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| Signs emerge of global crime wave |
| 07.04.09 14:41 |
Global Security |
| In all catastrophes, there are always winners among the host of losers and victims. Bad times, like good ones, generate profits for someone. In the case of the present global economic meltdown, with our world at the brink and up to 50 million people potentially losing their jobs by the end of this year, one winner is likely to be criminal activity and crime syndicates. |
| Michael T Klare |
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| Serbia Remembers |
| 29.03.09 17:05 |
European trends |
| Ten years ago, NATO commenced the 78-day illegal bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), which was done without the approval of the UN. In the operation, code-named "Merciful Angel", there were 1002 Yugoslav Army soldiers and Serbian police killed; 2500 civilians including 89 children; while 12,500 people were wounded/injured. |
| FreeRepublic |
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| The Myth of Kurdistan |
| 15.03.09 22:34 |
Iraq War, "War on terror" |
| Until the old man is out of the way, everyone else who hungers for power in Iraqi Kurdistan is on hold. It could be a long wait. Despite his chronic bad knee and a Mayo Clinic heart operation last August, 75-year-old Jalal Talabani, Iraq′s president, is a survivor. At present, he and his longtime rival, Massoud Barzani (together with their families and their respective political machines), still control the largest part of what′s worth controlling in the three northern Iraqi provinces that make up the autonomous region. Government ranks are filled with their relatives. Barzani himself is president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, while his nephew Nechirvan is its prime minister and his son Masrour is in charge of intelligence. Talabani′s son Qubad is the Kurds′ man in Washington, while a nephew heads counterintelligence. Backers once touted Kurdistan as the model for a democratic Iraq—perhaps even for a total makeover of the Middle East. But if anything, the place seems more and more like a stagnant, feudal principality. |
| Newsweek Web Exclusive |
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| Rumors of News |
| 03.03.09 14:59 |
Americas on the move |
| Americans are poorly informed about their world. They endured over a year of election coverage, yet most were unaware that more than two people were running for President until they looked at their ballot. Despite thousands of news stories about the two corporate approved candidates, certain topics were ignored by the national press. It was decided that Barack Obama’s smoking habit must be hidden, and no one dared mention that John McCain collects over $58,000 a year tax-free for 100% disability pay, in addition to his Senate pay, his military retirement pay, and his social security payments.[1] A bigger problem is the corporate media has abandoned traditional standards designed to ensure that only the truth is reported as news. |
| Carlton Meyer |
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| Asia’s export economies in free fall |
| 16.02.09 00:31 |
Asia rising |
| Staggering falls in exports across Asia have shocked economic analysts and ended all claims that the global slump may be nearing its bottom. The IMF′s growth forecast for Asia this year is just 2.7 percent—less than a third of the 9 percent growth rate of 2007. The prediction is a full percentage point less than during the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. |
| John Chan |
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