Damage in Homs, Syria (AP photograph)
“WAR CRIMES IN PROGRESS.”
Amnesty International so characterizes the escalating practice of Syrian rebels beating and summarily executing people associated with the Syrian government, many of whom are soldiers manning checkpoints designed to quell the insurgency. Free Syrian Army, the “umbrella” group supported by U.S. and other foreign powers and which “coordinates” rebel efforts, condemns this “war crime” activity but complains that it is unable to maintain control over the actions of many small bands of insurgents operating on their own initiative.
(Los Angeles Times)
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THIS CHRISTMAS, TOYS WILL BE SENT TO THE NORTH POLE(MORE OR LESS).
Canadian Toy Association holds an expo of the “hottest toys” for this year’s gifts, including an opportunity for Toronto kids to test out (play with) some of these “hot” items and even to speak to the Big Man (Santa) himself: shortening the classic circuit of I-see-it, I-want-it, give-it-to-me. For those kids living in remote northern regions of Canada not able to make to Toronto, the Association (through the mouth of Santa) promises to cooperate in getting some of these hot toys into the hot hands of children in the frozen north.
(Toronto Sun)
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JIHADISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST GETS A HUGE BOOST: COURTESY OF THE U.S.A.
William Blum finds in the U.S. support of violent insurgents in Syria and continuing drone attacks in Afghanistan the seeds of a growing jihadist influence in the area. Al Qaeda flags and mentality appear among many of the insurgent groups in Syria, and even though American officials realize that drone attacks and other indicators of American military presence continue to feed militancy in Afghanistan, they say that just such a presence will need to be maintained for a long time to come.
(Dissident Voice)
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BOTTLES OF WATER FOR NEW YORK MARATHON RUNNERS? HOW ABOUT A GALLON OF WATER FOR MY KIDS TO DRINK DURING THE SANDY-CREATED BLACKOUT?
As Mayor Bloomberg surprises many with a decision to hold the annual Marathon this weekend despite the effects of the hurricane on the city, the decision is being questioned by those noting the huge quantity not only of water but of volunteer personnel to direct traffic and maintain order along the route of the run—resources that seem sorely needed now for relief of hurricane victims.
(Mother Jones)
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ARE MISSING ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FL TO BE THE 2012 EQUIVALENT OF THE “HANGING CHADS” THAT HUNG OUT TO DRY THE RESULT OF THE 2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?
As Florida is once again a “swing” state, any elector irregularity has the potential of swinging the state between presidential candidates. The current concern in Palm Beach is that the postal service may not have delivered many of the “mailed” ballots. The hanging chad level of efficiency of the PB supervisor of elections is shown again in the fact that 15,000 such ballots were incorrectly printed and had to be corrected by hand.
(Tampa Tribune)
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Quote of the day…
What was communicated in the presentation was: “This is what you talk about, and don’t talk about climate change.” I took away an absolutely clear understanding that we should focus on clean energy jobs and the potential of a clean energy economy rather than the threat of climate change.
Betsy Taylor, president of Breakthrough Strategies and Solutions, on 2009 strategy meeting of Obama re-election campaign, cited as GOP Mayor Bloomberg of NYC endorses Obama on grounds of his being good on “climate change,” an issue hardly mentioned in the current campaign.
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