21 May 2008
News and Comments – 05/21/08
Posted by Joy Bischoff under: What's News .
Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone.
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15 Comments so far...
Jesse Says:
21 May 2008 at 12:42 am.
This is a big relief. Maybe they can save some lives now. Only a quarter of the victims are getting any help and that has to change fast.
UN chief: Myanmar says yes to foreign helicopters
YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar will allow U.N. helicopters to ferry aid to cyclone victims, the U.N. chief said. But state media reported Wednesday the government will not accept any disaster relief from U.S. warships.
The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said that such U.S. military assistance would come “with strings attached.”
The U.S. has several helicopters on standby on a warship off the Myanmar coast and in neighboring Thailand.
The state media report said that other U.S. aid airlifted into the country was welcome, an apparent reference to ongoing relief flights of cargo planes from Thailand to Yangon. The United States has been sending about five such flights a day.
But the four U.S. warships were seen as a major potential boost for the relief effort with the capacity to deliver supplies to inaccessible areas of the delta, with 14 helicopters, two landing craft vessels, two high-tech amphibious hovercraft and about 1,000 U.S. Marines.
The report gave no explanation why the regime was willing to accept aid flown on U.S. planes, with U.S. military personnel on board, but would not allow the warships and helicopters to deliver relief supplies. Myanmar’s xenophobic leaders have long feared an invasion by the United States, and even moved their capital to a remote area in central Myanmar equipped with bunkers.
Cameron Says:
21 May 2008 at 6:12 am.
Feuding Lebanese factions reach agreement
By HUSSEIN DAKROUB, Associated Press Writer 27 minutes ago
BEIRUT, Lebanon – Lebanon’s feuding factions ended an 18-month political crisis Wednesday after reaching a breakthrough deal that gives the militant Hezbollah and their allies veto power on any government decision.
The agreement is a major triumph for Hezbollah, handing the armed Shiite guerrilla group increased political power and further eroding the government’s frail command of the religiously and politically divided country.
“There are no losers,” Lebanese Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh told The Associated Press, downplaying the concessions made to Hezbollah. “Lebanon is the winner.”
The deal, brokered after five days of talks in Qatar, were a dramatic cap to Lebanon’s worst internal fighting since the 1975-90 civil war. At least 67 people were killed when clashes broke between pro-government groups and the opposition in the streets Beirut and elsewhere earlier this month.
As Lebanon came close to a new all-out war, Arab League mediators intervened and got the sides to agree to hold last-ditch negotiations in the Qatari capital, Doha, to resolve the crisis.
Hezbollah came into the talks with the upper hand after armed militiamen easily overran large swaths of Muslim west Beirut, routing their Sunni pro-government opponents from some of their strongholds. The clashes eventually died down, but Hezbollah had shown it could force the government to cave.
The resulting deal was a major victory for the Iranian- and Syrian-backed guerrilla group, which the U.S. has designated a terrorist group.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080521/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon;_ylt=AnYhv3SOjeru1jfUawwaHUlvaA8F
Matt Says:
21 May 2008 at 9:40 am.
Myanmar shuns aid from US warships; UN urges more relief
YANGON, Myanmar – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Myanmar to focus on saving lives, not on politics, after the military government on Wednesday shunned a U.S. proposal for naval ships to deliver aid to cyclone survivors.
The U.N. says up to 2.5 million survivors of Cyclone Nargis face hunger, homelessness and potential outbreaks of deadly diseases.
“We must do our utmost for the people of Myanmar” Ban told reporters after arriving in Bangkok, Thailand. “The issues of assistance and aid in Myanmar should not be politicized. Our focus now is on saving lives.”
Ban was to fly Thursday to Myanmar on a mission to scale up relief efforts and lobby the junta to allow more foreign aid workers into the isolated country. He told reporters his two-day visit would include a trip to areas devastated by the cyclone and talks with officials, including junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe.
Before leaving U.N. headquarters, Ban said the world body had finally received permission from the junta to use helicopters to carry aid to stranded victims.
His announcement was not immediately confirmed by officials in Myanmar.
His announcement was not immediately confirmed by officials in Myanmar.
Myanmar’s state-controlled media said that U.S. helicopters or naval ships were not welcome to join the relief effort.
The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said accepting military assistance “comes with strings attached” that are “not acceptable to the people of Myanmar.”
The report cited fears of an American invasion aimed at grabbing the country’s oil reserves.
Cameron Says:
21 May 2008 at 9:59 am.
Okay I vote they stop rising. This is enough. Pretty soon I’ll have to join CindyL and trade for a bike.
Oil prices up after government reports supply jump
Wednesday May 21, 10:44 am ET
By John Wilen, AP Business Writer
Oil prices rise after government report of a drop in crude and gasoline inventories
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are rising after a government report that the nation’s supplies of crude oil, gasoline and heating oil were lower than expected last week.
The Energy Department report says crude oil inventories fell by more than 5 million barrels. Analysts had expected a modest increase. Gasoline inventories also fell, taking the market by surprise.
Light, sweet crude for July delivery is up $1.10 at $130.08 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices were modestly lower before the Energy Department issued its report.
Overnight, prices crossed $130 a barrel for the first time.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080521/oil_prices.html?.v=13
Sharon Anderson Says:
21 May 2008 at 10:10 am.
I’m so glad Myanmar is finally allowing helicopters to deliver disaster relief to their people. I wish their fears of a US presence and control were unfounded, but excerpts from this review article help us understand why they are concerned.
Review Article: The Worldwide Network of US Military Bases
The Global Deployment of US Military Personnel by Prof. Jules Dufour
Wing’s 2002 Map 1 entitled “U.S. Military Troops and Bases around the World, The Cost of ‘Permanent War’”, confirms the presence of US military personnel in 156 countries.
The US Military has bases in 63 countries. . . In total, there are 255,065 US military personnel deployed Worldwide.
These facilities include a total of 845,441 different buildings and equipments. The underlying land surface is of the order of 30 million acres. According to Gelman, who examined 2005 official Pentagon data, the US is thought to own a total of 737 bases in foreign lands. Adding to the bases inside U.S. territory, the total land area occupied by US military bases domestically within the US and internationally is of the order of 2,202,735 hectares, which makes the Pentagon one of the largest landowners worldwide (Gelman, J., 2007
The Surface of the Earth is Structured as a Wide Battlefield
These military bases and installations of various kinds are distributed according to a Command structure divided up into five spatial units and four unified Combatant Commands (Map 4). Each unit is under the Command of a General. The Earth surface is being conceived as a wide battlefield which can be patrolled or steadfastly supervised from the Bases
US Military Bases to Protect Strategic Energy Resources
In the wake of 9/11, Washington initiated its “Global War on Terrorism” (GWOT), first in Afghanistan and then in Iraq. Other countries, which were not faithfully obeying Washington’s directives including Iran, North Korea, Syria and Venezuela have been earmarked for possible US military intervention.
Washington keeps a close eye on countries opposed to US corporate control over their resources. Washington also targets countries where there are popular resistance movements directed against US interests, particularly in South America. In this context, President Bush made a quick tour to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico «to promote democracy and trade» but also with a view to ultimately curbing and restraining popular dissent to the US interests in the region. .
Jeezer Says:
21 May 2008 at 10:22 am.
Sharon, I didn’t want to say anything before but I was thinking the same thing your article is saying. They probably have reason for concern but it’s to bad because those people need help. We should send it in through other countries and still do all we can.
Carrie Says:
21 May 2008 at 10:26 am.
Something has got to be done about gas prices. With this oil barrel record things are going to get worse and it is going to ruin our economy. Why don’t they do anything?
Benjamin Says:
21 May 2008 at 10:45 am.
Carrie, they don’t care. It means more to them to control the planet through global warming fears and economic treaties. As long as their families and friends are okay they really don’t care.
Sharon Anderson Says:
21 May 2008 at 10:55 am.
Oil at this moment is $131.46 per barrel and it is projected to reach $200 by the end of the year. If all controls and regulations were removed so that oil companies could drill and refine our own reserves without the interference of the environmentalists and the federal government, things would change. We could get what we need and use what we want without being dependent upon foreign oil. Prices would go down because we would have enough oil.
Do you think those in power are going to relinquish their control anytime soon? Ever? Who is John Galt? (Check out Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand)
Jesse Says:
21 May 2008 at 12:33 pm.
Oil prices pass $132 after government reports supply drop
NEW YORK (AP) – Oil prices bolted to a new record above $132 a barrel Wednesday after the government reported that supplies of crude oil and gasoline fell unexpectedly last week. And crude’s rise in the futures market again pressured consumers by pulling prices at the pump higher—a gallon of regular gas rose overnight to a new record above $3.80 a gallon.
With gas and oil prices setting new records on a daily basis, many analysts are beginning to wonder whether anything can stop runaway prices. There are technical signals in the futures market, including price differences between near-term and longer-term contracts, that crude may have already risen too high. But with demand for oil growing in the developing world, and little end in sight to supply problems in oil rich nations such as Nigeria, few analysts are willing to call an end to crude’s rally.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D90Q4ILG0&show_article=1
T. Fan Says:
21 May 2008 at 1:07 pm.
I agree with Benjamin. They really don’t care.
Matt Says:
21 May 2008 at 1:51 pm.
Fed sees slower growth, higher unemployment in ‘08
WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve on Wednesday sharply lowered its projection for economic growth this year, citing blows from the housing and credit debacles along with zooming energy prices. It also expects higher unemployment and inflation.
Even with the more downbeat outlook, Fed officials left the impression that they would not be inclined to cut interest rates further. The decision at the Fed’s last meeting on April 29-30 to reduce rates was a “close call,” according to minutes of those private deliberations released Wednesday.
The Fed hopes that its series of powerful rate cuts ordered since last September and the government’s $168 billion stimulus package of tax rebates for people and tax breaks for businesses would help energize growth somewhat in the second half of this year.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080521/ap_on_bi_ge/fed_economy_14;_ylt=AhsBDHf3Nu1GAFVsI0rz6zkE1vAI
E.E. Says:
21 May 2008 at 5:45 pm.
I wonder how Romney and Charlie Crist will get along? If it weren’t for Crist, I think Romney would have been unstoppable. Good thing Mitt is forgiving.
McCain to host possible veeps at Ariz. home
CLEVELAND (AP) – The Memorial Day guest list at Sen. John McCain’s Arizona home runs to at least three Republicans mentioned as vice presidential running mates, but a top aide said Wednesday that vetting possible veeps is not on the agenda.
“It’s purely social,” said Mark Salter, a senior adviser to McCain.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were all invited to a Memorial Day gathering at the senator’s home in Sedona, Ariz. Romney ran for the Republican presidential nomination in last winter’s primaries, but dropped out months ago and has endorsed McCain.
Ten couples in all were invited. McCain often hosts friends and political acquaintances at his compound.
McCain said more than a month ago that he was in the “embryonic stages” of selecting a running mate for the fall campaign, but neither he nor aides have disclosed additional information in the weeks since.
It will be the first visit to Sedona, Ariz., for all three.
Romney dropped out of the race in February after it became apparent it would be near impossible to topple McCain in the convention delegate race. He endorsed the Arizona senator a week later and pledged to help him win the nomination.
Since then, McCain has praised Romney repeatedly as someone who is certain to continue playing a large role in the GOP. Romney, for his part, has suggested that he’d accept a vice presidential slot, though some Republicans privately speculate that he’s looking ahead to a possible repeat run in 2012.
Neither man appeared especially fond of the other during the campaign. Romney cast McCain as outside of the GOP’s conservative mainstream and a Washington insider who contributed to the problems there. McCain, in turn, argued that Romney’s equivocations and reversals on issues indicated a willingness to change his positions to fit his political goals.
Mac Says:
21 May 2008 at 8:43 pm.
This shows Romney really has gotten past McCain’s defenses and is starting to be trusted. Great news. I would have so much more hope if Romney got the nod.
E.E. Says:
21 May 2008 at 9:25 pm.
I was reading comments on the oil hike and I wanted to share a comment that is very controversial I am sure but I thought it was interesting to think about:
As an investigative reporter, this story is clear. Needful to check into the monies transferred to both Democrat and Republican “lawmakers” from Oil and Auto industry Political Action Committees. This fraud has been perpetrated on the gullible American public by a band of elitists,
as Lou Dobbs describes, hellbent on destorying
the American economic system.
They’re doing a good job of it.
Recall the “Energy Crisis” of the early 70’s..Rationing, odd-even days.. That was 1973. Two years before that, there was a Regional energy crisis in the Denver metro market. A traffic chopper on a routine flight at dusk discovered
rail tanker cars camouflaged in the desert. They reported on it .. and so that was the end of the “energy crisis”.Denver was a test market for the nation. Americans are fast asleep. Next it will be your food supply. Then your personal freedoims.Americans.. wake up. Check websites for all electric vehicles and retrofits. They are out there, and we’re reporting on it in the greater New York metro region.
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