead to greater freedom and security, not only for the citizens of the nine future Schengen countries, but also for the EU as a whole."
The euro is riding high and the dollar is weak. European car sales boom while Detroit suffers. European growth rates are recovering and the US is slipping toward recession. On the face if it, these are good times to be a European, after years of soggily low growth and American sneers about "Old Europe" being from Venus while macho Americans are from Mars. In fact, the picture is considerably more mixed.
The UN Security Council failed to break the impasse over Kosovo Wednesday as Western envoys said further talks between the parties would be pointless and that the status quo in the breakaway Serbian province is "unsustainable" ... (because) their views remain irreconcilable."
Another chapter of the Kosovo crisis was closed on Wednesday, when the UN Security Council accepted the report of the "troika" that negotiations between Serbia and the Albanian separatists in its occupied province of Kosovo had failed.
Expectations in Washington, Brussels and other Western capitals are that Russia and Serbia will eventually accept the fait accompli. This belief is as dangerous as it is wrong, and portends a showdown in the near future that will decide matters far beyond the Balkans.
What is it about this corner of Europe that keeps drawing the powers of this earth to contest their will therein? It has little strategic importance, no exceptional natural resources, and a difficult geography. Yet it remains a battlefield of ideas, armies and politics, whereupon many empires have left their bones over the centuries. Kosovo may well be the great battle of our time. If so, its outcome has already been decided, and the American Empire will be the most recent addition to the Balkans graveyard.
A group of prominent rabbinic elders and the leaders of Israel's major Temple Mount activist groups issued a joint statement today calling on "all nations who believe in the word of God to" rebuke the Israeli government for reportedly failing to halt the Hamas terror group from broadcasting live today from the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site.
"We call upon all nations who cherish freedom and who believe in the word of God as manifest in the Torah of Israel and its prophets to rebuke the government of Israel for its disgraceful treatment of all that is holy to the Jewish people before the eyes of the entire world," said a statement by the New Jewish Congress, the Sanhedrin and the Holy Temple and Temple Mount movements.
The Israel Antiquities Authority has been instructed by the cabinet to continue its work at the Mugrabi walkway near the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The cabinet recently instructed the IAA to complete the work "as soon as possible, with full transparency and with the cooperation of the relevant bodies." Excavations at the site, a walkway leading to the Mugrabi Gate at the Temple Mount, were halted in June after they raised an international protest.
Israel defied international pressure to freeze construction of new Jewish homes in the occupied territories when it said yesterday that it was planning to build a dormitory town on the northern edge of Jerusalem. If it went ahead it would dwarf all existing Jewish communities near Jerusalem built on land seized by Israeli forces in the Six Day War in 1967.
Prime Minister Olmert's residence is being outfitted with a bunker that can withstand a nuclear or chemical attack, an Israeli daily reported today. The Yedioth report quoted anonymous Olmert representatives as denying the construction of a bunker, saying the workers were merely adding a "safe room."
Osama bin Laden's quest for a nuclear weapons arsenal now focuses on al-Qaida efforts to destabilizing Pakistan, plunging the nation into civil war, seizing power in conjunction with other radical jihadists and grabbing control of the world's first Islamic bombs, according to a report in a West Point anti-terrorism journal.
"Today, [al-Qaida] has a secure operating base in the country, its leadership is issuing constant guidance to its global supporters, it is threatening NATO's position in Afghanistan through its Taliban allies, and it is now a growing force in Pakistan itself. The current political crisis in Pakistan is endangering the secular democratic forces in the country, polarizing the debate about the country's future and strengthening al-Qaida's Islamist partners."
President Ahmadinejad said on Al-Adha Eid Day in Saudi Arabia (that the) philosophy of Haj can be defined merely through considering Islam's aim at establishment of a global government. "If we would delete the ultimate objective of establishing a global system from the Haj rituals, the remainder would be deeds devoid of a soul."
Iran and Italy will soon sign an agreement on the transfer of Iran's natural gas to the European country, a top Iranian official says. "Iran's natural gas will be transferred to Italy through Turkey and Greece."
President Putin said he hoped there was no hidden agenda behind a recent report released by US intelligence services saying there was no evidence of an Iranian nuclear weapons program. Putin said it is theoretically possible that the report was published to "divert Iran's attention from preparations for military action," which would be a "grave mistake."
The NIE derailed the White House policy of bombing of Iran and led to a prolonged scream from neo con heavies. They now bleat on TV about "treason" in high places (CIA) and the nation's desperate need to bomb Iran immediately.
For Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak publicizing the NIE report meant a "blow to the groin" of Israel. Will Bush now secretly encourage Israel to use some its own nuclear stockpile to launch a "preemptive strike" against Iran?
The Israel Air Force has been conducting an increasing number of training missions outside of Israel, over the Mediterranean, in the US, Canada, Italy and other countries. "The IAF's fighter jets need to train for missions against very distant targets, like Iran, and they therefore require long operational ranges."
While Iran has no intentions to develop nuclear weapons in any way, shape, or form, the Israeli government is raising in very explicit terms the possibility of air strikes against Iran.
Israel is a Rottweiler on a leash: The US wants to "set Israel loose" to attack Iran. It could trigger a regional war against Iran and its allies in the Middle East. Tel Aviv's war plans are being coordinated with the US, the EU, Turkey, and NATO.
UPI analysis
By definition all military campaigns plan for the worst case. Because any US attack against Iran would likely provoke an Iranian military response, the US plan must include taking out Iranian air defense and naval assets and Tehran's robust ballistic missile capabilities.
Considering the many hundreds of targets the US would have to hit in a short time, Iran could do a great deal of damage in the Gulf before its assets on the mainland and islands were destroyed. And any ocean mines they were able to lay before being hit could continue to do damage long after US planes returned home.
The human costs in terms of civilian loss of life would be significant. At a minimum, thousands of Iranian civilians would be killed. Meanwhile, before its military capabilities were neutralized Iran would likely be able to wreak considerable damage on neighboring oil-producing Gulf states, severely disrupt the transportation of oil through the Persian Gulf, and support increased attacks against US troops in Iraq, not to mention US targets around the world.
President Bush will make his first trip to Jerusalem and the West Bank next month to push Israel and the Palestinians toward peace, the White House announced yesterday. Bush also plans to stop during his 9-day trip in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
President Bush has approved what officials are describing as the most significant reorganization of American ground forces since WW2, signing off on a plan that will keep more troops than previously envisioned in Europe and add large numbers of soldiers to bases in Colorado, Georgia and Texas, Army officials said Wednesday. It significantly changes the military footprint that existed before terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and also alters a plan adopted with great fanfare by the Pentagon in 2004.
Specifically, the Army will keep one heavy brigade in Germany until 2012 and another until 2013 rather than rapidly reducing Army forces in Europe, as originally planned. Even after the return of those 2 brigades to the US, 2 brigades will remain in Europe — one in Germany and one in Italy — along with a large contingent of service and support personnel.
Russian Security Analyst reports circulating in the Kremlin today are stating that the offices of Vice President Cheney, came under assault by 'unknown' US Military assailants who in retreating before what has been described as 'withering fire' from Secret Service Agents assigned to protect Cheney literally 'blew up' the Vice Presidents office complex.
Russian Military Analysts are further reporting that the ongoing, and deadly, power struggle occurring in the US is eerily reminiscent of the Nazi German power struggles of last century which led to the outbreak of WW2, and which, also, were not reported to the citizens of the German Empire like they are not being reported to the Americans today.
Russian economists are quick to point out, that with the prospect of the Western banking system collapsing, coupled with the shocking rise of oil prices, and now the prospect of Global food shortages, the US is left with little leverage to protect itself other than its vast military might, and, which many believe is leading the US towards an inevitable conflict with the East in its quest for survival.
To the American people, however, the imminent dangers they are facing are being kept from them as they are consumed by the trivial populist media trash that is being fed to them on an hourly basis, but which does nothing to help them in preparing for the catastrophic events that are soon to overtake them.
And, as the US War Leaders accelerate their battles between their various factions, the World today stands closer to the abyss than in any other time since the outbreak of WW2.
The Lakota Indians, who gave the world legendary warriors Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, have withdrawn from treaties with the United States, leaders said Wednesday. "We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the 5-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us."
A delegation of Lakota leaders delivered a message to the State Department on Monday, announcing they were unilaterally withdrawing from treaties they signed with the federal government, some of them more than 150 years old. They also visited the Bolivian, Chilean, South African and Venezuelan embassies, and will continue on their diplomatic mission and take it overseas in the coming weeks and months.
"This is according to the laws of the United States, specifically Article 6 of the constitution," which states that treaties are the supreme law of the land. "It is also within the laws on treaties passed at the Vienna Convention and put into effect by the US and the rest of the international community in 1980. We are legally within our rights to be free and independent."
Lakota country includes parts of the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. The new country would issue its own passports and driving licences, and living there would be tax-free - provided residents renounce their US citizenship.
Reports circulating in the Kremlin today state that an enraged President Putin has ordered Russian Foreign Ministry Officials to begin the processes needed for Russia to recognize the Lakota Sioux Indian Tribe as an independent Nation, and who have now broken away from the US by renouncing their treaties with their occupiers.
Putin's anger, according to these reports, is based upon the US engineering of the failure of UN talks on the Serbian breakaway province of Kosovo which is seeking independence. Putin was reported to have told one of his top aides that "two can play at this game."
With these latest events, and with Russia as a potential new ally, one can only wonder if these long suffering and resilient Indians can once again defeat their age old enemies residing in the corridors of power in Washington D.C.
Queen Elizabeth II was set to become Britain's oldest monarch today, overtaking her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria, although in discreet royal fashion no events were planned to mark the record. She is the world's 2nd-longest serving monarch alive, after Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
For the last 13 years Jack has been the most popular boys' name in the land. But in multicultural Britain children named after the Muslim prophet Mohammed come a close 2nd.
[WAR: I heard on the radio the other day that the top 2 name for boys here in Arizona is Angel and Jose.]
Amidst mounting losses by major US and European banks and extraordinary measures by central banks to avert a financial meltdown, a dramatic increase in US inflation has further roiled global markets, raising the specter of a slide into "stagflation"—economic slump combined with sharply rising prices.
The inflation figures reported last week are just the tip of the iceberg. The prices of basic commodities—energy, foodstuffs, metals—are soaring at record rates around the world.
The banks and major investors see interest rate cuts as a means of flooding the financial market with cheap credit and staving off further losses from subprime mortgage-linked investments that have collapsed as a result of the US housing slump and surge in home foreclosures. However, further rate cuts can only accelerate the already steep decline of the US dollar on world currency markets and fuel an even more rapid rise in prices.
"What we are witnessing is essentially the breakdown of our modern-day banking system, a complex of leveraged lending [that is] so hard to understand. Colleagues call it the 'shadow banking system' because it has lain hidden for years, untouched by regulation yet free to magically and mystically create and then package subprime loans in [ways] that only Wall Street wizards could explain."
It is this vast edifice of speculation, swindling and greed—driven by the contradictions and crisis of modern global capitalism—that is now imploding.
(Also: A crisis long foretold)
(Also: The scourge of liquidity)
(Also: Blame game has begun)
Goldman Sachs, the most profitable US investment bank, will distribute a staggering $12.1 billion in bonuses this month, up from $9.9 billion last year. The company will pay $20.2 billion in all forms of compensation, up from $16.5 billion last year. The lion's share will go to a few hundred top executives, managers and partners, who will receive tens of millions apiece.
A single Wall Street firm will distribute more than twice as much money to a few hundred executives as the US government spends on the State Children's Health Insurance Program serving millions of children of low-paid workers, and more than the federal government spent this year on Hurricane Katrina reconstruction and relief. Goldman Sachs total annual compensation exceeds the budget of the federal departments of Treasury, Justice, Labor, Agriculture or Interior, the EPA or NASA.
Such figures demonstrate the grotesque distortions inflicted on American society by the domination of financial speculators whose activities create nothing of value and have, from the standpoint of material production, an entirely parasitic and destructive impact.
Much of Goldman's record profits this year come from its successful financial manipulations in the subprime mortgage market, where it essentially bet against its major Wall Street rivals.
Good for her...
Germany will today urge the World Bank, IMF and WTO to work better together in managing the social and environmental impacts of globalisation. Chancellor Merkel, current chair of the G8 group of rich economies, has invited the heads of the 3 multilateral institutions, and those of the OECD and the International Labour Organisation, for talks in Berlin on creating "fair conditions for a social and open world economy".
The rare meeting aims to promote better co-ordination of initiatives to fight climate change, upgrade international social and environmental standards, and protect intellectual property rights, according to people familiar with the agenda.
On Yalda festival, Iranians celebrate the arrival of winter, the renewal of the sun and the victory of light over darkness. Considered the longest night of the year, Yalda eve is the night when ancient Iranians celebrated the birth of Mithra, the goddess of light. Every 21st of December Iranians celebrate Yalda which means birth in Syriac. It is believed that when this night ends, days become longer as light has defeated darkness.
Ancient Persians believed that evil forces were dominant on the longest night of the year and that the next day belonged to the Lord of Wisdom, Ahura Mazda. The Persians would burn fires all night to ensure the defeat of evil. They would hold feasts, raise charity, honor their deities and pray to the goddess Mithra.
Now we learn NSA increasingly controls SSL, now called Transport Layer Security, the cryptographic protocol that provides secure communications on the internet for web browsing, e-mail, instant messaging, and other data transfers. In other words, increasingly, the NSA is reading your email and everything you type in your IM client — and in real time. The NSA is buying up key technology in an effort to snoop you even more closely. If this trend continues, we may as well call the internet the NSAnet.
Moreover, according to Cryptome's research, if you own "security" software produced by Zone Alarm, Symantec, and MacAfee, you are in essence throwing out a welcome mat for the NSA and its bevy of underwear drawer sniffing goons. "All facilitate Microsoft's NSA-controlled remote admin access via IP/TCP ports 1024 through 1030," and without a "security flag," that it to say you will be none the wiser.
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