Consequences of long term violence in Iraq.

The problem with violence and oppression is not just the immediate physical suffering. Periods of violence and oppression can not only cause societal chaos, but may also have a long-term social impact on the culture of the society which may last for decades or more. The U.S.'s actions against Iraq are likely to alter their national psyche which could lead to the Iraqi society embracing extremism or giving birth to an extremist movement. The longer we stay, the more atrocities are committed against the Iraqi population, the more traumas the Iraqi society will suffer, and the more damage will be done.'

The long-term impact war and oppression has on a society is why certain war-torn areas around the world have been engaged in conflict for decades. That is the true victimization of a society--when a society is so damaged that it becomes self-destructive. Perhaps that is what the neocons want these middle-eastern states to become, but it will not be without consequences to us.

States and influence in the selection nominees.

Forget, for a moment, the battle among all those presidential candidates. The hot contest right now is over the order in which states hold their primaries and caucuses and, as a result, which states wield the most influence in the selection of nominees.

The latest bombshell is Florida's decision to move up its 2008 primaries from March to Jan. 29, signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist. That maneuver in defiance of both parties' rules for scheduling nomination contests has set in motion a wave of speculation over whether other states will leapfrog to an early date and whether the penalties that could ensue would wind up costing a candidate the nomination.

For the still-fluid primary calendar, the result could be primaries and caucuses held in 2007. That would be a first, primaries held in the calendar year before the general election. Iowa and New Hampshire have made clear they will do whatever it takes to protect their franchise as the "firsts" first caucus and first primary. The national parties' calendars show the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 14 and the New Hampshire primaries on Jan. 22, but those decisions are made at the state level.

New Hampshire was already unhappy that the Democratic National Committee had scheduled a caucus in Nevada for Jan. 19. State law requires that New Hampshire's primary be held one week before any similar election, I am already expecting New Hampshire to go earlier than Jan. 22, possibly even before the Iowa caucuses. If New Hampshire leapfrogs ahead of Iowa, then Iowa may well move its date. Iowa promises to hold its caucuses, which are smaller and more time-consuming than primaries, eight days before the New Hampshire primaries.

Florida may be just the first of many states that flout the party calendars and reschedule primaries for before Feb. 5. Ultimately, all the front-loading of primaries is likely to enhance the importance of the early primaries.

Black Diamonds

Have you always dreamt of wearing a flaming piece in your wedding or any other special event? A sparkling diamond that is perfect, brilliant and beautiful? Perhaps you
feel that this desire will never be fulfilled, as diamonds are cost a lot. However, at My Solitaire, They can assure you, that moment is not a dream. It is a beautiful reality and it comes to you at a perfectly affordable price.

Diamonds are often of a unique stone or cut and we’re familiarized with the white diamonds. However, recently black diamonds have begun to make their appearance in the jewelry scene. But, have yet to take off like the standard diamond.

At My Solitaire you can find the perfect black diamond jewelry you need: rings, Wedding Rings, pendants, studs or your own customs jewelry design.

While these black diamonds are becoming more popular due to marketing tactics they are not seen widely nor do many people conceive having black diamonds in rings. As with all fancy colored diamonds the formation of black diamonds is very uncommon making this a very exclusive piece of jewelry to own. This diamond comes in many shapes and sizes. This sometimes creates a challenge for people to work with and on.

Disclousure: This blog receives compensation from PayPerPost advertisers.

Saudis arrest Christian for entering Mecca.

I think we can only interpret this a hostile posture towards the west, though only passive-aggressively.

However, I cede the point, religions have been given the right to be as loony as they wish.

The growing intolerance in some Middle East states is worrisome. How much of a legitimate threat these groups are to the West we obviously can't know. They appear to want to fight each other if we would just get out of their way.

When was the last time a Christian decaptitated someone because he didn't agree with him?

At least in the last several years, the "ability" to decapitate people they disagree with seems to be an exclusively Muslim virtue.

THE UNION OF ISLAMIC COURTS, key factor in Somalia conflict

During the six months that the Union of Islamic Courts ruled Mogadishu, it brought order to the capital. Finances for the courts were reportedly being provided by rich individuals in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States.

The government also says that Islamist radicals from around the world have gone to help the UIC. This is strongly denied by the Islamic courts. There have also been reports that Eritrea - which has a long-running border dispute with Ethiopia - has been supplying arms to the Islamists.

A leaked UN report says that 2,000 "fully equipped" Eritrean troops are working with the UIC. This is denied by the authorities in Asmara. The chairman of the Union of Islamic Courts, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, wrote to the UN, the European Union and the United States, calling for the establishment of friendly relations with the international community, based on mutual respect.

In a four-page letter he denied giving sanctuary to Islamic extremists, or groups loyal to al-Qaeda. But another key UIC leader, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, is on a US list of individuals linked to terror groups. There are now fears that the UIC will now operate as an insurgency group.

Useful Summer

I think our kids can take advantage of their summer's free time taking educational summer programs like Score. That’s better than having them all time in the home playing video games filing their minds with nothing.

Being parents is very difficult, especially in education matters. Score summer program has professional people to help us. If our kids receive a good education since early ages they will achieve more success in their future.

Disclousure: This blog receives compensation from PayPerPost advertisers.

Goodling Admits Her Partisan Hirings Were ‘Illegal’

In her opening statement to the House Judiciary Committee today, Monica Goodling — the Justice Department’s former White House Liason — admitted that she had “taken inappropriate political considerations into account” while hiring career employees at the Department...

My comments:

1. Political appointees are generally picked because of party affiliation. USAs are political. They have 4 year terms, like Bush. It's okay for him to pick only Republicans for political jobs, though not very smart.

2. Once in office, all political appointees, especially ones in the DOJ, are supposed to enforce the law, do their jobs, in a non-partisan manner. The EPA can be directed by Bush. They can't be told to enforce laws against Democrat-leaning companies and not against Republican ones, for example.

3. Bush can fire USAs at will. However, it is usually done only at the change of administration. If he does fire mid-term, he'd better have a good reason. And one clearly illegal reason to fire is to influence (start or stop) on-going investigations.

4. Civil service employees should never even be hired based on political views, and most definitely should not feel political influence as to how to do their job, and should absolutely never be fired for political reasons, because that equals influence for everyone else.

North Korea fired missiles

North Korea fired several short-range guided missiles into the sea that separates it from Japan in an apparent test launch.

The North's test was in response to South Korea's launch of its first destroyer equipped with high-tech Aegis radar technology. South Korea is now one of only five countries armed with the technology, which will make it easier to track and shoot down North Korean aircraft and missiles.

I do not consider the missile firing as a serious threat to Japan's national security but reveal the lack of confidence among these countries.

We need to see more diplomacy in the foreign policy of Japan, S Korea and N Korea. The politics relations between these asians governments is widely dominated by the military position.

Energy saving idea

Covering a window with even the least expensive of window coverings can enhance the cooler effect in a room. Conserving energy and saving money in these days of rising electricity’s cost for cooling our homes.

Blinds are a very low cost and energy efficient means for insulating your house not only in the summer but also year round. Insulation helps keep your home comfortable and saves money on mechanical cooling systems such as air conditioners and electric fans. Insulation can be accomplished by installing Blinds in your hot kitchen and other rooms.

Terry's Fabrics provides a money saving solution for all kind of windows and you can check all models online visiting their website.

Disclousure: This blog receives compensation from PayPerPost advertisers.

Iran, enemy of US.

Iran is the bigger enemy in the world for US. From this country Al-Qaeda and other terrorist group receive funds and logistic for their operations. Iran has weapon factories and exports many of them to countries in conflict with America. As an enemy, is important to consider that Iran is one of the first economies of the emerging countries.

Also, Iran (and North Korea) is the most distant political model on earth from the American Way. The Iran leader comes from the extremist side of the Iranian Revolution and, in many times, he has threatened the west. But the worst is that a country with these characteristics is developing nuclear weapons, weapons that will be used against the western civilization.

Minimun wage to $7.25 per hour from $5.15 per hour

Legislation to provide the first increase in the federal minimum wage in a decade won final U.S. congressional approval on Thursday, and headed to President George W. Bush to sign into law.

Democrats promised a pay boost for America's lowest-paid workers in capturing control of Congress in last November's elections from Bush's Republicans.

The measure would boost the minimum wage over two years to $7.25 per hour from $5.15 per hour, and provide $4.84 billion in small business tax breaks to help pay for it.

With a deteriorated federal budget will be interesting how Bush and the next government will drive the fiscal policy and how this will impact the economy.

On Smorty

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Ron Paul is a serious contender for the Republican ticket

Ron Paul is a serious contender for the Republican ticket. With massive popular opinion against the war there is no way anyone on the Republican ticket other than Ron Paul will be elected president.

What the media seems to want to cover up is how Congressman Paul has been in the core of American politics in Washington long enough to clearly understand where this country has taken critical detours from what our founding fathers outlined as our best course. He stands prepared with plausible solutions to restore this great republic.

For example, how many people know that Ron Paul speaks out against the entire farce and fraud of our monetary system and how this is all tied together to seduce the American people into massive deficit spending and programs we cannot afford setting the stage for our bankruptcy to the private bankers who actually are dismantling our republic a piece at a time.

The truth is Ron Paul totally understands the reality of our day and how significantly "We the People" and our Constitution have been compromised and how dire our circumstances truly are but that it is not too late and we can start to take responsibility now to get real in our national policy and keep this nation the storehouse of freedom and liberty it is destined to be to the world.

Building coal to liquids plants will boost greenhouse gas emissions

A U.S. Senate panel weighed plans on Thursday to turn plentiful U.S. coal supplies into transport fuels to reduce U.S. dependence on crude oil imports, which meet about 60 percent of daily needs, policymakers are eyeing America's 250-year supply of coal as a way to fill U.S. gas tanks.

Countries like South Africa already use a process commercialized by Germany in World War Two to turn coal into fuel that can be used in airplanes as well as cars and trucks. China is also eyeing ways to boost its coal-conversion capacity.

The U.S. coal to liquids industry is still in its infancy, but Democrats and Republicans from dominant coal states like Illinois and Kentucky want to offer incentives to build new plants (which can cost billions of dollars).

I think that building coal to liquids plants will boost greenhouse gas emissions. In my opinion that increased coal use runs counter to a push in the United States and abroad to reduce heat trapping carbon dioxide emissions, linked to rising earth temperatures. Coal burning is already responsible for about a third of carbon dioxide emissions from the United States, the globe's biggest greenhouse gas emitter.

PPP direct

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PPP Direct allows you to fix the minimum cost for paid postings, and you can edit this amount as you want. When you have placed the PPP Direct button in your site, the advertiser searching for word of mouth marketing will fill the order directly in your blog, specifying minimum words, amount offer and all specifications he need to order a sponsored post.

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Disclousure: This blog receives compensation from PayPerPost advertisers.