China: Missile defense system test successful

The wobbly kneed politicians in Washington are too busy denouncing Iran that they don't understand that China constitutes the greatest threat to America long term. Even greater than al Qaeda. They just don't get it.

in reference to:

"China announced that its military intercepted a missile in mid-flight Monday in a test of new technology that comes amid heightened tensions over Taiwan and increased willingness by the Asian giant to show off its advanced military capabilities. The official Xinhua News Agency reported late Monday that "ground-based midcourse missile interception technology" was tested within Chinese territory. "The test has achieved the expected objective," the three-sentence report said. "The test is defensive in nature and is not targeted at any country." Monday's report follows repeated complaints in recent days by Beijing over the sale by the U.S. of weaponry to Taiwan, including PAC-3 air defense missiles. These sales are driven by threats from China to use force to bring the island under its control, backed up by an estimated 1,300 Chinese ballistic missiles positioned along the Taiwan Strait. Communist-ruled China split with Taiwan amid civil war in 1949 and continues to regard the self-governing democracy as part of its territory. Beijing has warned of a disruption in ties with Washington if the sale goes ahead, but has not said what specific actions it would take. In Washington, the U.S. Defense Department said it had no notice before the Chinese test but that the United States does not consider it related to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. "We did not receive prior notification of the launch," Maj. Maureen Schumann, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said. "We detected two geographically separated missile launch events with an exo-atmospheric collision also being observed by space-based sensors. We are requesting information from China regarding the purpose for conducting this interception as well as China's intentions and plans to pursue future types of intercepts.""
- China: Missile defense system test successful - USATODAY.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Morning Joe Video: Authors of 'Game Change,' Heileman and Halperin

This is a bombshell book. It exposes both parties on their racism and corruption. John Heileman and Mark Halperin, authors of 'Game Change,' appeared on Morning Joe. The video must be viewed by those who sadly still believe that the Democrats or Republicans stand for something. It's a shocker.

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Google Books To Stop Scanning Chinese Authors' Books

This is the height of hypocrisy. The Chinese built an industry on stealing intellectual rights from the West. This demonstrates how big business jumps when it comes to China's demands.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/11/google-books-to-stop-scan_n_418498.html

Man linked to 1982 Tylenol killings on TV in Cambridge

Let's hope this beast is brought to justice.

in reference to:

"He is associated with a deadly string of tainted Tylenol, but on Sunday, James Lewis was on a local public access channel to discuss his new book that some say contains a familiar plot.Lewis, whose novel is entitled "Poison," has been linked to the unsolved Tylenol poisonings that killed seven people in 1982.He served 12 years in prison for writing an extortion letter related to the killings, according to the Associated Press. However, Lewis was never charged in connection with the actual murders."
- Man linked to 1982 Tylenol killings on TV in Cambridge - News- msnbc.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Rights activists accuse Moscow of 'policy of state terror'

Sounds like a return to the bad old days.

in reference to:

"But the young man's kidnapping in the outskirts of Ingushetia's largest city bears the hallmarks of what rights activists call Russia's "policy of state terror," a shadow war against violent Muslim separatists in the North Caucasus, a strategic crossroads of Europe and Asia. A central tactic in the war, activists say, is forced disappearances — the brazen snatching of young people from their homes or off the street, often by gangs of masked men who move freely, even in areas heavily patrolled by Russian military and police. The pace of forced disappearances has doubled in the past year, after a spike in militant attacks on police and authorities, including suicide bombings, ambushes and assassinations. The lucky ones are brutally interrogated and released. Some turn up dead, their bodies bearing the marks of torture. Other families face the anguish of never knowing the fate of a father, brother or son. But critics say the kidnappings have aggravated rather than reduced tensions along Russia's southern border."
- Rights activists accuse Moscow of 'policy of state terror' - Washington Times (view on Google Sidewiki)

NATO: 3 U.S. troops die in Afghanistan fighting

Will 3 thousand Americans have to die before the mindless politicians realize it is not worth it. We need a new strategy. It is a crime to allow young men to come home, if at all, mangled and/or with brain damage. And are we going to take care of them? I have argued repeatedly that Afghanistan needs a Bosnia-type constitution. This plan was supported by then Senator Joe Biden for Iraq.

in reference to:

"Three U.S. service members were killed Monday in fighting in southern Afghanistan, underscoring the unrelenting violence in the Taliban heartland as the Obama administration steps up efforts to rout the insurgents.NATO said the Americans were killed in an engagement with enemy forces but gave no more details.The deaths raised to at least 10 the number of U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan so far this year, according to an Associated Press tally."
- NATO: 3 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan - Afghanistan- msnbc.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Poll: 3 in 4 Support Airport Body Scans

More false sense of security. How many realize that a body scanner might not have prevented the Nigerian from boarding that plane. It was a comedy of errors that led to a near disaster on Christmas. Just as monumental failure led to 9-11. And this talk about profiling misses the point also.

in reference to:

"Almost three quarters of the American public are in favor of full body x-ray scanners at airports, according to the findings of a new CBS News poll conducted in the wake of the failed Christmas Day bombing attempt on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. Of those questioned, 74 percent said airports should use the controversial machines because they provide a detailed check for hidden weapons and explosives and reduce the need for physical searches. Just 20 percent said the machines should not be used because they see through a passenger's clothing and thus constitute an invasion of privacy. Racial and ethnic profiling of passengers at airports received less support, with just over half (51 percent) saying added security checks for passengers from certain ethnic or racial groups is justified. Thirty-eight percent said such profiling was not justified. Views on racial and ethnic profiling have changed little since a previous CBS News poll in 2006. President Obama's response to the attempt on Northwest flight 253 won the support of more than half the public, but those views were highly partisan. Fifty-seven percent of the Americans questioned by CBS said they approved of the way the Obama administration responded to the attempted terrorist attack, while only 29 percent said they disapproved. The ratings are better than recent measures of President Obama's overall approval. However, when broken down on party lines, 75 percent of self-professed Democrats said they approved of how the President handled the incident. Just 41 percent of Republicans said the same."
- Poll: 3 in 4 Support Airport Body Scans - The Early Show - CBS News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Purported 3rd White House crasher shows invite

I was invited too. But the dog ate it. Otherwise, I would have been there also. Why is this clown being interviewed on TV? Don't encourage these low-lives.

in reference to:

"A man whose attendance at a White House state dinner is in dispute is arguing that he had an invitation to the November party for the visiting Indian prime minister. Interviewed on ABC's "Good Morning America," Washington businessman Carlos Allen said repeatedly, "I was invited. I actually got an invitation in the mail. I have the actual invite." But Allen acknowledged he couldn't produce a piece of paper with his name on it."
- Purported 3rd White House crasher shows invite (view on Google Sidewiki)

Pope Denounces World Leaders' Failure To Forge Climate Treaty

At least the Pope is exhibiting leadership.

in reference to:

"Pope Benedict XVI denounced the failure of world leaders to agree to a new climate change treaty in Copenhagen last month, saying Monday that world peace depends on safeguarding God's creation. He issued the admonition in a speech to ambassadors accredited to the Vatican, an annual appointment during which the pontiff reflects on issues the Vatican wants to highlight to the diplomatic corps. Benedict has been dubbed the "green pope" for his increasingly vocal concern about the need to protect the environment. Under his watch, the Vatican has installed photovoltaic cells on its main auditorium to convert sunlight into electricity and has joined a reforestation project aimed at offsetting its CO2 emissions. For the pontiff, it's a moral issue: Church teaching holds that man must respect creation because it's destined for the benefit of humanity's future."
- Pope Denounces World Leaders' Failure To Forge Climate Treaty (view on Google Sidewiki)