U.S. presidents usually don’t try to give investing advice on the stock market. But not this President. President Obama opted today to play financial adviser to America and the World.
“What you’re now seeing is profit and earning ratios are starting to get to the point where buying stocks is a potentially good deal, if you’ve got a long-term perspective on it,” Obama said this in public in the White House while meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. – Pres. Obama 3/3/09
So just where and when did Pres. Obama get his financial consulting license? As President he needs to be very careful about what he says in public regarding the financial markets. These personal tips of guidance are just one more example of his naivety and rookie status on holding the highest executive office in the country. There is no doubt that the current floundering on Capital Hill and at the White House is now at least partly responsible for the stock market’s dive this year. The direct correlations of the recent severe down days cannot be attributed to the previous administration, but instead to the lack of clarity coming out of Washington. It may be true Obama has inherited the seeds and foundation of the current banking crisis and over extended credit problems spanning back over the last 16 years and two administrations, but the meltdown of the last 30 days is attributable to decisions and speeches he and his administration have made on his watch since taking office in January.
The Dow Jones stock index and S&P both dived last week as well as Monday and now Tuesday of this week to their lowest levels in 12 years which has sparked new rounds of concern and selling reflecting a sentiment with all investors, big and small, that the geniuses we have elected in Washington are flying by the seat of their pants and are NOT inspiring confidence in the financial / business investment communities.
President Obama needs to begin to learn that it is naive to think he can talk openly about complex fiscal matters in his usual condescending fashion without sometimes creating un-intended consequences.
Don’t expect the media to give the Bush administration any credit for having the faith in the Iraqi people that they might one day establish some sense of a democratic form of government and govern themselves once again as a proud nation in the world community. Naysayers who constantly forecasted gloom will never run this story or provide any credit to “The Surge” for facilitating this level of stability in Iraq.
Will there continue to be bombings and attacks on the Iraqi establishment? Sure, the bad guys will now want to topple the fragile government very badly. Especially if Obama pulls U.S. troops out pre-maturely against the advice of his military commanders.
Iraq may now be finally a point where its own military can take over policing their country from the likes of Al-Qaeda. Because of this an aggressive withdrawal will be tempting. Obama would be a fool to do so — he does want to get re-elected in 2012. So, to the dismay of the radical left, we believe he is much too smart to totally ignore Pentagon advisers. He knows if he botches this, any resultant catastrophe within Iraq will be on his hands and now, on his watch!
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq held a provincial election on Saturday without a major attack in the country, a sign that years of sectarian slaughter and insurgency may truly be fading into the past and greater security is taking hold.
However, the fact the election had to take place behind barbed wire and that four provinces did not participate were a reminder that Iraq is still a long way from joining the ranks of stable democracies.
In addition, the true test of Iraq’s increasing stability is not so much that a relatively peaceful election took place but whether the losers will quietly hand over power and patronage to the winners, analysts said.
“Fear, intimidation and the exclusion of four governorates including Kirkuk are stark reminders that normalcy has not returned to Iraq,” said Hans von Sponeck, a former U.N. coordinator for Iraq. “Election results should be judged with this in mind.”
Preliminary results may not be issued for three to five days and final results not for a month. — [Hat Tip: Reuters / India]
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.
Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation’s mosques:
‘IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture.
Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians’.
Finally a world leader who calls it like he sees it. Former Prime Minister John Howard of Australia. America, Europe and the rest of the world should take a page out of your book!
John Howard directs his words below to those who would embrace sharia law radical Islam and Islamofacism within his country, Australia under the cover of “religion”.
BRAVO John Howard…
Former Prime Minister John Howard of Australia:
John Howard
‘This (Australian) culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom’. ‘We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!’
‘Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it o n the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.’
‘We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.’
‘This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, ‘THE RIGHT TO LEAVE’.’
‘If you aren’t happy here then LEAVE. We didn’t force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.’
Maybe if we circulate this more broadly, American citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths.
CAIRO, Egypt – A Saudi man released from Guantanamo after spending nearly six years inside the U.S. prison camp is now the No. 2 of Yemen’s al-Qaida branch, according to a purported Internet statement from the terror network.
The announcement, made this week on a Web site commonly used by militants, came as President Barack Obama ordered the detention facility closed within a year. Many of the remaining detainees are from Yemen, which has long posed a vexing terrorism problem for the U.S.
The terror group’s Yemen branch — known as “al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula” — said the man, identified as Said Ali al-Shihri, returned to his home in Saudi Arabia after his release from Guantanamo about a year ago and from there went to Yemen, which is Osama bin Laden’s ancestral home…. – AP Wire
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OPEN LETTER TO LIBERALS LEFTISTS AND SOCIAL PROGRESSIVES
(Submitted for publication by one of our readers (S.G.) so we decided to publish it here at ZZ N&S since we thought you would all enjoy it… Note to John J. Wall …. Keep the faith dude – don’t let recent events get to you !!)
Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists, Obama supporters, et al:
We have stuck together since the late 1950’s, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot, and will not ever agree on what is right, so let’s just end it on friendly terms. We can smile, chalk it up to irreconcilable differences, and go our own way…
Here is a model separation agreement:
Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the
difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes. We don’t like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns and war, we’ll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA, and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore, and Rosie O’Donnell (You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them) …
We’ll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart, and Wall Street. You
can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies, and illegal aliens. We’ll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO’s, and rednecks. We’ll keep the bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood. You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we’ll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks, and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we’ll help provide them security…
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Iranians Burn Israeli Flag in Tehran Protests — Some Sign Up to Fight Israelis
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – A group of influential conservative Iranian clerics launched an online registration drive on Monday seeking volunteers to fight against Israel in response to its air assault on the Gaza Strip. About 3,550 people registered Monday with the Combatant Clergy Society’s Web site. The weeklong online campaign gives volunteers three options on ways they can fight Israel: military, financial and propaganda.
The group, which has considerable political and economic power in Iran, did not provide further details on the program including how it would contact the volunteers or implement the program.
The conservative clerics decided to sign up volunteers after Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a religious decree on Sunday that said anyone killed while defending Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip against Israeli attacks would be considered a martyr.
Khamenei’s religious decree was not considered a government decision and did not oblige the government to launch attacks against Israel.
But Iran considers Israel its arch-enemy, and its President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for the destruction of the Jewish state. Iran also is Hamas’ main backer, though Tehran denies sending weapons to the Islamic militant group that took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007.
Israel’s airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have sparked outrage in Iran and throughout the rest of the Muslim world. About 300 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded since the air assault began Saturday. Israel says it launched its campaign in retaliation for rocket fire aimed at civilians in southern Israeli towns.
Also Monday, the Iranian Red Crescent sent a ship carrying 2,000 tons of food to Palestinians living in Gaza to be delivered via Egypt. An Iranian military plane also landed at Cairo International Airport carrying 24 tons of food and medicine destined for Gaza.
The head of Iran’s Red Crescent, Masoud Khatami, said three more ships were waiting to be loaded with humanitarian aid, and Iranian hospitals were ready to receive injured Gazans, according to the official Iran news agency, IRNA. — — [Hat Tip: AP]
Hopefully the ships will be inspected for arms and weapons as well as suicide bombers. Especially since “…The conservative clerics decided to sign up volunteers after Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a religious decree on Sunday that said anyone killed while defending Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip against Israeli attacks would be considered a martyr.” If this is not a prelude to a show down between Israel and Iran then someone tell us what is?
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Striking in the morning, and not at night as many Hamas leaders expected, Israeli Air Force attacked strongholds of Hamas terrorist organizations in retaliation for the endless rocket attacks on Israeli border towns during the leat several months. The half assed truce brokered by Egypt has finally collapsed just as the new U.S. administration prepares to take control of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government… Coincidence? We think not… Hamas has brought this upon itself and may have deluded itself into thinking that the new administration in Washington is going to somehow control Israel in support their cause.
Dec. 27 (Bloomberg) — Israeli aircraft attacked police and security installations across the Gaza Strip, killing scores of people in the deadliest raid since the occupation of the coastal region ended in 2005, security and medical officials said.
As many as 200 people were killed and 750 injured, including women and children, Mu’awia Hassanien, a Palestinian medical-services official in Gaza, said today. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, called the air strike a massacre and said it would retaliate. At least 30 rockets were fired from Gaza today, Israel Radio reported, killing a woman in Netivot.
Israel’s strikes started at 11:30 a.m. and in two minutes hit more than 30 targets, most of them security compounds run by Hamas, said an official of the movement who declined to be identified. They came after a week in which dozens of Qassam rockets were fired into Israel following the expiration Dec. 19 of a six-month cease-fire with Hamas.
“Israel expects the support and understanding of the international community as it confronts terror,” Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said. The government ordered the strikes on Hamas only after it saw no other way to stop rocket attacks on its southern towns. The attack comes amid an election campaign in Israel, with the ballot scheduled for Feb. 10.
“The operation will be continued, expanded and intensified as much as will be required,” the Israeli army said in an e- mailed statement. The Israel Home Front Command warned people within 20 kilometers of Gaza to stay close to air-raid shelters.
U.S. Urges Restraint
Destruction in Gaza
In Washington, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in an e-mailed statement from President George W. Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, that “Hamas’s continued rocket attacks into Israel must cease if the violence is to stop.” He also urged “Israel to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza.”
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said in a statement that he “condemns the Israeli military aggression on the Gaza Strip and blames Israel, as an occupying force, for the victims and the wounded.” Egypt ordered the Rafah terminal on its border with Gaza to be opened so that the wounded could be treated in Egyptian hospitals, the statement said.
Hamas ruled out renewal of a six-month cease-fire with Israel as the conflict started to escalate last week, with Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli border towns and retaliatory air raids on Gaza.
Trade Restrictions
Hamas leaders blamed Israel’s refusal to remove restrictions on the flow of food, medical supplies and other goods through Gaza border crossings, and Israeli military operations, for the failure of the cease-fire. Israel says the restrictions on trade with Gaza and its air strikes were in response to Palestinian rocket attacks.
Israeli and Hamas officials agreed to the cease-fire through Egyptian mediators in June without negotiating directly. Hamas canceled meetings in Cairo planned earlier this month that were aimed at renewing the truce.
Israel tightened restrictions on the passage of goods into Gaza after Hama seized control of the seaside enclave 18 months ago. Hamas and the Iranian-supported Islamic Jihad group are classified as terrorist organizations by Israel, the U.S. and European Union.
Hamas, which is committed to Israel’s destruction, won parliamentary elections in January 2006. Israel has said it will not speak to the group unless it recognizes the Jewish state, ceases all attacks and abides by past agreements signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority. — Bloomberg News
What to expect next? Expect the end of restraint on the part of Israel. Also, expect an increase in the price of oil and gold as tensions in the Middle East begin to boil over and return to their normal powder keg status quo spooking the world markets even further. You can also expect the Obama administration to begin to posture itself in alliance with any U.N. led position statements in an effort to show that his new administration will work in conjunction with the wishes of the U.N. should Israel take even more proactive measures against Hamas. U.S. alliance with U.N. calls for restraint will then signal very clearly to Israel that they will need to act on their own to protect themselves in the future from an ever threatening Iran and Syria.
Israel will have no choice but to re-occupy Gaza which will be the beginning of the end for both a Hamas led Gaza and any hope for lasting peace in the region without a major end game move by the world’s super powers. The question will be to what extent will an Obama administration support pre-emptive strikes by Israel as an extention of the Bush Doctrine of the past eight years?
Thank you Al-Zawahri! This is just the brand of hatred that will help even further unite blacks and whites in this country against a common enemy. It will make us even stronger as a nation and even more united as Americans and your rhetoric will hopefully help extinguish any lingering racial biases that might have resulted from our recent elections. Its time to put our national dirty laundry aside after months of political and racial divisiveness from both parties. Wake up America… they hate us ALL !!
(WASHINGTON), Nov 19 (Reuters) – Al Qaeda’s deputy leader accused Barack Obama of betraying his race and his father’s Muslim heritage on Wednesday and urged more attacks, as the group tried to counter the incoming U.S. president’s global popularity.
Osama bin Laden’s second-in-command Ayman al Zawahri attacked Obama as a “house Negro,” a racially-charged term used by 1960s black American Muslim leader Malcolm X to describe black slaves loyal to white masters.
“You represent the direct opposite of honorable black Americans like … Malcolm X,” Zawahri said in al Qaeda’s English translation of his remarks. It was al Qaeda’s first high-level commentary on Obama’s election on Nov. 4.
Zawahri criticized Obama’s support for Israel and plans to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, where he said they were destined to fail. He called on Islamist fighters to keep striking a “criminal” United States until it withdraws from Muslim lands.
U.S. officials and analysts, alert for signs of an attack in the period leading up to the transfer of presidential power on Jan. 20, said there was no sign of an imminent threat.
They cast Zawahri’s message as an attempt to shift al Qaeda’s focus from U.S. President George W. Bush and maintain an enmity against the United States among its supporters.
“They’re faced with what is by any accounting a change in this country,” said one U.S. counterterrorism official who asked not to be identified.
“The way they’re dealing with the change represented by the election of an African American as president of the United States is to insist that nothing has changed,” he said.
Obama’s transition office declined to comment.
His election was greeted with broad hope in the Middle East, where relations with Arabic countries were deeply strained under Bush.
Daniel Benjamin, a counter-terrorism official under former President Bill Clinton, said Obama’s election on a platform of breaking with Bush policies was a boost to American “soft power,” or nonmilitary international influence.
“I think they (al Qaeda) are deeply threatened by the fact there is a new American president and that he has come to office saying he wants to have a more constructive relationship with the one billion Muslims in the world.”
Zawahri, he said, “feels like he has a competitor for the hearts and minds.”
Zawahri referred to Obama’s father, who was raised Muslim but became an atheist. Obama is a practicing Christian. “You were born to a Muslim father, but you chose to stand in the ranks of the enemies of the Muslims,” Zawahri said.
The Malcolm X reference appears to reflect the influence of American-born al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn, believed to be close to Zawahri, said a U.S. terrorism monitor who goes by the pseudonym Laura Mansfield.
Zawahri has employed the “house Negro” insult before, when in 2007 he used the term to label Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her predecessor, Colin Powell, who are both black.
“And in you and in Colin Powell, Rice and your likes, the words of Malcolm X … concerning ‘House Negroes’ are confirmed,” Zawahri said in the message released on Wednesday.
His spoken remarks could also be translated as “house slaves,” but the accompanying English translation used “house Negroes.” (Additional reporting by Inal Ersan and Firouz Sedarat in Dubai) — Editing by David Storey / Reuters
Clearly its time for everyone (regardless of what you might think of Obama and the party he aligns himself with) to get behind him if he has any courage at all to stand up these islamo-facist bastards who need their asses kicked from here to pits of hell. Al-Zawahiri thinks he is going to incite racial tensions in the U.S. by mocking our President, he will find out just how united the American people are if they ferment another terrorist attack against the U.S. under this or any other President. Our American black brothers and sisters are not going to tolerate this crap from these islamic neanderthals and neither will their white, red, brown, or rainbow colored American brothers and sisters. We are Americans first and above all else… and that unites us all regardless of our race or creed. Its part of our history and it part of our DNA as a nation. So keep it up you ass hole and you’ll find out just how wrong you are. — ZZ
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