Roberto Abraham Scaruffi: February 2009

Saturday 28 February 2009

El soldado Johnson contra el Ejército de Su Majestad

El soldado Johnson contra el Ejército de Su Majestad

Return of the War Party

By Patrick J. Buchanan 
February 27, 2009 "The American Conservative" -- -"Real men go to Tehran!" brayed the neoconservatives after the success of their propaganda campaign to have America march on Baghdad and into an unnecessary war that has forfeited all the fruits of our Cold War victory. Now they are back, in pursuit of what has always been their great goal: an American war on Iran. 

China denounces US 'rights abuse'

Two days after a US report criticised China's rights record, Beijing retaliates with a fiery critique of life in the US.

Iraq: "Everyone Wants a Piece of Kirkuk, the Golden Prize"

Joost Hiltermann, The National (UAE), 26 February 2009

France to revive Italian nuclear industry

Electricite de France (EdF) has agreed with Enel to "set the basis for the joint development of nuclear energy in Italy by the two companies." They are forming a 50:50 joint venture to conduct feasibility studies towards "at least four" EPR nuclear reactors in Italy. These would be built, owned and operated by new companies set up for the purpose, though Enel would take the lead in operations and hold a majority stake. While "retaining majority control of the entities" the two companies will invite other investors to participate. The agreement follows one in 2007 which gave EdF an option to participate in construction and operation of future Enel nuclear power plants in Italy or elsewhere in Europe and the Mediterranean. The new step is among the biggest that Italy has so far taken towards a re-employment of nuclear energy, which was phased out following a referendum called as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. This situation was reversed by the May 2008 general election, when the revival of Italy's nuclear energy featured.

Friday 27 February 2009

Italy buys into Spanish and French nuclear plants

Italy's main power utility Enel has agreed to pay Eur11 billion ($14 billion) for 25% of Spain's Endesa power producer, taking its ownership to 92%. Endesa has equity in three Spanish nuclear reactors: 100% of Asco 1; 85% of Asco 2 and 78% of Vandellos 2, totalling about 3000 MWe. Enel then confirmed that it would take a 12.5% stake in EdF's second new EPR nuclear power reactor to be built at Penly, France. It has a similar stake in the first, being built at Flamanville, and rights for further four units. Enel also owns 66% of Slovakia's Slovenske Electrarne, which operates four nuclear reactors at Bohunice and Mochovce totalling 1690 MWe. SE recently embarked upon completing the Mochovce 3 and 4 nuclear power reactors to add a further 840 MWe.

The Geopolitical Great Game: Turkey and Russia Moving Closer

Global Research, February 26, 2009

After the Green Economy, Green Security

How to Build Resilient Communities in a Chaotic World
By Chip Ward

Rocket Attack on Sderot

by Hana Levi Julian

Un nouveau cauchemar afghan

Mondialisation.ca, Le 26 février 2009

The Deep Politics of Hollywood

In the Parents` Best Interests
Global Research, February 26, 2009
- 2009-02-21

U.S. Is a Vast Arms Bazaar for Mexican Cartels

By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr.
The case against the owner of a Phoenix gun store offers a glimpse of how weapons delivered to U.S. gun dealers are being moved into Mexico and wielded in horrific crimes.

Napolitano Cites Mexican Drug Cartels as Major Threat

(By Spencer S. Hsu, The Washington Post)

Tibetans Greet New Year in Opposition

By EDWARD WONG 
Tibetans are marking the normally joyous Losar holiday with an informal boycott and vigils.  

Mexico Sends Troops To Violent Border City

Drug Cartel-Related Violence Soaring; Police Chief Forced To Resign After Gang Threats

Thursday 26 February 2009

Una mora inaceptable en Cuba

Después de medio siglo de ineficiencia estatal, la dictadura permite ahora que la gente construya sus propias viviendas

The Long Arm of the Lawless

The Long Arm of the Lawless

Global Security and Intelligence Report

By Fred Burton and Scott Stewart

China rights 'worsened', says US

China's human rights record worsened in some areas in 2008 despite the Beijing Olympics, the US state department says.

Rockets Explode near Sderot

by Hana Levi Julian 

Texas: la frontera, más importante que Irak

Texas: la frontera, más importante que Irak
Seguridad Interior teme que sus policías locales sean rebasadas por la violencia de los cárteles

Japan's Taro Aso in Washington

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso discusses Russia, North Korea, and the economy with Post writers and editors.

Rise in Jewish Israeli Births

by Maayana Miskin

The World from Berlin: 'If One Major Bank Collapsed, Others Would Fall

German regional bank HSH Nordbank has been saved from collapse through a bailout by the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg. Observers warn, though, that the states may be entering into an unknown risk they are ill-equipped to handle.

U.S. Scolds China On Human Rights

State Dept. Report Notes "Severe Cultural And Religious Repression" Of Minorities

Napolitano Avoids Terror Terminology

Compared To Predecessors, Homeland Security Chief Talks Less About "Terrorism," "9/11" And "Vulnerability" Before Congress

The Prophet's Fifth Column: Islamists Gain Ground in Sarajevo

Radical Muslim imams and nationalist politicians from all camps are threatening Sarajevo's multicultural legacy. With the help of Arab benefactors, the deeply devout are acquiring new recruits. In the "Jerusalem of the Balkans," Islamists are on the rise.

Wednesday 25 February 2009

The Mysterious Unanimity Of The Politkovskaya Verdict

The Mysterious Unanimity Of The Politkovskaya Verdict
Jurors last week acquitted three men who were charged with involvement in the murder of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya. But does this mean that they are innocent? No. And could the jury have returned a different verdict? Yes, if the jurors had been different. The unanimity of this acquittal can be explained not just by the lack of evidence against the accused but by the specifics of jury trials in Russia. More

Academies 'losing independence'

Academy leaders accuse the government of backtracking on their separateness within the state sector.

India to send astronauts to space

India earmarks more than $2.5bn to launch its own manned space flights by 2015.

China tainted pork makes 70 sick

Pork products contaminated with the steroid clenbuterol make at least 70 people sick in southern China.

US 'must rethink Cuban embargo'

Current US policies on Cuba have not worked and should be re-evaluated, a senior Republican senator argues.

Letter from Berlin: Free Market Party on the Rise in Germany

At first glance, it may seem like a contradiction: Despite a deepening economic crisis and growing anger at corporate greed, Germany's free market FDP party has been rising in the polls. The upswing may not last long.

A Planet at the Brink

Will Economic Brushfires Prove Too Virulent to Contain?
By Michael T. Klare

China bars foreigners from Tibet

Foreign tourists planning to visit Tibet have been told by travel agencies that the region has been closed to outsiders until the end of March.

Tuesday 24 February 2009

Law of Return to Refocus on Jews

Law of Return to Refocus on Jews
by Malkah Fleisher

Internal Divisions and the Chinese Stimulus Plan

Internal Divisions and the Chinese Stimulus Plan

Graphic for Geopolitical Intelligence Report

By Rodger Baker and Jennifer Richmond

Christian Friends and Foes of Israel

Post-Holocaust and Anti-Semitism

 Interview with David R. Parsons 

Detainee Who Claims Abuse to Return to Britain

By RAYMOND BONNER 
The detainee, who claims that he was tortured while in C.I.A. custody, leaves Guantánamo without having been charged.  

10 Health Habits to Help You Live to 100

You don't need to eat yogurt, but you do need to floss.

Obama le declara la guerra al déficit

El mandatario pretende reducirlo a la mitad para 2013; disminuirá el gasto de la guerra en Irak y aumentará impuestos a los más ricos 

Monday 23 February 2009

Tough Times in Troubled Towns

America's Municipal Meltdowns
By Nick Turse

'Superguns' of Elizabeth I's navy

Elizabeth I's navy from around the time of the Armada was evolving into a far more powerful force than previously realised.

Colombia police in wiretap probe

Colombia's secret police is under investigation over claims rogue agents may have tapped phones and passed data to the mafia.

Sunday 22 February 2009

Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson

Modellsitzen für die Kunst

Martin Johnson Heade

Fontaine Anderson

Fontaine Anderson

Fontaine Anderson

Fontaine Anderson

Fontaine Anderson

Fontaine Anderson

Fontaine Anderson

Surviving the Economic Crisis

by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski 
Coping, persevering and winning in troubled economic times.

Inicia EU “nueva era” con China

Hillary Clinton se reúne con Hu Jintao, en Beijing. Grupos internacionales de defensa de los derechos humanos criticaron su declaración de que el tema de los derechos humanos en China, Tíbet o Taiwán no debía “interferir” con la discusión sobre la crisis económica, el cambio climático y asuntos de seguridad

Descubren claves de las mentes geniales

La ciencia está empezando a dilucidar cuáles son las características del cerebro que otorgan facultades extraordinarias

Obama Appoints Anti-Israel Aide

by David Lev 

Clinton Urges China to Keep Buying US Debt

Clinton says Washington must incur more debt to China to boost the ailing U.S. economy and stimulate demand for Chinese products

Israel responds to Lebanon rocket

A rocket fired from Lebanon wounds three people in northern Israel, triggering an Israeli artillery response.

Clinton urges stronger China ties

The US secretary of state, in Beijing, says US-China co-operation should take precedence over points of friction.

Ridge: We were wrong to torture

America's first homeland security secretary accepts some recent criticisms of the US "war on terror" in an interview with the BBC.

Netanyahu chosen to be Israeli PM

Netanyahu chosen to be Israeli PM

Parties representing 65 legislators have backed Netanyahu to become prime minister, he said.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/02/200922011509138513.html

CIA expands its covert war in Pakistan

CIA expands its covert war in Pakistan

Over the past week, the Obama administration has expanded the covert war run by the CIA inside Pakistan, launching attacks against a militant network seeking to topple the Pakistani government.

Brzezinski Warns Of Riots in US

Brzezinski Warns Of Riots in US

By Press TV

Zbigniew Brzezinski, a former national security advisor, has warned that the US could witness riots if economy continues its downward spiral. 

Soros Sees No Bottom For World Financial "Collapse"

Soros Sees No Bottom For World Financial "Collapse"

By Reuters

Renowned investor George Soros said on Friday the world financial system has effectively disintegrated, adding that there is yet no prospect of a near-term resolution to the crisis.
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article22062.htm

We Are All Extremists Now

We Are All Extremists Now

By Seumas Milne

The government is criminalising legitimate dissent under the guise of fighting 'extremism', a word for which it has no definition. 

Saturday 21 February 2009

Taiwan, China Negotiating a Landmark Free-Trade Agreement

BEIJING, Feb. 20 -- Taiwan and China are negotiating a wide-ranging free-trade agreement that represents an important step toward the possibility of unification of the longtime adversaries. 
(By Ariana Eunjung Cha, The Washington Post)

Obama Widens Missile Strikes Inside Pakistan

By MARK MAZZETTI and DAVID E. SANGER
The missile strikes on training camps run by the militant Baitullah Mehsud represent a broadening of the American campaign inside Pakistan.

An Impending Geopolitical Earthquake?

Global Research, February 21, 2009

The Chinese Armed Forces and Non-Traditional Missions: A Growing Tool of Statecraft

By Cynthia A. Watson
Over the past decade, western militaries and governments have struggled with growing pressures to engage in and balance their responsibilities in “nation-building,” “peacekeeping operations” and other various non-combat tasks. At the same time, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been taking on an increasing number of such missions, described in the 2008 Defense White Paper as “Military Operations Other Than War” (MOOTWA).  For China, so-called ”nation-building” operations can include peacekeeping, anti-piracy efforts, environmental disasters and societal unrest, while the PLA missions can also include traditional warfighting under informatized conditions. The MOOTWA efforts serve as evidence of Beijing’s increasing use of its armed forces as an instrument of statecraft, to achieve fundamental national security objectives and to enhance a deeper Chinese presence around the world.  This enhanced role for its military helps the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership return China to a leading position in the international community.

Arabic-Language Israeli Web Site Aims to Sway Opinions in the Arab World

Brenda Gazzar
An Arabic-language "hasbara" (information) Web site edited by former Israeli ambassador to Egypt Zvi Mazel, now a research fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, offers a sampling of news items and perspectives that many Arabs in the Middle East are rarely served. "It is true that in the last six or seven years there has been a kind of a revolution that has happened in the Arabic media," Mazel said. "You have newspapers published in London like al-Hayat, a-Sharq al-Awsat and others that really give much more information about the world than the traditional Arab press, but...it's far from being enough. I don't think that they cover 80 to 90% of what is being said about them (in the Western press)."
    The Web site, which Mazel said has a limited budget and garners about 2,000 readers a month, also features historical pieces about the Jewish people's historic connection to the Land of Israel. Many of the letters sent by readers from around the Arab world had been positive toward Israel, Mazel said. Some readers have even asked for political asylum or job opportunities in Israel. "We fight through a war of ideas," Mazel said. "I cannot go to Yemen, to Saudi Arabia and sit with people and talk. So we have now this wonderful tool called the Internet and through the Internet, we transmit to them some of these ideas." The Web site, updated weekly, is located at www.infoelarab.org
(Jerusalem Post)  

Salvaging Afghanistan

Given how fast things are coming apart in Afghanistan — the Taliban have now moved into peaceful areas near Kabul — President Obama needs to come up with a strategy soon.

Friday 20 February 2009

Swiss bank UBS refuses US request for client names

Swiss bank UBS refuses US request for client names

Switzerland's UBS bank has refused a US government request to reveal the names of some 52,000 US nationals with Swiss bank accounts. UBS earlier agreed to pay US authorities $780 million to settle a tax fraud case. 

http://tinyurl.com/djyq5c

The Military's Expanding Waistline

What Will Obama Do With KBR?
By Pratap Chatterjee

Rockets Explode in Eshkol Region

Terrorists in Gaza attacked Israel's western Negev with two Kassam rockets Thursday morning. No injuries or damage were reported.

China Adds to Security Forces in Tibet Amid Calls for a Boycott

By EDWARD WONG 
Officials have significantly increased security forces across Tibet in the face of a grass-roots movement to boycott festivities during the coming Tibetan New Year. 

North Korea "Fully Ready" For War

Hours Before Clinton Visits South Korea, North Ratchets Up Rhetoric Toward Neighbor

Thursday 19 February 2009

Mexico: The Third War

Mexico: The Third War

February 18, 2009

Global Security and Intelligence Report

By Fred Burton and Scott Stewart

Next Wave of Banking Crisis to come from Eastern Europe

Italy crucifix row teacher barred

An Italian teacher is suspended after some students complained that he removed a crucifix from his classroom.

'Tibetans held' in China protest

Chinese police have detained several people after a pro-Tibet protest in south-west China, campaign groups say.

Hamas Stole UN Weapons in Gaza

by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Crisis política en la izquierda italiana: renunció Veltroni

Fue luego de la derrota electoral en Cerdeña, donde triunfó el candidato de Berlusconi 

Refuerzos de EE.UU. a Afganistán

Por el aumento de la violencia, Obama enviará 12.000 soldados más 

Críticas a Paquistán por habilitar la ley islámica

La OTAN cuestionó un acuerdo que admite la sharia en una región