Reading between the lines, and thinking outside the box . . .
B16's Q&A session with Roman clergy (part 1)
Following a Lenten tradition, Benedict XVI met Thursday with parish priests and clergy of the Diocese of Rome. During the meeting, the participants asked the Pope questions.
Five cardinals have sent a letter inviting prelates worldwide to join them in petitioning Benedict XVI to declare a 5th Marian dogma they said would "proclaim the full Christian truth about Mary.
"The text, released last week, includes the petition that asks the Pope to proclaim Mary as "the Spiritual Mother of All Humanity, the co-redemptrix with Jesus the redeemer, mediatrix of all graces with Jesus the one mediator, and advocate with Jesus Christ on behalf of the human race."
(And: Full text of letter)
Dutch Catholics have re-branded the Lent fast as the "Christian Ramadan" in an attempt to appeal to young people who are more likely to know about Islam than Christianity. Three decades ago the Catholic Church was as strict as many Muslims are about Ramadan with a total ban on meat and alcohol during the 40-day Lenten period between Ash Wednesday and Easter.
(And: Blog analysis and comments)
German press
Conservative German politicians have accused Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan of interfering in German affairs and harming efforts to integrate the country's Turks.
Chancellor Merkel and her conservatives have heaped criticism on Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan for telling the Germany's 2.5 million Turkish immigrants that "assimilation is a crime against humanity."
Prominent German conservatives have rebuffed Erdogan's comments. Erwin Huber, the head of Bavaria's conservative Christian Social Union, went as far as to call for a review of Turkey's EU accession talks. "Erdogan preached Turkish nationalism on German soil. That is anti-European and confirms our misgivings regarding Turkish EU membership."
The governor of Bavaria, Günther Beckstein, told N24 television: "The task (for Turks) is to be good citizens in Germany, to learn German, to speak German in their families." He called Erdogan's remarks "nationalistic" and "highly displeasing."
NATO turns screws on Germany
For months, NATO has been pressuring Germany to increase its commitment to the Afghanistan mission. Now, the complaints are getting louder. Berlin is doing its best to dodge the demands, but NATO may not be in a mood to listen.
German press
Robert Gates has been putting pressure on Germany to up its commitment to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. But some in Germany say it is America's violence, not Berlin's reluctance, that is the problem.
Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz
Auf der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz, die am vergangenen Wochenende zum 44. Mal in der bayrischen Landeshauptstadt tagte, verschärfte der amerikanische Verteidigungsminister Robert Gates seine Attacken auf die europäischen Nato-Verbündeten.
[Europress] [Russopress]
President Giorgio Napolitano has dissolved the 2 chambers of the Italian legislature, after efforts to form an interim government had failed. New elections have been set for April 13 and 14.
How the election will end, however, remains unclear. According to opinion polls, a large part of the electorate is still undecided. Both political camps have commenced a series of manoeuvres that—under conditions where neither has any answer to the urgent social problems of the country—revolve around superficial issues.
This has been an extraordinary week for Islam in Europe, emphasizing the potential for a clash of values, if not a clash of civilizations, between Europeans and their fastest-growing minority.
A series of events around the continent has brought into sharp focus the tensions over women's rights, Islamic law, freedom of speech and whether Turkey has a future in Europe.
(And: Archbishop faces backlash)
(Cartoon: The man who mentioned sharia)
(Cartoon: I was only trying to start a debate)
Serbia would declare as invalid a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo as Belgrade considered such a move illegal, AP quoted a statement issued after a meeting between Serbian President Tadic and prime minister Kostunica on Monday. "All state institutions must make necessary decisions and measures to annul all illegitimate acts of unilateral independence."
"We are in the middle of a very difficult situation and we don't know what will happen. The great majority are not happy and the possibilities are there that could result in another Middle East. Here, you cannot separate the political and religious issues. Emotionally, they are at the heart of the historic traditions."
Russia is surprised by the commotion raised in Western media reports over a recent incident involving Russian bombers in the Pacific Ocean, an aide to the Russian Air Force commander said today.
"During the flight they were escorted by F-15 fighters of the Japanese Air Force and F-18 fighters from the Nimitz aircraft carrier, which happened at that time to be in the patrolling zone of the Russian Tu-95s. We are surprised by the commotion that has been raised over this."
The army is ready for a large-scale counter-terrorist operation in Gaza, but is waiting for the government to give the go-ahead, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Monday at a conference of senior army officers.
If the US has information as to the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, why are they going to the media with it — unless it's to ready the American public for a strike at Pakistan?
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman had the only possible response: "If there is any actionable intelligence it should be shared with the government of Pakistan so that they can be neutralized. You don't talk to the media if you have information like this."
No, you don't. But if you don't really have such information, and merely want to appear as if you do in order to pursue your own warmongering agenda – well, then, you talk to the media anonymously.
US-NATO pre-emptive nuclear doctrine:
The Western media is involved in a diabolical disinformation campaign, the purpose of which is to persuade public opinion that the only way to "create a nuclear free World" is to use nuclear weapons on a preemptive basis, against countries which "threaten our Western Way of Life."
A preemptive nuclear attack -- geographically confined to Middle East (minus Israel?) -- is the proposed end-game. The attack would use US tactical nuclear weapons, which, according to "scientific opinion" (on contract to the Pentagon) are "harmless to the surrounding civilian population because the explosion is underground."
We are a dangerous crossroads: military planners believe their own propaganda. The military manuals state that this new generation of nuclear weapons are "safe" for use in the battlefield. They are no longer a weapon of last resort. There are no impediments or political obstacles to their use.
Chad's rebels urged EU member states not to send peacekeeping troops to the country's east, saying the force would not be neutral because it was dominated by France.
"The alliance of the armed opposition no longer believes in the neutrality of a force essentially composed of French troops and whose operational direction is carried out by France. As a result, (the alliance) immediately demands that other European countries refrain from sending their nationals in EUFOR, whose final objective is to protect the Deby regime."
Chancellor Merkel met Prime Minister Olmert on Monday to discuss the Jewish state's conflict with Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip and Iran's nuclear programme. Olmert said last month Israel will not be reconciled to a nuclear Iran and "all options are on the table".
(And in the Jerusalem Post: "Later Tuesday, Olmert is slated to meet German president Horst Köhler in his residence. Meetings are also scheduled with the German parliamentary president Norbert Lammert and Chairperson of the Foreign Policy Committee Ruprecht Polenz.
All 3 politicians are members of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union. Polenz is the most vocal CDU opponent of tough economic actions against Iran and has attacked American efforts to pressure Teheran to change its foreign policy posture.)
The German government halved the volume of new export credit guarantees for trade with Iran last year, the Economy Ministry said, in a sign Berlin is increasing pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program. Germany has traditionally been among the top exporters to Iran.
Iran has reported asssistance from Gulf Arab states in shielding Teheran's banking system, which have been targeted by the US. Iran's Central Bank Gov. said at least 2 Gulf Cooperation Council states were assisting Iran's banking system to thwart US sanctions.
The UN's latest widely-awaited report on Iran's nuclear programme could be delayed by disagreements between atomic watchdog chief Mohammed ElBaradei and his technical staff, diplomats said Monday.
The release could now be put off by a few days because of differences between ElBaradei and his technical staff over the report's findings, one Western diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity. "Originally, we were expecting it to come on February 20."
Stratfor audio
Two top US officials have crossed the world this weekend in search of solutions — Defense Secretary Robert Gates seeking backing for more troops in Afghanistan, and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulsen attending a G7 meeting on the financial crisis. Neither will come back with solutions.
McCain is the neocons' anointed choice for president of the US, and has been so for many years. He was their candidate when he ran against George Bush in the primaries in 2000 and again when he announced his candidacy for 2008.
That McCain is no traditional conservative if measured by his views on cultural and fiscal issues matters not at all, because the Israel-and-empire-fixated neocons consider such issues unimportant.
The neocons and McCain do not disguise their belief that Iran must be dealt with by military means because diplomacy has failed. McCain's sentiment toward Iran is unrelentingly belligerent.
To turn himself into a one-man bridge over troubled political waters, McCain will reportedly insist that his vice president be Sen. Joseph Lieberman. Lieberman, like McCain, would like to attack Iran.
He is opposed to negotiating with the Iranians, claiming that it is akin to a firefighter negotiating with an arsonist. He favors military action to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapons program and asserts that Iran is already at war with the US.
McCain-Lieberman would also play the fear card extremely well, rallying both the Republican base, which is largely willing to ignore social issues when it comes to national security, and conservative Democrats.
This would likely complete America's transition to a militarized state and would empower terrorists everywhere, resulting in constant warfare and bankrupting the United States in fairly short order. Such is the price of the neocon new world order.
(Cartoon: McCain learning the Bush swagger)
In an exclusive Der Spiegel interview, John McCain discusses European-American relations, Germany's role in Afghanistan, how he would close Guantanamo and the conditions he would place on a global agreement on climate protection.
The US military on Monday announced charges against 6 individuals it alleges helped plan the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The prisoners are to be tried in a single trial before a military commission at the Guantánamo Bay prison camp.
With the announced charges, the American government is setting in motion a vast show trial within its drumhead military tribunal system. The aim is not to arrive at the truth of what happened on September 11 and who was responsible, but to intimidate popular opposition to the occupation of Iraq and bolster the "war on terror."
There are both domestic and international aims behind the Bush administration's decision to hold this trial. Internationally, the trial will be used to bolster the military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Domestically, the trial is designed to coincide with the 2008 US elections. The Bush administration will seek to bombard the public with supposed threats, while lurid details of the original plot and the horrific results on 9/11 are reported endlessly in the newspapers and mass media.
General Motors Corp., which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, today reported a net loss of $38.7 billion, or $68.45 a share — making 2007 the worst year on record for the world's largest automaker.
The news came on the same day GM announced yet another sweeping buyout program to all of its 74,000 hourly workers who are represented by the UAW, part of an ongoing effort to reduce the number of highly paid autoworkers at the company.
The credit crisis is no longer just a subprime mortgage problem. As US home prices fall and banks tighten lending standards, people with good, or prime, credit histories are falling behind on their payments for home loans, auto loans and credit cards at a quickening pace, according to industry data and economists.
With prices falling and lenders clamping down, homeowners with solid credit are starting to come under the same financial stress as those with subprime credit. The rise in prime delinquencies, while less severe than the one in the subprime market, nonetheless poses a threat to the battered US housing market and weakening economy.
How big is the risk of global deflation? Five years ago, central banks led by the US Federal Reserve fretted and cut short-term interest rates aggressively. This time the Fed is largely alone in seeking insurance against the possibility of a deflationary depression.
Both the European Central Bank and the Bank of England may ease further. But neither is inclined to follow the Fed into "whatever it takes" territory.
There is one scenario that could produce a 1930s-style deflationary depression in the US: a large-scale financial meltdown. By that I mean a situation in which the financial sector would cease to fulfil one of its basic functions: to provide liquidity to the real economy.
If you're worried about inflation, then this is shaping up to be a scary week.Globalisation, which initially pushed prices lower, has swung into reverse.
Soaring demand in the emerging world fuels higher food and energy costs, which feed into higher wages in places such as China and so into higher import prices. Countries at the sharp end of the Asian boom, such as Australia, say prices are spinning out of control.
Central banks like to maintain steady but low inflation because the alternatives are horrendous. The worst of all possible worlds is when inflation rears its ugly head even as growth slows.
Stagflation holds a special place in the dark corners of economists' minds because it renders a central banker's monetary armoury powerless to fight a uniquely debilitating condition. He can't stimulate growth with lower interest rates because prices will take off and he can't bash inflation with higher rates because it will tip the economy into recession.
The International Monetary Fund says it plans to sell gold from its reserves, and the announcement at the G7 meeting in Tokyo confirmed those moves could come as early as April. The maneuver widely is understood to be aimed at an IMF goal of depressing the price of gold worldwide.
The IMF decision did not surprise financial analyst Michael Bolser, who has been predicting such a move for months. The IMF goal appears to be to shove the price of gold back down into the $500/ounce range, Bolser told WND in an exclusive telephone interview.
He said a secondary goal is for the IMF to gain control of as much of the world's gold reserves as possible. "This grab of IMF sovereign gold held in central banks around the world matches what the Federal Reserve did in 1934 when the Treasury grabbed US citizen's wealth after a long and debilitating depression created by the Fed through excessive lending."
Technically, the gold held by the IMF is pledged by central banks when sovereign nations join the IMF. The IMF then becomes a repository for gold pledged by members of the IMF, with the bulk of the gold held by the IMF pledged by the US.
International Herald Tribune video on the week in world news.
Paranoid Protestant's Prophecy Poop!...
The concept of a cashless society where all financial transactions and purchases are strictly controlled and every nuance of a person's life is noted and recorded, in many cases by implanted chips, sounds like the perfect ingredients for a science-fiction thriller.
Yet the Rev. Glenn Guest envisions this apocalyptic scenario following the Bible's Book of Revelation that begins with the gradual disappearance of cash and checks and the increased reliance on debit and credit cards. And he sees it coming closer every day.
Book review
Anglo-American Oil Politics and the New World Order
The book is breathtaking in scope and content, and a shocking and essential history of geopolitics and strategic importance of oil. The book is reviewed in-depth so readers will know the type future Henry Kissinger had in mind in 1970 when he said: "Control oil and you control nations; control food and you control people."
Geopolitical history for the last 100 years was shaped around the quest for what Big Oil acolyte Daniel Yergin called "The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power" with 2 countries at its epicenter - first Britain and now America with its UK junior partner that built its rule on 3 essential pillars:
1. Controlling the seas and setting the terms of trade;
2. Dominating world banking and manipulating the world's largest gold supply;
3. Controlling world raw materials with oil the key one at the turn of the century.
Britain's "genius" was being able to shift alliances without letting sentiment interfere with its interests. Post-Waterloo, it operated "on an extremely sophisticated marriage between top (London) bankers and financiers, government cabinet ministers," key industrialists and espionage chiefs. By keeping everything secret, it "wielded immense power over credulous and unsuspecting foreign economies."
"Does [Yahshua] Jesus tiptoe around the issue, so as not to "rock the boat"? Does he drop the subject in order to "preserve church unity"? Nope. He walks right into it, he baits them, he picks a fight. [The Messiah] draws the enemy out, exposes him for what he is, and shames him in front of everyone. The Lord is a gentleman?" (p.25)
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