Friday, December 03, 2010

Saudi Arabia Assesses Shiite rule to giving Iraq to Iran on a "golden platter."

Again I ask, how could a PFC have access to so much secret data (250,000 and counting)?

What does "SECRET" mean? Much of what comes out seems so obvious and so not news but fascinating in a voyeuristic way. We now have more about Iraq and what those in the Middle East really think about a new Shiite power center next to Iran.

Today's Wikileak peek into US diplomacy shows the reality of the unintended consequences of our ill-conceived and ill-prepared mission in Iraq, a mission that was to be paid for by Iraqi oil but fell a trillion dollars or so short.

The same people that thought Iraq was a good idea are the same that created or supervised a system of security for US secret cables.

It has become obvious that a lot of people that confided with the US, people whose cooperation was needed by the US are now embarrassed or in trouble because of these revelations.

Why would anyone in their right mind, domestic or foreign, trust anything the US Government says or does?

__________________________________


Analysts: Cables between Sunnis, U.S. diplomats might push Iraq closer to Iran


By Leila Fadel
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, December 2, 2010; 7:35 PM

BAGHDAD - Private conversations between Sunni Arab leaders in the Middle East and U.S. diplomats, leaked in confidential State Department documents this week, may push Iraq's future Shiite-led government closer to Iran, analysts said.

The nation is already divided along sectarian lines and since the U.S. invasion in 2003 Iraq has become the center of a regional power struggle between Shiite Iran to the east and Arab Sunni neighbors to the west - a struggle that played out during Iraq's parliamentary elections in March.

The first few hundred cables leaked by the WikiLeaks Web site could further damage Shiite incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's weak relationship with Arab neighbors, countries the United States had hoped would counter Iran's influence in Iraq as U.S. influence here wanes and the U.S. military prepares for a scheduled exit at the end of 2011.

The cables show candid moments over the past two years in which, among other things, the king of Saudi Arabia called Maliki an "Iranian agent" and a "liar." Meanwhile, Egypt's president, Hosni Mubarak, advocated a military coup in Iraq and said that the United States should "forget democracy" there and that the country should have "a dictator."

Sunni Arab hostility toward the growing Shiite power in Iraq is no revelation. But the sensitive cables are coming out just as the recently reappointed Maliki is cobbling together a cabinet that may finally lead to a government.

"Sunni Arab dislike of a Shiite ascendancy in Iraq is well known by Maliki. But this will exacerbate the problem and may push him closer to the Iranians," said Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq from 2007 to 2009. "Tehran will certainly try. We'll see if there are any Arab overture to the new government once it is formed - that would help, but I doubt it."

Iraqi officials were quick to dismiss the likelihood of lasting effects, pointing out this was more of a problem between Iran and the Arab Gulf than a problem for Iraq. A new era of Shiite Arab majority leadership was forged in Iraq following the invasion, after decades of dictatorship under Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Arab who oppressed the Shiite majority and the Kurds. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia likened the Shiite rule to giving Iraq to Iran on a "golden platter."

"These are not secrets. We know this," said Sami al-Askari, a Shiite legislator close to Maliki. "I think it has no effect at all. With Saudi Arabia, our relationship is not good, and with Egypt our relations are not that good. It's more an embarrassment for the American establishment. How can these secret documents get out? It's shaking the entire American system."

81 comments:

  1. CNN) -- Hundreds of U.S. diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks paint a picture of corruption in Afghanistan at every level of government and society.
    Cables from the U.S. ambassador in Kabul portray Afghan President Hamid Karzai as paranoid, with an "inability to grasp the most rudimentary principles of state-building."
    Many of the cables were sent from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul over the last two years. The New York Times, which had advance access to the estimated 250,000 documents leaked to WikiLeaks, reported the documents showed corruption's "pervasive nature, its overwhelming scale, and the dispiriting challenge it poses to American officials."
    One cable from the U.S. mission in Kabul earlier this year noted that the agriculture minister, Asif Rahimi, "appears to be the only minister that was confirmed about whom no allegations of bribery exist."
    At the same time, Dr. Sayed Fatimie, the minister of health, told U.S. diplomats that members of Parliament wanted cash to confirm his appointment. "Fatimie said MPs had offered their own votes and the votes of others they could purportedly deliver for $1,000 apiece," a cable said.


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  2. {...}

    Another Afghan minister warned U.S. diplomats that Karzai was "under great pressure from political leaders to accept a number of ministerial candidates whose technical skills are lacking." The minister "argued that these political leaders are only thinking of dividing up the spoils rather than the quality of government needed to tackle Afghanistan's problems."
    The cables also demonstrate an often difficult relationship between NATO allies and Karzai. At a meeting described in a cable in October 2008, a British official said the United Kingdom "continues to feel 'deep frustration' with Karzai. But he added: "I remind people that we -- the international community -- selected him."


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  3. {...}

    "Some months later, U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry drew up a candid psychological profile of Karzai. In a cable dated July 7, 2009, Eikenberry wrote that one portrait of Karzai that emerged was "of a paranoid and weak individual unfamiliar with the basics of nation-building and overly self-conscious that his time in the spotlight of glowing reviews from the international community has passed." At the same time, he was "an ever-shrewd politician who sees himself as a nationalist hero who can save the country from being divided by the decentralization-focused agenda of Abdullah [his leading rival for the presidency], other political rivals, neighboring countries, and the US."
    Eikenberry concluded: "In order to recalibrate our relationship with Karzai, we must deal with and challenge both of these personalities."
    The following week, Eikenberry reported that "the President's manner was significantly more relaxed and warm than in meetings the previous week when he was often agitated, accusing the US of working against him." But again, the ambassador warned: "His inability to grasp the most rudimentary principles of state-building and his deep-seated insecurity as a leader combine to make any admission of fault unlikely, in turn confounding our best efforts to find in Karzai a responsible partner."


    More here at CNN

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  4. LONDON — An American provider of Internet domain names withdrew its service to the WikiLeaks Web site after a barrage of attacks by hackers that threatened to destabilize its entire system, according to the provider and WikiLeaks itself on Friday. But within hours, WikiLeaks said it had registered its domain name in Switzerland.

    ...but the show goes on.

    Here is the new Wikileaks

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  5. Key figures:

    15, 652 secret
    101,748 confidential
    133,887 unclassified

    Iraq most discussed country – 15,365 (Cables coming from Iraq – 6,677)
    Ankara, Turkey had most cables coming from it – 7,918
    From Secretary of State office - 8,017

    According to the US State Departments labeling system, the most frequent subjects discussed are:

    External political relations – 145,451
    Internal government affairs – 122,896
    Human rights – 55,211
    Economic Conditions – 49,044
    Terrorists and terrorism – 28,801
    UN security council – 6,532

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  6. This is a copy of just one of the cables available as Wkileaks goes on undeterred:

    CENTCOM CDR PETRAEUS MEETS PRESIDENT
    NAZARVAYEV, JANUARY 14


    I doubt this link will stand for long, but it includes some of this:

    S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000095

    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR P, SCA/CEN, EUR/RUS, NEA/IR

    EO 12958 DECL: 01/19/2029
    TAGS PGOV, PREL, AF, IR, RS, KZ
    SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CENTCOM CDR PETRAEUS MEETS PRESIDENT
    NAZARVAYEV, JANUARY 14

    Classified By: Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland: 1.4 (B), (D)

    ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: President Nazarbayev told CENTCOM Commander General Petraeus:
    -- the situation in Afghanistan greatly worries him; the Taliban should never be allowed to become a coalition partner in the Afghan government;
    -- Iran cannot be allowed to become a nuclear state, but the United States needs to talk directly with Tehran, and he is willing to be helpful;
    -- Kazakhstan will never again be “colonized,” but has excellent relations with Russia and China
    -- the West has underestimated the depth of Russia’s wounded pride, but he is willing to be helpful if the Obama administration has “a wise response” to Russia. END SUMMARY.

    ¶2. (SBU) U.S. Central Command Commander General David Petraeus met with Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev on January 14 for twice the scheduled time, 70 minutes. The U.S. side included Major General Robert Allardice (CENTCOM J5), POLAD Michael Gfoeller, and the Ambassador (note taker). Security Council Secretary Kaibek Suleymenov, Presidential Foreign Policy Adviser Khairat Sarybay, and Magzhan Ilyassov of the presidential administration accompanied President Nazarbayev.


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  7. {...}IRAN

    ¶5. (S) Nazarbayev judged that Iran is a problem in the region, and General Petraeus fully agreed. Nazarbayev said, “I have good contacts among the leadership in Iran. I’ve tried to explain to them that Kazakhstan was once nuclear but
    ASTANA 00000095 002 OF 003
    fully gave up that status. I tell them it would be to their benefit to be non-nuclear. That would draw new assistance and investment.” General Petraeus said he again fully agreed with the president, but noted Iran’s policy is determined by the Revolutional Guard al-Quds Force commander, not by President Ahmedinejad or the Foreign Ministry. Nazarbayev noted he had once talked to Ahmedinejad for two and a half hours about such issues, “but in the end I realized I had just wasted my time.” He said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameni told him that even if Iran compromises on the nuclear issue, the United States would always find another reason to criticize “because they hate us -- all the United States wants is to conquer the entire region and steal the oil.” General Petraeus interjected, “We could have bought all the oil in the region for 100 years for what we’ve spent in Iraq!” Nazarbayev, looking a bit amused, said, “I know. I’m just telling you what he said.” Without specifying his interlocutor, Nazarbayev said he’d asked if Tehran is willing to talk to the United States, “and they said yes. I conveyed this to President-elect Obama during our (post-U.S. election) phone call.” General Petraeus commented the United States had had three rounds of talks with Iran about Iraq but had gotten nowhere. Nazarbayev said, “I have no illusion U.S. negotiations with Iran would be easy or fast, but we cannot let Iran have nuclear weapons. I want to be helpful with Iran.”

    ¶6. (S) Nazarbayev added he has discussed Iran’s nuclear ambitions with Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin: “I emphasize to them a nuclear Iran is in no one’s interests.” General Petraeus responded that it’s important to get Russia to be helpful with Iran: “They seem conflicted. Sometimes they help; sometimes they send weapons.” Nazarbayev said, “I told Obama that he has a good chance to have good relations with Mevedev. That’s important for us, too, since Russia and Kazakhstan are neighbors.”


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  8. {...}

    RUSSIA

    ¶7. (S) General Petraeus told President Nazarbayev Kazakhstan’s special relationship with Russia is not a problem for the United States. “It’s not a zero-sum game for us. You can have good relations with Russia and China as well as with us.” Nazarbayev said he fully agreed, adding, “I tell Russia and China we have our own resources. We are Kazakhs. We were colonized for over 500 years, first by the Golden Horde, then by the western Chinese, then by Russia. We’ve been independent for only 17 years, and we do not want to be colonized again. We will never be ‘under’ Russia or China. We have enough resources and a reasonably educated population to make our own choices. We want stability, development, and cooperation. We all have to have Russia ‘inside the tent.’ I’d like the United States and the European Union to help with this.”

    ¶8. (S) Nazarbayev said the West had made real mistakes after the collapse of the Soviet Union by not treating Yeltsin with respect. He said Yeltsin had once gone to the NATO-Russia Council where he had been “teased.” Nazarbayev explained Russia has great, but now injured, pride. It was once a great empire, and Russian soldiers had played a large role in winning the Great Patriotic War (WW II), but the West seems to refuse to understand this. For Russia, maintained Nazarbayev, “face” is everything. Nazarbayev said he had frequently told President Medvedev that being an energy superpower is not enough; it’s essential to develop international leadership with a spirit of cooperation. Nazarbayev said Medvedev was “almost there,” but then the “Georgia mistake happened.” Nazarbayev concluded, “If the new U.S. administration has a wise response to Russia, I’d be glad to help” with the relationship.


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  9. {...}

    ¶9. (S) NOTE: While waiting for Nazarbayev to enter the meeting room, General Petraeus ask Foreign Policy Adviser Sarybay why Kazakhstan had moved its capital from Almaty to
    ASTANA 00000095 003 OF 003
    Astana. Sarybay answered, “There are probably 20 different reasons people give. In fact, in the first few years of independence, several maps appeared that made our northern border unclear, and so the President ‘planted the flag.’” This is the first time we are aware that a senior official has confirmed Nazarbayev moved his capital to prevent Russian nationalists from annexing the northern third of Kazakhstan, which hotheads, including some in the Duma at that time, claimed was historically part of Russia. END NOTE.

    ¶10. (S) COMMENT: Nazarbayev looked as fit as ever and was very well-briefed, discussing details of the U.S.-Kazakhstan military relationship without notes. He was not shy that he sees himself as an international statesman. We know he was genuinely pleased with President-elect Obama’s telephone call, and we judge his offers to be helpful for the United States with Iran and Russia are genuine. END COMMENT.

    ¶11. (U) General Petraeus has cleared this cable. HOAGLAND

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  10. Fascinating, and yes Red, very sad.

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  11. ...Nazarbayev noted he had once talked to Ahmedinejad for two and a half hours about such issues, “but in the end I realized I had just wasted my time.” He said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameni told him that even if Iran compromises on the nuclear issue, the United States would always find another reason to criticize “because they hate us -- all the United States wants is to conquer the entire region and steal the oil.”

    General Petraeus interjected, “We could have bought all the oil in the region for 100 years for what we’ve spent in Iraq!”

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  12. General Petraeus interjected, “We could have bought all the oil in the region for 100 years for what we’ve spent in Iraq!”

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  13. General Petraeus interjected, “We could have bought all the oil in the region for 100 years for what we’ve spent in Iraq!”

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  14. The general could have said that we could have given, repeat given, one million American entrepreneurs, $1,000,000 each to open a new factory or build a small scale alternate energy facility.

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  15. Worse than sad, Deuce.

    Especially when considering the lessons that have not been learned, by the Federal leadership elite.

    Now that the "anti-war" candidate has gained the Executive, notice that there is no "anti-war" movement. No "anti-war" candidate, nor even spokesman for adventurism diminished.

    Yet commitments to greater overseas adventures further expands, as does the budgeting requests for the DoD, regardless of the previous rhetoric of the candidate who gained the White House.

    The Leviathan has a life of its own.

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  16. For a Trillion USD, spent in a decade, we could have become an ethanol nation.

    No longer dependent upon oil from imported sources outside of North America.

    But, instead, we increased our dependence upon the Wahhabi of Saudi Arabia.

    Masterful strategy from the Leadership Elites, not.

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  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  18. Such is the price of being the "Shining light on the hill" and trying to make all and sundry bow before that light.

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  19. Krauthammer:

    Most important, let's not forget the root cause of this worst economic calamity since the Great Depression: the politicization of mortgage lending in the U.S.

    The truth is, no bank anywhere would have to be bailed out by American taxpayers if lenders were allowed to do their job on a sound financial footing, without politicians forcing them into the social welfare business.

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  20. Deuce said...
    Allen, am I reading this wrong?

    The Israelis ought to make a huge deal out of this. Since the 'Palestinians' are no longer bound by Oslo, neither is Israel and Netanyahu should make that crystal clear immediately.

    Since there's no longer a legal or practical basis for them, Israel should immediately break off the futile negotiations with the 'Palestinians and annex the Israeli controlled areas of Judea and Samaria, while moving the 'Palestinian' non-Israeli citizens to the 'Palestinian' occupied areas.
    ,
    End game.

    Thu Dec 02, 10:36:00 PM EST




    What is flawed is your interpretation of the meaning of the author. The author says “move” and you see “camp”. This may be the case, given your negative view of things Israeli. But what is certain is that the author did not say or imply anything about "camp(s)" - concentration or otherwise.

    At this writing, Israel sits on land contested by the Palestinians. The author merely states the obvious, in light of the Palestinian reversal on Oslo: Israel should claim this disputed land and move the Palestinians onto land that is not in dispute. As it turns, that would be about 90+% of the land they now occupy.

    While unrelated, it appears that many Arab/Muslim leaders wish to see Iran's nuclear program neutered. Are they also Zionists and Neo-Cons? Are they also in the pockets of the Israeli lobby? Sorry, Deuce, but a whole bunch of folk in the know agree that Iran cannot be allowed to go nuclear. You may be smarter than the rest of us, but I doubt it.

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  21. Only Israel has to follow the rules, you know that, and for sixty years Israel has accepted that.

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  22. Allen, I do not want Iran to go nuclear either, but to stop it, by attacking Iran comes with some potential consequences and serious blow back.

    Pakistan is a nuclear power. There are 30,000,000 Shiites in Pakistan. Could Iran get a few of those weapons and retaliate in kind? Would they?

    Attacking Iran will only ramp up their nationalism and slow up their nuclear ambitions by a few years at most. It may actually accelerate it.

    A nuclear Iran can be contained.

    If Israel or Saudi Arabia want to take out Iranian nuclear facilities, that is their business and will be their problem with or without consequences. Keep us out of it.

    Am I smarter than the rest? Certainly more informed and more cautious because I have paid close attention to other military ventures over the past forty years, wars crafted and executed by the smartest and with results that have been dismal to disastrous.

    The smartest are also those least likely shuffle along a chow line.
    ________________________

    On the article in question, if people are forced off a land by nature , war or as the author suggest, where will they go?

    They will end up in concentration points and in refugee camps. That is how it works. They will not be sitting around drinking coffee looking at the classifieds for apartments.

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  23. Hugely disappointing Employment Report this Morning. Unemployment jumps to 9.8%.

    Oil continues its rise; up $0.50/bbl.

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  24. How come the only place people are talking about the Pallies jumping out of the Oslo Accord is here?

    Nothing on Haaretz, nothing on Debka, you'd think it would be a big deal if true.

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  25. Family sucks and I have a sty in my eye.

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  26. "Again I ask, how could a PFC have access to so much secret data (250,000 and counting)?"

    We'll just have to wait for the book, won't we?

    Were I writing it, I'd add the rather humorous, profoundly twisted revelation that Assange was on the USG payroll.

    Also a closet redhead.

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  27. "The smartest are also those least likely shuffle along a chow line."

    Hey, hey, hey.

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  28. Selah said,
    Nothing on Haaretz, nothing on Debka, you'd think it would be a big deal if true.

    Fri Dec 03, 12:25:00 PM EST


    Your point is well taken. The original story appeared in the JP, as I recall (this is not a statement of fact).

    If true, it puts Netanyahu and Barack on a coalition breaking crash course. It would also mean that Israel must either put up or shut up. Furthermore, it might force two consecutive Israeli governments to have a compatible foreign policy.

    Israel often does not play by the "rules". Neither do I. That is why we still live.

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  29. Deuce,

    The US should stay out of it.

    The US will not stay out of it.

    As sure as G-d made little green apples, as soon as an attack is launched, the US will be sticking its nose into the business of others.

    The Saudi, Western supporting faction has a decision to make: It must support Israel logistically (at a minimum) if it wants the hit done. That may demand the "neutralization" of some princes.

    By the way, I do not subscribe to the belief that the Iran facilities must be hit head-on. Instead, I take MacArthur's Maxim: Hit'em where they ain't.

    We will have to disagree on the camps.

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  30. If Israel can pull it off and we stay out of it,

    מזל טוב

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  31. .
    Obama's 'debt commission' fails to get the votes needed (14 out of 18) to force Congress to vote on it's proposals.

    I have been opposed to the commission on philosophical grounds since it was first proposed. In my view, it is merely a CYA move to allow Congress to blame someone else for decisions we elected them to make.

    That being said and based on what we have seen since the election, Congress has no intention of doing anything for the next two years anyway. Therefore, it would have been nice if the commission would have been able to force them into voting on something.

    Another argument for a part time Congress. Or maybe we should pay them by the piece.

    Naw. Better go with the part time concept and pay them accordingly.

    .

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  32. Today, Barack Obama slipped into something more comfortable, Afghanistan, instead of Michelle.

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  33. I've always thought that "technology would save us," but I'm no longer sure that technology can save us from this level of idiocy.

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  34. .

    For those who argue that the Bush tax cuts have been stimulative for the US economy (Kudlow et al) I offer up the following video from CNBC's strategy session from today.

    The interesting parts are in the charts put up by David Stockman. His section starts around the three minute mark.

    Stockman on Jobs

    Pretty depressing discussion about the 'new normal'.

    In watching CNBC today, I was fascinated by how many analysts came on and saif that 'jobs numbers don't mean anything' because there are too many other positives out there.

    These people are divorced from reality. How much cost savings can you get. How long will it last. How can companies keep accumulating profits when no one has a job and can buy their products?

    .

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  35. .

    "...instead of Michelle."


    :)



    .

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  36. They will dither until there is a complete collapse as in the housing market.

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  37. .

    I'm about 80% in the market right now and still looking for opportunities there.

    I expect there will some sort of settlement on the tax issue. That should be worth another 300 points on the Dow. Once that happens I expect to start backing out.

    There is a limit to bottom line growth when top line growth is negligible.

    I am not optimistic.

    .

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  38. Cutting it pretty close, are we, Q?

    :)

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  39. It pains me to say this, but Stockman is 100% on target.

    A lot of "economists" are going to have to forget a lot of what they think they know, or we're heading into a mess that makes the present mess look like "the good ol' days."

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  40. .

    Attention! Attention! Attention!

    Update! Update! Update!

    BOSCO AWARDS. BOSCO AWARDS. BOSCO AWARDS.

    The Bosco Awards are scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm, December 15, 2010

    1. Please note that starting at 6:30 pm we will begin broadcasting from the Red Carpet currently being installed in front of the EB. The pre-show will attempt to bring some of the color and excitement of this gala to those who are unable to attend in person. It will concentrate on some of the special surprise guest we have invited.

    2. For those planning on attending in person, we suggest you get there early. Special wide screen TV’s are being rented and will be set up around the bar. This assures that everyone attending will be guaranteed a good view of all the activities. In addition, certain ‘special activities’ will be broadcast on the TV screens.

    For instance, because of security concerns associated with some of our special guests Souls-R-Us Omnivision will provide full-scan Clarity ™ x-ray machines to assure all guests are scanned for ‘bad things”. These x-ray images will be broadcast on some of the widescreen TV’s installed in the EB.

    3. On other TV’s, we will be broadcasting the Detroit/Toronto hockey game. This will be the only time these two ‘original six’ teams will meet this year. Other TV’s will carry reruns of Friends.

    4. Starting at 5:00 pm, a lottery over by the electronic Keno board will be held to determine which of the regulars gets to conduct the pat downs and frisking of those who fail the full-scan x-rays. Get there early and buy that lucky ticket!!

    ----------------------------

    [Notice: The Bosco Awards program may have to be moved from December 15 to December 17. If changes do occur we will try to provide as much advance notice as possible.

    If a change is required, it will be because of one of the following reasons.

    • Scheduling and/or security concerns associated with some of our special invited guests.

    • Scheduling conflicts and/or flight issues associated with the timing of the show and the Master of Ceremonies need to make an appearance at the Souls-R-Us Christmas Office Party being held this year in the LIV lounge at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.

    • Or, the final audit of results is delayed.

    We have our review team working 24/7 reviewing the literally thousands of posts that have been posted this year. At latest count, they are through July and moving into August. They are confident they will be able to complete their work on time; however, they report sleep deprivation and being forced to read some of these posts a second time (or a first time for those they previously scrolled over) has created a depressing sense of ennui among the team. And this is just for the nominee posts.

    There will also be a final review and vote. Right now the review thru July has resulted in a 260 page Word worksheet (Calibri – Body 11) that will need to reviewed.]

    Regards,

    The Management of Souls-R-Us LLC

    .

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  41. would that be my time your time or their time

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  42. Deuce,

    You take "mazel" where you find it. Sometimes you have to make it:-)

    Mr. Netanyahu's "mazel" is starting to wear thin.

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  43. .

    Your time is my time.


    ,

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  44. I wanna be Barbie. The bitch has everything.

    Beware of Barbie...possible child pornography…so says the FBI.

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  45. Bourgeois Dignity & the Miracle of the Modern World

    Unfortunately, we have a president of the United States who has been a member his entire adult life of what McCloskey - borrowing from Samuel Taylor Coleridge - calls "the clerisy." These are the intellectualoids who never lost their instinctual scorn for commercial activity.

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  46. Selah,

    "To found a great empire for the sole purpose of raising up a people of customers may at first sight appear a project fit only for a nation of shopkeepers. It is, however, a project altogether unfit for a nation of shopkeepers; but extremely fit for a nation whose government is influenced by shopkeepers."
    —Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations

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  47. Ugh…Another freaking Friday night stuck in. WTF...

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  48. .

    A Thousand Years


    Won't be getting a new x-box 360 back from Microsoft for 3 weeks. Probably timely given the Boscos and all.

    .

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  49. .

    I listened to the "Brandon Dumps Debbie" tape.

    My first impression?

    Anyone who would spend 7 minutes talking to Brad at at iDUMP4U deserves to be dumped.

    .

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  50. Can't wait for the XBOX just buy another one - they're cheap. Then you'll have two, eventually.

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  51. assets man, assets -2 XBOX's trumps that ephemeral wealth in the markets anyway. A mere fraction, a fraction of a basis point, of your current paper gains.

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  52. .

    Wouldn't seem right for some reason.

    I used this one until a couple of weeks before the warranty was up and it died. Now Microsoft is going to give me a new one.

    It's almost like I won or something. This could make it a very merry Christmas.

    I am giddy.

    .

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  53. But three weeks! At the holiday season. It happened to me (well more my son) last year. I got it in well be fore the rush but, alas, it took 2 months. It was through the retailer though. Then they said I had to send it to Microsoft because it then developed the "red ring of death".

    Now I've got 2. Made my son happy because he doesn't have to share the main one with me - much.

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  54. .

    Ah yes, the 'red ring of death'.

    They said the E74 error I had was also associated with the "General Hardware Failure" encountered with the 'red rng of death'.

    But timing is everything. I'll be too busy to use it for the next couple of weeks anyway.

    (although I was in the middle of about three games.)

    .

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  55. Fuck Xbox…Listen you have to have your award ceremony on the 15th. I just got word that Friday is my annual Christmas party crashing from a previous job. K thanks.

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  56. I don't play. Never have. But we have an extra one sitting on the shelf for that reason. Had to use it twice. It gives me a piece of mind.

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  57. yer kinda old to playin' xbox aren't ya quirk? Gonna get a Kinect? I've got one, in a box, waiting for Santa to deliver. A few games for it is as well.

    Melody, the XBOX can also be a media viewing device. Watch your precious Music Videos in HiDef if you want.

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  58. "I was in the middle of about three games."

    Personally I'm into the Live part of gaming. I feel like a rat in a maze playing the bots in the regular game.

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  59. Speaking as a non professional it definitely would have to be live. What fun would it be playing with the computer. It would be like…like… well, you know.

    And Ash? I don't need an Xbox for any media hi def anything. That's what I have a Mac for. lol….

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  60. Others may not like my personhood because of my blunt honesty, and sometimes condescending attitude (although often well warranted)but at least I'm not a liar, and I am not afraid of the criticisms my character may face.I don't bite my tongue when issues of right and wrong arise. I'll tell you why. And I will not be ashamed of my outspokenness. I refuse to be a coward and surrender my identify in fear of being ridiculed.

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  61. Bwahahahahha…sexual solitaire.

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  62. .

    Others may not like my personhood because of my blunt honesty...

    Well good for you.

    .

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  63. .
    yer kinda old to playin' xbox aren't ya quirk?;

    Gives me something to do with my grandkids.

    Besides I use it to to maintain hand/eye coordination and to fend off Alzheimer’s.

    You dumb little shit.

    .

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  64. Poor excuse. You could read books and sing songs. Even watching TV as bad as people think it is. I don't know where my granddaughter got the notion. But all she talked about last week was going to NY to see the statue.

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  65. You like my little speech there, do ya? Plagiarism feels so good.

    Now my eyes are burning and my head is banging.

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  66. "You dumb little shit."

    LOL. In XBOX Call of Duty world the insults are "homo" "gay" and "nigger". "little shit" that IS old school.

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  67. .

    I'm definitly old school Ash.

    :)

    .

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  68. I think that's the one my son plays. They wouldn't sell it to him without ID.

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  69. December 02, 2010
    Breaking: Palestinians Say They Are No Longer Bound By The Oslo Accords

    Rob Miller
    Al Quds al Arabi ( Arabic ) is reporting that the Palestinian Authority's unelected Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad announced on his radio show that the PA no longer will be bound by the Oslo Accords they and Israel signed in 1993:

    Fayyad announced on Palestinian radio stations Wednesday that the Palestinian National Authority 'will not be a prisoner to the restrictions of Oslo'.

    Fayyad added 'The National Authority recognizes the magnitude of the challenges and difficulties our people are living under on a daily basis, and it works to assume its full responsibilities.

    All the possibilities are available to it to strengthen the resilience of its citizens, and adhere and stay on their land, in the various regions, particularly the Jordan Valley area, all areas classified Area C, which constitute about 60 percent of the West Bank, including the areas behind the wall'. He said,' These areas are not disputed areas, it is part and parcel of the occupied Palestinian territory, and the responsibility of the Palestinian National Authority is essential that work to the maximum of their capacities to provide services for all its citizens, it will not be a prisoner to the restrictions of Oslo."

    This is a huge deal.

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  70. http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=today%5C01qpt93.htm&arc=data%5C2010%5C12%5C12-01%5C01qpt93.htm

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  71. .

    This is a huge deal.

    I would say so.

    .

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  72. Brazil Recognizes State of Palestine With Pre-1967 Borders


    Brazil today recognized the state of Palestine based on borders before Israel seized control of the West Bank in 1967.

    The foreign ministry said the recognition was in response to a request made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva earlier this year.
    ...

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  73. desert rat said...
    Brazil Recognizes State of Palestine With Pre-1967 Borders



    Wow, now that is interesting!

    I am all for The fake nationalistic people who call themselves "palestinian" now have a state..

    It boggles the mind that the fake people call themselves by the NAME Palestine when there is not even a P in arabic...

    But that being said...

    Being a state means providing security and services to it's people.

    I wonder how long it will last?

    Just WISHING for borders that OTHERS hold doesnt make it so...

    Most nations have territorial disputes..

    If the fake people "Palestine" choose to try to eliminate another?

    It will cause the destruction of their state.

    It will be interesting how the Palestinians will have a state...

    This so called state, will join the ranks of the other 21 failed arab states.. But it has no oil, it will be interesting

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