Peter Navarro To Appear On Paltalk

Navarro

Peter Navarro, professor of business at the University of California-Irvine and author of the best selling book, The Coming China Wars, joins us to talk about why China refuses to exert its influence on the military junta in Burma that is rounding up monks and shooting peaceful demonstrators.

Navarro, a regular CNBC contributor, also hosts a video series, “The China Effect,” which can be found on YouTube.

Navarro believes that China, a member of the UN Security Council, will, ultimately, use its veto power to prevent sanctions against Burma because Beijing wants to protect its own economic interests at the expense of peaceful demonstrators who are being shot and monks were are being imprisoned.

His articles have appeared in a wide range of publications, from Business Week, the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal to the Harvard Business Review, the Sloan Management Review, and the Journal of Business. In addition to CNBC, he appears frequently on Bloomberg TV and radio, CNN, and NPR, as well as on all three major network news shows.

His free weekly investment newsletter is published at http://www.peternavarro.com/.

To talk to Peter Navarro, go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk at 5 PM New York time Monday Oct. 1st and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

It's Burma

Monks protesting in Burma

Readers of this blog have undoubtedly noticed that I have interchanged the names Burma and Mynamar when talking about the strife in that nation.

The news media are struggling as well with what to call the nation.

Burma was Burma until, in 1990, a democratically elected government was not permitted to seat itself by the military junta which is now killing its own people who are peacefully demonstrating. That junta changed the name of the country to Mynamar.

The U.S. State Department has elected to continue referring to the nation as Burma. Because it does not recognize the current government as legally constituted.

I agree. To call the nation Mynamar is to give credibility to an illegal and repressive regime. The people of Burma continue to refer to the nation as -- Burma. The world must stand in solidarity with them. In accordance, I will henceforth refer to Burma by its proper name.

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China Must Put Aside Its Self Interests In Myanmar

Protester shot dead by Burmese soldier

The Myanmar people democratically elected a government in 1990. But the military junta never permitted those selected to take office.

Instead, a crackdown began. The leading opposition voice, Nobel Peace Prize Laurette Suu Kyi, has been under house arrest for 12 years.

About two weeks ago, protesters, upset at rising gasoline prices, took to the streets. By all accounts, the marches were peaceful. But the military trained guns on the people.

They've rounded up monks by the thousands, because they joined in the demonstrations.

They've been arresting anyone carrying a camera. Because they don't want images of what's going on inside the nation shown to the rest of the world. Internet access has been limited. Same reason. So many people have been arrested that there's no more room at jails, so university buildings have been converted into detention facilities.

Reporters filing dispatches fear for their lives. Those in country are filing anonymously to avoid retribution.

The images are chilling. And dissidents say the number of casualties reported by the government are deceptively low.

The United Nations has sent an envoy to Myanmar. And many countries are expressing outrage over the government's crackdown on the people.

Even Myanmar's biggest ally, China, has spoken out. But so far, all we've seen from Beijing is lip service.

China, and countries like Russia and India, while publicly condemning these atrocities, do little more, because they are trading partners with Myanmar. Which sits on rich oil reserves.

If this illegal regime is permitted to continue to shoot peaceful protesters in the street, then the oil that's pumped in those countries will be mixed with the demonstrator's blood.

China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is best positioned to broker an end to this insanity. It's time it does.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/ogglog/1458612525/

Imprisoned Monks Stage Hunger Strike

Reports from Burma indicated that some 30 imprisoned monks are on a hunger strike.

The monks were among those who were forcibly removed from their monasteries, disrobed and beaten.

At least one opposition member of the nation's parliament has also been reportedly imprisoned.

Other reports indicate that troops have taken control of the streets and that protesters "hit and run" -- jumping into the streets to taunt them and then running away.



Reportedly, in less than two week's time, nearly all of Burma's monks have been rounded up.

Once again the world's leaders are faced with an overwhelming human rights crisis. Perhaps they can react more quickly in Burma than they have in Darfur.

Myanmar Reaching Boiling Point

Killed demonstrator

Dispatches from Myanmar indicate the government's response to the dissident movement, lead by Buddhist monks, is much worse than previously indicated.

Irrawaddy reports that at least two people were shot when military troops opened fire on demonstrators in Kyauktada Township in central Rangoon today. The latest dispatch indicates that the troops were targeting people with cameras.

Irrawaddy, an independent and non-profit news organization not affiliated with any political opposition group or government reports that on Thursday, a Japanese cameraman was shot and killed at point blank range by a soldier standing over his prone body.

Internet access to Burma has been cut off by the government, anxious to hide its human rights violations.

The United States is leading the way in imposing sanctions. But other nations, such as China, continue trade with the regime unabated.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marxpix/1454764920/

Iran Demonstration Calls For Death To America

Many people claim that the United States, concerned about Iran's nuclear weapons aspirations, is gearing up for a war against Iran. But we don't see massive government-organized marches in the streets of the U.S. calling for the death of Iran.

There's little discourse, however, about the Iranian government firing up the people there for a war with the United States. This video, distributed by the Memri TV project, chillingly shows who the real war mongers are.



The tone of the 2005 demonstration is reminiscent of those organized by another despotic leader. The only thing missing are the heil Hitler chants.

Professor Who Challenges Global Warming Hype On Paltalk Today

Fretwell

A Montana State University professor, who believes children are being indoctrinated by educators who have political agendas on the global warming issue, appears on News Talk Online on Paltalk.com today.

Holly Fretwell, author of the book, The Sky's Not Falling, says Hollywood stars and politicians are capitalizing on the changing climate for political purposes as well. She is particularly critical of former Vice President Al Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth. And of Laurie David, who produced that film, and authored a children's book, the Down-To-Earth Guide To Global Warming. Fretwell describes David's book as "fear-inducing."

No matter your opinion about global warming, you'll want to take advantage of this opportunity to talk to Fretwell.

To join the conversation, just go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk at 5 PM New York time and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Iraq War May Have Been Avoided

Offered to go into exile: report

A Spanish newspaper is claiming that Saddam Hussein offered to go into exile for $1 billion prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

If this information is correct, it certainly would have been less costly, both monetarily and in terms of lives lost and disrupted, than the path taken by the Bush administration.

The offer, the newspaper El Pais says, was conveyed to Pres. Bush by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar at a meeting at the president's Texas ranch.

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Photo credit: DOD via pingnews

Virgina Tech Type Tragedy Averted On Staten Island

Lessons learned from the Virginia Tech massacre resulted in a prompt and proper response on the campus of St. John's University on Staten Island yesterday.

A disturbed student with a history of psychiatric problems was spotted walking on campus and into a university hall wearing a Fred Flintstone mask carrying a musket type long gun in a bag.

Someone called the campus police, and within minutes, a text message alert went out to students on their cellphones. The campus was quickly locked down, and a small army of New York City cops rushed in. Police helicopters circled overhead.

A campus cop and a police cadet who is a law enforcement student tackled the suspect. But concerns that there may be another gunman, and fears that he may have planted bombs (both, thankfully, unfounded) resulted in an extension of the lock down and a building-by-building, room-by-room search until the all clear was sounded about three hours later.

This is how it's supposed to work. Careful planning by the university and the NYPD helped avert another tragedy. All universities should take note and emulate these procedures.

New Poll Finds Most Americans Are In A Funk

More than 60 percent of those surveyed by the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute believe that most Americans seem to be in a funk. And two-thirds blame "politicians who constantly gripe" for bringing them down.

The mid-term elections saw a shift in power in Congress. Mainly due to frustration with the war effort in Iraq. Yet, things haven't really changed with Democrats in control of Capitol Hill. No wonder Americans are in a funk.

And as Dominc Barone suggests in this video interview, people are tired of well paid lawmakers taking their tax money for pet projects. Many people feel powerless and disenfranchised. No wonder it's such a struggle to get people to vote.

Despite all this, the poll also finds that nearly all Americans (97.5 percent) are proud of the men and women in the military. Nearly the same number believe our freedoms are worth fighting for. And about the same number are proud to be Americans.

On the other hand, the poll found that fewer than half of Americans believe the nation is prepared for a major natural disaster, provides citizens with the best health coverage or believe the surge in Iraq is working.

The nationwide telephone poll of 1,000 people represents a margin error of plus or minus 3 percent.

O'Reilly's Comments Show Many Whites Still Hold Black Community In Disregard

Clueless

Fox talk show host Bill O'Reilly recently enjoyed a wonderful meal at Harlem's premiere soul food restaurant, Sylvia's, and walked away astounded that the eatery, "was like going into an Italian restaurant in an all-white suburb in the sense of people were sitting there, and they were ordering and having fun and here wasn't any kind of craziness at all."

Does this make O'Reilly anti-black? Not at all. It simply shows that he, like many white Americans, just don't get it.

Too many white people believe that black Americans haven't evolved to a fully civilized state.

O'Reilly probably didn't even know he had those feelings. Nor that his comments revealed his views for what they are.

As one pendent suggested, O'Reilly needs to get out more. So do many other white people, who, sadly, haven't got a clue.

Ahmadinejad Tells UN To Kiss Off

Iranian Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his nation will defy any additional UN resolutions over his nation's development of a nuclear weapons program.

He's appealing to a higher authority. God's will and all that.

It is, Ahmdinejad told the General Assembly, "high time for these powers to return from the path of arrogance and obedience to Satan to the path of faith in God."

If there is a God, then He must be shaking his head over all of his creations quoting him and representing him. Especially because all sides use him as authority for conflicting viewpoints.

That's pretty benign, I guess, when, say, opposing football teams pray for victory before going on the gridiron. But it becomes a bit more complicated when two warring factions are praying for victory.

Worse when world leaders claim that God, or whatever they choose to call Him, guided them into the decision to enter the battlefield.

In Ahmadinejad's case, God has told him to resist UN resolutions. I guess in his mind, God favors putting nuclear weapons in the hands of those who would wipe other countries off the face of the earth.

Since it seems OK for everyone to speak on God's behalf, I will join the chorus now and suggest that since He, we are told, made us in His image, he would be displeased if Ahmadinejad successfully continued along his planned path of destruction.

As for Satan's path, one might argue that Ahmadinejad is following it pretty closely.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/opendemocracy/1437977366/

Why Taming Iraq Is An Impossible Task

Mission Impossible?

The problems of Iraq are deep seated. And go well beyond the insurgent attacks on the United States.

This is why bringing order to that nation is an impossible task.

The tribal and religious divisions are just too wide for an outside force, like the United States military, which tries to follow some semblance of rules, to handle.

There's great frustration in Washington over the Iraqi people's failure to take control of the country in this post-Saddam period. But even the attempts to do so are met with violent resistance. Making for a daunting task.

Today comes word that a meeting of reconciliation between Sunni and Shiite militia leaders has resulted in a deadly attack. Twenty-four participants in the meeting have been killed.

This sounds like a scene out of the Godfather or the Sopranos. Two warring crime families meet to discuss burying the hatchet. Word gets out and some young Turk tries to take both sides out at the meeting and appoint himself the new mob boss.

Withdrawing U.S. troops will, indeed, create a vacuum in areas where they've taken control and established a degree of security. But remaining will not stop this insanity.

The question is, is the security created in some parts of the country worth the continuing expense of blood, money and loss of political capital? The answer to that question should determine U.S. policy toward Iraq when the next administration takes office.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/labanex/1431778170/

Ahmadinejad Makes A Fool Of Himself

Iranian Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad showed himself to be far less than a mental giant during his speech at Columbia University.

He defended those who, like himself, deny the Holocaust.

He questioned who was really behind the 9/11 attacks.

And he evoked laughter when he proclaimed that there are no homosexuals in Iran.

Even some who protested his appearance suggested after the fact that giving Ahmadinejad a forum turned out to be a good thing. Because it revealed him for who he is.

What's disturbing is the need to even do this. By now, the world should know who he is. A supporter of terrorism. And a threat to world peace.

Protests Greet Ahmadinejad At Columbia

Iranian Pres. Mahmood Ahmadinejad's speech at Columbia University drew protesters who gathered at the Broadway entrance to the campus. A campus that was declared off limits to everyone but students or staff.

Among those expressing his displeasure was Bob Kaufman, a Columbia University graduate.

In interviews he's granted while here to address the United Nations Ahmadinejad has contradicted his own public pronouncements calling for the end of the state of Israel. So, not only is he a Holocaust denier, he's even an Ahmadinejad revisionist!

Dropped Koran Spurs India Violence

Don't drop this book

Another indication that Muslims around the world are being mislead by their leaders.

Leaders who justify violence over perceived disrespect to their religion.

In India, a police officer clearing out an illegal street marketplace dropped a Koran.

This affront resulted in attacks on two police stations.

Of course, all religious artifacts should be given proper respect. We are rightly outraged whenever, for example, a church or a synagogue, is desecrated. But no one in their right mind would condone arson and pillaging in response.

Those who attacked and burned the Indian police station acted in a decidedly uncivilized fashion.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tino_m/266702306/

The Ahmadinejad Controversy At Columbia

Ahmadinejad

Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad speaks at Columbia University tomorrow.

There will be massive demonstrations. But the university is standing by its decision to let him speak. Arguing that it's best to listen to what he has to say. And to challenge him.

Of course, we already know what he's said before.

To refresh our memories, I'm listing some of his most memorable quotes. They were compiled, with proper reference, by Realite-EU.

"We don't shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to rule the world.“

"The wave of the Islamist revolution will soon reach the entire world."

“This regime (Israel) will one day disappear.”

Israel is doomed to be "wiped from the map" in "a war of destiny."

"The countdown for the destruction of Israel" has begun.

“Them (the West) invented the myth of the massacre of the Jews and placed it above Allah, religions and prophets.”

Ahmadinejad praised his country's ability to recruit "hundreds of suicide bombers a day," saying "suicide is an invincible weapon."

France In Al Qaeda's Crosshairs

Those who believe that if the United States changed its so-called imperialistic behavior Islamic fanatics around the world would stand down on their terrorist threats need only to look at France.



France. That's the nation that opposed the invasion of Iraq.



Two Frenchmen and an Italian are wounded today. The result of a car bombing in Algiers. Which followed al Qaeda's threat, there, to attack French interests.



You see, it's not only actions that win the wrath of terrorists. It's even ideas. And France's new president understands the threat that Muslim extremists present.



So now, France is on an al Qaeda alert. France, a nation that has been so accommodating to its Muslim immigrants. And was paid back by days of rioting in the streets.



Yes, the United States is a major player on the world scene and influences events, directly and indirectly. Much to the chagrin of many in the Islamic world. But if you think the terrorists are just attacking because of that you're not paying attention to the other terrorist acts occurring around the world that dont target U.S. interests.



Sure, U.S. policy gives the terrorists an excuse for attacking. But that's what they are looking for. An excuse. Any excuse.



That excuse could be U.S. influence in the Middle East. Or it could be a cartoon in a Danish newspaper. Or it could be a journalist's unkindly reporting. Or it could be comments made by the president and foreign minister of France.



Let's stop blaming the victims of terrorism and start blaming the perpetrators of these most heinous of crimes.

Fox Put In Charge Of Guarding The Nuclear Chickehouse

You wonder why the UN lacks credibility.

Syria has been named co-chair of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The same Syria that lost personnel when attempting to load warheads with chemical weapons.

The same Syria whose North Korean-developed nuclear weapons program was apparently targeted by Israel.

The same Syria that takes direction from Iran, which is developing its own nuclear weapons program.

The same Syria that assassinates Lebanese politicians it deems unfriendly.

Syria's first contribution to the IAEA was to blame Israel for creating this nuclear arms race.

Oh I get it. Justify your building of nuclear weapons to use against Israel by blaming your victim.

Terrific.

Is Pakistan About To Explode?

Perhaps Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has been a bit too aggressive in his attempts to smoke terrorists out of their holes in his country's northern border with Afghanistan.

Osama bin Laden is declaring war against Musharraf.



Some analysts say this is an indication that al Qaeda has regrouped.

We shouldn't be complacent in the United States either. Yes, it's been six years since September 11th. But it took eight years to mount the second attack on the World Trade Center. This is not the time to drop our guard on the home front.

Steve Emerson, Who Investigates Terrorist Cells In The U.S., On Paltalk

Emerson

Best selling author Steve Emerson, who heads the Investigative Project On Terrorism, and who has uncovered terrorist cells in the United States, joins us to talk about the Holy Land Fund for Relief and Development case in Dallas on Monday, September 24 at 5 PM New York time on News Talk Online on Paltalk.com.

Five men are accused of running the nation's largest terrorist-financing front. The men, officers and employees at the HLF are charged with conspiracy and with providing material support to Hamas through their charitable donations. Prosecutors say HLF funneled more than $12 million to Hamas, mostly through a network of social welfare charities in the West Bank and Gaza.

A Fatwah has been placed on Emerson's head because his investigative reporting has uncovered organizations and mosques in the United States that are fronting for terrorist groups.

To talk to Steve Emerson about this case and the truth about terrorist cells in the United States and other western nations, just go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk at 5 PM New York time Monday September 24 and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

The Journalist The Terrorists Confide In On Paltalk

Klein

Aaron Klein, Jerusalem bureau chief for the popular news web site World Net Daily will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk on Thursday September 20th at 5 PM.

Viewers and listeners will be able to talk directly with Klein, who counts as his sources some of the most feared terrorists in the world.

Klein has written a book, Schmoozing With Terrorists, which chronicles his time spent with, and interviewing terrorists.

Klein will talk about how western tax money is being used to fund terrorists. And about a terrorist's threat to behead Britney Spears.

He will also offer tips for winning the global war on terrorism.

To talk with Klein just go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk at 5 PM Thursday September 20th and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Syria-Iran WMD Project Backfires, Kills Dozens: Report

Dozens of Iranian engineers and some Syrian military personnel were reportedly killed as they were attempting to attach a chemical warhead on a Scud missile in Syria. That according to published and broadcast accounts citing a report by the authoritative Janes Defence Weekly.

Scud missiles were Iraq's weapons of choice in unprovoked attacks against Israel during the first U.S. Gulf War. A war that Israel sat out. Those Scuds were fitted with conventional warheads.

This comes at a time, of course, when Iran is in a stand off with the rest of the world over its continued attempts to build a nuclear bomb.

It's also another indication of Iran's tactic of choice. To use surrogates to attack others.Those surrogates could be other nations, like Syria. Or terrorist groups, like those Iran has funded to attack Israel in the past.

Today, Iran is putting chemical weapons in the hands of Syria. If allowed to continue, one can only imagine who might be given nuclear weapons to use against their enemies in the future.

More immediately, something must be done, quickly, to ensure that Syria not develop a successful WMD program.

For all the disappointments in the Iraq war, one thing is certain. Saddam Hussein did have WMDs at one point. Those WMDs disappeared without documentation of their destruction.

There are those, including at least one former member of Saddam's military command, who suggest that his WMDs were moved to Syria for safekeeping.

The influential nations of the world should not allow their displeasure over U.S. foreign policy or their financial relationships with Iran cloud their judgment. The Syrian chemical warhead mishap dispels any real doubt about Iran's threat to the region.

Best Selling Author, Dr. Martha Stout, To Appear On Paltalk

Best selling author, Dr. Martha Stout, appears on the News Talk Online show on Paltalk Wednesday, September 19th.

In her new book, The Paranoia Switch, Dr. Stout examines how our brain copes with the threat of terrorism that looms over us.

I know from personal experience the feelings of horror, dismay, sadness, anger and resolve that hit me as I watched the Twin Towers tumble on September 11th, 2001. Even today, there are events, large and small, which trigger emotional reactions.

For example, during the start of our four-hour-long coverage of the 9/11 memorial this year, I had difficulty maintaining my composure as rescue and recovery workers began reading the names of the dead.

Sometimes an increased police response in and around New York City, although commonplace, cause me to feel secure. But sometimes, when I see police officers dressed in para-military uniforms, long guns and bomb sniffing dogs at the ready, I get a bit anxious.

I'm certain my feelings are far from unique.

Dr. Stout's book is a primer for reclaiming rational thinking so that we aren't debilitated by reports of terror threats. In it she warns us all to not permit those who capitalize on people's anxieties through fear mongering to negatively impact our lives.

To talk to Dr. Stout, just go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk at 5 PM New York time Wednesday, September 18th and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

French Sabre Rattling Rattles Russia, China

Reuters reports that Russia and China are alarmed by comments made by France's foreign minister suggesting that a military attack is a real option when it comes to reigning in Iran's development of a nuclear weapons program.

Even Washington says diplomacy is a better course.

Agreed. But diplomacy only works when both sides are willing to seriously discuss resolution. Thus far, Iran has not indicated such a desire.

Perhaps Russia and China should express similar concern over Tehran's continuing development of nuclear weapons. That's far more alarming than the comments of Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

Yes, diplomacy first. But in this case, diplomacy can only be successful when backed by the resolve of the leaders of the world community to develop and hold out as a real option military action. Without the fear of consequences, diplomacy, sadly, stands no chance.

American Jewish Congress Refutes Human Rights Watch Condemnation Of Israel

AJC President Richard S. Gordon (center) meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert (right), and AJC Executive Director Neil B. Goldstein (left) in Jerusalem last week

The American Jewish Congress is terming as "outrageous" last week's Human Rights Watch report which blasts Israel for failing to differentiate between enemy combatants and civilians when it retaliated last summer against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The AJC suggests that HRW "has it exactly backwards."

"Hezbollah," writes AJC President Richard S. Gordon, "caused the death and destruction in Lebanon and should be held accountable for it."

Gordon, of course, is talking about Hezbollah's tactic of hiding behind civilians when attacking Israel. So that when Israel retaliates, civilians are killed.

The whole concept of war has changed over the years. Most people believe the U.S. involvement in World War II, for example, was ethically correct. Scores of civilians were killed on both sides, especially during bombing raids. Yet, history doesn't particularly condemn the Germans for bombing London nor the allies for obliterating Dresden. I suspect the term "collateral damage" wasn't created by spin makers until much later, during modern conflicts.

You cannot expect there to be war without casualties. Military and civilian. This is why war should be avoided at nearly all costs. A tactic that should only be employed as an absolute last resort.

Although the HRW report did criticize Hezbollah as well, the criticism was clearly weighted toward the Israelis.

HRW should decide. Is it a pacifist organization? Opposed to all armed conflict?

If so, then it should be equally at odds with all sides when war, declared or otherwise, breaks out. Do do otherwise leaves, at the least, the impression of bias. And does little to enhance the organization's credibility.

France Talks Tough About Iran

France is sending a tough message to Iran.

IF the UN Security Council fails, as likely it will, to bring Tehran's nuclear weapons program to its knees, France is threatening Europe wide economic sanctions against Iran, patterned on the United States' model.

France's foreign minister envisions sanctions similar to the ones imposed on South Africa during that nation's period of apartheid.

This is definitely a step in the right direction and sends the proper message to Iran. It's heartening, indeed, to see France, finally, step up to the plate and offer measures that might force Iran to change its dangerous course.

More Evidence Of Ill Effects Of 9/11

Ground Zero today

I talk about this all the time on my show, News Talk Online on Paltalk.

Last time we explored this issue was during the four-hour-long program, which was webcast as well on 1010WINS.com, coinciding with this year's memorial near Ground Zero.

Now Discover Magazine has published another in a series of articles about people getting sick from their exposure to the toxins released when the Twin Towers came down.

The story claims that up to 70 percent of responders to the World Trade Center attack are ill. I knew there were a lot of people who are now sick after responding to the attacks. I guess I never realized it was that many people.

Discover Magazine uses the word malfeasance to describe the government's response to this environmental and health disaster. On our 9/11 show, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-New York), who represents Lower Manhattan, asserted the government lied when then EPA administrator Christie Todd Whitman asserted shortly after the attack that the air around Ground Zero was safe to breath.

Congratulations to Discover, Nadler, and the others who are keeping this issue in the forefront. We need to be aware of the continuing health concerns stemming from the 9/11 attack and confront them head on.

Programs like the 9/11 Screening and Treatment Clinic at Mt. Sinai Hospital deserve greater funding.

Those who are ill deserve proper health care.

And lessons need to be learned. So that we are better prepared the next time we are confronted with a massive environmental disaster.

The FIRST lesson should be: the government MUST be honest and forthcoming about the health and environmental risks. So that people can make informed decisions about how they will conduct their lives.

Bush's Attorney General Choice Has Knowledge Of Terrorism

Expected attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey is a retired federal judge from New York, who heard cases involving some of the first material witnesses detained following the 9/11 attacks.

He also appointed an attorney to represent accused thwarted dirty bomber Jose Padilla before Padilla was declared an enemy comatant by President Bush.

Civil libertarians are likely to sound off on Mukasey's involvement in the material witness cases. They contend the witnesses were improperly held and in some cases mistreated in a Brooklyn federal detention facility/

Bishop Warns That Muslims Who Convert Could Be Killed

A senior Church of England bishop has warned that Muslims who convert to other religions are in danger of being killed.

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, whose father converted from Islam to Christianity, is calling on Muslim leaders in England to speak out against those who would violently attack those who leave their faith.

Seven Islamic nations actually have laws that impose the death penalty for people who convert from Islam.

It is beyond comprehension, that a person could be targeted for death because of his or her religious beliefs, or lack thereof.

Bishop Nazir-Ali is absolutely right. It's time for the mainstream Muslim leaders to speak out against those who would perpetuate violence against others in the name of their religion.

Gates Urges Troop Rest Bill Veto

Gates

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he will urge President Bush to veto proposed legislation which would require troops sent home from overseas to be given time to rest before being redeployed.

In a broadcast interview, Gates called the bill, introduced by U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Virginia) a "backdoor" attempt to reduce the number of troops deployed.

Gates repeated the president's assertion that U.S. troops would be in Iraq for a "protracted" period of time.

How Privilege Makes Kids Unhappy To Be Discussed On Paltalk

Levine

Madeline Levine believes children in the United States are unhappy, and not fully developed, because of all the advantages American society affords them.

In her new book, The Price Of Privilege, Levine, a clinical psychologist, argues that our children's fast paced world gives them little opportunity to reflect, dream of their futures or even just chill out. So they lack, she argues, a sense of self.

Levine came to this conclusion after treating numerous clinically depressed children. Children who, seemingly, have the world on their plates.

Assuming she is correct, the big question is, in this media driven society, what chance have parents to counter the pressures their children face?

We'll get a chance to talk to her and explore these issues when she joins me Monday, September 17th as my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk.com.

To join in the conversation, simply go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk at 5 PM New York time and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Terrorists Put Bounty On Heads Of Swedes Over Cartoon

Two Swedes who were behind the Internet posting of a cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammed as a dog now have prices on their heads.

The French news agency AFP reports that an al Qaeda front group, the Islamic State in Iraq, has placed a $100,000 bounty on the head of the cartoonist, and $50,000 for the death of the publisher of the newspaper that posted the drawing.

This shows the convoluted thinking of people who would resort to violence to get their views across. Rather than posting a cartoon of their own in protest. Rather than making public comments condemning what they see as a blasphemous act. Rather than holding news conferences and attempting to bring to the public's attention their dismay and hurt. They threaten to kill those responsible.

Michigan Terror Suspect May Have Planned Mass Murder

A Wayne State University medical student may have been planning a mass terror attack in Michigan.

Houssein Zorkot was arrested in a Dearborn, Michigan park carrying an AK-47. Police say he was wearing black military military clothing and his face was blackened at the time of his arrest.

Zorkot claimed on his website that he was a member of the Hezbollah terrorist group which operates in Lebanon.

Iraqis Say Surge Is Failing

A failure?

President Bush says the surge in Iraq has been a success. So much so that nearly 6,000 troops will be recalled -- home for Christmas.

But his view is not shared by the Iraqis themselves.

A survey of Iraqis finds that a full 70 percent find that security has deteriorated since it began in January. And that 60 percent of Iraqis feel that attacks on U.S. troops there are justified.

This is a long way from winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonrubin/1376021337/

Aaron Klein, Who Interviews Terrorists, Will Be On Paltalk

Aaron Klein, the author and journalist who has access to and oftentimes interviews terrorists, will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk.com on Thursday, September 20th at 5 PM New York time.

Klein is the Jerusalem bureau chief for the popular web site, World Net Daily. His new book, Schmoozing With Terrorists, chronicles his up close and personal time with some of the most hated and feared people in the Middle East. In one interview chronicled in he book, a major terrorist leader threatened to cut off the head of Britney Spears.

Klein will talk about his investigative reporting which has revealed that terror leaders walk around with American-provided assault rifles. He has also uncovered Jhadists undergoing U.S. training and has followed the money trail, revealing that American tax dollars are funding terror-supporting universities.

Klein doesn't just write about doom and gloom. He has also explored ways America can win the global war on terror.

To talk directly to Aaron Klein just go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk on Thursday, September 20th at 5 PM New York time and click on the Join The Room button. You will then be connected to the chat on Paltalk. There is no charge.

Bush Says Some Troops Will Come Home By Christmas

President Bush says the surge in Iraq is working and that nearly 6,000 troops can come home by Christmas.

But Democrats, like presidential hopeful John Edwards, say there's no political progress between the Sunnis and the Shiites, so a more substantial number of U.S. troops should come home now, shifting the pressure to Iraq. Edwards told CNN's Larry King that the Congress should withhold funding for Iraq unless the appropriations bill sets a deadline for withdrawal.

President Bush cautioned that the United States must remain substantially involved in Iraq for sometime to come.

Syria May Be Developing Nuclear Weapons

The Washington Post reports that North Korea, which is standing down on its nuclear weapons program, may be helping Syria create one of its own.

The intelligence comes from Israel, which, the Post reports, produced satellite imagery to back the claim.

Damascus is clearly looking at the world community's apparent impotency toward the Iran's nuclear program. And, unfortunately, concluded that it can create a nuclear weapons program as well with impunity.

A more effective strategy toward Iran likely would put Syria in check as well. How much longer will the world stand by and let this nuclear madness continue?

Basketball Player Drops Suit Against Imus

Off the hook

Finally. A little sanity in the Imus controversy.

Imus lost his shock talk radio show for calling members of the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy headed hos."

The inopportune comment might have faded into obscurity had a stink not been raised about it. After all the complaining, it became a shot heard 'round the world. Well, at least around the radio dial.

Condemn Imus for what he said, if you want. Fight words with words. But this was going overboard.

Equally out of proportion was a lawsuit filed by one of the basketball team members. Alleging that her reputation was damaged by Imus' comments.

Of course, most people never attached the comments to any single individual. Unlike the fictional Cheers bar, not everyone knew their names. Until she filed suit. Sticking the comment, not on the entire team, but on her specifically.

An odd thing to do if one's intent is to protect one's reputation.

At any rate, the basketball player, Kia Vaughn, has decided to drop her lawsuit. In order to expend her energies on her studies. Where they should have and probably would have been directed had agitators like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton not immersed themselves into the situation creating a media frenzy.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/burlives/518947507/

Terrorist Threatens Madonna, Britney: Report

World Net Daily quotes Muhammad Abdel-Al, spokesman and senior leader of the Popular Resistance Committees terror organization as threatening to cut off the heads of singers Madonna and Britney Spears. For "spreading satanic culture."

What's more satanic, Mr. Abdel-Al. Britney and Madonna's public kiss? Or you firing rockets into Israel?



I guess he figures that without heads they wouldn't be able to do that again.

Gen. Petraeus' Political Problems

Gen. Petraeus

The United States' top military man in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, was tasked with the responsibility of bringing sufficient order in that country so that the Iraqi government could find a political solution to the insurgency. That's an overwhelming task. But no more daunting than the political obstacles that Washington presents.

Petraeus has been testifying before Congress about his plan to withdraw 30,000 troops from Iraq. That figure coincides with the number of additional troops deployed there at the beginning of the year. Constituting the so-called "surge" to create some stability.

Even before he arrived in Washington, Democrats, who anticipated he would suggest continuing the surge, criticized what they thought he was going to say. His surprise suggestion that some of the additional troops could return home by year's end, however, certainly didn't deter those members of Congress who were bent on gaining politically from his visit.

This is serious stuff. The action in Iraq (which nearly every member of Congress, including Democrats, supported) was undertaken for dubious reasons. The mission has been changed repeatedly by the administration. Confusing, no doubt, those who were deployed.

But when a person of Petraeus' position, character and stature reports to Congress, he should be afford the courtesy of at least the appearance of being listened to before he is criticized.

Congress' discourteous treatment of Petraeus extends beyond the "preactions" and reactions. Yesterday, there were two hearings held. One by a committee of the House. Another by a Senate committee. Petraeus and his support staff weren't even given time to take a lunch break between the two meetings. The first ended. The congressmen shuffled out of the hearing room. Senators moved in. And began questioning the general again before he was able to finish the sandwich he was trying to scarf down.

The bigger question is, is Petraeus being used by both parties for political gain? Are the Democrats simply using his report as an excuse to criticize the president? And is the president using Petraeus as cover so he doesn't have to directly answer for his Iraq policy (or lack thereof)?

Peter Beinart, Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy, suggests that the general has been put in an untenable political position. He says, given the ramifications of this issue, not just to Iraq but to policy with regard to other nations in the Middle East, it is not his job to decide how much longer troops will remain in Iraq.

"George W. Bush is paid to have opinions on those topics," Beinart writes. "David Petraeus is not."

Surge Effective, But Not Effective Enough

A New York Times investigation into the effects of the surge in Iraq finds that, while it has cut down on violence, it still falls short of its goal.

The Times publishes its assessment on the eve of Gen. David Petraeus' report to Congress about the military efforts in Iraq.

The report quotes a military official as saying that the United States has done all that it can do militarily.

Ground Zero Rally For Sick Responders

A large rally was held at Ground Zero today. A rally to urge passage of a bill which would guarantee health treatment for the rescue and recovery workers who responded to the World Trade Center site on and after September 11, 2001.

Three New York members of Congress, Democrats Jerrold Nadler and Carolyn Maloney, and Republican Vito Fossella, will introduce the bill on Tuesday, the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

It deserves prompt consideration and passage.

The Fred Thompson Alternative

Thompson

Late comer Fred Thompson has made official what we all knew anyway. He is a candidate for the Republican nomination for president of the United States.

But what alternative to the other candidates does the politician turned actor turned political commentator turned politician offer?

An analysis in the New York Times suggests that Thompson presents himself as the new

Ronald Reagan. A candidate that party conservatives can turn to.

Conservatives are clearly uncomfortable with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has been the perceived GOP front runner. His pro choice, pro gun control and pro gay rights positions have many of them concerned about who will be the Republican standard bearer next year. Thompson gives them a safe political haven in the party.

Iran Fined $2.65 Billion Dollars For Lebanon Marine Attack

Camp Lejeune Beirut memorial

A federal district judge has found Iran responsible for the 1983 attack on a U.S. Marines barracks in Lebanon that claimed 241 lives.

The judge has ordered Tehran to pay $2.65 billion dollars to the families of those who were victimized.

Iran was found to have funded the Hezbollah terrorists who attacked the Marines encampment in Beirut.

It was a good ruling by Judge Royce Lamberth. But, of course, totally symbolic and, unfortunately, unenforceable.

However, a bill pending in Congress would make it easier for victims of terrorism to seize assets in cases such as this one.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikedefiant/861679656/

New Looking Bin Laden Resurfaces

Well he did it, as promised.

Osama bin Laden has released a new videotape. One in which he calls the United States weak. And calls on Americans to convert to Islam.

Presumably if we just give up our current religious values, we wouldn't suffer any future terrorist attacks.

Of course, that ignores the Sunni versus Shiite bombings that take place in Iraq.

He also says that 9/11 took place "by the grace of God." Clearly, his, and our view of God, are in direct conflict.



Oh, and he also suggests that if we give up democracy he'll call off his dogs. Like that's ever going to happen.

By the way, Mr. bin Laden, that's a nice dark beard you're now sporting. Seems you've washed the gray right out of your hair. How western of you!

Homegrown Terrorists Planned German 9/11 Attacks

The New York Sun reports that two of the three men who were arrested for having planned terrorist attacks on Americans and a U.S. base in Germany on the 9/11 anniversary are German natives who converted to Islam. The third is a Turkish Muslim.

German law severely limits police surveillance of suspected terrorists in that country.

Former CIA Director R. James Woolsey says al Qaeda is actively recruiting "people who don't look as if they are Arabs or from the Middle East. We're going to see more and more of this," he said to a forum hosted by the Center For American Progress.



Let's hope that it won' t take a successful terrorist attack before German society wakes up.

What Petraeus Will Tell Congress

Col. Meese

Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. military's top man in Iraq, will address Congress next week. He'll be giving the long-awaited progress report about the success, or lack thereof, of the military operation.

The president says he will shape the nation's future Iraq policy after Petraeus' report.

There's been much speculation about what he will say. Now, we have some insight.

A member of Gen. Petraeus' staff, Col. Michael Meese, says in an interview with CFR.org, that the surge in Iraq is working.

He says the local tribes there are cooperating with the U.S. troops. A sign that the current military policy, in place since January, is gaining traction.

Meese warns, however, that those gains would be lost if the United States pursued what he calls a "non-conditions-based withdrawal."

A source in the U.S. intelligence community echos Meese's comments. That source says that support for the war effort might be stronger if the mainstream media reported the successes that Petraeus is expected to outline next week.

Cuba's Real Health Care System

Better care in Cuba?

We all have seen images of Michael Moore, on a boat, with two Ground Zero workers, off the coast of Cuba, seeking medical treatment that the pair supposedly couldn't get in the USA.

My friends who have traveled to Cuba tout the medical care there (more doctors per capita than probably anywhere else in the world, etc). But how accurate are those depictions? Do the few Americans granted visas to Cuba get to see what kind of care people get normally? Or are they steered to showcase clinics?

Without a fair and open press system, it's hard to tell.

Well now, we may get a glimpse what it's like behind the closed doors of the clinics in the cities and villages of Cuba.

ABC will be airing a program about Cuba at 10 PM ET today. And one of the segments, we've been told, is expected to include photos and video clandestinely taken inside medical clinics. The kinds of images that one would not likely see in a Michael Moore film.

Al Qaeda's North African Foothold

Al-Zawahiri

Realite-EU, which tracks terrorism threats and developments in and around the Middle East, is reporting that al Qaeda is expanding in North Africa in order to gain support among Muslims there. In order to stage terrorist attacks against Europe.

The e-publication points out that one year ago, on the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, al Qaeda's number two man, Ayman al-Zawahiri, announced that France would be targeted in the future.

The North African al Qaeda entity has, Realite-EU reports, stepped up terrorist attacks this year in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, with a goal of instilling Islamic law in those nations. And has been providing logistical support to the insurgency in Iraq.

If France is attacked, it will not be the first time Islamic terrorist have struck there. In the 1990s, Algerian terrorists set off bombs in Paris. And, Realite-EU reports, Moroccan terrorists are believed to be behind the Madrid bombings in 2004 that killed 191 people and injured some 2,00o more.

Bin Laden Expected To Resurface

Should be ignored

There are indications that the elusive mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden, is about to release another videotaped message to the American people. This message is expected to be released to coincide with the upcoming September 11th anniversary.

The last thing any of needs to hear at this time of the year, when the nation pauses to remember those who died during those terrible attacks, is bin Laden lecturing us. He'll likely say things designed to strike fear into our hearts.

While news agencies will dutifully report what he has to say, and will undoubtedly analyze his every word, I believe the reaction to whatever his message is ought to be muted.

This is a time for the solemn remembrance of those innocent victims who died on 9/11. NOT a time to give a made over bin Laden (his gray beard, we are told, has been died black) voice.

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Artwork credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikekline/416433682/

Health Treatment Delays Prompt Ontario Lawsuit

Many in the United States believe there should be national health care for all. They point to other places where the government guarantees medical treatment as they argue for a national health care program in America.

But some people who enjoy government health care like the U.S. system better.

Two patients have sued the Ontario provincial government, arguing that they were forced to go to the United States for treatment of their brain tumors because of a long wait time in Canada. The two are demanding the right to buy private health insurance to ensure prompt medical treatment.

A similar 2005 lawsuit in Quebec resulted in a striking down of a prohibition to purchasing private health insurance in that province.

Dr. Rudy Crew On Paltalk

Crew

Here's a chance to talk to an expert in education. To find out whether the at-risk children of the United States can actually be educated so they can compete globally.

Crew is the superintendent of the Miami-Dade County public schools. And is the former New York City school chancellor. He has also been superintendent or deputy superintendent of the Tacoma, Sacramento and Boston school districts.

In his new book, "Only Connect, The Way To Save Our Schools," Crew takes a close look at the No Child Left Behind program, which he compares to turning the wheel of the car while driving and waiting to see if it works.

Crew suggests that the United States lacks a cohesive public education strategy. And that rather than teaching children the skills they need to succeed, we are teaching them how to pass government mandated exams. They learn how to pass the tests, but they don't necessarily learn how to learn.

To talk to Dr. Rudy Crew, just go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button at 5 PM New York time Thursday.

Israel's Dilemma

Israel is in a bad spot.

The town of Sderot is targeted daily by a barrage of Qassam rockets. A recent attack nearly hit a day care center.

Seemingly, no matter what the Israeli government does, or doesn't do, it's the wrong thing.

If they retaliate, they are accused of using overpowering force in comparison with the weaponry used against them. That's like saying if someone comes at you with a knife, you can't use your gun to protect yourself. But that's the reality in the current international political climate.

If they do not retaliate, their citizens, understandably, question the government's commitment to protecting them.

If they continue targeting terrorist leaders who are ordering the attacks, they stand accused of committing political assassination.

If they cut off electricity and water to the Gaza, they are labeled inhumane.

While Israel is constantly harangued for its responses, the criticism of those who are launching the rockets is fairly muted.

Who in their right mind would want to run for national office in Israel?

Bill Stumps For Hillary

It's payback time.

Labor Day is behind us, so the presidential campaign goes into full swing. And finds former President Bill Clinton on the campaign trail for wife Hillary.

It's generally accepted (and reported in books) that that was the deal. Hillary would do whatever it took to get Bill elected. But then it would be her turn. And that meant he would stump for her.

There's no question Clinton is popular and an asset to his wife's campaign. Probably a greater public political asset than she was to him. And, perhaps, an even greater draw.

A Crackdown On Illegal Immigrants Could Mean Farmers Will Move To Mexico

The farm fields are full of Mexican workers, many of them in the United States illegally.

The New York Times reports that, since immigration reform failed and the government is cracking down on employers who hire illegals, some farmers are moving their operations to Mexico. There, the paper says, they can hire all the Mexicans they want. Legally.

Daniel Griswold, the Cato Institute's director of trade policy studies, says the U.S. economy keeps creating agriculture and service jobs that immigrants are happy to fill. But that Americans shun.

Rocketboom Anchor On Paltalk Today

Joanne Colan

Rocketboom anchor Joanne Colan will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk.com today.

Rocketboom's three-minute-long video blog reports can be serious. Or quirky. They are produced with consumer grade cameras and computers.

Prior to coming to Rocketboom, Colan was a VJ for MTV in Europe and a researcher, host, writer and production coordinator at the BBC.

She'll talk to us about her transition from traditional to online media, some of the stories and issues she's addressed on Rocketboom, and her upcoming show on Paltalk.

To talk to Joanne, click on this link, www.paltalk.com/newstalk andclick on the Join The Room Now button at 5 PM New York time.

Terror Plot Uncovered In Germany

Frankfurt airport - targeted

Another day, another terror plot.

This time three people have been arrested for plotting massive attacks on a U.S. air base and a German airport.

The three had, prosecutors say, trained at a Muslim terrorist camp in Pakistan. They say the attack was expected to coincide with the anniversary of the September 11th attacks in the United States.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickrsven/716271573/

6 Terror Suspects Arrested In Denmark

There are many Americans who believe that the United States is the target of terrorist attacks because of our foreign policy.

We are mean to Muslims around the world.

We put suspected terrorists in prisons where they are water boarded.

And we support the state of Israel.

No wonder they are targeting us. It's all our fault. We blame the victim. We excuse the terrorists.

So why, then, are terrorists linked to al Qaeda now allegedly targeting Denmark?

Six suspected terrorists have been arrested in Denmark. Officials there say they were in the process of planning terrorist attacks.

Oh wait. NOW I remember. A Danish newspaper published an editorial cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammad. No doubt, had the terrorists been successful, there would be apologists out there blaming the newspaper, not the terrorists, for the attacks.

What a world!

Qassam Rockets Target Israeli Schools, Day Care

Imagine a group of Mexicans who believe the United States is occupying their land in Texas firing Qassam rockets into American schools and day care centers.

Imagine the United States not retaliating swiftly and overwhelmingly each time it happened.

Imagine Americans criticizing their government for using heavy weapons against those who are using "homemade rockets."

Take it one step further.

Imagine the children in Mexico being taught, in their homes, in their schools, in their churches, on state-run TV, that Americans are evil and need to be killed.

Imagine their U.S. counterparts being taught acceptance and tolerance, even of Mexicans. Even as the schools where the lesson is being given are under attack.

Now substitute Palestinians for Mexicans. Israel for the United States. And Sderot for Texas.

And ask yourself, how is it possible that this has been continuing repeatedly? Rockets fired at Israel from the Gaza. Even long after Israel has withdrawn?

To make this comparison even more similar, the United States would really have to give territory back to the Mexicans. And then sustain rocket attacks.

By the way, these "homemade rockets" are not Fourth Of July fireworks.

If you don't believe it, take a look at video taken and posted by the Palestinians of the rockets launched on Sderot.

By the way, the group that posted the video and claimed responsibility is the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. PIJ is funded by our friends, the Iranian government.

Want Border Security Or Convenience?

Stepped up border security, similar to that seen shortly after the 9/11 attacks, are causing for longer lines at border crossings into the United States from Mexico and Canada.

New rules require travelers to produce identification. Each person is questioned. Trunks are often opened for inspection. This often results in long delays.

On a recent re-entry into the United States from Windsor, I was questioned about why I only had my driver's license, at present the bare minimum required. Then I was lectured on why I should have my birth certificate or passport with me, even though it's not yet required for those driving back from Mexico or Canada.

The entire process took about five minutes. When there are long lines of cars crossing the border, a five minute stop per car adds up.

On the one hand, Americans are demanding greater airport and border security in this post-9/11 era. On the other hand, we complain about the inconvenience this entails.

Especially when we see people by the thousands daily entering this country illegally, circumventing this kind of interrogation.

I think it riles many that returning, law abiding Americans are so questioned, while those crossing illegally are not.

New York City Worker May Be Fired After His Movements Are Tracked By GPS On His Cell Phone

A 21-year New York City employee faces firing for leaving his job early numerous times.

The city made its case by using GPS data transmitted from a city-owned phone he had been issued.

What he allegedly did was tantamount to stealing from the city. And, as the theme music for the old TV show Baretta cautions, "don't do the crime if you can't do the time." But the way this information was garnered raises disturbing privacy issues.

The accused worker, John Halpin, had not been told by the city that the phone he was given was being tracked. This raises serious privacy issues. If he was tracked during the workday, he could have been tracked during his personal time. And his personal time is just that, personal. No one else's business.

We don't know that he was tracked while off duty. But that's not the point.

No employer should use GPS to track workers without first informing the employees that the capability exists. That would at least give the workers the option of not carrying the issued phone during his or her off-duty time.

Global Warming May Reduce Food Supply

A United Nations researcher says changes in climate and deserts encroaching on farmland could threaten the world's food supply.

And M.V.K. Sivakumar predicts a significant inability to feed people across the world in just over a decade.

Iraq Carnage Continues

The death toll continues to mount in Iraq.

The Associated Press has been tracking casualties. And is reporting that more than 18-hundred Iraqis were killed in August. That figure was largely fueled by four suicide bombings that claimed more than 800 lives.

According to the AP, more than 27-thousand Iraqis have been killed since it began compiling numbers in August, 2005. And those are just the deaths that have been reported. The AP reports the number of U.S. military casualties has declined.

Coupled with the number of people who have fled the country, the political instability, the destruction to the infrastructure and the overall lawlessness, the task of bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq seems very elusive.