The Bush Family & the Drug Biz

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/767.html
Isn't it strange that those who were pushing drugs started the "War On Drugs?"

Fifty Dead Men Walking

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Wow. I haven't seen one like this in a long time. The topic of Northern Ireland and the IRA has always made for memorable cinema, for those who can stomach the brutality. Remember 'In the Name of the Father', 'Resurrection Man', 'Michael Collins' or 'Hunger'? This is as good.

I won't say much, or spoil the plot, it would just be adding my opinion to the variety of opinions on the subject that we already have in this group. Suffice to say it's based on a true story, set in Belfast and the hero is a Special Branch supergrass who infiltrates the IRA... or is he an IRA member who is recruited by Special Branch? It's definitely leaning in favour of the British establishment, but it does show the anger of the common Irish people at the occupation by British troops. It definitely portrays the IRA as terrorists and gangsters, no room for doubt in that. And it illustrates how the troubles tore families apart and took brothers, sons and husbands away from their loved ones.

Whatever your view of this nugget of history, if you're politically minded enough to be reading this, then this film is worth your time. Contains graphic scenes of violence, rioting and torture.

Pigeon recommends.

- ABSINTHE

http://missturkey.multiply.com/journal/item/688/ABSINTHE_
Recipe for homemade absinthe

Austria: Genocide Charges against Barak

December 16, 2009

Yesterday, at almost the same time when Ehud Barak was being given military honors at the defense ministry, genocide charges against him were being presented at the office of the Austrian prosecutor, only about 15 minutes walking away.

The charges relate entirely to the Gaza massacre committed between December 2008 and January 2009 by Israeli troops under the command of Ehud Barak, and the whole allegation of crimes in the letter to the prosecutor consists of the so-called "Goldstone Report" itself, and it names as witnesses the members of the commission, judge Goldstone and his colleagues, as well as their interview partners.

At the time when these charges were being presented, the news that an arrest warrant had been issued against Tzipi Livni in the UK had not yet transcended; this only became known in the evening hours, and as of today 15 December, it appears that the Austrian authorities have not taken action against Barak. This could have different grounds. First, the situation of Livni and Barak are different: whereas Livni currently has no function in government, Barak is currently defense minister and vice-premier; secondly, Austria is still apprehended in the notion that they have a political and moral duty to ensure the security of Israel, whatever Israel does and probably at any cost to Austria, because of understandable yet irrelevant historical facts, third, England has implemented the Rome Statute of the ICC as a national law, whereas this is not the case in Austria yet. Ultimately the main reason why Austria has not taken action in this case might be the almost absence of public discourse around the crimes of Israel, a situation which will most probably evolve to the better.

At the same time, the governments who still support "negotiations" or a "two-state solution" should disabuse themselves of the notion that Israel, with its genocidal and racist to the extreme posture is in any way a partner for negotiations of any kind, be this with us Palestinians or any other party. The experience of over 60 years of occupation has shown that Israel consistently conducts all negotiations in bad faith, and that speaking with them is a fruitless endeavour. It is time for other approaches in order to solve the problems which they have caused during the last 6 or 7 decades.

I see the arrest warrant against Livni as a first step in the right direction, and would very much greet that in the future the discussion around Israel and its unrelenting criminality was less based on misguided notions of "moral duty" and much more on enacted national and international laws, which is what makes out states of law everywhere.

Here are the charges in German ...

http://www.kawther.info/wpr/wp-content/uploads/SACHVERHALT1.pdf

 

FT.com / Middle East / Politics & Society - Israel warns UK over Livni arrest threat

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/65525b90-e8ed-11de-a756-00144feab49a.html?nclick_check=1
Israel warns UK over Livni arrest threat

By James Blitz in London and Vita Bekker in Tel Aviv

Published: December 14 2009 22:08 | Last updated: December 15 2009 17:02

Britain’s ambassador to Israel was summoned to the Israeli foreign ministry on Tuesday as Israel warned that relations with London could be damaged by an attempt to arrest former foreign minister Tzipi Livni in London.

A warrant for the arrest of Tzipi Livni, the Israeli opposition leader, was formally issued by a London magistrates court last Saturday, one day before she had been scheduled to address a conference in the capital, insiders close to the case have told the Financial Times.

In a move that has triggered acute embarrassment for the British government in its relations with Israel, Westminster magistrates court ordered the issue of an arrest warrant for Ms Livni, a move that would have led to her immediate detention by police upon arrival in the UK.

The Israeli foreign ministry warned that its relations with London could be damaged should there not be “decisive and immediate” action to prevent such arrest warrants against Israeli officials in the future.

The Israeli ministry said in a statement: “If the leaders of Israel will not be able to visit Britain in a respectable and appropriate manner, it would naturally be a real obstacle to Britain’s willingness to play an active role in the Middle East peace process.”

continued at link...

Facebook Users: Protecting Your Personal Data

As of today, Facebook will automatically index all your info on Google, which allows everyone to view it. It is my understanding that having your page settings on private will be bypassed by this move.

To change this option, go to Settings --> Privacy Settings --> Search -->

then un-tick the box that says 'Allow indexing'.


Of course, if you're posting personal content so sensitive you don't want anybody but your friends seeing it, or in some cases not even all of them, then perhaps you shouldn't be putting it on there in the first place?

'The Most Dangerous Place in the World' by Eddie Blue-Eyes

http://thediamondmind.blogspot.com/2009/12/most-dangerous-place-in-world.html
Linked with the author's permission, this Puerto-Rican gentleman won this year's unofficial Multiply Blog Award, of my design, which was hosted by my co-admin here, Swerver. A conversation between the three of us can be found in this group's blog section, entitled 'Interview with the AmeriRican'. Here, he waxes political on the topic of war in the Congo.
________________________________________________________

Known as the “forgotten war,” the conflict in the Congo is the deadliest war since World War II.

In one of the most isolated and seemingly dangerous places on earth, the conflict dubbed “Africa’s Forgotten War,” 45,000 people are killed every month or 1500 per day, half of them children. However, this isn’t unusual, considering most scientists declare that civilians, mostly women and children, make up the bulk of war casualties. Defend that.

Read more at link...

UK govt. advises correct labelling of produce from illegal West Bank settlements

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/10/guidance-labelling-food-israeli-settlements
UK issues new guidance on labelling of food from illegal West Bank settlements

Stickers could read 'Israeli settlement produce' , but move is not a boycott, says Foreign Office

Britain has acted to increase pressure on Israel over its West Bank settlements by advising UK supermarkets on how to distinguish between foods from the settlements and Palestinian-manufactured goods.

The government's move falls short of a legal requirement but is bound to increase the prospects of a consumer boycott of products from those territories. Israeli officials and settler leaders were tonight highly critical of the decision.

Until now, food has been simply labelled "Produce of the West Bank", but the new, voluntary guidance issued by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), says labels could give more precise information, like "Israeli settlement produce" or "Palestinian produce".

Nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers live in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, which were conquered in the 1967 war. The British government and the EU have repeatedly said Israel's settlement project is an "obstacle to peace" in the Middle East.

EU law already requires a distinction to be made between goods originating in Israel and those from the occupied territories, though pro-Palestinian campaigners say this is not always observed.

Separately, Defra said that traders would be committing an offence if they did declare produce from the occupied territories as "Produce of Israel".

Foods grown in Israeli settlements include herbs sold in supermarkets, such as Waitrose, which chop, package and label them as "West Bank" produce, making no distinction between Israelis and Palestinians. A total of 27 Israeli firms operating in settlements and exporting to the UK have been identified: their produce includes fruit, vegetables, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, plastic and metal items and textiles.

Other retailers selling their products include Tesco, Sainsbury's, Somerfield, John Lewis and B&Q.

Goods from inside Israel's 1967 borders are entitled to a preferential rate of import duty under an agreement with the EU. Palestinian goods from the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem also enjoy duty-free or reduced-tariff treatment. Settlement products fall outside these two categories.

"This is emphatically not about calling for a boycott of Israel," a Foreign Office spokesman said. "We believe that would do nothing to advance the peace process. We oppose any such boycott of Israel. We believe consumers should be able to choose for themselves what produce they buy. We have been very clear both in public and in private that settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace."

The TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber, welcomed the public clarification that marking produce from illegal settlements on occupied territory as "produce of Israel" was illegal, but said the government should have gone further.

Barbara Stocking, Oxfam's chief executive, said: "We support the right of consumers to know the origin of the products they purchase. Trade with Israeli settlements – which are illegal under international law – contributes to their economic viability and serves to legitimise them. It is also clear from our development work in West Bank communities that settlements have led to the denial of rights and create poverty for many Palestinians."

Dani Dayan, the Argentinian-born leader of the Yesha Council, which represents Israeli settlers, said the decision was the "latest hostile step" from Britain. "Products from our communities in Judea and Samaria should be treated as any other Israeli product," he said, using an Israeli term for the West Bank.

Israeli officials said they feared this was a slide towards a broader boycott of Israeli goods. Yigal Palmor, Israel's foreign ministry spokesman, said his country's produce was being unfairly singled out.

"It looks like it is catering to the demands of those whose ultimate goal is the boycott of Israeli products," he said. "The message here will very likely be used by pro-boycott campaigners. It is a matter of concern."

He said the issue of different European customs tariffs should not extend to different labelling on supermarket shelves. "It is a totally different thing and not required by the EU."

Israel came under intense US pressure early this year to halt construction in settlements, but has only adopted a temporary, partial freeze. Palestinian leaders say they will not restart peace negotiations until there is a full settlement freeze in line with the US road map of 2003.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign said it welcomed the new guidance but urged Defra to go further: "The government must seek prosecutions of companies which smuggle settlement goods in under false labels.

"We have received many calls from people who were distressed when they bought goods labelled 'Produce of the West Bank' because they thought they were aiding the Palestinian economy, then realised they were economically aiding Israel's illegal occupation.

"Particularly following Israel's massacre in Gaza, consumers have been shocked at Israel's war crimes and want to take action. They do not want to feel complicit in Israel's occupation by buying stolen goods."
'Customers will now have honest information'

The most recent government figures suggest only about £800,000 of food products, about three-quarters of it olive oil (below right), was imported from occupied Palestinian territories in the three years between 2006 and 2008.

Sainsbury's, which sells dates and small amounts of basil and tarragon, welcomed "the greater clarity on how to label produce from occupied territories".

"This allows us to fulfil our commitment of providing customers with clear and honest information about the origins of their food," the supermarket chain said."We have full traceability back to settlement and/or grower."

Waitrose also said it would be following the guidance on the small number of West Bank lines it sold. "We source a small selection of herbs from the West Bank area, grown on two Israeli-managed farms, on which a Palestinian and Israeli workforce have worked side by side for many years," said a spokesman.

"We are not motivated by politics. Instead our policy is to ensure high standards of farming and worker welfare on the farms from which we source. Our buyers … have visited the two farms in the West Bank to ensure that worker welfare meets the high standards that we insist on. As part of our normal sourcing policy we will be carrying out an audit on these farms in the next six months."

This year the Co-op began selling Fairtrade olive oil from the West Bank – a move hailed by Gordon Brown, who said it meant British shoppers could help Palestinian farmers make a living.

Toby Quantrill, head of public policy for the Fairtrade Foundation, said farmers in Palestine faced barriers to trade which jeopardised opportunities to trade internationally on equal terms with people making similar products. James Meikle

This article originally contained comments wrongly attributed to Barbara Stocking, Oxfam's chief executive. This has been corrected.

Pictures of Old Afghanistan

Queen Soraya played an important part in
political life in Afghanistan, in particular as a
champion of the king's ambitious modernization
project. She is credited with setting up the first ever
Afghan women's hospital and girls' school as well as
being the first woman to have publicly taken off her
veil during a Loya Jerga (Grand Council) meeting in
1928. For this reason, she can be considered the first
modern Afghan woman. King Amanullah Khan's reign
came to an abrupt end following a rebellion carried
out by the Shinwari tribe in 1928. Queen Soraya and
her husband fled the country and spent the rest of
their lives in European exile. Queen Soraya died in
1968 in Rome. Her youngest daughter, Princess India,
has recently visited Afghanistan, setting up various
charity projects.Exile of the family of Queen Soraya
of Afghanistan, 1929 France Visit of the King
Amanullah Khan and
the Queen Soraya of
Afghanistan in
Germany.UpHome
The Queen Soraya of Afghanistan
Queen Soraya of Afghanistan (1899-1968), wife of King Amanullah Khan (1892-1960), was
born in the Damascus province of the Ottoman Empire in what is now Syria. Her mother,
Asma Rasmia, was the daughter of the Omayyad mosque's muezzin. Her father, Sardar
Mahmud Tarzi (1865-1933), was the son of a prominent Afghan poet and intellectual sent
into exile by Amir Abdul Rahman Khan (1880-1901) due to political rivalry. The family
initially lived in Karachi and then sought refuge in the Ottoman empire and settled in
Damascus. A progressive-minded intellectual, Sardar Mahmud Tarzi encouraged his
daughter Soraya to study and taught her modern values.

After Amir Abdul Rahman's Khan's death in 1901, his son and heir
Amir Habibullah Khan authorized the Afghan families that had been into exile by his father
to return to Afghanistan. The Tarzi family returned to Afghanistan in the beginning
of the 20th century and established contact with the court. The Afghan royal family, in
particular Prince Amanullah Khan, was interested in Sardar Mahmud Tarzi's modern ideas
and became close to the Tarzi family, eventually marrying Tarzi's daughter, Soraya, in
August 1913.
AFGHANISTAN OLD


http://www.afghanistan-photos.com/crbst_0.html

I found this great site with history & pictures of Old Afghanistan , shame to see what it has become - well worth a visit to the site

The website AFGHANISTAN-PHOTOS.COM aims to preserve and
promote Afghanistan's heritage and culture through the collection,
preservation and dissemination of old photographs. With over 500
old photos, the archive has been patiently realized and aims to
ensure that future generations will know of traditions, places and
people that vanished long ago.

Enjoy

WITNESS :: See it. Film it. Change it.

http://www.witness.org/
From the page:

WHO WE ARE

Mission: WITNESS (www.witness.org) uses video to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations. WITNESS empowers people to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools for justice, promoting public engagement and policy change.

Vision: WITNESS envisions a just, equitable world in which all individuals and communities are able to defend and uphold their human rights.

Philosophy: WITNESS embodies the values of partnership, shared learning, and adaptability in the face of change. The approach reflects WITNESS’ commitment to catalyzing change, and its knowledge that real impact comes from igniting the power, passion and potential of individual activists and frontline human rights organizations.

WHAT WE DO
Advocate

http://hub.witness.org/

Colorado cow mutilations baffle ranchers, cops, UFO believer - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13956752
This creepy article was front page news today.

Colorado cow mutilations baffle ranchers, cops, UFO believer

By Jason Blevins
The Denver Post

SAN LUIS — Manuel Sanchez tucks his leathery hands into well-worn pockets and nods toward a cedar tree where, last month, he found his fourth mysteriously slaughtered calf in as many weeks.

"I have no idea what could do this. I wish I did," he says.

Four calves, all killed overnight. Their innards gone. Tongues sliced out. Udders carefully removed. Facial skin sliced and gone. Eyes cored away. Not a single track surrounding the carcasses, which were found in pastures locked behind two gates and a mile from any road. Not a drop of blood on the ground or even on the remaining skin.

... click through to read the rest and to see video and pictures ...

Trial and Error by Nebojsa Malic / Antiwar.com

http://original.antiwar.com/malic/2009/12/04/trial-and-error/
Trial and Error
by Nebojsa Malic, December 05, 2009

World Court Ponders Kosovo "Independence"

In October 2008, the government in Belgrade gloated for one whole day because the UN General Assembly allowed it to request an advisory opinion from the World Court (International Court of Justice) concerning the "independence" of its occupied province of Kosovo. Only Albania and three South Pacific states joined the U.S. in opposing the request. That may have been slightly embarrassing for Washington, but did absolutely nothing to derail its pet project in the Balkans.

Most likely, neither will the World Court’s decision in the proceedings that finally began at The Hague this week. A ruling by the ICJ matters only to those who abide by international law to begin with. It will have zero effect on countries that have already decided they were above such law and demonstrated this by setting up the "Independent state of Kosovo," or invading Iraq.

Law and Politics

Though it is a legitimate international court (unlike the ad hoc "Tribunal" for war crimes in Yugoslavia, also seated at The Hague), the ICJ has not been immune to matters of politics and power. In 1999, it famously refused to hear Yugoslavia’s case against NATO countries, claiming it had no jurisdiction in the matter.

Just a few years later, however, the ICJ decided Yugoslavia had standing to be sued by the "Bosnian" government (a case originally filed in 1993). Those expecting another railroading of Serbia (Yugoslavia having ceased to exist in 2006), were surprised by the verdict in March 2007, which absolved it of any responsibility for the atrocities in Bosnia.

Continued at link

**********************************************************

Nebojsa Malic left his home in Bosnia after the Dayton Accords and currently resides in the United States. During the Bosnian War he had exposure to diplomatic and media affairs in Sarajevo. As a historian who specializes in international relations and the Balkans, Malic has written numerous essays on the Kosovo War, Bosnia, and Serbian politics. His exclusive column for Antiwar.com debuted in November 2000.

Petition to establish a UN Commission of Inquiry into War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity in Burma

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Burmacrimes/
More correctly known as 'Myanmar', this was authored by a British group Burma Campaign UK, and asks for only signatures from British citizens (though I can't see how they will know the difference if you happen to live in Lahore, Houston or Cebu?)

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to urge the United Nations to establish a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the dictatorship in Burma.

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/

Pic:

Karen child at the burned ashes of her home

Photo Credit: Free Burma Rangers - http://www.freeburmarangers.org

This photo shows a Karen child whose home was burned to the ground by regime troops.

For more information on the situation in Eastern Burma go here:

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/campaigns/crisis-in-eastern-burma

Debunking Myths: Shroud of Turin

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/entry/shroud_of_turin_developments/
One thing I've never understood about the Shroud of Turin is, if it is supposed to be Jesus Christ, why does it depict an apparently Caucasian man with long hair... the traditional image that the Roman Catholic church adopted down the years? In all likelihood, if Jesus Christ ever existed, he did not look like this. But I digress...

There is religion bashing and there is myth-busting. This post is not supposed to be offensive. I am an atheist and I'm free to express my non-belief. I do not accept the Christian Bible as a document of historical evidence, nor for that matter any Holy scripture, and based on my limited knowledge of the subject, I'm inclined to believe that a) Yeshua ben Joseph never existed and was a character, if anything, based on earlier folklore, and b) if the Shroud of Turin depicts a real person and is not a clever forgery, it is probably the image of Jacques de Molay.

I think it's fake as a silicon implant...

__________________________________________________

Two developments regarding the Shroud of Turin, with its imprint of an apparently crucified man, are a study in contrasts.

One is the claim by a Vatican archives researcher, Barbara Frale, that she has found evidence helping to authenticate the supposed burial cloth of Jesus. In her book (published in Italian), The Shroud of Jesus Nazarene (2009), Frale claims to have discovered faint words scattered over the cloth in Aramaic, Greek, and Latin. She asserts that the Greek words “(J)esu(s) Nazarene” (i.e., “Jesus of Nazareth”) in the head region prove the text was not medieval, even though the earliest certain reference to the “shroud” was a 14th century bishop’s report claiming an artist confessed to having “cunningly painted” the shroud image. Frale insists no medieval artist would have so referred to Jesus without noting his divinity—a rather silly argument given that the cloth is a supposed relic, not an artist’s rendering.

Frale’s work is reminiscent of that of Shroud devotee Alan Whanger. He had even many shroud advocates rolling their eyes over his alleged discovery of just such words, “Jesus” and “Nazareth,” as well as alleged imprints of flowers, crucifixion-associated items such as a large nail, hammer, sponge, spear, scourges, sandals, rope, dice, etc., etc.—all perceived Rorschach style in the shroud’s mottled image and off-image areas. (See my Relics of the Christ 2007, 140–142.) Shroud researcher Gian Marco Rinaldi, speaking of the images on which Frale’s findings were based, stated: “These computer enhancements increase contrast in an unrealistic way to bring out these signs. You can find them all over the shroud, not just near the head, and then with a bit of imagination, you see letters.” (See Ariel David, AP, “Researcher says words on shroud prove it was Jesus’ burial cloth,” Buffalo News, Nov. 21, 2009.)

In contrast to Frale’s dubious discoveries on the controversial linen cloth, which has been carbon-dated to about the time of the forger’s confession (circa 1350s), is the work of Luigi Garlaschelli, professor of organic chemistry at the University of Pavia. Using hypotheses I advanced in my Inquest on the Shroud of Turin (1983; 1998), Garlaschelli determined to reproduce the shroud as a full-size replica, with the properties of the original. (For example, the shroud has sparse red-ocher pigment, confined to the tops of the threads.)

He used specially hand-woven linen, laid over a volunteer, with a bas-relief substituted for the face to avoid wrap-around distortions. He used a version of my rubbing technique with the added hypothesis of an acidic pigment that, over time, mostly sloughed off but left behind a ghostly image due to the acid degrading the cellulose. Garlaschelli artificially aged the result, then washed off the pigment. As he notes, the resulting image possessed “all the characteristics of the Shroud of Turin.” He added: “In particular, the image is a pseudo-negative, is fuzzy with half-tones, resides on the topmost fibers of the cloth, has some 3-D embedded properties, and does not fluoresce” (quoted in Massimo Polidoro, “The Shroud of Turin Duplicated,” Skeptical Inquirer science magazine, Jan./Feb. 2010, 18).

Garlaschelli’s work stands in stark contrast to the wishful thinking of the Barbara Frales and Alan Whangers of the world. The latter exemplify what I have called “shroud science” which begins with the desired answer and works backward to the evidence, picking and choosing. Science, on the other hand, lets the evidence lead to an answer. I was on hand when Garlaschelli presented his results at Italy’s largest science fair in Genoa. He dedicated his illustrated lecture to me, too-generously saying I was “the brain” and he “only the hands.” In fact I am humbled to have been mentioned regarding such a wonderful accomplishment. It shows shroud science trumped by real science.

_________________________________________

Joe Nickell, Ph.D., is Senior Research Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) and "Investigative Files" Columnist for Skeptical Inquirer. A former stage magician, private investigator, and teacher, he is author of numerous books, including Inquest on the Shroud of Turin (1998), Pen, Ink and Evidence (2003), Unsolved History (2005) and Adventures in Paranormal Investigation (2007). He has appeared in many television documentaries and has been profiled in The New Yorker and on NBC's Today Show. His personal website is at joenickell.com.

Former Soviet States: Battleground For Global Domination

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=16243
Former Soviet States: Battleground For Global Domination

by Rick Rozoff for StopNATO

Global Research, November 23, 2009

A Europe united under the EU and especially NATO is to be strong enough to contain, isolate and increasingly confront Russia as the central component of U.S. plans for control of Eurasia and the world, but cannot be allowed to conduct an independent foreign policy, particularly in regard to Russia and the Middle East. European NATO allies are to assist Washington in preventing the emergence of "the most dangerous scenario...a grand coalition of China, Russia, and perhaps Iran" such as has been adumbrated since in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Four years after the publication of The Grand Chessboard, Brzezinski's recommended chess move was made: The U.S. and NATO invaded Afghanistan and expanded into Central Asia where Russian, Chinese and Iranian interests converge and where the basis for their regional cooperation existed, and Western military bases were established in the former Soviet republics of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, where they remain for the indefinite future.

As the United States escalates its joint war with NATO in Afghanistan and across the Pakistani border, expands military deployments and exercises throughout Africa under the new AFRICOM, and prepares to dispatch troops to newly acquired bases in Colombia as the spearhead for further penetration of that continent, it is simultaneously targeting Eurasia and the heart of that vast land mass, the countries of the former Soviet Union.

Within months of the formal breakup of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in December of 2001, leading American policy advisers and government officials went to work devising a strategy to insure that the fragmentation was final and irreversible. And to guarantee that the fifteen new nations emerging from the ruins of the Soviet Union would not be allied in even a loose association such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) founded in the month of the Soviet Union's dissolution.

(continued at link)

http://www.agentura.ru/english/terrorism/chechnya/

Chechnya: Who are we fighting with?

Andrei Soldatov

Ramzan Kadyrov announced that in the next several days, the counter terrorism operations in Chechnya will be declared complete; a few days later the Kremlin declared that the counterterrorist operation in Chechnya was over. In order to understand what is, in the opinion of the Kremlin and Kadyrov, now concluded, one would do well to know what the Russian forces and special services have been dealing with in Chechnya since October of 1999, when the counterterrorism operation officially began. The operation was presented as a response to the invasion of militants into Dagestan and the bombing of buildings in Volgodansk, Buynaksk, and Moscow.

Counterterrorism operations were not exactly another front against al-Qaeda: Chechnya proved to be independent of the Global Jihad. In Chechnya there were foreign mercenaries and foreign funds which were provided as war funds, but Chechnya still did not become a base for international terrorism. The reason for this was within the Jihadist movement: instead of going to Chechnya after Afghanistan (where the Mujahedeen were involved in 1992 in Kabul, when it was hinted that, the services of “Brothers” were no longer needed), rallying around the Egyptians from the “Islamic Jihad” and “al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya,” the Arabs which in the years following would make up the framework for al-Qaeda went to Bosnia.

(continued at link)

Published in Ezhednevny Journal 01.04.2009


Pictured: Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechen President


Related:

(After it was implied that I use an opinion forum called 'TransAsianAxis' as a source for Russia-and-Caucasus news, on a Multiply group called Worldwide Debate Club at the weekend, I showcase here a variety of sources I do in fact use for this...)

http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSGEE5B10CF

(Who is Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov?)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8390258.stm

(North Caucasus group claim responsibility for train bomb)

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/chechen-rebels-claim-nevsky-express-bombing/390777.html

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20091202/157072744.html

(Kadyrov doubtful of Umarov's involvement)

http://rt.com/Top_News/2009-12-02/nevsky-express-militants-responsibility.html

http://www.felshtinsky.com/index1.html

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/12/2009121154133134536.html

(Deadly clashes in Dagestan)

And the source I used on the occassion of the Nevsky Express bombing - Debkafile can be found at http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=1362 . Turns out they were probably printing speculation regarding any al Qaeda involvement in the Nevsky Express attack. Train bomb has now been claimed by N. Caucasus militants, but no apparent link to al Qaeda. Here's a random story about Debkafile's reporting:

http://www.russiablog.org/2009/08/fsb_involvement_in_lebanon.php#more

"...pro-Israeli Debka file is reporting the disturbing assertion that the Russian intelligence agency, FSB, was instrumental in rolling up an Israeli spy ring within the Hezbollah-controlled regions of Lebanon..."

http://kavkazcenter.com (link down at present, possibly overloaded - I gather it was they who broke the claim by Chechen Islamists)


http://en.for-ua.com/ (Breaking Ukrainian news)

PigeonLinks 02 Dec 2009

'AFPAK' War Photo Archive from Cryptome:

http://cryptome.org/info/afpak-archive/afpak-archive.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/02/2760110.htm

Philippines: Imelda Marcos steps into election race

By South East Asia correspondent Karen Percy

The former first lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos, has registered to run in the country's congressional elections next year.

The 80-year-old has failed twice before in her bid to run for the office of president.

This time she is seeking to become a member of congress representing Ilocos Norte, the home of her late husband - dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The Marcos' reigned the Philippines for two decades and are accused of looting billions of dollars.

While there are still cases pending against the former first lady, she remains a popular figure, particularly amongst the poor.

Current president Gloria Arroyo is also seeking a congressional seat, while boxing champ Manny Pacquiao is hoping to turn around his losses from the 2007 election.

A total of close to 100 people are vying for the presidency.

But there are only a handful of real contenders, including Benigno Aquino, the son of the late president Corazon Aquino, and convicted former president Joseph Estrada.



Somalia Independent News Agency:

http://www.sominaonline.com/english.php

Seychelles-based Spanish Trawlers using UK mercenaries to fish illegally off Somalia:

http://insidesomalia.org/200910192522/News/Human-Rights/Spanish-Trawlers-are-using-UK-mercenaries-to-fish-illegally-off-Somalia.html

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/uae-charts-a-new-path-with-us-nuclear-deal-1.542153

UAE charts a new path with US nuclear deal

The country hopes to develop a model, peaceful nuclear energy programme

By Ahmed A. Namatalla, Staff Reporter
Published: 00:00 December 2, 2009

Ten months after the signing of a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States, few doubts remain about the determination of the UAE to build the first commercially viable nuclear power plants in the Middle East.

A lot has happened since the signing. The agreement has cleared the US Congress and received the approval of the UAE Cabinet. A new nuclear energy law has been issued by the government, a federal safety regulator has been put in place and selection of a consortium to build three power plants at an estimated cost of $41 billion (Dh151 billion) has become eminent.

Known as a 123 Agreement, the document was signed just five days before US president Barack Obama took office in January. It allows American companies to participate in building the UAE's nuclear power infrastructure with minimal bureaucratic interference. In exchange, the UAE has given unprecedented guarantees its programme will only be used for peaceful purposes. It is a balance that has won much support from the governments of both sides but one that must be continually defended if the UAE is to succeed in bringing its first reactor online by 2017.



Gen. Pervez Musharraf on Osama Bin Laden:

"I think now, frankly, he is dead..."  (CNN interview)

http://www.inteldaily.com/news/173/ARTICLE/12954/2009-12-02.html

http://www.deepjournal.com/p/43/a/en/2421.html

Pilots for 9/11 Truth: Pentagon aircraft hijack impossible
Flight deck door closed for entire flight

Newly decoded data provided by an independent researcher and computer programmer from Australia exposes alarming evidence that the reported hijacking aboard American Airlines Flight 77 was impossible to have existed. A data parameter labeled "FLT DECK DOOR", cross checks with previously decoded data obtained by Pilots For 9/11 Truth from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) through the Freedom Of Information Act.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 departed Dulles International Airport bound for Los Angeles at 8:20 am Eastern Time. According to reports and data, a hijacking took place between 08:50:54 and 08:54:11[1] in which the hijackers allegedly crashed the aircraft into the Pentagon at 09:37:45. Reported by CNN, according to Ted Olson, wife Barbara Olson had called him from the reported flight stating, "...all passengers and flight personnel, including the pilots, were herded to the back of the plane by armed hijackers..."[2]. However, according to Flight Data provided by the NTSB, the Flight Deck Door was never opened in flight. How were the hijackers able to gain access to the cockpit, remove the pilots, and navigate the aircraft to the Pentagon if the Flight Deck Door remained closed?[3]

Founded in August 2006, Pilots For 9/11 Truth is a growing organization of aviation professionals from around the globe. The organization has analyzed Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for the Pentagon Attack, the events in Shanksville, PA and the World Trade Center attack. The data does not support the government story. The NTSB/FBI refuse to comment. Pilots For 9/11 Truth do not offer theory or point blame at this point in time. However, there is a growing mountain of conflicting information and data in which government agencies and officials along with Mainstream Media refuse to acknowledge. Pilots For 9/11 Truth Core member list continues to grow.

http://pilotsfor911truth.org/core.html 

for full member list.

http://pilotsfor911truth.org/join to join.

Hijacker Timeline - http://pilotsfor911truth.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=17

Common Strategy Prior to 9/11/2001 -
http://pilotsfor911truth.org/pentagon.html

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/dec2009/slmi-d02.shtml

 

Sri Lanka’s ex-military chief announces presidential candidacy
By Panini Wijesiriwardena
2 December 2009

After weeks of behind-the-scenes manoeuvring with opposition parties, Sri Lanka’s former top general Sarath Fonseka announced on Sunday that he would stand in the presidential poll slated for January 26. Fonseka’s candidature marks the direct entry of the military into the political life of the island.

 

 

 

KASHMIR:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4416771.stm

The BBC's Altaf Hussain in Srinagar says that most militant groups are based in Pakistan or Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

In fact, in the last few years they seem to have taken the lead, shifting the ideological emphasis of the movement from a nationalistic and secularist one to an Islamic one.

(More at link)

Kashmir dispute, Q+A:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2739993.stm

Re: reports Russia is turning to France for help with strengthening her Navy:


http://rusnavy.com/

http://www.defencetalk.com/russian-navy-could-be-in-dire-straits-by-2015-23177/

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,576676,00.html

Agentura.ru on Chechnya and Terrorism:

http://www.agentura.ru/english/terrorism/chechnya/

Chechnya:  Who are we fighting with?

by Andrei Soldatov

Ramzan Kadyrov announced that in the next several days, the counter terrorism operations in Chechnya will be declared complete; a few days later the Kremlin declared that the counterterrorist operation in Chechnya was over. In order to understand what is, in the opinion of the Kremlin and Kadyrov, now concluded, one would do well to know what the Russian forces and special services have been dealing with in Chechnya since October of 1999, when the counterterrorism operation officially began.  The operation was presented as a response to the invasion of militants into Dagestan and the bombing of buildings in Volgodansk, Buynaksk, and Moscow.

Counterterrorism operations were not exactly another front against al-Qaeda:  Chechnya proved to be independent of the Global Jihad.  In Chechnya there were foreign mercenaries and foreign funds which were provided as war funds, but Chechnya still did not become a base for international terrorism. The reason for this was within the Jihadist movement:  instead of going to Chechnya after Afghanistan (where the Mujahedeen were involved in 1992 in Kabul, when it was hinted that, the services of “Brothers” were no longer needed), rallying around the Egyptians from the “Islamic Jihad” and “al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya,” the Arabs which in the years following would make up the framework for al-Qaeda went to Bosnia.

(continued)

Published in Ezhednevny Journal 01.04.2009


HONDURAS:

 

Honduras elect new President, Profirio Lobo, 30th November:

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/30/honduras-lobo-president

 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/02/content_12572535.htm

12th December 2009

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reaffirmed on Tuesday that he will not agree to have any conversations with Honduras' president-elect Porfirio Lobo and that his country will not recognize the new government.

    The Brazilian president made the statement in Portugal where he was participating in the 19th Ibero-American Summit.

    President Lula said that legitimating the elections in Honduras would threaten the democracy in Central and Latin America.

    On Monday, the Honduran president-elect said he wished to discuss his country's political situation with President Lula, who was firm in his position that Brazil will not make any concession to the Honduran regime that deposed elected President Manuel Zelaya in June.



10 most recent videos from TheRealNews.com -  Honduras, Copenhagen etc

 

 

John Perkins, Economic Hitman ~ DemocracyNow!

Democracy Now - A Conversation With John Perkins @ Yahoo! Video

http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/main/showNews/id/8687

Condemnation around the world for Swiss vote to ban minarets
02 December 2009

Political leaders around the world, especially in Muslim countries, have condemned the decision by Swiss voters to ban the construction of minarets. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the ban was "deeply divisive" and "clearly discriminatory", and it was at odds with Switzerland's international legal obligations. Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who currently holds the presidency of the EU Council of Minister, wrote in his blog: "Questions could very well be raised within the UN about holding meetings and activities in Switzerland, even if the Geneva canton belonged to those which voted against the ban.” On Sunday, 57.5 percent of Swiss citizens voted in favor of a proposal that enshrines such in ban in the Swiss constitution.
(continued)


Japanese Arsonist gets Death Sentence:

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/arsonist-gets-death-sentence-in-japan/story-e6frfku0-1225806345512

 

Interview With The AmeЯican

Interview With The AmeRican

Written and edited by Swerver, adapted for SLG by Nopigeonhole

A little background.  Last September, Pigeon and myself hosted the third edition of Multiply Blog Awards.  The primary goal was to crown 2009’s Multiply Blogger of the Year, while encouraging camaraderie and the chance to meet-and-greet among this network’s finest active bloggers.  This is not the definitive Multiply award.  But it was an honor for us that Multiply management shared time and effort to be part of the panel of judges in the final round.

We are doubly honored of the opportunity to know more about the great bloggery in here.  In the end, it was the dude from New York/Puerto Rico, Eddie Blue-Eyes aka Translucence, who bagged the Blogger of the Year plum.  The whole affair also brought forth lots of revelations like knowing the funniest writer, most creative, most politically-charged, etc.  As cliché would have it, any of the 22 nominees could have won it and nobody would complain.  However, there must only be one to win it all.         

The little interview below was done, intermittently, way back October.  But due to real-life glitches (the two hosts’ respective relationship miseries =)… Anyway, this is not about us.  So ladies and gentlemen, here’s another chance to hear few things from a blogger packed with awesomeness, Mr. Translucence.




Swerver (Philippines) –  text in blue
Translucence (USA/Puerto Rico)  –  Blog Champion 2009 - text in red
Nopigeonhole (UK)  -  text in white

...and Rippa, a non-speaking part, in the back doing something with two VCR's and a scart-lead





NPH: Eddie, hi. Thanks for joining us. Multiply Blogger of the Year 2009... I know you use other networks as well; what's been your favourite thing about Multiply?

LOL! Actually, I came to Multiply during the Great Yahoo 360 migration.  So, what I liked most about Multiply at the beginning was that many of those I had shared my first blogging experience had a presence here. There was this community-type feeling here.

NPH: That’s a shit question. Start over: Eddie, hi. Thanks for joining us. Multiply Blogger of the Year 2009... Why does it say 'Player' on your avatar?

It was a joke. Some of my female online friends would make believe they were throwing panties at my especially good blogs (well, really, because I would beg them) and they used to tease me about being a "player." It's all a self-deprecating stab at humor.

Swerver: OK, here's a little something from me... I guess it's safe to say I am the most amateur here.. I started blogging at Multiply only in late 2007 after the prodding of my co-workers.. I've been hearing about "Yahoo 360 Migration" from many of you here.. but what was it really about? Is it the same phenomenon we are witnessing currently, that is, migration to Facebook because it is deemed 'more cool' there? Do you think Multiply would be able to keep its audience and, to use your words, community-type feeling?

Simply put, Yahoo made a decision to abandon the yahoo 360 platform. It was a hugely popular forum with many bloggers and also many people who were there to network. It was my first try at blogging.

I think what's happening here re: people leaving Multiply for Facebook is a little different. Facebook has virtually no blogging in it. It is a purely social networking site. I think what's happening is that Facebook has grown tremendously and people are attracted to that.  The interface is also quite different from Multiply. For example, people leave me messages on my Multiply "welcome" page, but I hardly ever go there. LOL! There's a seamless interface on Facebook that attracts people that just want to post trivial blasts on their front page. I think Multiply's design makes this form of online interaction harder to do...


NPH: I've read you. I'm English and white Caucasian. I was a little intimidated.  Could see an obvious interest in race-relations. Are you American, Puerto-Rican, or Other?

Ooooh! Good question! It's a hard one because of Puerto Rico's rather complicated history with the USA. Let me point out that physically, I look "white": I have blue-eyes and I am light-skinned. Very few people (even other PRs) get my ethnicity right.

I identify as an American of Puerto Rican descent. Factually, Puerto Rico is part of the USA. Technically, it's called a "freely associated state," but it's really the world's oldest colony. So there is THAT geopolitical dynamic at play. I often call myself a Nuyorican and there is a reason for that and it's mostly because I grew up seeing a lot of racism aimed at family members who were darker-skinned than myself. I saw early on, that I was treated differently because I was deemed white.

With PRs, ethnic and racial identity is very complicated.  For example, being a Puerto Rican could mean having a white sister and a black brother (or they would be defined in that way in the USA). At home, there is no difference. We aren't white Puerto Ricans or Black Puerto Ricans, we're just Puerto Ricans. However, once we left the safe confines of our homes and went to school, we quickly realized that we were being treated differently because of our features.  This caused in me a need to identify as a Puerto Rican, rather than just a plain "American." I often joke and use a Puerto Rican poet's phrase, "Ame-Rican." LOL

That's a long fuckin answer!

Swerver: I believe you are aware that Puerto Rico and the Philippines (where I'm from) share common history. We were both colonized by the Spaniards (in our case, more than 300 fucking years) before the Americans did. After getting its arse kicked bigtime, Spain ceded us to Mighty America for $20 million, through Treaty of Paris, together with Cuba and Guam.  Now my question... It's a lingering issue in my place, do you think the Puerto Ricans were able to keep as much of their "identity" or "ethnicity" during the colonial years? But hey, you just said that Puerto Rico is STILL part of America! I'd be damned.

One of the biggest issues for PRs, both on the island and in the States is this preservation of the Puerto Rican identity. I think PRs have struggled tremendously to keep and define PR identity on their own terms and as a result, have paid some heavy consequences as a result. I wrote a little bit about that today. Identity, culture and race are difficult constructs for the Puerto Rican because we tend to define such things very differently than in mainstream American culture.

As an example, when I lived throughout the US South, white people were often confused about me. They saw a white person, but I don't identify as a white person. I'm also fluent in Spanish. So, they would ask me, "What are you?" LOL While I am influenced by American values, I also maintain many traditions and cultural idiosyncrasies that are not "American" in the sense of the pilgrims or other American myths.

Swerver: Sure the colonizers (Spanish and Americans) made a lot of bad things, but what were their greatest contributions to your country? Religion? Economic prosperity? Bureaucratic methods?

This is a very difficult question to answer.  For one, when the US took over Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican intellectuals and leaders wanted Puerto Rico to be free. We were "free" for exactly three days, I believe and we had no say so in that decision. And while we were a "backward" nation in industrialized terms, one of the negative consequences of the US takeover was the taking away of the interior land from the farmers. The relationship between the US and Puerto Rico is a complicated one. While we benefited in some ways (infrastructure, etc.), Puerto Rico also suffered much at the hands of American business interests.

Swerver: What is the prevailing sentiment of common people towards Spaniards and Americans?

I think most Puerto Ricans possess an ambiguous relationships with "Americanos." I mean, we're part of the US, but we tend to go on living as Puerto Ricans as if the US didn't exist. LOL I mean, this isn't totally true, obviously, but PRs are very concerned about maintaining what we call our "cultural idiosyncrasies." LOL

Swerver: I'm also interested with 'alternate history’ thing, I hope you are too... What do you think would have happened if the Castillas won the Spanish-American War in the late 1800s?

I've never really thought about this, I'll have to get back to you on that. It's an interesting proposition.

NPH:  re: ‘we're part of the US, but we tend to go on living as Puerto Ricans as if the US didn't exist’
Sounds a lot like the Welsh... About your writing... in the final round, with eight remaining after pole-position very kindly bailed out and opened up the contest, there were as far as I could see some clearly defined styles among the contestants. Diio is mostly a creative writer, a published one in fact, yet I know him primarily from the news-groups here; Goodstuff has to be comedian of the year and his page is fun with lots of amusing images, not taking life too seriously; others were quite political, and others still more diverse. I think we ended up with each of the most commonplace types of blog represented... diary, pundit, historian and so on. Where do you fit into that spectrum, in your own view? Why do you choose to have a blog at all? What do you think it is you're you saying which makes you stand out?

I don't know if I stand out, but I like to think that my writing touches people in an intimate way. For a long time, for example, my psychology background featured more prominently in my writing and I wrote a lot about personal growth: the HOW of transformative change, overcoming adversity. I think I used to get a lot more people to my blog when I wrote in that way. But I'm also very much politically motivated. I work as a program director for a progressive organization (criminal justice reform), so a lot of my motivation comes from seeing the bigger picture. I THINK that my ability to connect the personal to the larger picture intrigues some people. But most of all, I think my ability to become vulnerable in a very open way attracts some people.

About a year ago, during the Obama campaign, my writing changed. While Obama's victory symbolized a triumph of sorts, it also caused some really ugly shit to pop up. A lot of racist ideology, perhaps bubbling to the top from the seedy underside of American society. That just made me turn away from "self-improvement" to more activist-type writing. I think people like that side of me least, but it's what I feel I need to do.

I think it's the range of my writing that perhaps sets me apart. I write creatively, on science, sometimes I try to be funny in a "fuck you" kinda/ sorta way. There's a lot of different things on my blog. But all this is a form of conceit, I think.

NPH:  I'm glad you brought that up (Obama). I've heard you refer to yourself as 'black on the inside', a N***er, things like this. Would it have made a difference to you if a Hispanic candidate had been in Hillary's place for the Democrat nomination, say... Bill Richardson?

What's funny is that I didn 't get on the Obama wagon until very late in the game. I felt he wasn't progressive enough (I still don't). I don't like Richardson for the same reason, plus, I don't actually see Richardson as "Latino" at lest not in the way I envision Latino. LOL My first choice was Kucinich because he was closer to me on the political spectrum. I detest people of color who are conservative! LOL After that, I was behind Edwards because he actually said the phrase "class war" out loud. I thought that was very brave.

When both Kucinich and Edwards were out, I started paying more attention to Obama, but it took me a while to get behind him.

Swerver: I voted for you as my numero uno in final round because I thought you were simply the best and most complete blogger from the list, but was it a surprise that you eventually got the crown?

Thanks! And yes, I was shocked someone actually picked me as a candidate. I tend to be very profane, I argue badly with some of my readers, and I break a lot rules. I tend to be kicked out of social networking sites, not be nominated for an award. LOL So yeah, I was shocked.

Swerver: Given today's circumstances and realities, what is your idea of a 'blogger'?

That has changed for me. I think the medium of blogging belongs in its own category. One of the things I strive for is the ability to explain complex issues in a way the non-professional reader can understand. This is extremely difficult to do -- a challenge. I try to limit my posts to no more than a one-page (single-spaced) MS Word document. Try explaining spiral dialectics with that kind of limitation. LOL I'm trying to be an "all-around" type blogger.  Someone who can offer anything from discussions on cutting edge research to poetry, essays, and short stories. But I don't think that's what defines a good blogger. A good blogger, for me anyway, is someone that can synthesize info in a very concise, but enjoyable manner.

Swerver: How passionate are you in blogging? Writing? Like I read some of yours and I thought they were lucid stuff (but maybe not)... so can you spill the secret... do you drink a bottle of vodka before writing a crucial piece? Who is your biggest influence, writing or blogging-wise?

I don't drink! (at all) LOL! I like to say that I've been blogging since before the technology was invented. I've been writing on the 'net, since the mid-90s. It's been a rewarding experience -- I have actually met (in RL) people from all over the world. People who were attracted to my writing. I had a friend who suggested I blog a couple of years ago, and I didn't think much of it, but I always liked the give-and-take of internet writing. It's very engaging and rewarding in that way. I am passionate about writing because I see writing as a ques5t for truth. And if I'm passionate about anything, I'm most passionate about exploring the truth, whatever the fuck that is.

Swerver: Who is your biggest influence, writing or blogging-wise?

I read A LOT, almost obsessively so. My writing is influenced by whatever I'm reading. Right now, I've been reading a lot of noir fiction. People like Ken Bruen (who's like the Blake of mystery fiction LOL!). Walter Moseley also influences how I write -- even in my political, non-fiction-type writing. I also read a lot of academic-type stuff: journals and serious research-oriented science stuff. I read a lot psychology and sociology stuff.

Swerver: Just something to prevent me from dozing off at this hour (it's dawn here), who's the hottest Latina we should know about?

Right now I am madly in love with Puerto Rican actress Roselyn Sanchez. But she doesn't respond to my facebook comments :(


**Weeks later - both hosts now single once more**

Swerver: Eddie.. you watch boxing? Our man (Manny Pacquiao) is going against your countryman Miguel Cotto tomorrow at Vegas.  Last time, Pigeon and I made £20 bet for Hatton-Pacquiao. And I won as… expected. *wink*

**Eddie didn’t respond to the last question.  He was smart enough not to take the bait**