Tuesday, October 31, 2006
..."The plan would focus more resources on so-called new media, such as the Internet and Web logs."
Monday, October 30, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20190522000946im_/http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2871/232/320/30.9.jpg)
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20190522000946im_/http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2871/232/320/aaaa.34.jpg)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20190522000946im_/http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2871/232/320/abb.1.jpg)
pistol, rifle, body armour and radio, working for a construction team, can earn at least $12,000 a month. A former special forces NCO protecting a Coalition official or construction firm boss can make more than twice that. The State Department says the cost of security makes up 16 to 22 per cent of the overall outlay on big reconstruction projects, but this may be an underestimate. The GAO has observed that the State Department's reports to Congress 'do
not identify the magnitude or impact of the costs associated with security providers on reconstruction efforts or available funding'. When asked why not, embassy officials in Baghdad claimed that 'such requests can be burdensome for both the contractors and agency officials.' Publishing the true cost of 'security contractors' would mean admitting to the American public that what has become a deeply unpopular occupation is also even more expensive than it
currently appears." (thanks Laleh)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20190522000946im_/http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2871/232/320/20060408-180512-3.25.jpg)
"I was praying in a large, well-known mosque in a Kuwaiti residential area last Friday (Oct. 20, the last Friday of Ramadan). Between the Isha and Taraweeh prayers, when people were praying quietly, a man took the microphone and made a long, loud speech asking for donations for the Palestinians. He said he had the permission of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Municipality, etc. Afterwards, he laid his suitjacket on the floor and worshippers dropped money into it; it seemed like they were pretty generous. I was in the women's section upstairs; they didn't have a woman to come up and collect there, but they should have. I guess some women gave donations when they left. I assume he was from HAMAS; he had a short beard and mentioned mujahideen, etc. I was surprised, though, since the government says it's not supporting HAMAS."
Thursday, October 26, 2006
“Sheikh Muhammad and Sheikh Hamdan treated their camels better than they treated their slave boys for the simple reason that the camels were far more valuable,” the lawsuit said. (thanks Muhammad)
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20190522000946im_/http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2871/232/320/pissaro2..44.jpg)
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20190522000946im_/http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2871/232/320/aaa.30.jpg)
Monday, October 23, 2006
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20190522000946im_/http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2871/232/320/aa.35.jpg)
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, I think he himself addressed it. He originally told his colleagues that he had been misquoted. He went back and looked at the transcript and he realized at that point that he had misspoke. He put out a statement apologizing for his remarks. He also made it clear that those remarks do not represent his personal views and they certainly don't represent the views of the State Department. So as far as we're concerned, the matter is closed.
QUESTION: Did he get in trouble?
MR. MCCORMACK: Excuse me?
QUESTION: Did he get in trouble?
MR. MCCORMACK: What do you mean by "get in trouble"?
QUESTION: Was he rebuked by his superiors for this?
MR. MCCORMACK: He's still in his job.
QUESTION: That's not what I asked you.
MR. MCCORMACK: He's still in his job."
Freelance journalist and blogger Josh Wolf was imprisoned when he refused to hand over his video archives. Sudanese cameraman Sami al-Haj, who works for the pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera, has been held without trial since June 2002 at the US military base at Guantanamo, and Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein has been held by US authorities in Iraq since April this year."
The ranking
N°
Country
Score
1
Finland
0,50
-
Iceland
0,50
-
Irland
0,50
-
Netherland
0,50
5
Czech Republic
0,75
6
Estonia
2,00
-
Norway
2,00
8
Slovaquia
2,50
-
Switzerland
2,50
10
Hungary
3,00
-
Latvia
3,00
-
Portugal
3,00
-
Slovenia
3,00
14
Belgium
4,00
-
Sweden
4,00
16
Austria
4,50
-
Bolivia
4,50
-
Canada
4,50
19
Bosnia-Herzegovina
5,00
-
Denmark
5,00
-
New-Zealand
5,00
-
Trinidad and Tobago
5,00
23
Benin
5,50
-
Germany
5,50
-
Jamaica
5,50
26
Namibia
6,00
27
Lituania
6,50
-
United Kingdom
6,50
29
Costa Rica
6,67
30
Cyprus
7,50
31
South Korea
7,75
32
Greece
8,00
-
Mauritius
8,00
34
Ghana
8,50
35
Australia
9,00
-
Bulgaria
9,00
-
France
9,00
-
Mali
9,00
39
Panama
9,50
40
Italy
9,90
41
El Salvador
10,00
-
Spain
10,00
43
Taiwan
10,50
44
South Africa
11,25
45
Cape Verde
11,50
-
Macedonia
11,50
-
Mozambique
11,50
-
Serbia and Montenegro
11,50
49
Chile
11,63
50
Israel
12,00
51
Japan
12,50
52
Dominican Republic
12,75
53
Botswana
13,00
-
Croatia
13,00
-
Tonga
13,00
-
United States of America
13,00
57
Uruguay
13,75....
Sunday, October 22, 2006
"Upon reading the transcript of my appearance on Al-Jazeera, I realized that I seriously misspoke by using the phrase 'there has been arrogance and stupidity' by the U.S. in Iraq. This represents neither my views nor those of the State Department. I apologize."" (He should have added: instead of accusing the US of "stupidity" and "arrogance", the US occupation of Iraq can only be described as humble and intelligent.)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20190522000946im_/http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2871/232/200/hughes.jpg)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20190522000946im_/http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2871/232/320/20060408-180512-3.24.jpg)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20190522000946im_/http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2871/232/320/20060408-180512-5.27.jpg)
Finally. Al-Akhbar newspaper is the only Lebanese newspaper that exposed the international crook, Elie Najm. A few weeks ago, the Lebanese press hailed the "self-proclaimed" Lebanese billionaire for donating $15 billion to Lebanon. The head of the Lebanese press syndicate praised him in a fancy press conference. But I have to admit: he is one of the "best" international crooks.
- "4 million American women experience a serious assault by a partner during an average 12-month period. 1 On the average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends every day.2 92% of women say that reducing domestic violence and sexual assault should be at the top of any formal efforts taken on behalf of women today.3
-
1 out of 3 women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime.4 1 in 5 female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. Abused girls are significantly more likely to get involved in other risky behaviors. They are 4 to 6 times more likely to get pregnant and 8 to 9 times more likely to have tried to commit suicide.5
-
1 in 3 teens reports knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, slapped, choked or physically hurt by his/her partner.6 Women of all races are equally vulnerable to violence by an intimate partner.7 37% of all women who sought care in hospital emergency rooms for violence–related injuries were injured by a current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend.8 Some estimates say almost 1 million incidents of violence occur against a current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend per year. 9 For 30% of women who experience abuse, the first incident occurs during pregnancy.10 As many as 324,000 women each year experience intimate partner violence during their pregnancy.11"