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POPSMultilateralism Comes With A Price We must work with our allies, but we also must recognize that multilateralism comes with a price. Coalitions can dilute effectiveness. The European concept of multilateralism is Washington's obeisance to European positions. Western Europe exists in a bubble of stability and affluence, unable to fathom how dangerous extremist ideology in Tehran and Pyongyang can be. Multilateral organizations are not the answer; at best, they are ineffective soap boxes, at worst cesspools of venality. Rose petals and well-digging have never stopped bombs, racism or genocide. A strong military has. Obama says, "Let us remember this history." Let us hope he first learns it. Leadership is about more than rhetoric.
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POPSShould Barack Obama Have Skipped Europe And Gone Home? Yes, he was treated as an equal by a world leader. t was great theatre but the Frenchman came off as - how can I put this delicately - a complete clown. We'll see what happens in London but it'll be Gordon Brown hoping a little bit of the Obama magic rubs off rather than the other way round. And then there was the unseemly dispute with the Pentagon over Obama's abandoned plan to visit wounded American troops - something he could have done without. Perhaps the Illinois senator - who drew giggles from the assembled press when he had to point out in Paris that he was not the US president - should have flown back direct from Israel. The Presumptive - and Presumptuous - Nominee By Toby Harnden http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/07/the_presumptive_and_presumptuo.html
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POPS Fidel Castro hints at Russian air base in Cuba Gen Schwartz’s comments appeared to have enraged Mr Castro, who accused the United States of imperial Machiavellianism and claimed that Washington was bent on Cuba’s destruction. So far, the reports of a Russian presence on Cuba remain speculative, with the Kremlin issuing a denial and the White House refusing to comment. Even so, the speculation is mounting since Izvestia, often used to float controversial Kremlin plans, quoted military sources as saying that the proposal was in retaliation for US plans to build a missile defence shield in central Europe, ostensibly against a nuclear strike by Iran.
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POPSNot in MY NAME.
Last evening I had dinner with a former comrade and his son, a veteran of the Iraq illegal campaign. So incensed were all that the younger said he was prepared to stand against Marsden in the next election "to show the hypocrisy of the position". I have not had a single reply from Mr Marsden since I pointed out that the British Armed Forces were the only force in the World, especially in Europe, that has not derogated against homosexuals into the Armed Forces. And I asked him why not? It is a tool of enormous blackmail. From members of my own immediate family, all long serving members of HMF's, the abuse against heterosexual members is wide spread and getting worse. As with the race situation, you try to comply with QR&R's and you are hit with..."you can't do that. I'm a homosexual (substitute Black for race)." If you raise the problem you are immediately labelled homophobic. Nothing can be further from the truth. I did a six week stint on an OP in Belfast with five other men
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POPSObama's Idol Status Overseas Many in Washington were scratching their heads while he (McCain) was traipsing through the jungles of Colombia last month. But then came the freeing of hostages held by the FARC Colombian rebels, and McCain looked, well, presidential. And really, that’s the whole point of these “fact-finding” missions – looking good for the cameras. Perhaps these work vacations by politicians are more sophisticated than they first appear. Maybe Americans appreciate the fact that their presidential candidates are traveling beyond the confines of America and seeing the world firsthand. Perhaps, but do not be deceived. These are trips staged to the finest detail, with little left to chance and happenstance. Obama and McCain know this, and they have treated it as such – an extension of their political campaigns. Why do you think the network anchors are along for the ride? It is surely not because of the news quotient that the “surge” is working.
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POPSObama Addresses 'Tens of Thousands' in Berlin The piece goes on: "The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand," said Obama, in an address beamed live on US and German television channels and to viewers around the world. "The walls between races and tribes; natives and immigrants; Christian and Muslim and Jew cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down," Obama said, drawing cheers and applause. Obama's website has the full speech.
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POPSCouch Surfing Now this is a true Global Community! No government needed, no profits involved except the profit to people's hearts and minds, just people around the world getting to know each other and each others cultures, freely and respectfully!
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POPSFuture Climate Change
The average surface temperature of the Earth is likely to increase by 2 to 11.5°F (1.1-6.4°C) by the end of the 21st century, relative to 1980-1990, with a best estimate of 3.2 to 7.2°F (1.8-4.0°C) (see Figure 1). The average rate of warming over each inhabited continent is very likely to be at least twice as large as that experienced during the 20th century. Warming will not be evenly distributed around the globe (see Figure 2): Land areas will warm more than oceans in part due to water's ability to store heat. High latitudes will warm more than low latitudes in part due to positive feedback effects from melting ice (as discussed above). Most of North America; all of Africa, Europe, northern and central Asia; and most of Central and South America are likely to warm more than the global average. Projections suggest that the warming will be close to the global average in south Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and southern South America. The warming will differ by season, with
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POPSPersian Clouds - NLC's going south
Spaceweather says: "Noctilucent clouds (NLCs) are supposed to be a high-latitude phenomenon, most often seen in Canada, Russia and northern Europe. On July 19th the electric-blue clouds crept south, all the way to Iran: "I took this picture from Mt. Sabalan, a 15,784 ft extinct volcano in northwestern Iran," says Siamak Sabet. "It is the third highest peak in our extremely mountainous country." When noctilucent clouds first appeared in the late 19th century, they were confined to latitudes above 50o N. Mt Salaban is located at 38o N, far below the old threshold. Just last week, NLCs were sighted in Turkey at 40o N and in recent years they have appeared at least as far south in the United States as Colorado and Utah, also around 40o N. Why are NLCs spreading south? That is an unsolved mystery of these puzzling clouds. Some researchers believe it is a telltale sign of climate change, but this remains controversial. One thing is certain: Sky watchers at all latitudes should be ale
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POPSHot Air And the back-up coal or natural gas power generators can not be started and stopped on a whim.
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