tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54894223783361118592024-03-05T09:51:32.634-06:00Reflections of a Cultural MuttThe Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-12925139557803353792009-07-29T18:08:00.001-05:002009-07-29T18:08:34.508-05:00<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/07/29/mckenzie.sudan.40.lashes.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-5594171635255238762009-07-29T18:07:00.000-05:002009-07-29T18:08:01.866-05:00Are you taking anything for granted today?<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/07/28/damon.indo.slums.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-87140065486055029252009-07-23T12:09:00.000-05:002009-07-23T12:10:37.364-05:00N. Korea "Clinton is a Funny Lady"BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- North Korea launched a scathing personal attack on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday after she likened the leadership in Pyongyang to "small children and unruly teenagers and people who are demanding attention."<br /> <br />Hillary Clinton says N. Korea's refusal to discuss nuclear program could provoke arms race. <br /><br /> At a meeting of southeast Asian nations in Phuket, Thailand, a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman blasted Clinton for what he called a "spate of vulgar remarks unbecoming for her position everywhere she went since she was sworn in," according to the state-run KCNA news agency.<br /><br />The spokesman called Clinton "by no means intelligent" and a "funny lady."<br /><br />"Sometimes she looks like a primary schoolgirl and sometimes a pensioner going shopping," the statement said. <br /><br />The verbal tussle between the two countries culminated with the reclusive communist state making it clear that six-party nuclear talks, stalled for over a year, were effectively finished.<br /><br />Clinton had earlier warned that North Korea's refusal to discuss its nuclear program could escalate tensions and provoke an arms race in northeast Asia. Watch as North Korea insults Clinton »<br /><br />"I was gratified by how many countries from throughout the region spoke up and expressed directly to the North Korea delegation their concerns over the provocative behavior we have seen over the last few months," Clinton said at a meeting of southeast Asian nations in Phuket, Thailand.<br /><br />"Unfortunately, the North Korean delegation offered only an insistent refusal to recognize that North Korea has been on the wrong course," she said. "They expressed no willingness to pursue the path of denuclearization. In their presentation today, they evinced no willingness to pursue the path of denuclearization, and that was troubling not only to the United States, but to the region and the international community."<br /><br />Before Clinton's remarks in Phuket on Thursday, the North Korean delegation attempted to take the podium to speak to the media. But it was turned away by security guards.<br /><br />North Korea tested a nuclear device in May and fired seven ballistic missiles earlier this month in defiance of a U.N. resolution.<br /><br />At the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting, Clinton said she had unanimous support for U.N. Resolution 1874, passed by the Security Council in June. It tightened sanctions on North Korea, imposing an embargo on the shipment of arms from that nation.<br /><br />The North protested the resolution by saying it would enrich uranium and weaponize plutonium, according to KCNA. When enriched to a high degree, uranium can be used as weapons-grade material. Plutonium can be used in atomic bombs.<br /><br />Clinton said the United States will continue to push North Korea to come to the table. She said a "full normalization of relationships" was possible if North Korea agreed to a verifiable dismantling of its nuclear program.<br /><br /><br />"The United States and its allies and partners cannot accept a North Korea that tries to maintain nuclear weapons, to launch ballistic missiles or to proliferate nuclear materials," Clinton said. "We are committed to the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner."<br /><br />The United States has also expressed concern that military cooperation between North Korea and Myanmar could destabilize theThe Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-59242057352520287902009-07-17T18:43:00.000-05:002009-07-17T18:44:22.962-05:00Iranian Opposition Re-gains MomentumTEHRAN, Iran – In a sign of endurance for Iran's protest movement, demonstrators clashed with police Friday as one of the nation's most powerful clerics challenged the supreme leader during Muslim prayers, saying country was in crisis in the wake of a disputed election.<br /><br />The turnout of tens of thousands of worshippers for former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's sermon at Tehran University and the battles with police outside represented the biggest opposition show of strength in weeks. Protesters faced fierce government suppression and hundreds were arrested following the disputed June 12 presidential election.<br /><br />Outside the university, protests grew from several hundred before the sermon to thousands afterward as worshippers joined in, chanting, "death to the dictator," a reference to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.<br /><br />Protesters were confronted by riot police and a menacing line of pro-government Basiji militiamen on motorcycles, who charged with batons. Plainclothes Basijis fired volleys of tear gas, and young protesters with green bandanas over their faces kicked the canisters across the pavement. Some set a bonfire in the street and waved their hands in victory signs. Dozens were arrested, taken away in trucks, witnesses said.<br /><br />Protests, which flared following the election, had been stifled in recent weeks. The sometimes tearful sermon by Rafsanjani could be a significant boost to the movement's staying power. It was an open challenge to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, aired live on nationwide radio from one of the country's most potent political stages. By openly showing the divisions in the leadership, it punched a hole in efforts by Khamenei and hard-line clerics to end the controversy over Ahmadinejad's re-election.<br /><br />Worshippers chanted "azadi, azadi," Persian for "freedom," during Rafsanjani's sermon, his first since the election. Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who claims to have won the election, sat among the worshippers, attending the country's main prayer service for the first time since the turmoil began.<br /><br />Many of those gathered wore headbands or wristbands in his campaign color green, or had green prayer rugs, crowding the former soccer field where prayers are held and spilling into nearby streets.<br /><br />Rafsanjani denounced the government crackdown on protests and called for the release the hundreds detained.<br /><br />He reprimanded the clerical leadership for not listening to people's complaints over the election, which was declared a victory for Ahmadinejad despite opposition accusations of fraud.<br /><br />"There is a large portion of the wise people who say they have doubts (about the election). We need to take action to remove this doubt," he said. "The trust that brought the people to vote in such large numbers is not there anymore. We need to return this trust."<br /><br />Rafsanjani avoided directly mentioning Khamenei or outright calling the vote fraudulent. He couched his sermon in calls for unity in support of Iran's Islamic Republic, but it was clear he blamed the leadership for the loss of unity.<br /><br />The cleric got tears in his eyes as he spoke of how Islam's Prophet Muhammad "respected the rights" of his people. He said the founder of Iran's Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, "would always say that if the system is not backed by the people, nothing would stand."<br /><br />For Iranians listening across the country, the weekly Friday sermon in Tehran is the voice of the leadership and a symbol of its backing by God.<br /><br />After hundreds of thousands joined protests against the election results in the days following the vote, the supreme leader used the podium to declare Ahmadinejad's victory valid and order a stop to unrest. The crackdown was launched soon after. In the weeks that followed, hard-line clerics have used the sermon to depict the protesters as tools of foreign enemies and tell worshippers to follow Khamenei.<br /><br />Rafsanjani's sermon lay bare to the broader public that the dispute was internal and even Iran's ruling clerics are split. He directly referred to the divisions, saying the revered topmost theologians of Shia Islam, who have millions of followers, were not happy with the government.<br /><br />Rafsanjani heads two powerful clerical bodies that oversee the government and parliament, the Expediency Council and the Experts Council. He is bitter rival of Ahmadinejad and is considered Mousavi's top supporter within Iran's clerical leadership.<br /><br />A mercurial and savvy politician, Rafsanjani positioned himself as a leader emerging to resolve the unrest, saying he hoped his words would be a start to "help us pass safely through a problem that can unfortunately be called a crisis."<br /><br />He specifically criticized his top rivals within the clerical leadership — the Guardians Council, a body dominated by hard-liners. The council oversaw the election, then held a partial recount that upheld Ahmadinejad's win but was dismissed by the opposition. <br /><br />Rafsanjani said the Guardians Council missed an "opportunity to unite the people and regain their trust." <br /><br />Inside the prayers, worshippers traded competing chants with some hard-liners in the congregation. When the hard-liners chanted "death to America," Mousavi supporters countered with "death to Russia" and "death to China," a reference to Ahmadinejad's alliance with both countries. <br /><br />The Iranian government has accused the U.S. and other Western countries of inciting the massive street protests and interfering with the election. On Thursday, Ahmadinejad demanded and apology from the U.S. as a step toward dialogue between the two countries. <br /><br />"They tried to interfere in our elections. They talked nonsense. They were rude. They fomented aggression against people's wealth and property," Ahmadinejad told a crowd of thousands in the northwestern city of Mashhad. <br /><br />The U.S. has denied the government's allegations. <br /><br />More than 500 remain in prison following the government's crackdown and at least 20 were killed. In the past three weeks, the opposition held only one other significant protest before Friday's. <br /><br />The scene outside the university on Friday was tumultuous. Before the sermon, police fired tear gas at hundreds of Mousavi backers trying to enter. <br /><br />When Mahdi Karroubi, another pro-reform candidate in the June election, headed for the prayers, plainclothes Basijis attacked him, shouting "death to the opponent of Velayat-e-Faqih," or supreme leader, witnesses said. <br /><br />Also arrested was a prominent women's rights activist, Shadi Sadr, who was beaten by militiamen, pushed into a car and driven away to an unknown location, Mousavi's Web site said. <br /><br />Protests died down by nightfall. After sunset, Iranians could be heard shouting from rooftops, "God is great" and "death to the dictator" — a show of opposition support that has been held every night since the election, but appeared louder and more widespread Friday night.The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-33423175442664961152009-07-16T18:18:00.002-05:002009-07-16T18:19:59.121-05:00Allegations Against the IDFReports/allegations of human rights abuses have been circulating almost since day one of Operation Cast Lead...and the 'debate' continues....<br /><br /><script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/07/15/hancocks.breaking.silence.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-22262647935215732752009-07-16T18:10:00.002-05:002009-07-16T18:12:02.559-05:00Shift of World Dominance...?<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/07/16/chance.russia.activist.killed.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript><br /><br />We've seen China rising steadily in recent years...and this global economic crisis will reveal much about the new balance of power in the 21st century. It's not necessarily good news--or bad news--but it's intriguing.The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-2993759461052158562009-07-16T18:08:00.001-05:002009-07-16T18:08:44.882-05:00Human Rights Activist Killed in Russia<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/07/16/chance.russia.activist.killed.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-86320034073997011742009-07-15T09:37:00.003-05:002009-07-15T09:39:22.589-05:00Zawahiri Warns Pakistanis of US<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCYbNlx5MStDY2rAwYOTxD5iIKRsl2vKi4nFgFi6y3wnjU9a_hEVQs4oMy7h9_IBKMp2384Nr6iIdznWUEC7_cInCxCR74Dxo5bM9fOGiDRT7DvaHUXbZLWLo1F9yJe0RsRRDqAp6cJqK/s1600-h/art.zawahiri.afp.gi%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 292px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCYbNlx5MStDY2rAwYOTxD5iIKRsl2vKi4nFgFi6y3wnjU9a_hEVQs4oMy7h9_IBKMp2384Nr6iIdznWUEC7_cInCxCR74Dxo5bM9fOGiDRT7DvaHUXbZLWLo1F9yJe0RsRRDqAp6cJqK/s320/art.zawahiri.afp.gi%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358696410534879026" /></a><br /> <br />(CNN) -- The people of Pakistan must back Islamic militants to counter the influence of the United States in their country or face punishment from God, Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda's second in command, said in an audio message released early Wednesday.<br /><br /><br /> "I believe that every honest and sincere Muslim in Pakistan should seriously contemplate ... Pakistan's present state and expected future, because the blatant American crusader interference in Pakistan's affairs ... has reached such an extent that it now poses a grave danger to Pakistan's future and very existence," al-Zawahiri said in the message, which was released on radical Islamist Web sites.<br /><br />Zawahiri warned Muslims that they have a religious duty to support the jihad, or struggle. <br /><br />"If we stand by passively without offering due support to the mujahedeen, we shall not only contribute to the destruction of Pakistan and Afghanistan, but we shall also deserve the painful punishment of almighty God," he said.<br /><br />Don't Miss<br />Government program sending uprooted Pakistanis back home <br />Explosion kills 11 in Pakistan <br />Official: Pakistan can help broker U.S.-Taliban talks <br />The Pakistani military is fighting Taliban militants in the country's north, and suspected U.S. missile attacks from drones have targeted militant leaders. <br /><br />Reports from the region suggest government troops have dislodged the Taliban from many areas of the North West Frontier Province, but militant attacks continue daily. <br /><br />Two government troops died and six were wounded Wednesday in the Bannu district when a bomb was detonated near a patrol, police said. A militant rocket attack near Peshawar about midnight missed a police checkpoint, but injured two civilians. <br /><br /><br />Across the border in Afghanistan, NATO-led forces are battling the Taliban as well. U.S. and British forces recently launched offensives in Helmand province.<br /><br />This is the seventh message from al-Zawahiri espousing the views of the al Qaeda terror network in 2009. In addition to Pakistan and Afghanistan, the others have focused on Somalia, Yemen and Israeli military operations against Hamas leaders in Gaza.The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-20655914794765754132009-07-15T09:37:00.001-05:002009-07-15T09:37:21.948-05:00Pakistani refugees<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/07/15/grant.pakistan.home.to.buner.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-8889266091548155492009-07-12T13:10:00.003-05:002009-07-12T13:12:22.604-05:00Some Americans refuse to drop the Iran issue--bravoMany people don't know, or have long since forgotten, that there were candlelight vigils held in Tehran after 9/11. I'm glad that some Americans are now standing up for the oppressed inside Iran--not only that, but that they have shown determination and stamina to not allow the issue to die out as media attention has waned. <br /><br /><script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/07/11/sayah.lok.dc.protests.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-34900537424024938842009-06-27T17:03:00.002-05:002009-06-27T17:13:24.426-05:00Iran pledges 'crushing' response to US criticism (AP)<blockquote>By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN, Associated Press Writer Michael Weissenstein, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 1 min ago<br />EDITOR'S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.<br /><br />___<br /><br />President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Saturday to make the U.S. regret its criticism of Iran's postelection crackdown and said the "mask has been removed" from the Obama administration's efforts to improve relations.<br /><br />Ahmadinejad — with his internal opponents virtually silenced — all but dared Obama to keep calling for an end to repression of demonstrators who claim the hardline leader stole re-election through massive fraud.<br /><br />"You should know that if you continue the response of the Iranian nation will be strong," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to members of Iran's judiciary, which is directly controlled by the ruling clerics. "The response of the Iranian nation will be crushing. The response will cause remorse."<br /><br />Ahmadinejad has no authority to direct major policy decisions on his own — a power that rests with the non-elected theocracy. But his comments often reflect the thinking of the ruling establishment.<br /><br />The cleric-led regime now appears to have quashed a protest movement that brought hundreds of thousands to the streets of Tehran and other cities in the greatest challenge to its authority in 30 years. There have been no significant demonstrations in days, and the most significant signs of dissent are the cries of "God is great!" echoing from the rooftops, a technique dating to the days of protest against the U.S.-backed shah before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.<br /><br />Days of relatively restrained talk from both Washington and Tehran appear to be returning to a familiar pattern of condemnation and recrimination despite Obama's stated desire to move away from mutual hostility. Iran and the U.S. still appear interested in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, but the rising rhetorical temperature can be expected to slow progress toward a deal, experts said.<br /><br />"The political feasibility of pursuing it, and the likelihood of success has changed," said Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council. "I have a hard time seeing any real engagement taking place for at least four to six months."<br /><br />Obama acknowledged Friday that Iran's violent suppression of unrest would hinder progress, saying "There is no doubt that any direct dialogue or diplomacy with Iran is going to be affected by the events of the last several weeks."<br /><br />Obama struck a conciliatory tone toward Iran after taking office, sending a video greeting for Persian New Year that used the government's formal name — the Islamic Republic of Iran — in a signal that the goal of regime change had been set aside. He even avoided strong language as Iran began suppressing street protests, saying he wanted to avoid becoming a foil for Iranian hard-liners who blame the United States and other Western powers for instigating internal dissent.<br /><br />But Obama decried Iran's crackdown more vigorously as amateur videos of beating and shootings began flooding the Internet. He said Friday in his strongest condemnation yet that violence perpetrated against protesters was "outrageous," and dismissed a demand from Ahmadinejad to repent for earlier criticism.<br /><br />"I would suggest that Mr. Ahmadinejad think carefully about the obligations he owes to his own people," Obama added.<br /><br />Iran also had been stopping short of its normally harsh language about the U.S., mostly blaming Britain and even France and Germany as Mousavi's supporters demanded a new election. Ahmadinejad had made relatively few appearances in an apparent attempt to avoid inflaming the situation.<br /><br />The protests dwindled to scattered clashes as riot police and Basij militiamen put down the unrest using batons, tear gas, water cannons and, in at least 17 cases, live ammunition. Mousavi said Friday that he would seek official permission for any future rallies, effectively ending his role in street protests.<br /><br />Ahmadinejad appeared self-assured and even invigorated Saturday in the face of the previous day's personal challenge from Obama.<br /><br />"We are surprised at Mr. Obama," Ahmadinejad said. "Didn't he say that he was after change?<br /><br />"They keep saying that they want to hold talks with Iran. All right, we have expressed our readiness as well. But is this the correct way?" Ahmadinejad told judiciary officials. "They showed their hand to the people of Iran, before all people of the world. Their mask has been removed." <br /><br />He still appeared to leave some opening for dialogue, saying Iranians officials "have expressed our readiness" and still want the U.S. to "join the righteous servants of humanity as well." </blockquote><br /><br />- - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - <br /><br /><br />Obama has been very measured and moderate (to the chagrin of some) in his position toward Iran, and yet, Ahmadinejad seems desperate to pick a fight with the US.<br /><br />There are probably several reasons for this, but it seems to me that the current regime is desperate to resurect the old battle cry of "Death to America!" as it's support base dissolves. Obama has stated recently that his cautious rhetoric is meant to prevent Ahmadinejad from having any 'ammunition' for a direct confronation with the US. <br /><br />Frankly, with the sporadic glimpses we're getting of the internal turmoil in Iran, I'm getting the impression that few people are interested in starting a war with the West...<br /><br />The extremists are still there, surely...but the regime is losing it's footing. Click above for the full article.The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-38239960832069321442009-06-25T16:38:00.001-05:002009-06-25T16:38:37.071-05:00US arming SomaliaWASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States is providing weapons and ammunition to Somalia's transitional government as it fights al Qaeda-linked Islamic militants, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Thursday.<br /><br /><br /> "At the request of that government the State Department has helped to provide weapons and ammunition on an urgent basis," he said.<br /><br />"This is to support the Transitional Federal Government's efforts to repel the onslaught of extremist forces which are intent on destroying the Djibouti peace process."<br /><br />Kelly said the weapons shipments are in accordance with U.N. Security Council resolutions, which ban some arms shipments to Somalia. <br /><br />There is growing concern that Somalia could be the next base for al Qaeda as U.S. forces pound their positions in Afghanistan and Pakistan. CIA Director Leon Panetta recently said that the intelligence agency is keeping tabs on the region as a possible destination for fleeing al QaedaThe Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-56538973882617187712009-06-23T07:33:00.001-05:002009-06-23T07:33:55.523-05:00Shah's Son Speaks out on IranBy Elise Labott <br />CNN State Department Producer<br /> <br />WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The son of the former shah of Iran called Monday for solidarity against Iran's Islamic regime, warning that the democratic movement born out of the election crisis might not succeed without international support.<br /><br /><br />Reza Shah Pahlavi has lived in exile since 1979, when his father was overthrown during the Islamic Revolution.<br /><br /> "The moment of truth has arrived," Reza Shah Pahlavi said at Washington's National Press Club. "The people of Iran need to know who stands with them."<br /><br />Pahlavi has lived in exile since 1979, when his father, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, was overthrown during the Islamic Revolution. Under the shah's regime, Iran saw nationalization of its oil and a strong movement toward modernization. Still, his secular programs and recognition of Israel cost him the support of the country's Shiite clergy, sparking clashes with the religious right and others who resented his pro-West views.<br /><br />The son now lives in the United States with his family, where he spends much of his time talking about the Islamic regime in Iran.<br /><br />During his remarks, he broke into tears when he spoke of "bullets piercing our beloved Neda," a woman killed Saturday by Iranian police at a protest in Tehran, whose death has become a rallying cry among demonstrators in Iran. Watch one woman's account of clashes with security forces » <br /><br />The Iranian regime, he said, was a "sinking Titanic" that might not survive the demands for democracy and human rights reverberating through the country. Watch Pahlavi call vote "fraud" »<br /><br />Citing anecdotes from people inside the Iranian establishment, Pahlavi said he had heard that security forces have begun to distance themselves from the regime.<br /><br />"It has already started," he said, citing reports that members of the security forces have gone home after their shifts ended and changed into plain clothes to join the protesters.<br /><br />"Many, many elements within the security forces, within the Revolutionary Guard, are showing discontent," Pahlavi said. "There is an amazing reflection that is happening. ... This is a movement that has blown out of proportion."<br /><br />Pahlavi praised the statements and tone of President Obama, saying that any outside attempt to interfere in Iran's internal affairs "will give the tyrants the excuse they need to paper over their own differences and target every man struggling for freedom as a foreign agent."<br /><br />But he said there was a difference between interfering in a country's sovereign affairs and standing for principles of human rights and democracy.<br /><br />"We welcome that. This is effective. It is important," he said. "This is precisely what Iranians at home demand world leaders, particularly someone like President Obama, who after all his entire message of hope and change and affirmative action ... was a big inspiration to many."<br /><br /><br />But, he added, Obama and other world leaders must be prepared to change their tactics if the violence against protesters gets much worse.<br /><br />"The question is, what will the world governments do this time?" he asked. "Are we going to have Tiananmen Square revisited? Or is [it] going to be this time different?"The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-11177784730403714822009-06-21T14:04:00.001-05:002009-06-21T14:05:51.010-05:00"The Power of Neda"You all have probably heard about the young woman, Neda, who was killed in Iran during the protests. . . <br /><br />It's a heartbreaking and now iconic incident that has become one of the rallying points of the uprising. <br /><br /><script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/06/21/intv.nasr.neda.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-21344256392401548422009-06-20T22:38:00.007-05:002009-06-20T23:08:20.209-05:00Experiencing Tehran Riots in Real Time Through TwitterTechnology is incredible...<br /><br />I'm not only watching the story in Iran unfold via CNN/BBC online, but also via live, personal updates on Twitter.com. Tagged #IranElection, over 10,000 updates from protesters and sympathizers both in and outside of Iran have flooded Twitter in just the last hour. <br /><br />For those unfamiliar with Twitter, it is a short, 160 character 'blurb' that can be sent from cell phones to this website, where others can view your message. Normally used as 'social networking' and 'status updates' (i.e, 'just got off work, who wants to get together?' or 'just had a great time with my sister!'), Twitter has become a tool for communicating and raising awareness of the on-the-ground conditions in Tehran, in real time.<br /><br />I got teary-eyed and goose-pimpled as I read these 'tweets', like small morsels of the history (painful, bloody, and frightening as it is) that is taking place on a grand scale right now in Iran. Here are just a few samples, all posted in the last 20 minutes (usernames omitted to protect 'tweeters')...<br /><br /><blockquote>Homemade caltrops: http://tinyurl.com/l257hm Easy to make and Perfect to throw in front of Basij cycles and foot troops. #iranelection</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>RT PLEASE! List of Embassies taking injured! http://tinyurl.com/lxenxx #IranElection #GR88 Tehran #Iran</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>Help them avoid arrest, change your Twitter location & time to Tehran. Confuses Iranian Government!</blockquote> <br /><br /><blockquote>Basij marking doors to attack later NOW CONFIRMED. Use oil/petrol to remove #iranelection #Tehran</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>Basij can't round up wounded at Embassies, not allowed to enter. Geneva Convention applies. #Neda #Tehran #iranelection</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>Where is Michael Moore when real threats to freedom need to be documented?</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote> If an innocent girl gets shot halfway across the world, does she make a sound? Yes, and the whole world hears her. #iranelection #Neda</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>Where is the butcher Khamenei? What kind of Leader shoots and gases his own people while calling himself a Man of God? #Iranelection<br /></blockquote><br /><br /> <blockquote>#IranElection for the love of your country do not show up to work today. A nationwide strike will surely collapse this regime</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>Neda: Iran, Tehran: wounded girl dying in front of camera http://bit.ly/2fZee8 help us.help #iranelection [Warning: graphic/heartbreaking</blockquote>]<br /><br /><blockquote>Mr. Obama! Please condemn these atrocities! We want freedom! </blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>Wherever we may be, today we are citizens of #Iran; standing shoulder to shoulder with the people in #Tehran.</blockquote><br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." -MLK, qtd. by Obama today. We stand witness. #iranelection<br /></blockquote>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-64576427121227790372009-06-20T22:11:00.001-05:002009-06-20T22:12:33.903-05:00History in the Making<object width="450" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ireport.com/themes/custom/resources/swfplayer/mediaplayer.swf"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="menu" value="false"></param><param name="flashvars" value="height=340&width=448&autostart=false&autoscroll=false&showstop=false&showicons=false&showdigits=total&controlbar=0.1&backcolor=0xFFFFFF&screencolor=0x000000&frontcolor=0xDEDEDE&lightcolor=0x00A2FF&logo=http%3A//www.ireport.com/themes/custom/resources/swfplayer/data/images/ireport_wm.gif&file=data/media/silence.flv&image=http%3A//i.cdn.turner.com/ireport/sm/prod/2009/06/20/WE00275442//538932/Anon1245517572-TehranUnderFireHeavyClashesBetween430599_lg.jpg"></param><embed src="http://www.ireport.com/themes/custom/resources/swfplayer/mediaplayer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="450" height="340" menu="false" flashvars="height=340&width=448&autostart=false&autoscroll=false&showstop=false&showicons=false&showdigits=total&controlbar=0.1&backcolor=0xFFFFFF&screencolor=0x000000&frontcolor=0xDEDEDE&lightcolor=0x00A2FF&logo=http%3A//www.ireport.com/themes/custom/resources/swfplayer/data/images/ireport_wm.gif&file=data/media/silence.flv&image=http%3A//i.cdn.turner.com/ireport/sm/prod/2009/06/20/WE00275442//538932/Anon1245517572-TehranUnderFireHeavyClashesBetween430599_lg.jpg"></embed></object><br /><br /><script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/06/20/amanpour.iran.3p.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-27088508269485451212009-06-18T08:16:00.002-05:002009-06-18T08:22:06.464-05:00"Dummies Guide to Iranian Unrest" (from CNN)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhA2DIt_YWxY2OznO5sFNSAMmCbN9PoR4lroQ2WHl_UI4D5N0ZB4LppV9226xYyDMKlcOWVEuDu0nLBg2tgyDlJZzYzrQsgPQbHlRe9Buz49vYPdlkNNpa5Ie0fYxHogrM7xsEIEHK36u/s1600-h/090615-iran-shootings-10a.h2%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhA2DIt_YWxY2OznO5sFNSAMmCbN9PoR4lroQ2WHl_UI4D5N0ZB4LppV9226xYyDMKlcOWVEuDu0nLBg2tgyDlJZzYzrQsgPQbHlRe9Buz49vYPdlkNNpa5Ie0fYxHogrM7xsEIEHK36u/s320/090615-iran-shootings-10a.h2%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348657282685164578" /></a><br />(CNN) -- For almost a week, tens of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in daily protests -- handkerchiefs shielding their faces from the pungency of tear gas, fists punching the air, and chants of "Down with the dictator" echoing against buildings.<br /><br /><br />Moussovi supporters rally Wednesday in Tehran, Iran. Released by Fars News Agency of Iran.<br /><br />more photos » The massive outpouring is a result of a disputed presidential election that the protesters think coronated the incumbent hard-liner, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, over their candidate, Mir Hossain Moussavi.<br /><br />Context can help put their grievances into perspective:<br /><br />Q. The Iran that we know today is the result of the Islamic Revolution. What is it?<br /><br />A. The Islamic Revolution is the name given to the Iranian revolution of 1979, when the ruling U.S.-supported monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was forced into exile. See timeline of recent Iranian history »<br /><br />The country held a national referendum to become an Islamic republic and approve a new constitution.<br /><br />The constitution was a hybrid of democracy and unelected religious leadership. It appointed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini -- the leader of the revolution -- the supreme leader of the country.<br /><br />Before he died in 1989, he made it known that he wanted Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to succeed him.<br /><br />Q. Is it true that the ultimate power in Iran lies with Khamenei?<br /><br />A. Yes. The supreme leader has the final say in all important matters of the country, such as ties with foreign nations or Iran's nuclear aspirations.<br /><br />He appoints the Guardian Council -- the country's election authority. He also appoints key posts in the intelligence services and the armed forces, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard. Additionally, he confirms the president's election.<br /><br />In theory, the supreme leader is appointed by a body of clerics whom voters elect. But in practice, this body -- the Assembly of Experts -- has answered to the supreme leader.<br /><br />Khamenei, 70, was appointed supreme leader for life in 1989.<br /><br />Q. What is the Guardian Council, which has been in the news, saying it will recount some of the votes in the disputed election?<br /><br />A. The unelected Guardian Council is the second-most influential body in Iran politics. It consists of six theologians whom the supreme leader picks and six jurists nominated by the judiciary and approved by parliament.<br /><br />The council approves all candidates running for office in the country, and verifies election results.<br /><br />It vetoes bills passed by the parliament if they do not conform to the constitution and Islamic law.<br /><br />In the present crisis, opposition leader Moussavi has had to take his grievance to the Guardian Council. It has agreed to some vote recounts. See galleries of protests in Iran »<br /><br />Q. So, how much power does the president wield?<br /><br />A. It depends on how nicely he plays with the Guardian Council.<br /><br />The president is elected by direct vote to a four-year term, for a maximum of two terms.<br /><br />He is responsible for economic policy and social programs, but most of the larger decisions are made by the supreme leader.<br /><br />In theory, his powers are second to the supreme leader's. But in practice, he is often hamstrung by the Guardian Council.<br /><br />The Guardian Council has worked with hard-liner Ahmadinejad, a 53-year-old former mayor of Tehran who was elected in 2005. But it thwarted reform attempts by his predecessor, Mohammad Khatami.<br /><br />Q. What is the Revolutionary Guard, who said they will take legal action against pro-Moussavi Web sites?<br /><br />A. The guard was initially created to protect the leaders of the revolution. But over the years, it has broadened its scope. Today, it is directly under the control of the supreme leader and enforces the governments' Islamic codes and morality<br /><br />With more than 200,000 members, it is tasked with overseeing the country's crucial interests, including guarding its oil fields and missile arsenals.<br /><br />Q. What is the Basij, who are said to be behind most of the violence against opposition supporters?<br /><br />A. The Basij is a volunteer paramilitary force that takes orders from the Revolutionary Guard. It plays the role of de facto morality police and is often summoned to crack down on protests.<br /><br />It is unknown how large the force is, though estimates are in the millions.<br /><br />Q. What evidence is there of ballot fraud?<br /><br />A. There are no concrete examples of fraud, because independent monitors did not oversee polling in Iran, but the circumstantial evidence is persuasive.<br /><br />The government had initially said it would take three days to verify the ballots after Election Day on June 12. But the election authority proclaimed Ahmadinejad the winner two hours after the polls closed. At the same time, the interior ministry said that 85 percent of the country's 46 million eligible voters had cast ballots -- a record turnout.<br /><br />To many, so many ballots could not have been hand-counted in such a short time.<br /><br />Also, the published results showed that Ahmadinejad won even in his opponents' strongholds, including Moussavi's hometown of ethnic Azeri Turks.<br /><br />"This is the equivalent of Barack Obama losing the African-American vote to John McCain in 2008," said Karim Sajadpour of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.<br /><br />Furthermore, Moussavi went into the election with massive support from the country's youth, who were unhappy with the faltering economy and an unemployment rate that tops 30 percent by some accounts. The youth make up 60 percent of Iran's population of 70 million.<br /><br />Q. Is it true that Ahmadinejad still enjoys widespread support?<br /><br />A. Yes. Ahmadinejad is popular across Iran's rural areas and among the Basij militia.<br /><br />He presents himself as a populist and a fighter. He has paid attention to the families of the bloody Iran-Iraq war, offering special preferences to veterans' children in university admissions.<br /><br />As president, his hardline approach has won him support among the Guardian Council. He has earned a reputation internationally as a fundamentalist for his Holocaust denials, calls to annihilate Israel, and cat-and-mouse games with the United States and the United Nations over Iran's nuclear activities. Many in the establishment view him as someone who does not cower to big-footing by the West.<br /><br />Q. Why, then, do some analysts think the vote was manipulated?<br /><br />A. Some experts say that even if it is likely that Ahmadinejad won the election, it is unlikely he could have won by the margin the government is claiming -- 62.63 percent of the vote.<br /><br />Time magazine's Joe Klein explains it this way: "It is entirely possible that Ahmadinejad would have won anyway, but narrowly, perhaps with less than 50 percent of the vote, setting up a runoff election he might have lost as the other candidates united against him. It is possible that his government, perhaps acting in concert with supreme leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, decided to take no chances."<br /><br />Q. Why is Iran's population so young?<br /><br />A. After the revolution, the leaders encouraged early marriage and large families, rewarding families with cars and television sets for each additional child. During the country's devastating eight-year war with Iraq, which began in 1980, the regime continued encouraging population growth, because more children meant more future soldiers.<br /><br />It is those children who are now coming of age.<br /><br />Q. Why did Iran summon Switzerland's ambassador to complain about perceived U.S. involvement in Iran's election process?<br /><br />A. The United States cut diplomatic ties with Iran following the hostage crisis in 1979, when students in support of the Islamic Revolution took 52 Americans hostage and held them for 444 days.<br /><br />Q. Is this movement a challenge to the Islamic republic?<br /><br />A. The demonstrators say their demand is simple: Hold fresh elections. They say they are not out to challenge the Islamic regime. Watch protests Wednesday in Tehran »<br /><br />Furthermore, Moussavi is an unlikely man for the job.<br /><br />Though the 67-year-old former prime minister is credited for successfully navigating the Iranian economy as prime minister during the Iran-Iraq war, he also was a hard-liner whom the Economist described as a "firm radical."<br /><br />He, like most Iranians in power, does not believe in the existence of Israel. He defended the taking of the American hostages in 1979. He was part of a regime that regularly executed dissidents. And as late as April, he opposed suspending the country's nuclear-enrichment program but said it would not be diverted to weapons use.<br /><br />The protests have exposed a fissure in the country, however, with tens of thousands of Ahmadinejad backers taking to the streets in a show of force of their own.<br /><br />Q. Are the current protests likely to continue?<br /><br />A. For now, the government seems to be allowing the populace to vent pent-up frustrations. But it also is gradually cracking down, such as blocking Web sites and banning international journalists from filming the rallies.<br /><br />The demonstrations have so far been focused on urban areas. Should the populace in rural areas take up the call for reform, the government might step in quickly to quash the protests, analysts say. See map of demonstration sites in Tehran »<br /><br />Q. Is this the first time Iranians have risen up in mass protests against the regime?<br /><br />A. No. Iran has twice seen public calls for reform in recent years: in 1999, after the closing of a reformist newspaper, and after parliamentary elections in 2000.<br /><br />On both occasions, the Revolutionary Guard descended on the streets after a few days and crushed the movements.<br /><br /><br />Q. So, can true reform come to Iran?<br /><br />A. It is possible. Ahmadinejad's predecessor, Khatami, was elected president in 1997 by a landslide, despite being a reformer. During his two terms, he championed freedom of expression, tried to mend diplomatic relations, and supported a free market. He was, however, hamstrung at every step by stiff resistance from the supreme leader and the Guardian Council.The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-78392174342364541212009-06-14T13:50:00.002-05:002009-06-14T13:51:13.644-05:00Israel PM calls for a demilitarized PalestineThis is supposed to pacify extremists and lead to peace HOW? . . . <br /><br /><blockquote>CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel would agree to a peace agreement with Palestinians under which there would be a "demilitarized Palestinian state." <br /><br /><br />Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he would agree to peace with Palestinians.<br /><br /> The area under Palestinian control would have no army, would not control its airspace, and would not be allowed to bring in arms, Netanyahu said. <br /><br />Netanyahu, who recently returned to the prime ministerial post he held 10 years ago, has previously not endorsed a two-state solution. <br /><br />In his address, Netanyahu discussed the pain and loss through bloodshed on both sides of the conflict. <br /><br />He said the root of the conflict lies in the refusal by the Palestinians to accept that the Jewish people have a homeland in Israel. <br /><br />Netanyahu also called on Palestinian leaders to take immediate steps toward peace talks. </blockquote>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-61831036695805807982009-06-05T13:30:00.000-05:002009-06-05T13:31:10.181-05:00Youth in the Middle East<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/bestoftv/2009/06/05/nr.young.people.middle.east.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-6045847285346858992009-06-05T09:40:00.003-05:002009-06-05T09:42:37.072-05:00Hamas on Obama's Speech<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/06/05/am.intv.yousef.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript><br /><br />He doesn't really indicate that the speech will affect Hamas' behavior at all...but he's in a tight spot. Gaza is in miserable condition, still in ruins from the war earlier this year, and the sanctions he's referring to are keeping relief from getting into the refugee camps. It's a very real grievance, and I can't blame him for being unwilling to dismiss it. . .Of course I don't condone violence, but this is a real "chicken-or-the-egg" situation...Where will the peace process begin? Who will be willing to make the first compromise?The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-1257756398276890182009-06-05T09:36:00.002-05:002009-06-05T09:39:58.234-05:00Queen Noor on Obama's Speech<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/bestoftv/2009/06/05/lkl.queen.noor.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript><br /><br />Okay, so she doesn't say much substantively, but. . .The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-1542092814699393622009-06-04T08:30:00.001-05:002009-06-04T08:32:44.494-05:00Reactions to Obama's Speech, Collected by APBy The Associated Press – 48 mins ago<br />Notable reaction to President Barack Obama's speech Thursday to the Muslim world:<br />___<br />"President Obama is a brave president. ... We hope he will open a new chapter with the Islamic world and Arab nations in particular." — Mithwan Hussein, a Baghdad resident.<br />___<br />"Bush and Clinton said the same about a Palestinian state, but they've done nothing, so why should we believe this guy?" — Ali Tottah, 82, who is originally from the West Bank town of Nablus, speaking at the Baqaa refugee camp in Jordan.<br />___<br />"There is a change between the speech of President Obama and previous speeches made by George Bush. But today's remarks at Cairo University were based on soft diplomacy to brighten the image of the United States." — Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza.<br />___<br />"The Obama administration is focused on whether to strike Iran or not, as if the core problem in the region is Iran. But it totally forgot the Palestinian issue. Let Obama solve the Palestinian problem first, then he can strike whoever he wants." — Ibrahim Hreish, a jeweler in Amman, Jordan.<br />___<br />"Why did he not come here to Gaza, instead of going to Egypt? He is welcome to come and see, to inspect with his own eyes, to see the war crimes and the new Holocaust." — Mohammed Khader, 47, whose house in Gaza was leveled by Israeli troops during the recent three-week offensive against Hamas.<br />___<br />"It was actually better than we expected, but not as good as we hoped. ... His stance on democracy was very general, a bit weak, we hoped for more detail." — Ayman Nour, an Egyptian dissident recently released from prison.<br />___<br />"Obama is clearly admitting that Bush's military offensive in Iraq was a mistake." — Said Lacet, 56, a civil servant in Algeria.<br />___<br />"It still was a speech about what America wants. Maybe that's only natural, because he wants to protect American interests in the region. ... But I really do believe he envisions a world that is pluralistic, where different religions can live peacefully together, with respect, as he himself experienced in Indonesia." — Edi Kusyanto, a teacher at the school in Indonesia where Obama went as a child.<br />___<br />"The part of Obama's speech regarding the Palestinian issue is an important step under new beginnings. ... This is the beginning of a new American policy and this policy is creating a new atmosphere to build the Palestinian state." — Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.<br />___<br />"He was very generous in his comments about Islam's contributions to civilization. ... There also hasn't really been any other Western leader who has expressed such commitment to fighting negative stereotypes regarding Muslims." — Chandra Muzaffar, president of the International Movement for a Just World think-tank in Malaysia.<br />___<br />"This vision is so out of touch with reality. ... You can have your speechwriters find every good thing a Muslim has every done. But more modern history is that the Muslim world is at war with the Western world." — Aliza Herbst, 56, a spokeswoman for Yesha, the West Bank settlers' council.<br />___<br />"It was very positive. A president with the middle name of Hussein being in Cairo talking about collaboration means a lot for Muslims. It will influence people." — Malek Sitez, an international law expert in Kabul, Afghanistan.<br />___<br />"It's one of the most important speeches ever delivered, a key speech for changing the climate in the Middle East. Israel will make a big mistake if it ignores it and doesn't use it to generate a new dialogue with the Muslim world." — Yuli Tamir, a dovish Israeli lawmaker from the centrist Labor Party.<br />___<br />"I don't trust him. He's just trying to apologize to Muslims because of what America — or really Bush — has done in the past. He's promising to be different. But that's all it is, a promise. We want action." — Wahyudin, the director of a hard-line Islamic boarding school in Jakarta, who goes by one name.The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-80681175827688471102009-06-03T14:13:00.001-05:002009-06-03T14:14:43.651-05:00Obama Arrives in Saudi ArabiaThis video made me laugh out loud...diplomacy is so AWKWARD sometimes! Haha....<br /><br /><script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/politics/2009/06/03/vo.saudi.obama.arrival.pool" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-69130918752866385232009-06-03T14:06:00.001-05:002009-06-03T14:06:56.711-05:00Osama on Obama<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/06/03/nr.new.bin.laden.tape.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489422378336111859.post-90180569463155264232009-06-03T13:59:00.000-05:002009-06-03T14:00:06.424-05:00An eerie censorship trend in China<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/06/03/vause.chang.tiananmen.anniv.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>The Half Breedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946334586650394570noreply@blogger.com0