And now.... the news.

And now.... the news. (Full Version)

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Level -> And now.... the news. (8/16/2007 4:30:19 PM)
Biden's son headed to Iraq in 2008 6 minutes ago The son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is preparing for deployment to Iraq next year. Capt. Beau Biden, a Judge Advocate General in the Delaware National Guard and the state's attorney general, is part of the 261st Signal Brigade that has been told to prepare for duty in Iraq in 2008. They have not been given a date of deployment yet. "I don't want him going," Delaware Sen. Joe Biden said from the campaign trail Wednesday, according to a report on Radio Iowa. "But I tell you what, I don't want my grandson or my granddaughters going back in 15 years and so how we leave makes a big difference." Biden criticized Democratic rivals such as Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama who have voted against Iraq funding bills to try to pressure President Bush to end the war. "There's no political point worth my son's life," Biden said, according to Radio Iowa. "There's no political point worth anybody's life out there. None." Lt. Col. Len Gratteri, spokesman for the Delaware National Guard, said Beau Biden is not being treated differently because of his office or because his father is running to be commander in chief. "He's a deployable asset just like any other soldier in that unit," Gratteri said. Two other presidential candidates, Republicans John McCain and Duncan Hunter, have sons who've been in military units deployed to Iraq. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BEIRUT: In a region where Arabs and Israelis also fight bitterly over who invented the falafel, food has powerful political potential. This, at least, is the vision of Kamal Mouzawak, a chef, television personality, writer, and the creator of Souk el Tayeb, a twice-weekly farmers' market in Beirut that has withstood political tensions and even war to bring together the Lebanese. "In Lebanon we have many different religious sects with seemingly nothing in common," Mouzawak said. "Except food. Muslims and Christians in the north eat the same food. Muslims and Christians in the south eat the same food. The differences are regional." http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/16/news/souk.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ US army suicides hit 26-year high At least 99 American soldiers killed themselves last year, the US army's highest suicide rate in 26 years, according to a new report. The rate of 17.3 suicides per 100,000 soldiers compares with 12.8 in 2005, officials said. Twenty-eight of the soldiers who took their own life last year did so while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6950158.stm 'New proof' of Japan sex slaves By Chris Hogg BBC News, Tokyo Reports from Japan say documents have been found that suggest the Japanese authorities forced women to work as sex slaves during World War II. They come from the Dutch government archives and include the testimony of a 27-year-old Dutch woman from May 1946. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6646297.stm

kittinSol -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/16/2007 6:20:53 PM)
Level, I feel the need to put your news into perspective. Two bombs exploded in Northern Iraq yesterday and decimated two villages. They estimate the death toll to be between 200 and 400 people. Villagers. Children. Women. The old. Civilians, in short. People without the means to defend themselves. Most would say, people who minded their own business. Now, if that bomb had killed between 200 and 400 american soldiers, would you have mentioned it? Forgive me, but the silence surrounding this horrible event sounds like death. quote: There is uncertainty over the final death toll in Tuesday's devastating multiple bomb attacks in northern Iraq against the minority Yazidi community. The interior ministry said at least 400 people had died. But police officials and the health ministry dispute this, saying more than 200 were killed. Earlier, the regional governor said as many as 200 people may still be buried. The bombing of two Yazidi villages near Mosul was one of the worst attacks in more than four years of war in Iraq. The co-ordinated bombings in the villages of Qataniya and Adnaniya involved a fuel tanker and three cars, officials said. The force of the blasts ripped apart houses, many of which were made of no more than clay and mud. The governor of Tal Afar told the BBC the current toll of 250 dead and 350 injured was expected to rise sharply, adding that as many as 200 people could still be buried under the rubble. Poor families in the Yazidi community often crowd as many as 30 people in one home, he said. The mayor of Sinjal, another nearby town, said on Wednesday that he expected the final death toll to rise. "We are still digging with our hands and shovels because we can't use cranes as many of the houses were built of clay," Dhakil Qassim told AP. Yes... the news. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6949013.stm

Level -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/16/2007 6:37:23 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kittinSol Now, if that bomb had killed between 200 and 400 american soldiers, would you have mentioned it? Forgive me, but the silence surrounding this horrible event sounds like death. It's certainly likely that I would have, as I'm more interested in Americans. *"Interested" does not mean that Americans have more value* than Iraqis, or anyone else. Of course, the bombing is important, because human beings are important. Many of the people in the north are our allies, as well. Now..... I have no problem with anyone bringing up a news story. However, I would tell anyone that they need to keep in mind, my news posts are often going to be limited, oft-times due to my time being limited. I can't post every important news item that happens in the world. I don't do these posts with any concern of covering all the bases, I post what catches my eye. Go back through all of my news posts. There is a fair amount that has little or nothing to do with America. I post news items on countries and people on every continent. I post stories from al-Jazeera. I post stories that represent the left, center, and right. So, again, yeah, more than likely, I would have put it in if it had been that many Americans killed. I have no problem with that.**

farglebargle -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/16/2007 9:38:01 PM)
In other news. The Bush Daughters continue their unrepentant cowardice, by refusing to serve in the armed forces. The fat and/or pregnant one, Jenna, is marrying another coward, who is refusing to serve.

LATEXBABY64 -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/16/2007 10:41:37 PM)
Elvis Joined the army and a lot of actors joined in ww2 so i guess that speaks for courage huh

OrionTheWolf -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/16/2007 11:16:42 PM)
Fuck that. I am more interested and concerned about Americans. Is why I am a proponent to fight the insurgency with technology and not troops. We can slaughter people that need to be slaughtered, without risking the troops. Let the Iraqi's have their internal war, the fallout will likely keep Syria and Iran occupied, and we can actual hunt down Islamic Facist groups that are actually tied to terroristic attacks, and the most likely to conduct them. That means looking deep into Saudi Arabia though, and I doubt even a Dem has the balls to do that.

kittinSol -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 5:04:06 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Level It's certainly likely that I would have, as I'm more interested in Americans. Well, we're definitely not on the same 'level' then, Lev. By that, I mean not on the same page. Not on the same wave. Perhaps we're even in two different worlds [&o].

pahunkboy -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 5:17:21 AM)
big oil got thier oil- now send our boys home! the us does very few favors.... [sharred sacrafice? gag me!]

Level -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 5:19:40 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kittinSol quote: ORIGINAL: Level It's certainly likely that I would have, as I'm more interested in Americans. Well, we're definitely not on the same 'level' then, Lev. By that, I mean not on the same page. Not on the same wave. Perhaps we're even in two different worlds [&o]. But is my interest a bad thing? I see it as similar to having a higher interest in one's family, than in strangers. And as I said, "interest" does not equate into thinking Americans are "better", or of more value. Curious to hear your, or others, thoughts, kittin.

sublimelysensual -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 5:36:33 AM)
Personally speaking, I appreciate the fact that Level takes the time out of his day to browse the sites and post the links, it's not something anyone else does to the extent that he does. I always read the posts, even though I don't necessarily comment. That being said..Level lives in the US (as do I)..I don't find it at all strange/unusual that a lot of what he chooses to post is relevant to Americans. When I read the news, I read what's most relevant to myself first, then move on to other things. I don't think that makes me unaware or unconcerned about other things that are going on. Nor would I expect someone from Canada or the UK to make US news their first priority. Just another one of those "self-absorbed" Americans... -a

farglebargle -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 5:43:26 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: pahunkboy big oil got thier oil- now send our boys home! the us does very few favors.... [sharred sacrafice? gag me!] Actually, they didn't. Remember how the US was going to put troops on the streets of Baghdad so that the Iraqi Parliament could pass the legislation needed to open up the oil business? Well, the troops surged, and the Iraqi Parliament went home, didn't pass the legislation the oil companies wanted, and NOW it looks like there's going to be a Kurdish/Sunni war over the Keirkuk oil instead.

michaelOfGeorgia -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 5:45:03 AM)
cereal killer on the loose...Capt Crunch bites the big one...film at 11

kittinSol -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 6:00:00 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Level But is my interest a bad thing? I see it as similar to having a higher interest in one's family, than in strangers. And as I said, "interest" does not equate into thinking Americans are "better", or of more value. Curious to hear your, or others, thoughts, kittin. I appreciate your posting of the news, Lev. Still, I felt an urgent need to 'rectify' your news editing, because of the scale of the bombings two days ago. They now think up to 500 people may have died. I am curious as to why so many americans seem to be so oblivious to the world around them. Do you have any idea why, Level?

caitlyn -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 6:07:45 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Level Curious to hear your, or others, thoughts, kittin. kSol makes these posts to prove to herself that she has more empathy than everyone else ... one person at a time. [8\|]

pahunkboy -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 6:12:15 AM)
Americans are oblivious to the world cos we can be. on that note- if every one had a tidy neighborhood- the entire world would be tidy. America has become a muti national corporation. We o longer live in a country- but are trained to be good consumers. the consumer model is unsustauinable. today things are gtreat in America as we ride on the heroics of our grandfathers.....the ww2 generaation. be that as it may- capital owes no allegience to any flag- to any people. if more cash can be plundered from abc country- the powers that be are so out of here. the weathy 1% control the globe- not the American consumer.

sappatoti -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 6:14:36 AM)
Kittin, I agree with your position on the importance of the scope of what happened in northern Iraq (man made devastation) as well as the equal number of fatalities in Peru (naturally made). The loss of so many, whether they be Americans or not, is a tragedy, no matter how one views it. Those who died were innocent... they did nothing wrong but go about their daily lives. Those people need to know that everyone on this planet has a vested interest in making sure that something like this doesn't happen again... anywhere. That's in the long run. In the near term, those people need assistance, and they need it now. I am a US citizen, but my heart goes out to all whose lives are torn apart by violence and natural disasters... where ever they may live on this small orb.

kittinSol -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 6:18:19 AM)
Argh, caitlyn, will you stop following me around? Down, girl.

pahunkboy -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 6:21:42 AM)
1/2 the stuff we are told are lies- or spin. so we get sorta jaded. many here would give a shirt to someone in need. irregardless of the ethnic of the person. the tlevisation of the world puts it in a surreal place. here we are 10 days hearing about 6 miners. they are deceased...IMO. the Peru earth quake is now news. in regards re Iraq- it goes out the other ear. we been so misled- why should we pay any attention now??? why is it different this time? brings me to the 06 election let down. we get business as usual. so much rides on 08!!

pahunkboy -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 6:23:19 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: farglebargle quote: ORIGINAL: pahunkboy big oil got thier oil- now send our boys home! the us does very few favors.... [sharred sacrafice? gag me!] well at $3 a gallon someone is getting cash from this cluster fkk. Actually, they didn't. Remember how the US was going to put troops on the streets of Baghdad so that the Iraqi Parliament could pass the legislation needed to open up the oil business? Well, the troops surged, and the Iraqi Parliament went home, didn't pass the legislation the oil companies wanted, and NOW it looks like there's going to be a Kurdish/Sunni war over the Keirkuk oil instead.

Level -> RE: And now.... the news. (8/17/2007 4:54:32 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kittinSol quote: ORIGINAL: Level But is my interest a bad thing? I see it as similar to having a higher interest in one's family, than in strangers. And as I said, "interest" does not equate into thinking Americans are "better", or of more value. Curious to hear your, or others, thoughts, kittin. I appreciate your posting of the news, Lev. Still, I felt an urgent need to 'rectify' your news editing, because of the scale of the bombings two days ago. They now think up to 500 people may have died. I am curious as to why so many americans seem to be so oblivious to the world around them. Do you have any idea why, Level? There are all kinds of answers; America's physical location puts distance between us and much of the world (a distance that modern technology is reducing), is one thing. I would say that, America, being such a large nation, would naturally have a large number of "uninformed" people; there are plenty of well-informed Americans, but look at it like this: You're in a room with 1,000 people. 500 are loud, foolish, and misinformed. 350 are basically good folks, but for whatever reason, not particulary up on things. 150 are bright, knowledgeable, and curious. You go into a smaller room, with 100 people. 50 are loud, foolish, and misinformed. 35 are basically good folks, but for whatever reason, not particulary up on things. 15 are bright, knowledgeable, and curious. Being in room #1, the volume of nutwads will be so great, as to make a harsh impression on you. In room #2, the din is much less (thus less offensive and impression-making). Also, the smaller room may likely allow more closeness, or intimacy, thus opening avenues of possible spreading of wisdom, etc. Perhaps our heritage of rugged individualism and self-reliance makes us, by its very nature, more inward-looking. Why are so "many Americans" oblivious to the world around them? Some, because they feel, rightly or wrongly, that they can afford to be. Not a particulary coherent post, but that's about as good as it gets tonight.

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