Sarkosy Pressures Assad

Sarkozy

French President Nicolas Sarkosy says he has lost patience with Syrian President Bashar Assad over Syria's interference with the internal workings of Lebanon.

Anti-Syrian Lebanese members of parliament have been targeted by assassins. And Lebanon has been without a president since Emile Lahoud stepped down in November.

Syria has long been accused of involving itself in Lebanon's internal affairs, and for sometime had troops stationed in Lebanon.

Sarkosy says he has spoken with Assad on three recent occasions telling him it's time to let Lebanon handle it's own internal affairs. But has apparently received little more than lip service from his Syrian counterpart.

Press reports quote the French president as saying he has "reached the end of the road" with Assad. Strong words, indeed, by Sarkosy. The question is, has the the political will to back them up, if necessary, with action?

Proof Mideast Peace Process Is A Sham

Saraa Barhoum

Traditionally, Palestinian leaders have used cease fires and peace negotiations as cover to rearm.

They take lands that Israeli settlers abandoned during forced withdrawals and turn them into launching pads for missiles fired into Israeli towns.

And they indoctrinate their population, especially their children, into hating the Jews.

While they talk at Annapolis about a peace process, from the other side of their mouths they promote a violent struggle against the Jews. Sadly, they employ children in this process of hateful indoctrination.

The latest example: a song sung by a child host on Palestinian television. Here are the lyrics sung by the youngster, Saraa Barhoum, as provided by The Middle East Media Research Institute. The 11-year-old Barhoum has previously said on the show that she is prepared for martyrdom. The words speak for themselves. And reveal the true nature of the strategic mind of the Palestinian leadership.

Keeping An Eye On The Giant Polar Bear

As we move into the New Year with global security concerns swirling it would be prudent to keep an eye on the man Time Magazine selected as its 2007 Person Of The Year.

Vladimir Putin has managed to suppress political dissent while increasing Russia's influence with Iran's problematic government.

Russia is denying that it intends to deliver missiles to Iran. But the veracity of this assertion needs to be challenged.

Sadly, Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has shown a tendency to put its own strategic interests ahead of what's the best course of action to promote world peace. Its denials about plans to deliver missiles to Iran should be greeted with a degree of skepticism.

Bhutto Assassination Has Al Qaeda Written All Over It

Developing evidence in the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister and opposition leader Banazir Bhutto has al Qaeda written all over it.

Bhutto was a forced for democracy and greater ties with the west. If elected, she likely would likely have more aggressively gone after al Qaeda and Taliban forces on the Afghan border. This, of course, made her a threat to those who were responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Reportedly, renegade Pakistani troops may have been recruited by al Qaeda to carry out the plot.

The killing puts Pakistan into chaos. And puts into jeopardy the fragile movement toward democracy.

Hopefully the forces for good will prevail and renew their efforts to support her platform of political freedom for all.

Largest Humanitarian Effort In World Failing

Refugee from Darfur in Sam Ouandja

The largest aid program on Earth, in Darfur, is losing ground to poverty and malnutrition.

The United Nations reports that the number of acutely malnourished children in the region has increased over the past year.

Just imagine how much worse it would be without the humanitarian effort in country!

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Photo credit: Nicolas Rost/UNHCR

Financial Expert Kathy Boyle To Take A Look At The Volatile Market In The New Year On Paltalk

Boyle

Financial expert Kathy Boyle, principle at Chapin Hill, will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk on Tuesday January 8.





Boyle has been tracking stocks as 2007 draws to a close. Commenting that volatility has become the word of the season. Boyle notes that the Dow Jones has shown sings of 100-200 points in single days. She says most traders are now taking a wait and see attitude to see what the Fed does next about interest rates.





She says that while the Fed has concerns about interest rates, it is also worried about the entire "sub-prime mess" and the carryover effects on banks, mortgage lenders and insurance companies.





But as the Fed announces plans to cope with both issues, the market struggles to react, repeatedly swinging from ups to downs.





Boyle will also talk to us about the rising cost of home heating oil, gasoline and basic food commodities and its anticipated affect on the economy.





To talk to Boyle at 5:30 PM New York time on Tuesday January 8 go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.





Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.





News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable systems serving an additional 12 million households.

U.S. Air Defenses At Risk

Grounded

Air defenses in some states across the USA are at risk due to the grounding of F-15 fighter jets after one began to break apart in flight last month.

The F-15s are the mainstay of air defenses at alert sites across the nation.

The groundings of 450 F-15s has caused many states to rely on backup from their neighbors. The state of Alaska has actually gone to Canada for help.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bartheq/1303197221/

Looking For A Business To Get Into? Try Homeland Security

Schierholz

At this time of uncertainty about terrorism around the world, one great business to get into, if you have the prerequisite skills, is homeland security.

Industry estimates peg governmental and business spending worldwide this year to more than $59 billion US to thwart terrorist attacks.

"International expenditure on homeland security now surpasses established enterprises like movie-making and the music industry in annual revenues," said Angela Schierholz, who is manager of Intersec Middle East, a homeland security show which will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from January 13 to 15, 2008.

Schierholz says the film and music industries each generate about $40 billion annually. And she sees no end in sight for this spending trend. According to Schierholz, homeland security spending will increase to $178 billion annually by 2015 -- triple its current value.

Schierholz says homeland security is not just airport screening anymore. She says information technology has been developed to protect other high profile venues as well, such as ports and nuclear reactors.

The homeland security industry now includes chemical, biological and radiological detection, as well as border, rail, seaport, industrial and nuclear plant security. Other vendors include computer and human resources experts, boat makers for the Coast Guard, information and integrated technology companies, and myriad consultants.

Most spending, Schierholz says, is in the United States. But she notes rapid growth in spending in Europe, India and China.

Cutting Women's Hair In Iraq Can Get You Killed

Beauticians in Iraq have gone underground, applying their skills -- and makeup to other women -- behind shuttered windows, for fear that they may be killed for their actions.

The killings of beauticians in Iraq underscores the lack of tolerance Muslim extremists have for others who do not share in their views.

More often than not, the victims of their rage are fellow Muslims, as evidenced by the killings of hair stylists, intimidation of their customers and blowing up of their salons.

We also see it in the Muslim on Muslim violence in general in Iraq. Similar attacks, one group of Muslim against another, is seen often in the Palestinian territories.

For all the attention and ink paid to Israel's alleged poor treatment of the Palestinians, more and more of them have fallen victim to the hand of fellow Palestinians.

But there's plenty of religious hatred that's directed toward non-Muslims as well. Such as the violent protests targeting an editorial cartoonist who sketched the image of the Prophet Mohammed.

Those who are intolerant to Muslims in reaction stoop to the level of those who would do them harm for their religious beliefs. But there are far too many examples of fundamentalist Muslim repression -- and worse -- of non-Muslims -- or of Muslims who practice their faith differently.

It's understandable that mainstream members of the Muslim faith react with concern when non-Muslims attack Islam. But those misplaced general attacks would not be so prevalent were it not for fellow Muslims trying to bully "non-believers" into submission.

It's time for all of us to be intellectually honest about what's going on. Fanatic Muslims imposing their will on others. It has got to stop. Not just for the sake of the non-Muslims. But for Muslims as well.

Egypt's Support Of Hamas

Israel is accusing Egypt of helping Hamas smuggle arms into the Gaza for use against Israelis.

The accusation came as Israel's foreign minister, Ehud Barak, was making his way to Cairo for talks with Egyptian leaders. Barak was expected to raise the issue of the arms smuggling during meetings with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

If Egypt wants to be a player in promoting the peace process, it cannot, on one hand, pay lip service to peace and on the other help arm Hamas.

New Year's Resolution: Be Prepared

Are you ready?

The Homeland Security Department says Americans should make being prepared their number one New Year's resolution.

The department says it's imperative that we all be ready in the event of a disaster, natural or man made.

Homeland Security has launched what it calls its Ready Campaign. The department recommends preparing an emergency supply kit, having an emergency plan and being informed of the kinds of emergencies that could occur in your environment.

For example, if you live in a low lying area near a body of water you should be ready in the event of flooding. If you live in a coastal area, you should prepare for the possibility of a hurricane.

We should all have family plans. What will we do in the event of a major emergency? How will we keep in touch? Where will we meet? Especially if we are forced to evacuate. Having a pre-planned rendezvous point is a prudent first step.

And, don't forget to have a plan to evacuate, if necessary, the family pet. Many flooding victims in New Orleans refused to leave their homes if they had to leave their dog or car behind.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tidewatermuse/39252552/

The Great Debaters On News Talk Online On Paltalk

The Great Debaters cast members Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollette, Denzel Whitaker and me on News Talk Online on Paltalk December 21, 2007

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Photo credit: Tanya Meunier

Andrea Syrtash, Author And Writer For Yahoo! And Huffington Post On Paltalk

Syrtash

Andrea Syrtash, a relationship expert and life coach whose writings appear on Yahoo! and the Huffington Post will be my guest on News Talk Online on Tuesday January 8th.

Syrtash has written and lectured extensively on dating and has given people advise on how to live life to its fullest. She was also special editor for two books, How to Survive the Real World and How to Survive Your In-Laws.

A graduate of The Coaches Training Institute, Syrtash is a life coach and host of ON DATING, a dating advice show produced by NBC Digital Studios in New York for ONnetworks.

To talk to Syrtash at 5 PM New York time Tuesday January 8th go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable systems serving an additional 12 million households.

Bill Bradley's Former National Deputy Campaign Manager On Paltalk

De Graff

The Reverend Jacques Andre De Graff, one of the country's most articulate voices on media, national politics, strategy and analysis will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk on Thursday January 3rd to discuss the Iowa Caucuses.

De Graff served as Bill Bradley's national deputy campaign manager and director of delegate selection. Over the years, he has honed his organizing skills in urban mayoral politics -- playing a pivotal role in high-profile democratic races from Atlanta (Maynard Jackson) to Chicago (Harold Washington) and New York (Reverend Al Sharpton and David Dinkins). His thoughtful analysis and quick witty commentary has earned him praise with pundits and numerous guest appearances on local and national television and radio programs, including: CNN’s Larry King Live, FOX News Network’s Hannity & Colmes and The O’Reilly Factor, CNN Morning Blend with Soledad O’Brien and HardBall with Chris Matthews where he was a featured panelist.

Jacques Andre De Graff is a member of the One Hundred Black Men of New York, the founding chapter of the 10,000 member international organization. He presently serves as the Minister of Social Justice at New York's historic Canaan Baptist Church in central Harlem.

To talk to De Graff at 5 PM New York time Thursday January 3rd go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no cost.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable systems serving an additional 12 million households.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

Pick Up Artist Neil Strauss On Paltalk

Pick up expert Neil Strauss will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk today, December 21st.

Strauss, the author of the New York Times best seller The Game, has now penned a sequel, Rules Of The Game. A textbook that promises men that, if each daily lesson plan is followed, they will have a significant other of the opposite sex within 30 days.

His first book, The Game:Penetrating The Secret Society Of Pickup Artists was a non-fiction account of a real-life underground seduction community composed of the greatest pickup artists. It lead to a hit VH1 reality show, a feature film deal, and hundreds of thousands of men using his lines.

Rules of the Game is a two-volume set designed to fit in the back pocket of any single guy – or any girl who wants to know just what goes on in the minds of the opposite sex.

Straus co-authored four previous bestsellers: How to Make Love Like a Porn Star (with Jenna Jameson), The Dirt (with Motley Crue), Don’t Try This At Home (with Dave Navarro), and The Long Hard Road Out of Hell (with Marilyn Manson). Strauss is also the co-author, with Bernard Chang, of the satirical graphic novel How to Make Money Like a Porn Star, which has been banned in Singapore. Under the alter ego “Style,” he achieved the unexpected distinction of being named the world’s greatest pickup artist three years in a row. Strauss lives in Los Angeles, CA, where he is already at work on his next book, underground in a new secret subculture.

To talk to Stauss at 5:30 PM New York time today, December 21st go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable systems serving an additional 12 million households.

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Festive Day

"Festive" tree at the New York Stock Exchange

An Ottawa elementary school choir has changed the lyrics to the Christmas song Silver Bells so not to offend non Christian students.

The words, "soon it will be Christmas Day" are being replaced with "soon it will be Festive Day."

Well, let's check the facts.

As I write this, it is Friday, December 21st. That means, that, soon, it will be Christmas Day.

Whether one is a Christian or not, December 25th is Christmas Day.

We do NOT take time off for work for Festive Day. We take time off from work for Christmas Day.

If one wants to argue that the school should remain open on Christmas Day so as to not offend non-Christians, then that's fine. But you can't change the reality that December 25th is Christmas.

So either acknowledge it. Or not. But teachers should be intellectually honest about this with their students. And not confuse them by calling Christmas something that it is not.

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Photo credit: Gary Baumgarten

Going Through The Motions At the Airport

Ineffective?

Flying used to be so much fun.

No more.

The security checkpoints are a pain in the ... well ... at least the feet -- since we have to take our shoes off to walk through security.

We grumble about the process, blame the terrorists and reconcile it in our minds by telling ourselves, what's a little inconvenience compared with the alternative.

Until now.

Because now, a Harvard University School of Public Health study concludes that it's all for naught. All form and no substance. Ineffective. Useless.

No indication that making passengers go through this new ritual, taking off shoes, removing laptops, putting toiletries and plastic bags and displaying them to fellow travelers, does anything to prevent incidents.

A TSA spokesman counters that there have been successes that have not been publicized. But the study does tell us that a re-evaluation of the processes is in order.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/androog/1751385388/

The Great Debaters Actors On Paltalk

The Great Debaters

Three of the stars of the film The Great Debaters will be my guests Friday, December 21st on News Talk Online on Paltalk.





The film, now in limited release, is inspired by the remarkable story of Wiley College’s winning debate team of the early 1930s. Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South, The Great Debaters chronicles the journey of the Wiley College debate team—coached by the brilliant and passionate professor Melvin B. Tolson, played by Denzel Washington. It was Tolson’s recognition that the power of knowledge is the greatest advantage of all, which brought these students from underdogs to victors in a time when more than the odds were against them.

Professor Tolson carefully chooses his team not only because they’re the best Wiley College has to offer but because they carry within them the spark of a new generation. He sets out to instill in them confidence and a sense of responsibility for more than just their own lives. At the same time he knows he must protect them from his own covert activities as an organizer of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union.

Tolson’s most eager student is 14 year-old prodigy James Farmer Jr., played by Denzel Whitaker, who endures the pressure of the team in addition to the towering presence of his father James Sr., PhD (Forest Whitaker), a renowned scholar and towering presence. It is James Jr. who grows up quickly by witnessing the horrific acts of prejudice, feeling the pangs of love and becoming the teacher as his father learns that action and assertion must be practiced in order for knowledge to become power.

In Henry Lowe (Nate Parker), Tolson sees a wild intelligence constantly conflicted between expectations and an exploding temper fueled by his search for justice. His fierce independence often clashes with his professor and teammates. Being part of the debate team may be his first experience with true accountability and the responsibility that follows.

Samantha Booke (Jurnee Smollett) has the honor of being Wiley College’s first female on the debate team. She has to deal with not only the prejudice because of her skin but also as a woman forging ahead in a society that has yet to embrace equal rights for the sexes. She’s up for the challenge as her confidence grows with each and every debate.

What is seemingly a disconnected group of students is revealed as the calculated, brilliant and far reaching vision of Professor Tolson. As the team experiences unprecedented success and consecutive victories they work even more diligently to reach the ultimate goal – a groundbreaking debate with the National Champions at Harvard.



This fictional story was inspired by the passion, dedication and teachings of Melvin B. Tolson.





To talk to three members of the cast of The Great Debaters at 5 PM New York time Friday December 21st go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.





Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.





News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable systems serving an additional 12 million households.

Ill Equipping U.S. Combat Troops

First we sent our men and women into combat without armoring the vehicles in which they patrolled.

Now tests reveal that the M4 carbine, standard issued to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, failed in dust tests conducted at the military testing facility in Aberdeen, Maryland.

The Army, of course, defends the use of the M4. But the facts speak for themselves.

Whether one supports or opposes the war in Iraq, we should all be in agreement that we want to properly equip our troops so they arrive home safely. The M4, apparently, does little to guarantee their safe return.

People Magazine Editor To Reveal Best And Worst Of Year On Paltalk

People Magazine's People Editor Antoinette Coulton will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk Thursday, December 20th to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of 2007.

Her visit coincides with the day the magazine hits the stands. Among the categories featured, the under 21 stars, as 2007 was the year of the youth. A look back at the People weddings and babies of the year. Celbs that publicly split. Stars in crisis (and rehab). Couples of the year. And newsmakers of the year.

To talk to Coulton at 5 PM New York time Thursday, December 20th go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Hunter College Political Expert To Discuss Iowa Caucuses On Paltalk

Polsky in his office

Andrew Polsky, presidential expert and political science professor at Hunter College in New York will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk on Friday, January 4th to discuss the results of the Iowa caucuses.

Polsky is an expert in American politics, including political parties and interest groups, elections and campaigns, the presidency' the political role of business in the U.S. and presidential leadership in wartime.

To talk to Polsky at 5 PM New York time on Friday January 4th go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Travel Expert To Discuss Great Destinations On Paltalk

Grant

Kim Grant, acquisitions editor for Great Destinations will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk on Thursday, December 20th.

Great Destinations guidebooks are a resource for travelers, giving them information on excellent locales to visit in an easily understood conversational tone. They include information about lodging, dining, transportation, history, shopping and recreation, as well as practical information, like the locations of banks, hospitals and Laundromats.

Grant has been exploring the world and writing about travel since the day after she graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1984.

To talk to Grant at 5:30 PM New York time Thursday December 20th go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Forgetting Those Who Died On 9/11?

Word is that a memorial at the World Trade Center site won't be ready until a full decade after the attack.

Rome may not have been built in a day, but taking 10 years to complete an appropriate, respectful, memorial to those who died seems a bit extreme.

Some family advocates fear that elderly relatives of some who died on 9/11 will not still be alive by the time the memorial is completed.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey blames what it calls "construction delays" on the announcement that the scheduled completion of the memorial has be set back two years.

Angela Lashley, Mother Of American Soldier And Song Writer On Paltalk

Lashley and her son

Angela Lashley, who wrote the song Blue Star In The Window, and who is encouraging the families of service people on active duty to put a blue star in each of their windows during the holiday season will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk on Monday, Dec. 24.

The song, and the campaign, is designed to remind Americans that troops continue to serve in harm's way this Christmas. Lashley's son is a soldier with the 82nd Airborne who has served two tours of duty in Iraq.

She says the song, which she co-wrote, was her way of, "recognizing the heroic struggle of a soldier moms and the heroric bracery of the American soldier.

Lashley also co-wrote the song So Brave, a tribute to her son’s service and heroism.

To talk to Lashley on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24th, go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Joseph Romm Who Has A Solution To Global Warming On Paltalk

Joseph Romm, author of Hell And Water will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk on Tuesday, January 15th.

Hell And High Water is billed as a clear assessment of how global warming is affecting our endangered climate and the necessary actions we must take to save our planet.

Romm, a renowned physicist and energy technology expert, argues that many people, fed a steady diet of misinformation by pundits, ideologues, and conservative politicians, don’t believe—or don’t realize—that climate change is, perhaps, the most serious issue of our time.

But, argues Romm, there is still hope. He says there is a decade window of opportunity to reverse course. But, he warns, if we fail to act, global warming will profoundly and irreversibly remake every aspect of our lives.

Romm is executive director and founder of the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, the premier progressive think tank. During the Clinton administration, Romm was assistant secretary at the Department of Energy where he headed the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. He is the author of “The Hype about Hydrogen: Fact and Fiction in the Race to Save the Climate” and stars in the documentary film “Who Killed the Electric Car?” Romm holds a Ph.D. in physics from MIT.

To talk to Romm at 5 PM New York time Tuesday January 15th go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Salvation Army An Economic Bellwether

Mark Ferreira sings for donations outside New York Penn Station

Another sign of economic health -- the number of contributions to charities at this -- the most giving time of the year.

Salvation Army bell ringers are reporting a downturn in the amount of contributions this holiday season.

It's a reflection on how hard an economic downturn affects the trickle-down economy theory. If people who have discretionary money are pocketing it because of economic uncertainties, people of lesser means suffer more.

For the record, I have worked extensively an closely with the Salvation Army. I am impressed with their ability to provide services directly, and quickly, to the people who most need them.

The Salvation Army's immediate and significance response to Hurricane Katrina, for example, contrasted the government's initial slow and blundering reaction to the unprecedented disaster.

If you're giving less this year and choosing wisely, I highly recommend the Salvation Army as a potential recipient of your generosity.

Border War With Mexico

This sounds like what might happen across the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip. But it's happening right here in the United States.

U.S. Border Guards, under increasing attack from those throwing bottles, rocks and other debris at them from across the Mexican border, have begun retaliating by firing tear gas into the crowds in Mexico.

If the Mexican authorities do not control the people on their side of the border (and increasingly they've shown no interest in stopping illegal crossings much less this!) then this has international incident in our future written all over it.

What will these border guards be expected to do if and when the Mexicans trade in their bottles and rocks for guns and bullets? It's likely they will fire back. And it's likely there will be casualties, perhaps on both sides of the border.

Respect for the boundary of the United States is continually eroding. We Americans are expected to welcome people who have entered our country illegally with open arms.

Children push the limits of what is acceptable behavior all the time. It's the job of parents to set and maintain boundaries. If they don't, things get out of control at home.

This applies, as well, to physical boundaries. Either the boundaries of our nation are maintained. Or things get out of control at home.

I predict that if things escalate and gunfire erupts, there will be a significant number of Americans (some, perhaps, officials) who will publicly and seriously question the actions of the border guards defending themselves.

Mexico must be told in no uncertain terms that it MUST stop these attacks on OUR representatives on OUR soil. Or face economic and diplomatic recrimination.

Lieberman Cuts Ties With Democrats

Lieberman

Former Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman has further severed his ties with his old party by endorsing fellow U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential bid.

McCain is an Arizona Republican. Lieberman, who lost in the Democratic primary when he ran for re-election, dropped party affiliation and ran as an independent to continue serving Connecticut.

Lieberman says no Democrats sought his endorsement. Presumably, a kiss of political death.

The Democratic Party turned its back on Lieberman after he gave it his all, even to the point of running for vice president as a Democrat. It seems somehow fitting that he would treat the party in kind by endorsing a Republican.

Congressional Committees Approve Funding To Expand Health Coverage For 9/11 Emergency Responders

Clinton

The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have approved an additional $108 million in federal funding to address the mounting health needs of those individuals who were exposed to environmental hazards released as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks upon the World Trade Center. The money builds on the $50 million that was provided in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill that was signed into law earlier this year, bringing total funding for the year to $158 million. The measure still requires ratification by the full House and Senate before it can be sent to President Bush for his signature. The president, however, has threatened a veto.

The measure covers rescue and recovery workers and people who live in the area who are suffering ill effects of exposure.

“The terrible tragedy of September 11th continues to affect New Yorkers, from heroic first responders who rushed into the toxic cloud to search for survivors and have now become victims themselves, to residents who became ill even as they tried to rebuild the fabric of lower Manhattan," said Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY).

“I urge the President to rescind his veto threat against this essential funding, which will enhance medical monitoring and treatment for our heroic 9-11 first responders. More than six years after the attacks, some first responders have developed debilitating conditions and diseases that will require long term care. They did not abandon us in our time of need, and we must not abandon them."

Concetta Bertoldi Who Talks To The Dead On Paltalk

Bertoldi

Concetta Bertoldi, a noted medium who talks to the dead, and author of the new book Do Dead People Watch You Shower? will be my guest on News Talk Online on Wednesday, January 9th.

Bertoldi will answer that question and more, such as, can the dead travel back in time? do the dead have emotions? Do the dead attend their own funerals? She'll also be taking readings from callers who are anxious to know how their dead relatives are doing.

Find out if dead people are watching us in our most intimate moments. Whether we'll be re-united with people in the afterlife. And whether that deceased relative with whom you had a close connection when alive is "with you" on your wedding day as you walk down the aisle.

Bertoldi has communicated with the “other side” since childhood. She is a full time medium and consults regularly with members of Britain’s Royal Family, American celebrities, movie producers; politicians, and others.

To talk to Bertoldi at 5 PM New York time on Wednesday January 9 go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Time To Take An Eyesore Down

Take this eyesore down

It's time to agree on a safe plan to finish the deconstruction of the old Deutsche Bank Building at Ground Zero.

The building was damaged beyond repair on September 11, 2001. Since then, it has stood as an eyesore on the skyline of lower Manhattan.

Unfortunately, firefighters died putting out a blaze there earlier this year.

A proper deconstruction plan that ensures that any 9/11 victim's remains that may still be present be recovered needs to be put into place. The plan should have safety guarantees as well, to minimize the chance that there will be another tragedy.

Steps should also be taken to ensure that no more contaminants are sent airborne during the process.

But none of this can take place if government officials keep putting off meetings to just discuss the planning. Let's take the steps necessary to take this eyesore down!

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Photo credit: Gary Baumgarten

Baseball And Steroids

Not alone anymore

I am not, by nature, a "boo bear." You'll not find me booing professional athletics from the stands. I'm of the generation that finds such conduct unseemly.





One potential notable exception has been Barry Bonds. I've not seen him play in person, so the opportunity never presented itself. But I felt that Bonds did not deserve any accolades for his achievements on the field. Because of his alleged use of performance enhancing drugs.





But now, I must give Bonds a pass. Thanks to former Sen. George Mitchell's report. Naming so many of the current all time baseball greats as users.





So now I view Bonds in a different manner. I feel that, in a game where so many use performance enhancing drugs, he, as an alleged user, is better than the other, alleged, users. My enthusiasm for booing Bonds is now sapped. Because, as the Mitchell report suggests, the use of these enhancers is way too widespread.





My proposed response to this problem is a bit out-of-step with the current hand wringing thinking. I suggest that Major League Baseball players be permitted to use these substances.





They are all adult human beings. They should know the risks. But if they are willing to take the chance that, 10 or 20 years from now they may drop dead from a sudden heart attack, let them do it.





Let's not pretend that it's not a part of the game. It is.





The fact is, the players, the managers and the owners have known all along. Maybe not the specifics. But they knew. And they let it happen. It's their game. They permit it. We should just let it continue. It's not going to stop, no matter what measures are put into place. There's just too much money riding on the line for these players. It's a question of economics. Can they be competitive? And can they stay in the game for just one more season? For many of them, the difference between playing one more and retiring is in the millions of dollars. And that, is not, ever, going to change.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/toobeautiful/1052303586/

Terror Suspect Escapes

A terror suspect charged in a plot to blow up airliners escaped from police custody while being escorted from a court appearance back to jail.

Police say Rashid Rauf, a British citizen, escaped by opening his handcuffs and eluding his two guards in Islamabad.

One must question how Rauf managed to get the cuffs off. Did he have a little help from his friends in police uniforms?

The two officers are being charged with negligence. But more sinister forces than their inattentiveness are likely at play.

Bush Turns Back On Ground Zero Workers

Has he forgotten?

When he stood on the Ground Zero pile just days after the 9/11 attacks, megaphone in hand, President Bush looked, for all intents and purposes, as a president who was focused and determined to back those who suffered in New York City.

Since then, the administration has repeatedly stumbled. Bush's then-EPA chief Christie Whitman declared the air safe to breath around the World Trade Center site. His Homeland Security Department has sent funds to areas that are not as likely targets as is New York City. And now, the president says he will not extend health monitoring of rescue and recovery workers to those who have moved from the area.

This should come as no surprise to those returning veterans, who are so lauded by this administration when they are shipped overseas into combat zones, but who are easily discarded when they come back. They get substandard health care. And no help in finding jobs or re-acclimating themselves into civilian life.

This latest slap in the face of the 9/11 rescue and recovery workers is just another indignity suffered by them and the families of those who died on September 11, 2001. Texans, it seems, do a much better job of remember the Alamo, even now, so many years later, than we do, in remembering 9/11, just a few short years later.

Council On Foreign Relations Scholar And Nuclear Expert Michael Levi On Paltalk

Levi

Michael Levi, Council on Foreign Relations scholar and author of the book On Nuclear Terrorism will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk on Monday December 17th.

Levi's book takes an in-depth look at nuclear plots from the perspective of would-be terrorists, and uses that to explain how the United States should build a smart defense. The book comes to the conclusion that nuclear terrorism is much harder than most people think it is -- but that there's a lot more we can do to prevent it than many suppose.

Levi will also talk about Iran and it's nuclear weapons aspirations or lack thereof.

To talk to Levi at 5 PM New York time Monday December 17th go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Crane Collapse Near Ground Zero Brings Back Memories

Rescue vehicles and crews occupy West Street across from Ground Zero evoking 9/11 memories



Firefighter surveys damage




Beam fell onto this construction trailer injuring one person








Beam fell from this building under construction

A crane collapse across West Street from the World Trade Center site brought back memories of 9/11 to people in Lower Manhattan as a large contingent of rescue crews rushed to the scene.

One person was hurt as scaffolding that was being lifted to the upper floors of a building under construction broke from the crane and crashed into a construction trailer below.

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Photos credit: Gary Baumgarten

EPA Monitoring Around Ground Zero Flawed

Schools exempted from survey

The EPA voluntary monitoring program of residential properties near the World Trade Center site is providing inconclusive data. Not very encouraging, especially since it's being provided by an agency whose director in 2001 claimed after the attacks that the air around Ground Zero was safe to breath.

The EPA says the contaminants it has found in buildings, especially high levels of lead, cannot be conclusively traced back to the attacks, because lead paint had been used in many of the old buildings.

The study is flawed even more by its exclusion of hospitals and schools.

The government continues to give the issue of contaminants resulting from the attacks short shrift. Those living and working near the World Trade Center site are left with little confidence in the EPA's ability to protect the environment they inhabit.

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Photo credit: Gary Baumgarten

Best Selling Author Who Advocates For Citizen Involvement To Correct Social Wrongs On Paltalk

Lappé

Frances Moore Lappé, who is best known for her book, Diet For A Small Planet, whose latest book, Getting A Grip: Clarity, Creativity And Courage In a World Gone Mad is making best seller lists, will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk Wednesday December 19.

In her Getting A Grip, Lappé argues we have the power to create the world that we want if we are willing to challenge false assumptions in cultures that she argues stand in our way.

The current manifestation of democracy, asserts Lappé, is actually dangerous because it concentrates power bypassing the people. Yet, she argues, people power can change things. She says there is what she terms an "invisible revolution" underway, which she coins as Living Democracy. And that the involvement of people is forcing positive change in the developed world as well as far flung places like Africa. She notes that students, for example, are demanding that democratic values be applied in schools. And says, these aren't isolated incidents but a burgeoning new world view that is empowering individuals and communities.

To talk to Lappé at 5 PM New York time Wednesday December 19 go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Veteran TV Executive Marta Tracy On Paltalk

Tracy

Marta Tracy, a television executive who created and launched The Style Network as senior vice president of programming will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk Tuesday December 18th.







Tracy is co-author of the book, Starring You! The Insiders' Guide To Using Television And Media To Launch Your Brand, Your Business And Your Life.







The book includes tips from TV pros Diane Sawyer, Nancy Grace and 60 more of the most recognizable names on the small screen.







Tracy says that, today, with thousands of TV hours to fill, there's room on television for virtually every product, service and personality. Starring You! is an insider's guide to show you how to make your dreams of on-screen success come true.





Tracy was one of the creators of E! Entertainment Television where she served for 10 years as vice president of talent development. She has developed content for Matt Lauer, Elizabeth Hasselbeck and Howard Stern, and now has her own media company which develops media exposure for clients and their brands.

To talk to Tracy at 5 PM New York time on Tuesday December 18 go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

More Proof That The Palestinians Don't Want Peace

Just as Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiators sat down for the first round of talks since the organizing meeting brokered by the United States in Annapolis, a new barrage of rockets descended upon the Israeli city of Sedrot.

Coincidence? Hardly likely.

The people behind those rocket attacks are making a point. They do not want peace with Israel.

The premise of the negotiations is that both sides favor a two state solution. Not possible when one side really doesn't want a state of its own. Not alongside Israel.

What those firing those rockets really want is a state of their own alright. But not a state that recognizes Israel. They want the Jews removed from the neighborhood.

The mayor of Sedrot resigned in protest. Protesting the sad reality that his town has been the most frequent target of rocket attacks. And rather than stopping them, his government is talking peace.

Israel should talk peace with the Palestinians. But not while the Palestinians are firing rockets into Israel. Israel should be clear. To the Palestinians. And to the United States which is pushing the peace process forward. The first step to peace is a cessation of the rocket attacks. Then, and only then, can the second step of negotiations be taken.

5th Graders Come To The Rescue Of Rescue Workers

Fifth grade students in a New Jersey school are raising money to help rescue and recovery workers who came down with ailments after responding to the World Trade Center site on and after September 11, 2001.

Their teacher brought the plight of the rescue workers to the attention of the class after reading a story about a rescue worker's home going into foreclosure because he couldn't pay the mortgage due to spiraling medical bills.

While the money raised by the children likely won't make a dent in anyone's towering pile of unpaid medical bills, it does raise awareness.

It also brings to light the sad reality that, in some cases, private citizens are more willing to help these heroes who responded when duty called than the government. Even if those citizens are middle school students.

Muslim Man Comes To Aid Of Jews Under Attack

Absolute statements about anything can be dispelled with one exception to the assertion. This story does exactly that to hateful statements about Muslims.

A group of Christians on a New York subway train allegedly attacked two Jews when the Jews responded to their "Merry Christmas" greeting with a "Happy Chanukah." When the Christians pummeled the Jews, a young, slight of build, Muslim man stepped into the fray to defend them suffering a black eye in the process.

So much for the negative stereotypes about Muslims that we hear all so often.

One might argue that the hero of this story, Hassan Askari, serves as an inspiration to his fellow Muslims. But one might also argue that he serves as an inspiration to the rest of us as well. He did the right thing at the right time and intervened to help repel what police are describing as a hate crime.

His actions gave victim Walter Adler, who suffered a broken nose, time to pull the emergency cord in the car. Cops quickly responded and arrested the alleged assailant.

So much for stereotypes.

16-Year-Old Allegedly Killed By Father For Refusing To Wear Head Scarf At Wedding

The horrific values that some hold dear in the Middle East have manifested itself in a sensational case near Toronto. Where a father is held for allegedly murdering his 16-year-old daughter over her refusal to wear a traditional head scarf at her wedding.

Canada enjoys a pretty tolerant pluralistic society. Various cultural and religious norms that interject new traditions and values into Canadian life are welcomed. But killing one's own daughter for refusing to wear a hijab crosses the line.

CARE Official On Paltalk To Discuss Rapes In The Democratic Republic Of Congo

Jeff Seed, an official of the humanitarian organization CARE, will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk today to talk about gang rapes by militias and government soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the United Nations, 27-thousand cases of sexual violence were reported in a single province in 2005 and 2006.

There have been stories about this horrific situation ... but few solutions to the problem have been proffered. On exception is legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Joesph Biden and Richard Lugar which calls on the United States to intervene against this kind of violence in the DRC and elsewhere across the board.

Seed's organization, CARE, has done extensive research into the rampant gang rape problem in the DRC.

To talk to Seed today at 5 PM New York time go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Hybrid Taxis In New York City's Future

New kid on the block


Endangered species


New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission has decreed that the Big Apple's Crown Victoria cab fleet will go the way of the old Checker cabs. Out to pasture. Replaced with fuel efficient hybrid vehicles.







For a city like New York, this makes perfectly good sense. Why should cabs be sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic consuming fuel and polluting the air? When they can switch automatically to battery power until they are moving fast enough to require that they consume gasoline.







This is a terrific move by the TLC and deserves the full support of everyone who lives, works or visits New York City.

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Photo credits: Gary Baumgarten

More 9/11 Remains Discovered

Still recovering remains

More remains have been found at the World Trade Center site. And while the city says the search continues, the recovery center in Brooklyn is closing in favor of a mobile unit on site.

New York City officials stress that workers will keep their eyes open for additional remains as they move forward with rebuilding of the site. But the likelihood remains that far too many families will have nothing to bury. No cemetery where they can go to contemplate their dead loved ones.

As such, the site itself takes on even greater significance. While there is a pent up desire to "move forward" with development, care must be taken to recognize that family members view Ground Zero as the final resting ground for their fathers, sons, brothers, wives, daughters and sisters.

Let's hope that the city and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey take into account these sensitivities as they move forward.

Let's also take steps to ensure that we not forget that, the family members are not the only ones grieving. The United States of America was attacked on September 11, 2001. Their loss is our loss as well.

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Photo credit: Gary Baumgarten

David Wilk, Anti-Bottled Water Advocate On Paltalk

Saying no to bottled water


David Wilk, who is crusading against the costly and environmentally unfriendly practice of drinking bottled water, will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk Friday Dec. 14th.





Wilk, a writer, editor, publisher, book distributor, web marketer and environmental activist for many years has created a site, http://www.turntotap.com/ to promote, as the title suggests, the drinking of water from the tap.





Wilk suggests that, in addition to the expense of drinking bottled water, the discarded plastic creates an environmental hazard; the potential for harm from the leaching of Bisphenol-A into water. The risk of harm, he says, seems to be most likely for women and especially for pregnant women and their unborn children.





Wilk offers alternatives to drinking water from disposable bottles, including the use of reusable containers.





Wilk lives in Weston, Connecticut, a town with no public drinking water or sewer system.





To talk to David Wilk at 5 PM New York time on December 14th go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.





Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.





News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uditk/1590855800/

Diamond Expert Sally Morrison On Paltalk

Girl's best friend

We're all inundated this time of year with holiday gift giving ads suggesting we buy our significant other a diamond. But diamond buying is all so confusing!

Diamond and jewelery expert Sally Morrison will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk December 13th to help us through the jewelry store maze.

A diamond, they say, is forever, so Morrison will help make sure that the rock you purchase will be something the recipient will adore. From the affordable to the extravagant, Morrison can explain jewelry trends for the holidays.

For the socially conscious among us, she'll tell us abut fine jewelry collections that contribute portions of their proceeds to major charities.

Research indicates that the one occasion when men like to surprise their loved ones is the December holidays. In fact, 75% of men shop alone for a diamond gift. To make sure they get it right, a little guidance will go a long way.

Morrison can help by explaining the 4C's of diamond purchasing - cut, color, clarity and carat. And how to be sure that the jeweler you're dealing with is reputable.

Morrison, director of the Diamond Information Center, has appeared on The Today Show, CNN, ABC Nightly News, as well as local stations across the country.

To talk to Morrison on December 13th at 5 PM go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Last Minute Holiday Cooking Tips To Be Offered On Paltalk

Yummy

Catherine Cassidy, editor in chief at Taste Of Home, will share her favorite holiday recipes from the Taste Of Home Cookbook as my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk on Thursday December 13th.





Cassidy will offer last minute holiday meal and dessert ideas straight from the test kitchens and pages of the world’s #1 food magazine.





Like the magazine itself, The Taste of Home Cookbook is about real food created by and for real people who love to cook. And for those who love to bake, Taste of Home has released the all new Taste of Home Baking Book: Timeless Recipes from Trusted Home Cooks. The Taste of Home Baking Book is the essence of home baking in America, celebrating the connection between food, family and the traditions that make us all long for a taste of home.





To speak with Cassidy at 5:30 PM Thursday December 13 go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.





Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.





News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Hitler A Palestinian Hero

Palestinian hero

I don't like it when people attack religions.

Many Jews view the cry, "Jewish people yes! Zionists no!" as an affront to their religion. Feeling that the use of the term Zionism is a thinly disguised way of being anti-Semitic while permitting deniability.

I share in that sensitivity, but, recognize this as a loophole. A get out of the jail for religious intolerants card.

I likewise shudder when people attack Islam. For I view Islam as a religion. Many detractors argue it's really a political movement under the guise of religion. Some Christians, who were taught to hate the sin but love the sinner, adapt that teaching to say they hate Islam but love Muslims. Hardly a quieting distinction to members of the Islamic faith!

There clearly are Muslims who use their faith as a cover for their hatred of Jews. Not all Muslims. Not by a long stretch. But, in significant numbers to make Jews uncomfortable.

I have recently suggested, that those who engage in such anti-Semitic rhetoric and behavior are not doing this because they are Muslims (although many have been taught this hatred in mosques and religious schools). They are doing this because they are fascists.

Now I have evidence to back my contention. A Palestinian Authority Radio contest lauded Adolph Hitler as a hero. This is a position that could only be embraced by a fascist.

Interestingly, the modern state of Israel was created as a safe haven for Jews who were targets of extermination by fascists led by the aforementioned Hitler. The same state of Israel that Palestinian extremists want to eliminate. Those extremists are nothing other than fascists. And they should be labeled as such.

The last great morally correct war was World War II. Fought by members of what have been called the "greatest generation." So that Europe, and the rest of the world, could live in peace.

We cannot allow their efforts, their memories and the memories of those who died, who were exterminated by Hitler, to be in vain a scant six decades later. The lesson learned is, the world MUST stand up to fascism wherever it rears its ugly head.

Perhaps a rejoinder to the "Jewish people yes! Zionists no!" rallying cry should be, "Muslims yes! Fascists no!"

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Photo credit: NARA via pingnews

New York, Where Taking Pictures Can Get You Arrested

New York is a city where taking pictures could land you in handcuffs.

That's what a 26-year-old Columbia University student learned when he took pictures on the subway system as part of a class project. He was detained. And handcuffed. And now he's suing.

It could be that Arun Wiita is correct that he was detained because of the shade of his skin. He is Indian. And that may have attracted the attention of cops, who are, naturally, sensitive about people taking pictures of potential terrorist targets.

But there's a way to approach someone to ask questions without unnecessarily detaining the individual.

A balance must be struck between the constitutionally protect right to capture images and the obvious need to protect.

The New York Civil Liberties Union is representing Wiita in his suit. It is, of course, his right to sue. And the NYCLU is within its rights to assist him. But a greater good would be served if the NYCLU and the NYPD sat down and worked out guidelines and training procedures that accommodate both needs. That's what the NYCLU is trying to achieve in a second lawsuit. The NYPD should embrace this gesture voluntarily and with a sense of cooperation.

Adminsitration Proposes Homeland Security Cuts

Has the president forgotten what happened here?

I sometimes wonder about the priorities of the Bush administration.

Intelligence reports indicate that Iran stopped its nuclear weapons program four years ago. But the vice president talks about the nation's ability to launch an attack on Iran from the Persian Gulf.

Meanwhile, the White House plans to cut funding to stop a real clear and present danger to the American people.

That's right, the administration wants to cut Homeland Security funding to police, fire and EMS departments. The first line of defense against terrorism.

Shockingly, some of those cuts are to New York City.

In case anyone really needs a reminder ... a number of terrorist threats against New York City ... plans that were about to be hatched ... have been thwarted. Thanks, in large part, to the fine efforts of the NYPD (working closely with federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies).

God forbid another attack is successful, it will be the cops, firefighters and medics who will be responding first. Putting their lives, literally, on the line.

Yet the administration wants to cut funding to New York and other potential terror targets.

Republican Congressman Peter King of New York, a staunch ally of this president, has got it right. He has basically said, Mr. President, restore the funds or face a huge fight on your budget. From members of your own party.

Clearly, the president refuses to listen to reason, when those challenging him come from other parties. Lame duck or not, let's pray he has enough sense to listen to Congressman King!

Creationism Or Evolution? The Candidates Have All Got It Wrong

Smarter than the average human?

Recently during a presidential debate the candidates were asked whether they believed in creationism or evolution.

Frankly, I have no idea how a candidate's beliefs on this affects his or her ability to lead. But fine. The question was asked and answered. Some believed in a literally interpretation of the Bible. Others in evolution.

Well, I'm here to tell you that they are all wrong!

Researchers from Kyoto pitted a chimp against college students on a computer game. And guess who won?

The chimpanzee.

Mind you, the evolutionary theory suggests humans descended from apes.

So, as you can see, the candidates all got it wrong. It's not about creationism. Nor is is about evolution. It's about de-evolution. We're going in the wrong direction! The primates are smarter than the humans!

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tim_ellis/1568937522/

CFR Expert Say Bush Administration Is Digging Itself Deeper Into An Iranian Hole It Created

Nasr

The Bush administration oversold Iran's imminent nuclear threat and is digging itself deeper with its response to a just-released intelligence report which concludes Tehran stopped its nuclear weapons program four years ago.

That assessment, by Council on Foreign Relations Middle East expert Vali Nasr echoes my comments during yesterday's News Talk Online show on Paltalk.

Nasr says the intel report created a credibility gap for the administration. And the president's decision to dig his heels in with regard to Iran just widens that gap.

Nasr says the report almost certainly takes the military option off the table and emboldens Iran.

It is difficult, Nasr says, for the administration to argue that Iran is aggressively pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities and that it presents an impending threat.

The White House, Nasr suggests, "overreached" and "created a house of cards that has all of a sudden fallen down."

The failure to recognize this and change course is, he says, a "fundamentally flawed" strategy. The president, Nasr says, created this hole. And the administration, he says, is "digging itself even deeper."

Robert Pinder Of The International News Safety Institute On Paltalk To Discuss The Record Number Of Journalist Deaths This Year

Pinder

2007 will go down as the deadliest year for news media professionals. Reporters, photographers, videographers, producers, editors and others who have died while trying to bring truth to the public.

Some of the deaths have been "collateral." Reporting in combat zones is dangerous work and casualties, of course, occur.

But some of the deaths have been targeted. One side or the other trying to muzzle journalists.

Joining me on Thursday Dec. 6th on News Talk Online on Paltalk to talk about this is Rodney Pinder, director of the International News Safety Institute, a Brussels-based organisation dedicated to the safety of journalists and news media staff in areas of conflict and other danger.

The non-governmental, independent institute was created in 2003 by news organisations and support groups out of growing concern over a rising incidence of attacks on journalists. More than 1,200 news media workers - journalists and critical support staff -- have died in the line of duty in the past decade.

INSI is an unprecedented coalition of the news media and individual journalists, media freedom groups, journalist unions and humanitarian campaigners working to create a culture of safety in news gathering.

The institute raises funds from international donors to provide basic safety training free of charge for journalists around the world who are unable to afford their own. It has so far trained more than 730 news media staff in 16 countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.
Amongst other initiatives, INSI undertook a global inquiry, the first of its kind, into the causes of journalist deaths and produced a report and recommendations for action by governments and the international community to stem the bloodshed.

It also worked with members to persuade the UN Security Council to pass Resolution 1738 on the safety of journalists in conflict.

Pinder is a former senior foreign correspondent and news executive for Reuters. He retired in 2002 after four years as global editor of Reuters Television News and more than 20 years covering international affairs in three hemispheres. He has covered wars and civil conflicts in the Middle East, Northern Ireland, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, Southern and South Africa, Indonesia, Iraq and Iran and the Gulf.

To talk to Pinder on Thursday, Dec. 6 go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

Peter Paul, Whose Documentary Paints An Unflattering Picture Of Hillary Clinton, On Paltalk

Peter Paul, whose hour-long documentary, Hillary Uncensored takes a look at the largest private fundraising concert ever will be my guest on Dec. 11th on News Talk Online on Paltalk.

Paul's film includes never before shown to the public home videos of Pres. and Sen. Clinton. It also includes appearances by some of the biggest names in entertainment. Including Cher, Whoopi Goldberg, Diana Ross, Brad Pitt, Michael Bolton, Larry King, Shirley MacLaine and Patti Labelle.

The documentary details what Paul believes to be questionable fund raising tactics Hillary Clinton employed during her senatorial campaign. Information he believes the public should be aware of as voters decide whether or not to support her current bid for president.

To talk to Paul on Nov. 11th at 5 PM New York time go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.

A Victory Over Tyranny

NOT president for life

Congratulations to the Venezuelan people!

The people are, indeed, the victors. Turning down Castro and Idi Amen wannabe Hugo Chavez's attempts to amend the nation's charter to allow him to be president for life.

Since the measure failed, Chavez's bullying tactic against the United States has failed as well. El presidente had planned to cut off oil the the USA if the White House criticized the outcome of the election. Since he lost, and the people won, there's no reason to criticize. So I guess the oil will continue to flow.

How about this as a response to Chavez's unfulfilled threat? How about if the United States, and other freedom loving nations, cut off the oil flow from Venezuela themselves? See how he likes it if we stop buying his oil.

Iran Not A Nuclear Threat?

I did it again. I should know by now. But, well, it seemed so certain. So I did it. I believed my president when he said Iran was well on the way toward producing nuclear weapons.

The first time the administration pulled the wool over my eyes was when then Secretary of State Colin Powell told the United Nations Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. This faulty information led to the invasion of Iraq and a multitude of unnecessary deaths on all sides.

Then came word that Iran was fast on the road to becoming a nuclear threat to the region and the world. Yet the latest intelligence reports suggest that Tehran suspended its nuclear weapons aspirations four years ago.

The leadership of Iran remains problematic. Destabilizing Lebanon through surrogates that are bent on Israel's destruction. Exporting terrorism to Argentina where Tehran's fingerprints were found all over the bombing of the Buenas Aries Jewish Center. But let's not, as we did with Saddam Hussein, inflate the threat with disinformation.

Former Sudanese Slave Simon Deng On Paltalk

Deng with Sen. Clinton

A former Sudanese slave will join me as my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk on Wednesday Dec. 5.

Simon Deng will discuss the jailing of a British teacher in Sudan for permitting her 7-year-old school children to name a teddy bear Mohammad.

Deng is a native of the Shiluk Kingdom in Southern Sudan. When he was nine, the Sudanese army swept through his village. As he was tending to his family’s goats, German-made transport trucks suddenly appeared carrying troops. He watched them burn huts to the ground, slaughter the men of his village, and steal their livestock. Though he narrowly escaped death, only one year later he was abducted by an Arab northerner. He would spend the next few years of his life as a child slave in northern Sudan. He was shown a picture of a man with his feet and hands cut off and warned: "If you complain, this is what will happen to you."

Deng was forced to sleep on straw, allowed to eat only leftover scraps, and beaten regularly. He made his daring escape three years later.

Despite this rough time, Deng later became a national swimming champion.

Today he is an American citizen, working as a lifeguard on Coney Island and leading the struggle to stop genocide in Sudan. He has addressed audiences across the nation and spoken at rallies alongside prominent women’s rights activist Gloria Steinem. Last May he was invited to speak before the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland.

In March 2006, Deng met launched the Sudan Freedom Walk to call for an end to slavery and genocide to Sudan, trekking 300 miles from United Nations headquarters in New York to the Capital in Washington, D.C. He then met with President Bush at the White House.

Later that year, Deng embarked on a fact-finding and humanitarian aid mission in Southern Sudan and Darfur, where he met with leading Southern Sudanese officials, including the president of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir.

To talk with Deng at 5 PM New York time Dec. 5 go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. There is no charge.

Paltalk is the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users.

News Talk Online is also syndicated by CRN Digital Talk Radio http://www.crntalk.com/ to cable networks serving an additional 12 million households.