News for April 5, 2006

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Euro Up Against Dollar; Central Banks Hint at Switch (April 5, 2006) - The euro rose against the dollar Tuesday as some Middle Eastern central banks indicated that they could switch more of their currency reserves to euros. The euro bought $1.2257 in afternoon European trading, up from $1.2141 in New York late Monday. The British pound rose to $1.7557 from $1.7384. The dollar also was down slightly against the Japanese currency, sinking to 117.46 yen from 117.65 yen. At a meeting of central bank governors and monetary agencies of the Gulf Cooperation Countries in Abu Dhabi, some officials said they were considering switching more of their reserves to the 12-nation currency from the dollar. The governor of Qatar’s central bank, Abdulla Bin Khaled al-Attiyah, said up to 40 percent of its foreign exchange reserves could be held in euros. “The percentage we are at right now is confidential, but we are looking at the movement of currencies and we are considering the overall return to our portfolio,” he told reporters. At the same conference, the head of the United Arab Emirates’ central bank said a decision on whether to shift 10 percent of its foreign reserves into euros from dollars was postponed until next month. more...

Tornado, Sand-Storms and Oversized Hail Strike Israel (April 5, 2006) - A small tornado ripped across the western Galilee Tuesday evening. Hail the size of golf balls also fell in the region. Scores were hospitalized. Freak stormy weather across Israel continues. The tornado touched down during a hailstorm in the Acco region, striking the Arab villages of Julis, Fassouta and Jedaideh. Hail as big as ping-pong balls was reported as far away as Nahariya. In southern Israel, sandstorms reduced visibility to less than three feet. Nine foot waves were reported on the Red Sea in Eilat, with telephone and cellular service knocked out for the entire city. The highways through the Negev were also covered completely by several inches of sand. On Sunday, four Israeli Arabs were killed in northern Israel due to flooding. Sahar Mehamid, 23, from Umm al-Fahm was killed in Wadi Ara and three women from the lower Galilee village of Touran were killed in a car accident after driving through floodwater covering the road. PA resident Iyad Taha, from a village near Ramallah, also drowned in the floodwaters. Tuesday’s hail and tornado broke electric poles, overturned cars, uprooted trees, damaged crops and injured more than 75 people - most lightly. Most of those injured were struck by objects whipped up by the strong winds, including two children, who suffered deep lacerations. The villages lost electricity for many hours. Farmers report that avocado, lychee and banana crops were severely damaged by the winds and hail. Vadim Amar, Mayor of Julis, said that the tornado damaged dozens of homes and asked that the region be declared a natural disaster site. Tornados are rare in Israel. The occasional ones that have occurred have mostly taken place over the ocean and along the coast. Hail was also experienced in elevated areas such as Gush Etzion on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Elsewhere in Gush Etzion, an earthquake simulation exercise is being held Wednesday in Beitar Illit, in conjunction with the Defense Ministry, MDA, Israel Police, Israel Fire Department and others. The three-hour training event began at 11 AM.

20 EU states warned to toe Brussels line (April 5, 2006) - The European Commission launched a barrage of legal proceedings against more than 20 member states yesterday, demanding that they obey EU laws on everything from energy monopolies to subsidies for airlines. Fearing for the health of the single market after an outbreak of protectionism in various countries, the Brussels commission challenged a French decree blocking foreign ownership of firms in 11 “sensitive sectors”, from cryptology and arms to casinos. The decree, which came into force on Dec 31 last year, was part of the policy of “economic patriotism” declared by the prime minister, Dominique de Villepin. France could face huge fines at the European Court of Justice. The commission sent 28 “letters of formal notice” to 17 states for failing to open gas and electricity markets to more competition. It renewed a warning to Greece to recover £108 million in illegal subsidies given to Olympic Airways between 1998 and 2002. The commission also took the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary and Spain to task for not banning tobacco advertising at motor races and other events.

The West vs. Christianity? (April 4, 2006) - While recognizing the universal and appropriate appeals for tolerance for Muslims, I’d like to draw your attention to the strange attitude of the Western political elite, which has recently become so acute. I do not know what stands behind the lack of foresight, but too many of the political elite’s actions have dealt a devastating blow to Christianity. I read the latest report: Andreas Abuna, Auxiliary Bishop of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, said the strength of the Christian communities of Iraq was diminishing at a shocking rate. Despair, constant fear and lack of hope are compelling more and more Christians to leave Iraq. People do not want to leave their country, but they have to go because of the situation, he said. Christian rights and the status of believers went from bad to worse after the parliamentary elections last December. Iraq is flooded with police, their number is constantly growing, especially in the suburbs of Baghdad, but the protection they offer is very mediocre, said the bishop. U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair say Iraq is becoming more democratic and the situation is improving, but eyewitnesses of what is happening there are not rejoicing over the democratic parliamentary elections or the growing number of the local police. Under the plan of the founders of Iraqi democracy, the latter should replace occupational troops. more...

Cracks emerge in front against Hamas (April 3, 2006) - France has established secret contacts with Hamas representatives on behalf of the European Union, showing cracks in the policy of rejecting the new Palestinian government, a special report submitted to officials in Jerusalem revealed on Monday. Israel also suspected that other countries including India, Japan and China would soon publicly recognize the Hamas-led government, Army Radio reported. According to the report, despite the refusal of the US and Israel to negotiate with the Palestinians, the European Union, Russia and India were already holding secret or open talks with Hamas officials. Reportedly, the EU talks have been sponsored by France, while India has already held official meetings with senior Hamas officials and Russia held consultations with the organization even prior to the Palestinian parliamentary elections, publicizing the talks after Hamas’ landslide victory. Japan and China also expressed willingness to publicly recognize the Hamas government. Israel was concerned that these countries and many others would follow Russia’s lead and hold official meetings with the movement. The United States has remained a staunch supporter of the policy of isolating Hamas. It has not backed down from its policy of shunning the new Hamas-led Palestinian government and has not made any attempts to pressure Israel into negotiating with the organization.

The Bush malaise (April 4, 2006) - Again the line of “Hamlet” comes to mind: “When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.” Three months after elections for a parliament that was to give Iraq a democratic government of national unity, the Shia cannot get their act together. Pressure from the U.S. ambassador to get off the dime produced denunciations of U.S. interference. That brought British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Condi Rice to Baghdad to instruct the Iraqis that Allied patience is wearing thin... ...Historians will one day marvel that, as their Southwest was slipping away from the United States – demographically, linguistically and culturally – Americans were fighting to keep Iraq together. Remarkable. Foreigners are invading and occupying Arizona, while Americans are fighting for Anbar province. The U.S. economy – 4 percent growth, unemployment under 5 percent, the Dow above 11,000, NASDAQ at five-year highs – appears strong. But with gold pushing $600 an ounce and silver closing in on $12, the markets seem to be saying: Nobody’s money is as good as gold. But the economy is not helping the president. For, while the nation blames him for Iraq, it does not credit him for the economy. Why? While the top 20 percent of wage-earners are enjoying days like the 1980s and 1990s, America’s working class is not. Not only are their factories and jobs being exported to China and outsourced to India, they face ferocious competition from mass Third World immigration and constant corporate hiring of foreign high-tech workers. more...

Warning! US Senate Amnesty bill contains in-state tuition for illegals! (April 4, 2006) - The controversial proposal to give illegal aliens taxpayer subsidized in-state tuition at American universities is included in the immigration “reform” bill that also contains the Guest Worker Amnesty proposals according to the Washington Times! Nine states allow illegal aliens to receive the in-state tuition rates, but the law is under challenge in those states and most slipped the provision in with little or no public input. In states where public debate occurred, the measure failed in NC, FL, GA, and VA. In liberal Massachusetts the measure failed by a graphic 96-57 in the House. “If this bill passes, the American taxpayers will be forced to pay for illegal aliens to replace their own children in the limited seats in college” says William Gheen of ALIPAC. “Professional polls in North Carolina show over 81% opposition to in-state tuition for illegal aliens. It is bad enough the Senate is proposing Guest Worker Amnesty. Now they want us to pay college tuition for illegal aliens!” more...

They Died For “Cheap” Labor (April 4, 2006) - Militant, seditious Mexican and Latin American organizations are calling for a “brown out” on May 1, 2006 (a pagan holiday). Illegals should stay home from work that day, a day that will allegedly “bring the American economy to its knees.” Navito Lopez, president of the Mexican American (notice Mexican comes before American) Political Association said that one day without illegals working would “send a stern message to Washington.” Hear! Hear! I say go for it! What arrogance. These jokers promoting this stop work day live in a dream world if they think a few million illegals skipping work for one day is going to even cause a ripple in our economy. If 50-75 million natural born Americans and legally naturalized citizens stopped work for one day, that would send a thundering message. It’s just a matter of time and if you think I’m full of it, watch this flash presentation from the web site Wehategringos.com. You can also find the list of traitorous counterfeit U.S. Senators who have sold us out here. You watch these racist Mexicans with their faces and heads covered and you’re looking at the same pictures we see in the Middle East of terrorists. Look at these Mexicans grabbing their crotches, flipping us the bird, shouting “death to the rednecks,” “up your f**ing ass, kill the gringos” and wishing “Bin Laden had dropped a hydrogen bomb on the “Jewish sh**hole called Manhattan.” This WILL come to your city, town and neighborhood and if this doesn’t prompt you to demand the state militias get organized and ready, you live in dangerous denial. more...

Unraveling The Agenda Of China In The Middle East (April 4, 2006) - China’s newly appointed special envoy to the Middle East Sun Bigan begins work Saturday with few analysts expecting any immediate change in PRC regional policy. The People’s Republic of China goals in the Middle East are driven by one dominant concern: access to energy supplies. It pursues this policy with moves that are a masterful combination of subtlety and stealth falling off most radar screens. “I think China’s strategic interests in the Middle East are clear to all,” said Wang Shijie, the man stepping down after three and a half years in the post. “China is now pushing forward its reform and opening up policy and trying to develop its economy therefore what we need is a peaceful international environment...peace in the Middle East has a direct impact on this, he added.” more...

A Civil War By Any Other Name (April 4, 2006) - Despite President Bush’s repeated denials, the figures are clear: 900 sectarian killings in a single month in Iraq means a civil war is well under way. Iraq is a nation of 25 million people. In the United States, that level of killing would proportionately equal almost 11,000 people killed in riots, reprisal killings and sectarian clashes in a single month. By comparison, the 30 years of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland from 1968 to 1998 saw 3,600 people killed in a small population of 1.5 million. Proportionately, that would equate to 60,000 dead over 30 years in Iraq, or 2,000 killed per year. Instead, if the current Iraqi violence simply stays at the current level and does not escalate any further, it will take 10,800 Iraqi civilian lives this year. That rate would be more than five times the average rate of the Northern Irish conflict. The rate of killings in Iraq is already as bad as during the horrendous 1975-1991 Lebanese Civil War, in which 150,000 to 200,000 people were killed over 16 years -- an average of between 9,375 and 12,500 people were killed there per year. more...

Alien Bases: The Mystery of the Moon (April 4, 2006) - When Neil Armstrong took that historical first step on the moon on July 21st 1969, it seemed that mankind had finally conquered our enigmatic satellite. But did we, or did we simply scratch the surface and beat a hasty retreat? There are dozens of anomalous facts concerning the moon that science is at a loss to explain, not least of which is how it is that according to the analysis of moon rocks, the moon, is at least a billion years older than the Earth itself. This fact alone seems to defy logic, and is something that modern cosmology is unable to explain, if the moon isn’t a fragment of the Earth, what is it, and how did it get here? When you couple that with the fact that an awful lot of people believe the moon to be an alien base of some kind, we begin to realise that we no nearer understand the moon now, than our ancestors did thousands of years ago.

Telling Transcripts and the NASA Officials who spoke out ten years after the moon landings, Maurice Chatelain, the former chief of NASA Communications Systems, confirmed that Armstrong did report seeing two UFOs on the rim of a crater. “The encounter was common knowledge in NASA,” he revealed, “but nobody has talked about it until now.” Another NASA official, Christopher Kraft, who was director of the NASA tracking base in Houston during the Apollo Moon missions, revealed the following conversation between Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Mission Control after he left NASA:

Apollo 11: “Those are giant things. No, no, no .... this is not an optical illusion. No one is going to believe this!”

Mission Control (Houston Center): “What...what...what? What the hell is happening? What’s wrong with you?”

Apollo 11: “They’re here under the surface.”

Mission Control: “What’s there? Emission interrupted...interference control calling Apollo II.”

Apollo 11: “We saw some visitors. They were there for awhile, observing the instruments.”

Mission Control: “Repeat your last information.”

Apollo 11: “I say that there were other spaceships. They’re lined up on the other side of the crater.”

Mission Control: “Repeat...repeat!”

Apollo 11: “Let us sound this orbit a ..... In 625 to5...automatic relay connected...My hands are shaking so badly I can’t do anything. Film it? God, if these damned cameras have picked up anything. What then?”

Mission Control: “Have you picked up anything?”

Apollo 11: “I didn’t have any film at hand. Three shots of the saucers or whatever they were that were ruining the film.”

Mission Control: “Control, control here. Are you on your way? Is the uproar with the UFO’s over?”

Apollo 11: “They’ve landed there. There they are and they are watching us.”

Mission Control: “The mirrors, the mirrors...have you set them up?”

Apollo 11: “Yes, they’re in the right place. But whoever made those space ships surely can come tomorrow and remove them. Over and out.”

If the Apollo report was a one off, we could maybe put it down to the effects of space or some unknown anomalous lunar phenomena. However, there have been several other ‘contacts’ between NASA craft and UFOs, notably in the early 90’s when according to author William Kliner the following conversation between David Walker, Endeavours shuttle and mission control was recorded. more...