34 Days until Inaguration - Shooting Hoops a Priority ?

The teams need to LOWER ticket prices.

A recession is a time to build support from fans, not alienate them through insensitive ticket prices.

Can't outsource stadium attendance.

Sports, too, hit hard by economy (click here)
Once thought recession-proof, teams and leagues retrenching
(Graphic click here)
American sports have long been viewed as recession-proof, but Monday's decision by the Arena Football League to cease operations for the 2009 season is the latest indicator that the economic downturn has reached the games people play ... and watch....



Bulls vs Celtics - December 19 (click here)



Who's next for Obama's basketball dream team? (click here)
December 17, 2008
So just how big a basketball team does President-elect Barack Obama aim to build with his Cabinet?
Education Secretary-designate Arne Duncan is a longtime hoops buddy of Obama's who played pro ball in Australia.
"I just want to dispel one rumor before I take questions: I did not select Arne because he's one of the best basketball players I know," Obama said to laughter Tuesday. "Although I will say that I think we are putting together the best basketball-playing Cabinet in American history."
Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, a potential House appointee or candidate for U.S. Senate, played pro ball in Greece. Former Illinois Public Health Director Eric Whitaker may also be up for a health-related post. Reggie Love, Obama's friend, bodyguard and a former Duke basketball player, is also likely along for the ride.
Obama's brother-in-law Craig Robinson, head basketball coach at Oregon State, could also join the games if Obama, as he has threatened only half in jest, replaces the White House bowling alley with a basketball court.
Abdon Pallasch

Cellulose Ethanol is a priority for the nominated Ag Secretary. Cellulose Ethanol can be developed from drought resistant crops.



Transition: Adding Salazar and Vilsack (click here)
Posted: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:26 AM
by Carrie Dann
Tom Vilsack's elevation to Ag secretary means he "would be the fourth high-level appointment of a former presidential campaign rival to Obama's team, following Clinton for secretary of State, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden for vice president and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for Commerce secretary."
By the way, it’s a big victory for ethanol advocates to have Vilsack in the Cabinet ...

The British Aren't Coming - The invasion was "W"rong and the occupation has no real definition other than destructive.

The West's presence in Iraq was never received well. While removing Saddam was a priority to most Iraqis regardless of ethnicity, the continued occupation and Western priorities were never a priority with any of the citizenry and/or the Parliament that favors good relations with Iran.

The infrastruture problems that still plague Iraq, including intact oil pipelines, stability outside the Green Zone, continue to haunt the current 'central authority' with 'diplomacy' as the sole resolve to any issues.

The interesting dynamics that allowed such decentralized authority to 'take hold' in Iraq were the long established "No Fly Zones" which provided stability for the Kurds and Southern Shia. Also contributing to the failing Iraqi infrastructure and ability of The West 'to muster the resources' of the Iraqis, was the poorly planned post invasion strategy that allowed Iraq to fall into anarchy thus escalating the need for local and regional militias.

Deploying troops out of Iraq should be a priority as the sincere fight against the threats against The West lie in the region of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir and India. The tensions between Iran and The West should somewhat dissipate with the exiting of The West to perhaps provide 'better' relations for diplomacy to work rather than aggression.



British Prime Minister Gordon arrives in the Green Zone on July 19, 2007 in Bagdad, Iraq. The surprise visit to the Middle East, will begin with the Prime Minister holding talks with Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki and military leaders in Baghdad today.
(Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images Europe)



(click title to entry - thank you) Today's agreement in Baghdad between Gordon Brown and the Iraqi prime minister to formally end Britain's military mission in Iraq by 31 May next year marks the end of one of the most controversial operations involving Britain's armed forces in modern times.
Opposition at home to the 2003 invasion and lack of any coherent post-invasion plan has had a serious impact on the morale of the armed forces, how they see the general public, and how the public regards them. Their initial welcome in Basra and Iraq's Shia-dominated south soon evaporated as militia filled the gap left by the failure to follow military action with economic and political progress.
At home, a growing feeling that British troops were not being appreciated led General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, to call for welcome-home parades.
In Basra, Britain's military commanders became increasingly frustrated by the time it took to train effective Iraqi security forces....

Pakistan seeks clarification over its role in the Mumbai attacks. (click here for video)

"...we are willing to cooperate...."

This chronic retreat into denial by Pakistan is to relieve internal aggitation.


Indian police guard the entrance to the damaged Nariman House in Mumbai December 16, 2008. Nariman House, home to the Mumbai chapter of the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish movement, was one of 10 sites attacked by gunmen during a 60-hour siege in the city that began on November 26, 2008.
REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has said there is still no firm proof that gunmen who attacked the Indian city of Mumbai came from Pakistan.

In the video by BBC there is a strong insistence the 'players' in the terrorist attacks that were successful and those trumped by Interpol primarily originated in Pakistan. We know this is the case, we also know there is a new government in Pakistan. To that end, the Pakistani government is a bit compelled to investigate all possibilities regarding the British reality.

It is my belief, from the instant Danny Peril was kidnapped, that Pakistan has a well established terrorist underground lasting decades. That degree of entrenchment isn't going to be irradicated instantly if the citizens of Pakistan are to survive the outcome and the sovereignty of that country remain intact.

It was a bit disheartening to realize India was preparing an attack into Pakistan based upon the Mumbai incident, however, India has sustained a good deal of damage to its infrastructure and citizens that demand relief.

Realizing that and recognizing the escalating efforts against Europe by the terrorists of this region, noted recently in France, there really is no other path except to insist this incident is never repeated and the terrorist networks that have become 'cozy' in Pakistan be irradicated in whichever methodology seems to work best.

Indian police to question possible Mumbai "scouts" (click here)
Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:16am EST
By Rina Chandran
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian police will question two jailed members of an Islamist militant group over whether they scouted Mumbai landmarks before last month's deadly attacks on the financial hub, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.
Indians Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin, who were arrested in February over an attack on a police camp in northern India, will appear in court in the next two days to determine how long they can be held in custody in Mumbai, said Deven Bharti, a police commissioner in India's financial capital.
Police say Ansari was trained by Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based Islamist militant group India, Britain and the United States have blamed for the Mumbai attacks, which killed at least 179 people....

Journalism at Risk - Torture, false accusations and unreasonable due process

Muntadhar al-Zeidi expressed anger toward George W. Bush in a way that was available to him. The expression of dissent was aimed at Bush not the Iraqi's Prime Minister Maliki. Yet, due to 'customery priviledge' whereby insulting a guest means insulting a host within the Iraqi culture, Mr. al -Zeidi is charged with two counts and not one. That is NOT due process as I recognize it.

There is a good chance Mr. al-Zeidi may have received the wrath of police during his apprehension, which is police brutality. There is a chance he was victimized additionally through torture. The UN, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies need to investigate his well being and follow his progress through the '? judicial ?' system of Iraq.



December 16th, 2008 10:58 am
Shoe thrower 'beaten in custody' (click here)
BBC
The brother of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush has said that the reporter has been beaten in custody.
Muntadar al-Zaidi has suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury, his older brother, Dargham, told the BBC.
Mr Zaidi threw his shoes at Mr Bush at a news conference, calling him "a dog".
The head of Iraq's journalists' union told the BBC that officials told him Mr Zaidi was being treated well....

December 15th, 2008 9:39 pm

US: Detainee dies in US custody in Iraq (click here to Michael Moore dot calm)
BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.S. military says a detainee has died of an apparent heart attack while in custody at a U.S. detention facility in Baghdad.
Monday's statement says the 25-year-old man was pronounced dead by doctors at a combat hospital after losing consciousness at Camp Cropper.
The military did not release the name or nationality of the detainee, nor did it say why he was being held....