I started a conversation a few weeks ago I believe is very important. It is the story that grew the Roman Catholic faith. So often our country engages in 'Jesus Speak' but rarely is there an inclusion of the great saints of the Catholic faith. And it is a great story. One of hope and bravery.

I think it is a great discussion for a Sunday night. So, next week. 

Thank you and have a good night.

Russian politics has to aspire to re-inclusion as a peaceful power globally.

July 20, 2014

The prime minister of Australia, (click here) currently presiding over the G20, has hinted the Russian president could be dropped from the next summit in Brisbane over the MH17 crash in Ukraine. This came even before international investigators made it to the scene.
“We take a very, very dim view of this and the idea that Russia can wash its hands of responsibility because this happened in Ukrainian airspace just does not stand serious scrutiny. We all know what's happening in the Ukraine,” Tony Abbott said at a press conference on Saturday.
It was “Russian-controlled territory, Russian-backed rebels, quite likely a Russian-supplied weapon. Russia can't wash its hands of this,” Abbott reiterated on Sunday.
The Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight went down crashed in Ukraine Thursday. Among the 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board the perished were 28 Australians.
The Australian government “takes a very dim view of countries which facilitate the killing of Australians, as you'd expect us to,” Abbott said...

Is the end of violence too much to ask?

A sad truth about the Middle East which has no clear solution within the State Department or USA intelligence is that many of the long standing 'terrorist group list' involves organizations that are Shia. They are solely one religion that have lasted for generations. Their tenacity speaks to more than flash in the pan violence and power brokers such as al Qaeda. The longevity of these groups speaks to issues of potential genocide if they were eliminated from Earth.

The reason many of these groups manifested and had the loyalties of such leaders as Assad is due to the fact they were genetically based as well as religiously isolated. There is absolutely no doubt there exists a great deal of hatred between people of differing religions in the Middle East that go back millennia.

The only other problem globally that has manifested itself in this way has been Northern Ireland.

I have witnessed leaders such as Syria's Assad, an Alawite and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, a son of the house of Saud, agree to understandings between the two countries. It is possible. The King of Saudi Arabia is a great leader.

The struggles of the Shia may come to a close with the establishment of a governance in Iran and southern Iraq. If these areas are stable and considered a homeland the violence that has dominated their existence may actually end. 

July 17, 2014
Bassal Oudat
Damascus

The Syrian Alawite community (click here) has tended to take the side of the regime led by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in the current conflict. Not only do Alawites serve in the top echelons of the Syrian army and police, but civilians from the community have been implicated in some of the worst practices of the irregular militia the regime has formed to shore up its position.
As what started in Syria as a revolt against tyranny turns into a sectarian conflict, the position of the Alawites is becoming more and more untenable, say members of the Syrian opposition.
In its efforts to recruit the Alawites, the regime has tried to convince them that any other government will turn them into second-class citizens. Yet, opposition members recall that the Alawites lived in peace with the rest of the Syrians until Hafez Al-Assad, Bashar’s father, took power in the country some 40 years ago....

425 Palestinians dead and the only option they have to escape death is leaving the country.

In the recent past, in Syria, short ceasefires allowed citizens to leave and NGOs the ability to deliver humanitarian aid. That is mostly likely what is happening here.

There is a huge disparity in what Palestinians face when this violence breaks out as opposed to the average Israeli. No different than most other areas in the region violence is often a day to day existence. When generation after generation is validated with hatred of others and violent actions that enforce that validation, Gaza is the same as every other region in the Middle East. The only hope anyone has in ending the violence is to provide protections to the Palestinians no different than that of Israelis. Currently, the only method of protection the Palestinians have is to enter into refugee status.

Sorry, but, when innocent men, women and children die because Israel has the political opportunity to do so there has to be measures to prevent these deaths. 

July 20. 2014
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel agreed (click here) to allow a two-hour humanitarian truce in a Gaza City neighborhood.
The Red Cross on Sunday requested the two-hour humanitarian truce in the Shuja’iya neighborhood near Gaza City, where heavy fighting has been reported in recent hours, with at least 40 Gazans reported dead.
Hamas reportedly requested the truce through the Red Cross in order to evacuate the dead and injured. The truce began at 1:30 p.m.
The IDF spokesman said in a tweet that it ordered civilians in the neighborhood “days ago” to evacuate for their own safety. “Hamas ordered them to stay. Hamas put them in the line of fire,” he said.
Residents of the area on Sunday were again called on to evacuate the city, with instructions to move west and cross the Salah ad-Din road to Gaza City.
Any attempt to violate the cease-fire “will not be tolerated,” the IDF said in a statement.
Rocket fire on Israel continued from the area during the cease-fire, according to the IDF....

No one is going to war with Russia or any other country.

There are two type of reports in the USA regarding Malaysian Airlines 17, inflammatory with half truths and hysteria and the truth.

The truth is the bodies being removed better be removed, otherwise, they will become carrion to wildlife. 

My understanding of the truth is the bodies are many that are being found and they are being placed in refrigerated receptacles to prevent decomposition. That is the way civilized society would handle such problems. They are being prepared for transport to their countries of origin/homelands. There is probably concern for the fact this occurred over a war zone and the land has not been consecrated. That problem manifested in the USA and other areas before where innocent people may or may not have ALL their remains reclaimed. The largest example of that was the attacks within the USA on September 11, 2001. Consecrating the ground is very important. 

There is an issue of unfettered access as was promised. I understand during one of the investigator's visits there was gunfire heard. So much for promises of unfettered access. 

I do not believe Russia was directly involved with the downing of the jet. I do believe Russia was attempting to consult with the separatists and not necessarily for it's own sovereign purposes. I do believe Russia had a problem at it's border and to the extent it could inhibit the violence spilling over into Russia was a sovereign obligation to it's citizens. (I remind, the USA has militarized it's southern border.) Supplying state of the art equipment is a different story and facilitating the violence still has to be answered. I do not believe the separatists had state of the art weapons. I do believe they, as Ukrainians, had a great deal of military prowess and used it. Whether weapons were supplied by Russia remains to be seen. Supplying weapons is not helping end the violence. It escalates it.

Russia is still defined as a valuable partner to peace in the case of North Korea and Iran and most probably Syria. Russia is still upholding treaties with this exception of Ukraine and as a result it shows why treaties exist and why. This tragedy in Ukraine clearly illustrates when treaties are broken there are outcomes dangerous and undesirable. 

If people are seeking a reason to hate Russia there are plenty within these circumstances alone and in isolation of all else it is easy to label them as 'evil.' The reason Ukraine blew up and now is an economic anchor to the Russia economy is because of the Russian politics. The politics is horrible. It leaves no room for anything except flag waving and hatred of all else not Russian. The politics is terrible and has lead to these circumstances the world still is confused about.

There are stories now coming out of this tragedy. Young people loved. Beloved family members gone. Scientists never to contribute to the outcomes of diseases. It will be a long time before this is forgotten. 

The idea the USA is hanging on to circumstantial evidence of Russia's direct involvement in this tragedy is nothing more than returning to the Pre-Iraq political environment. It is ridiculous, proves nothing and there will be no war inspired by separatists.Wouldn't it be a separatists dream come true to actually begin the war to end all wars. I don't think so.

It would be in Russia's best interest to back the immediate and secure access to the downed airliner.

Others that have already been to the jet's crash site need to be accessed and interviewed as well. Russia should have ended this as quick as it began when the separatists were using loyalty to Russia as an excuse for violence.

18 July 2014

The apparent deliberate (click here) downing of a Malaysian passenger plane over eastern Ukraine highlights the need for an urgent resumption of a ceasefire and a serious effort to end the ongoing crisis, the United Nations political chief told an emergency meeting of the Security Council today.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, carrying 298 people, was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed on Thursday in eastern Ukraine, near the Russian border.
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said that while the UN has at this point no independent verification of the circumstances regarding the tragic crash, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is alarmed at what seem to be “credible, numerous reports” that suggest that a sophisticated surface-to-air missile was used.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns this apparently deliberate downing of a civilian aircraft,” said Mr. Feltman. “This horrifying incident serves as the starkest reminder of how dire the situation in eastern Ukraine has become – and how it affects countries and families well beyond Ukraine’s borders.”
A separate statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said that “this horrifying incident must at the very least prompt a serious and sustained effort to end the fighting in Ukraine.” It also stressed the need for accountability for the tragedy.
Both the Secretary-General and the Security Council have called for an international investigation into the incident....

Between Russia, Ukraine, Iraq, Syria and Israel, Turkey is about to declare it's own war. What are you joking?

Nothing like being caught in a neighborhood of war mongers. Then the people of Turkey wonder why Erodgan is a control freak.

March 10. 2014
by Keigh Fawkes

...Sevastopol (click here) is home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.  So in addition to the complex history shared by Russia and Ukraine, you have a naval base of extreme strategic importance to Russia (as it is Russia’s only warm water base).  And feelings in Ukraine toward Russia’s continued presence in Sevastopol have been conflicted to say the least....

The above article points to a few interesting facts, including how Russia demands naval prowess in the absence of access from it's natural borders. The Soviet Union was an aggressor nation. Until Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula that aggressor status was mostly neutral. Russia had it's allies and The West had theirs. The surprise killings in the Maidan set off a chain reaction across the globe because it was a throw back to the old Soviet empire. Whether Putin wants to admit it or not, it shocked the world to it's socks and yes, Russia is responsible because the world sees it that way. It is that reality President Putin has to deal with. He didn't lead in a way that promoted freedom and democracy. The nationalism Russia is caught in only raises suspicions of greater aspirations of Russia.

Russia owns this problem. Putin needs to lead his country out of the tragedy it now faces on a global scale. 

Israel is not a peace partner. Israel never consulted with it's allies such as Turkey before launching into a full scale war with the Palestinians, currently focused on Gaza. Israel sees itself as self-contained and therefore doesn't have to balance it's power in the Middle East. Israel's involvement sparks global response. It has been reckless and careless in this most recent war with the Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel, not unlike Russia, has created it's own problems, Turkey however has not, but, finds itself drawn into a posture imposed without regard for it's problems. Israel is not a good ally and is causing problems when it should be securing a peace treaty with Palestine, solidifying borders and removing settlements. How different would Turkey find itself if that is the path Israel sought instead of it's current path.

July 18, 2014
By Suzan Fraser

Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (click here) intensified his fiery rhetoric against Israel over its ground invasion of Gaza on Friday, accusing the country of state terrorism and genocide and saying the two countries will not mend ties on his watch.
Earlier, hundreds of protesters pelted the top Israeli diplomat's residence in Ankara with stones, and the private Dogan news agency said police in Istanbul used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters trying to enter the Israeli Consulate grounds. Turkish legislators leaving a late-night debate in parliament also protested against Israel.
Turkey intensified security around Israeli missions but the demonstrations prompted Israel to call home the families of Israeli diplomats and to keep staff in the embassy and consulate to a minimum.
Tzachi Moshe, a spokesman for Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, said Israel "sharply protested the flagrant violation of diplomatic rules."
Erdogan told reporters after Muslim Friday prayers: "Israel threatens world peace. Israel threatens peace in the Middle East. Therefore, I personally, can never contemplate anything positive with Israel as long as I remain on duty."
"Israel is at the moment waging terrorism; Israel at the moment is carrying out genocide," he said....

At least he didn't hang up the phone.

The Presidents of Russia and the USA were on the phone discussing further sanctions when the missile hit Malaysia Airlines 17. Evidently, President Putin knew immediately as it happened. Considering his military was in the area mentoring whoever fired the missile it isn't surprising Russia had the inside track on information.

While every nation in the world has had enough of Russia's policies of aggression and disregard of international treaties, it is time the Russian government take ownership of this tragedy and end the conflict along the border with Ukraine. 

This level of weapons within the striking distance of Europe and in the hands of extremists is more than any other nation should tolerate. If President Putin will remember there is a treaty that once was intact providing for a sovereign Ukraine whereby peace was GUARANTEED. No country was to interfere in Ukraine's economy or politics. Ukraine was basically a neutral country. That treaty alone also guaranteed Europe was a peace partner in the region. This sudden reality of extremist armament has shattered that peace.

The argument can be made the Ukraine insurgents have obtained armaments from old stocks left in the country post treaty, but, there has been dearly little agreement between Russia and Ukraine to end the extremists ability to war. It is time for Russia to work with Ukraine to end the military build up at the Ukraine border. That build up is not in the national interest of Russia. Playing Russian politics with "I double dare you," has cost the lives of 285 people from many, many nations globally. Russia cannot expect to come out of this unscathed in it's reputation. 

Russia is becoming it's own problem now because of the politics of aggression and nationalism. There is no leadership by Vladimir Putin to reign in the extremists and change the tone of Russia in an international theater. 

The passengers and crew of Malaysian Airlines 17 are lost forever. There is no waiting to find out the outcome of the plane. There is nothing for the airlines to do, but, to settle financial affairs with families. This event is as bad as it gets. The Malaysian government is demanding the perpetrators be found and held for trial. What are the chances of that happening? 

Even if the perpetrators are found, will Russia allow their apprehension or chalk it up to the slings and arrows of war? 

This event has completely disrupted the world's sense of potential to peace, it's alliances, it's economic strengths and the potential of isolating Russia from the capacity of carrying out this extent of aggression ever again. If Russia doesn't exhibit leadership by delivering Ukraine radicals to The Hague and settle border issues with Ukraine this land between the two countries will become a no man's land similar to the DMZ between North and South Korea. Is that what Russians want for their country? Do they want to be isolated, alone with a deteriorating economy into impoverishment without potential for the future?

Does Russia become the post WW I Germany that will eventually seek to destroy those that simply wanted the end to the causalities and chaos or war. Does Russia believe it's ability to remain sovereign is so delicate it cannot become a global leader to peace? 

Shake off the communists, they are destructive to their own outcomes. Eastern Ukraine is not a unique region of the world with cultural differences, language practices about to disappear off Earth to warrant protectionism in the way of separatism. The insurgents in Eastern Ukraine are about power. They will serve Russia's purpose of an expansive eastern border to act as a 'place holder' between Russia and The West. 

Russians have little to fear when it comes to Ukraine. They had even less to fear before Russian nationalism delivered a shattered peace in the way of treaty violations. Now, there are 285 dead innocents. Russia needs to lead to end these tensions, otherwise, it is my best estimate it will begin an isolation it will regret in the not too distant future.

July 17, 2014
By Neil MacFarquhar and Andrew E. Kramer

MOSCOW — The double game (click here) that the Kremlin has been accused of playing in eastern Ukraine for weeks — publicly endorsing peace talks while surreptitiously supporting the separatists with arms and men — suddenly appeared less crafty than possibly disastrous on Thursday after the crash of a civilian jetliner in a Ukrainian field.

What brought Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 tumbling out of the sky, killing all 298 people aboard, remained uncertain. But given the immediate suspicions raised in Kiev and Washington that a sophisticated missile ripped it apart, the crash brought the question of who was responsible right to the doorstep of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

“It is an extremely awkward moment for the Kremlin,” said Dmitry Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center. “Everyone in the West and in Ukraine is already pointing their fingers at the Kremlin. They are not waiting for an inquiry — they are blaming Russia today.”...

It would be a prudent step in resolving these hostilities to secure the area where the jet fell to Earth and begin an investigation to answer the questions of nations. The sooner that begins, the sooner productive dialogue can occur to end these hideous, but, necessary tensions. 

It is too late to point fingers, President Putin. Too many are involved now and it is far more than enemies and allies. Neutralizing terrorist networks is where the global focus needs to be, not fighting Old World grudges. 

Film Industry Incentives

For the public that is never explained what a 'film industry incentive' is; it is free money.

Coastal North Carolina has been a successful focus of the film industry in the past, but, the Governor can't seem to get the NC Legislature to understand it, so allow me.

You know those taxes the NC State Treasury will never collect because the film industry isn't there anymore? That is what film industry incentives are. They are tax deductions to production companies to come to a state and film their movies and/or television programs for free.  

There is no money that changes hands between the state and the industry, it is a tax deduction. The higher the deduction the more likely it will be a movie production will occur in a state. Easy. No money comes out of the treasury and no money goes in. 

Why then do it?

Because the bigger the production the more jobs it produces. 

Isn't it The Game of Thrones that has one of the largest production casts in the business? Imagine now all those actors and actresses can't be included in the production because the production company has to pay state taxes. Does anyone believe the production would remain in a place where it could not conduct the one aspect of the show attracting so many people and that is the 'realism' of large casts of people? 

What do we know about the general economy when many people are employed and paid a good wage? That's right, it does better. That means if the Game of Thrones came to coastal NC the entire economy in the area would perk up. 

What do North Carolina Republicans want to do instead? They want to offer a far less than reasonable incentive to the movie industry and will only attract small productions with small cast sizes. The contribution that level of production will offer won't even be a speed bump in the NC economy, coastal or otherwise. The Republicans in their hatred of Hollywood causes a great deal of economic damage for their political hubris. They simply don't live in the real world. 

McCrory is not a leader, he is a pleader. He pleads for the legislature to help the state and brings the insight of the people and where would the people be without the PLEADER of their cause.

Let me pay tribute to daytime television.

It stinks.

The local news is primarily violent about car crashes and murders. Then there is the latest 'happenings' of local activities made to make summer interesting, but, that's it. It never raises the opposition to things like the North Carolina Governor. Never. Always smiles. No talk about voter oppression.

Then there is the national programs like the Today Show that tries to be current and 'happy, happy, joy, joy.' Until Jenna Bush rides the "Terror-dactyl" as if she is the most scared woman on the planet and then doesn't let it go for the next two to three days.

I don't know what the deal is with NBC and this chick, but, I suppose she is trying to bring in FOX viewers as she EMOTS over how she saw a woman and a baby on an airline and can only imagine what it feels like to lose someone on MH17. 

To begin, she doesn't know anything about anyone else besides her own emotions, which obviously is a source of uncontrollable permission for screaming. Additionally, the 'promotion of war' isn't even in the purview today because the entire mess Putin has created along the Ukraine - Russian border is built on 'what is possible without nukes' and the nations of the world are going to end his 'insurgent joy ride' in the Ukraine.

The events in Ukraine are not in anyone's hands except the nations of the world.

WHERE ARE THE MINORITIES? 

The "As the World Turns" (which ended it's decades of 'sharing' in 2010) Crowd doesn't know what sincere problems of Americans actually are. The entire minority experience in the daytime stories is homogenous and does not bring in reality at all.

There is a reason why I stopped watching this mess a long time ago. And what is this mess about Nightly News being cut off half way through an hour program to opt for "Wheel of Fortune?" The ENTIRE nation isn't interested in sincere information that may impact their lives? What is that mess all about?

That brings me to the game shows. The minority experience with these shows are crowded into Family Feud and Let's Make a Deal. These two game shows are different from the past and more exciting, but, they still don't bring in the handicapped. 

The handicapped, including our military, are NOWHERE on daytime television or ANY game shows. "Come on Down" takes on an entirely new barrier to success. There isn't even a representative sample of handicapped on any show anywhere. There are absolutely no handicapped show hosts anywhere.

Then there are the entertainment shows. "America's Got Talent" and all that. They start their competition by wearing out the participants. They hold marathon events where a 'hopeful' has to hope to be an early competitor so they have some degree of vitality when their turn comes. These competitions are important to many people and there is some incredible people seeking a 'one time' chance to exhibit their talent and they are hobbled by fatigue. The large scale sorting should be more equitable. There are contestants that leave their one time opportunity because they know whey won't be at their best by the time they are heard or seen.

To say the quality of national and daytime and local television WANTS is an understatement. It is lousy television.

Morgan Stanley documentably caught in the frey.

July 17, 2014

(Reuters) - Morgan Stanley (click here) does not believe new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil company Rosneft will affect a pending deal between the two companies, the bank's chief financial officer said on Thursday.

The bank's management is moving ahead with plans to sell the majority of its global physical oil trading operations to Rosneft later this year, CFO Ruth Porat said in an interview.

"Recognizing the guidance was just released last night, we don't believe it applies to our transaction," she said. "We continue to do all the work necessary for closing by the end of the year, obviously subject to regulatory approval."
Her comments come a day after the U.S. government imposed its toughest sanctions yet on some of the key players in the Russian economy over what Washington says is Moscow's reluctance to curb violence in Ukraine. The move closed off medium- and long-term dollar funding to Rosneft, the country's second-largest gas producer Novatek and its third-largest bank, Gazprombank.
The measures stopped short of freezing the companies' assets, restricting the short-term funding the companies need for day-to-day operations or stopping U.S. firms doing business with them.

But they had raised some doubts about whether mounting political tensions with Moscow could complicate the bank's deal to sell the majority of its global physical oil trading operations to Russia's largest oil producer.

The Wall Street bank agreed to the sale in December before Russia launched an incursion into Ukraine's Crimean peninsula....

Initially, it looks like the separatists.

Russia would never do this. Ukraine government would never do such a thing intentionally. It looks like separatists and with this degree of sophisticated weapon Europe is not safe. Russia isn't safe either for that matter.

I would expect the nearest NATO unit sufficiently equipped would be asking permission of Ukraine to enter the area to secure it. This is a very dangerous area of the world and to expect civilian authorities to conduct any operation is silly.

12:34 Today
Malaysian passenger (click here) jet ‘shot down’ in east Ukraine, latest updates:
- Malaysia Airlines has lost contact of #MH17 from Amsterdam. last known position was over Ukrainian airspace
- Eastern Ukraine separatist A. Borodai says Malaysian airliner shot by ukrainian government forces
- Reuters correspondent on the scene in Eastern #Ukraine sees burning wreckage of air plane, bodies on ground
- Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser said the Buk missile was fired by separatists


There is nothing to say Russia cannot offer it's assistance to NATO and Ukraine as well. 

If the jet was shot down and it was a BUK missile that is somewhat nondescript. The BUK was a missile system. It is from the former Soviet era. 

It is not a minor missile system. it has capacity. 

It is considered medium range which is not outlawed by the ABM Treaty and can be mobile.

I find it odd this is a Malaysian flight as well. I don't believe in coincidence. This is a perfect opportunity to pull major nations into war. I hope major powers are prepared for a defensive and not necessarily an offensive posture. I would not necessarily rule out terrorists either. I am sure the international agencies are looking at passenger lists.   

I might point to the fact this is another 777. As of today the Triple 7 has been involved with 11 aviation accidents and incidents including five hull-loss accidents and three hijackings (reference Aviation Safety - click here). Previous to 2013 the jet had an excellent record with only accidents occurring on the ground while being serviced. It is now becoming a jet of interest. The jet was introduced into service in 1995. 

The Super Jumbos will take on more interest by dangerous groups. They carry more fuel and more people. They are perfect for a terrorist incident.

If the Malaysian jet were shot down I would expect it happened outside of Ukraine airspace and the crash trajectory would have brought it to crash in Ukraine.

I found this an interesting editorial in the Tehran Times. It speaks to 'regional security' for what might be the first time.

July 16, 2014
By Abdollah Ghanbarloo

...a final point, (click here) all states share responsibility for each other’s security. Their common interest requires international cooperation for eradication of violent extremism. There are two main ways to solve Iraq’s problems. Firstly, Iraqi government needs a new national dialogue and new national reconciliation project between Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish populations to build a new Iraqi society based on the principles of equality, understanding, toleration, and friendship among all groups....

The editorial explains quite clearly the events of rebellion throughout the region. This editorial also speaks to elements of the region that have interests in establishing and sustaining a peace. There are chances that can occur without any more sectarian violence if all nations are willing to recognize their part in regional stability. 

Iran more than any other country has the potential to end any sectarian violence by leading and bringing about regional stability. For far too long, extremist groups often characterized as terrorist elements have fought for their continued presence. It has to end. The groups that are primarily Shia need to accept leadership of their religious leaders who lead in peace without violence as a focus of their purpose. 

I would hope the Russia forces were to end the east Ukrainian insurgents.

I think Russia is providing a lot of mixed messages. I am sure it serves it's purpose well. But, Russia needs to end the ambivalence costing it so much economically. Russia is losing it's status globally. It is time for President Putin to end the discussion about another Russia state in eastern Ukraine. It isn't good for Russia or Ukraine and it certainly isn't good for the people of Eastern Ukraine. It is time to jail those standing even in defiance of Russia in regard to separatism.

July 16, 2014
VOA News 

...The Pentagon (click here) says it is increasingly concerned about Russian military forces massed on the border with Ukraine.  It confirmed NATO estimates that 10,000 to 12,000 Russian troops are deployed there, adding the force "certainly has the capability to conduct operations on either side of the border."

Tensions between Moscow and Kyiv escalated Tuesday after a top Ukrainian defense official warned the country faced an imminent Russian military attack and Ukraine's security chief said he had "absolute proof" Russia was involved in the downing of a Ukrainian military transport plane a day earlier.

Later Tuesday, 11 people were killed in an airstrike that destroyed an apartment building in the eastern Ukrainian town of Sniznhe.  Pro-Russian separatists blamed Ukraine's air force for the attack, while a Ukrainian military spokesman, in a thinly veiled accusation against Russia, called the airstrike a "cynical provocation."...

It is about time to have EIB to end it's supply of money to those not engaged in peace.
 
Suspending investments
...The 28-nation EU has been under strong pressure from the U.S. and Ukraine to take a hard line against Russia.
The EU leaders will ask the bloc's bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB), to suspend financing of new public sector projects in Russia, the draft statement said.
EU countries will work together within the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to suspend EBRD financing of new projects in Russia, it said.
EU diplomats say taking action at the EBRD will be complicated as Russia is one of 64 countries that are shareholders of the bank.
Russia has traditionally been the biggest recipient of the London-based EBRD's funds - the bank lent 1.8 billion euros ($2.44 billion) there last year. The EIB pledged to lend more than one billion euros to Russia last year....

Another demonstration of Tea Party anarchy.

The rules were written before he started to pout, yet, he is out to declare a legitimate election illegal. They rule by power, not the rule of law. Just another clear indication of their lawlessness.

Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel’s (click here) legal team said on Wednesday that they will more than likely challenge the tea party favorite’s loss in the Mississippi Republican primary runoff election between him and incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran.
Mitch Tyner, an attorney representing McDaniel, said at a press conference in Jackson that voting records are still being reviewed but enough evidence – including crossover votes – has already been found to make the challenge and that official paperwork would likely be filed within the next 10 days.
McDaniel’s team is still rigorously reviewing poll books in search of voter irregularities. Cochran, a six-term senator, had made an appeal to African-American and Democratic voters to help him in the GOP runoff on June 24. He was declared the winner by 7,667 votes. McDaniel, who led after the first round of voting on June 3, alleges there was fraud in crossover votes and has been trying to raise money to fund the legal challenge....

The sentences should be commuted to "LIfe without Parole."

There is no adequate answer for carrying out the death sentence anyway. California needs to get rid of the death sentence and commute any inmate to Life without Parole. 

July 16, 2014
By Bob Egelko
 
...For most of the 748 current Death Row inmates, (click here) "systemic delay has made their execution so unlikely that the death sentence carefully and deliberately imposed by the jury has been quietly transformed into one no rational jury or legislature could ever impose: life in prison, with the remote possibility of death," said U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney of Santa Ana.
Out of more than 900 convicted murderers sentenced to death in the state since 1978 under the current system, Carney said, 13 have been executed, 94 have died from illnesses, suicide or other causes, and 39 have had their sentences overturned....

July 15, 2014
By Carol Rosenberg
crosenberg@MiamiHerald.com
 

In the first known rebellion (click here) against Guantánamo’s force-feeding policy, a Navy medical officer recently refused to continue managing tube-feedings of prison hunger strikers and was reassigned to “alternative duties.” 

A prison camp spokesman, Navy Capt. Tom Gresback, would not provide precise details but said Monday night that the episode had “no impact to medical support operations at the base.”

“There was a recent instance of a medical provider not willing to carry out the enteral feeding of a detainee,” he said in an email. “The matter is in the hands of the individual’s leadership.” 

Word of the refusal reached the outside world last week in a call from prisoner Abu Wael Dhiab to attorney Cori Crider of the London-based legal defense group Reprieve. Dhiab, a hunger striker, described how a nurse in the Navy medical corps abruptly refused to “force-feed us” sometime before the Fourth of July — and disappeared from detention center duty.

Crider called the male nurse the first known U.S. military conscience objector of the 18-month-long hunger strike in the prison camps, and said his dissent took “real courage ... none of us should underestimate how hard that has been.”
Dhiab, 43, is challenging Guantánamo force-feeding policy in federal court. A Syrian who was cleared for transfer from Guantánamo in 2010 but who can’t be repatriated because of unrest in his homeland, has been an on-again, off-again hunger striker to protest his indefinite detention....

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/15/4237720/navy-nurse-refuses-to-force-feed.html#storylink=cpy

There is plenty to worry about in West Africa other than civil distrubances.

July 16, 2014
DAKAR/HAVANA - The death toll (click here) from the world's worst ever Ebola outbreak in West Africa has risen to 603 since February, with at least 68 deaths reported from three countries in the region in the last week alone, the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday.
WHO said there were 85 new cases between July 8-12, highlighting continued high levels of transmission. International and local medics were struggling to get access to communities as many people feared outsiders were spreading rather than fighting Ebola.

"It's very difficult for us to get into communities where there is hostility to outsiders," WHO spokesman Dan Epstein told a news briefing in Geneva. "We still face rumours, and suspicion and hostility ... People are isolated, they're afraid, they're scared."
Sierra Leone recorded the highest number of deaths, which include confirmed, probable and suspect cases of Ebola, with 52. Liberia reported 13 and Guinea 3, according to the WHO figures....

34.2111° N, 77.7986° W

July 15, 2014
2315.17z
UNISYS Goes East Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

Five and a half hours of thunder with some rain at times, occasional lightning. The lightning usually came in twos with fire engines being heard afterward.

The thunder would crescendo and then abate to nearly nothing, then it would begin again.

The truce never had a chance and now Israel believes it is more justified than ever.

It was never a proper ceasefire. The Palestinians never abated and there are questions to any agreement being recognized by them at all.

I was sorry to hear about a death in Israel, but, I was also sorry to hear how families are being lost in Palestine. The Palestinians believe in their battle as much as Israel believes in its.

2 hours ago (click here)

Israel will "continue and intensify" air strikes on Gaza after a ceasefire proposed by Egypt failed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned.
The deal was accepted by Israel but Hamas, which controls Gaza, has not responded officially to the initiative. Its military wing rejected it.
Palestinian officials say Israeli raids have now killed 194 people. On Tuesday, Israel reported its first fatality.
Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen reports.