Vietnam holds live-fire exercises as territorial dispute with China escalates
June 14, 2011 No Comment
Beijing warns other regional powers not to become involved in row over South China Sea islands and surrounding waters China has warned other countries not to become involved in an escalating sea border dispute with Vietnam that reflects concern over Beijing’s increasing international power and confidence. Experts say the stand-off between China and Vietnam – two of the six powers laying claim to a number of islands and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea – is the worst for more than two decades. Vietnam held live-fire exercises off its coast on Monday, in what analysts said was a response without precedent. The complex dispute over sovereignty in the 1.2m square miles of sea has been simmering for decades, but has grown increasingly fractious in the past few years. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan also lay claim to parts of the sea. As much as a third of the world’s trade passes through the Malacca Strait. Countries are also competing to tap the sea’s energy resources and exploit its fish stocks. Last year, foreign ministers lined up to attack China’s stance at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional forum, in what the Chinese regarded as a Washington-led ambush. The US said it had a national security interest in a peaceful resolution and that it supported a collective solution. Beijing insists the issue should be handled through bilateral deals. “In a sense [the dispute] has become more complicated because it has become conflated with Sino-US competition in south-east Asia,” said Dr Ian Storey, of the Institute of South East Asian Studies in Singapore. Benigno Aquino, president of the Philippines – which has also accused China of intruding into its waters – told a press conference on Tuesday: “Perhaps the presence of our treaty partner, which is the United States of America, ensures that all of us will have freedom of navigation, will conform to international law.” Washington has played down the issue this year, with both sides seeking to improve relations after 2010′s bilateral tensions. China’s foreign ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, told a news conference: “We hope countries not related to the disputes over the South China Sea will respect the efforts of directly related countries to resolve the issue through direct negotiations.” In an apparent reference to Vietnam, he added: “Some country took unilateral actions to impair China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests [and] released groundless and irresponsible remarks with the attempt to expand and complicate the dispute over the South China Sea.” Hong added that China would not use force to resolve disputes. Vietnam alleges that Chinese boats cut a cable from a seismic survey boat off its coast in late May and impeded another last week, while China accuses Vietnam of illegally entering its waters. Storey warned in a paper two years ago that rivalries were escalating again after easing in the first half of the last decade . “Failure to address rising tensions could lead to greater regional instability, disruptions to global trade and economic development, environmental degradation and, worst-case scenario, military confrontation,” he and his co-author concluded. Storey said that China saw itself as the aggrieved party, but added: “Despite the rhetoric about its peaceful rise and not seeking hegemony, it is seen that China is becoming more assertive and, in the last few months, aggressive.” Vietnam had reacted with unprecedented stridency by holding the live-fire drill and issuing a decree on the terms of military service, he added. “The increasing frequency of incidents at sea raises the risk of an armed confrontation,” said Storey, adding that tensions were at their highest point since a clash in 1988 in which around 70 Vietnamese personnel were killed. The growing strength of China’s navy has also contributed to the concerns of regional powers. It is due to hold naval drills in the western Pacific and official media outlets have suggested it may launch its first aircraft carrier within months , a year earlier than expected. The renewed tensions come after a Chinese diplomatic charm offensive apparently aimed at undoing the damage from last year’s row. Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt of the International Crisis Group said: “[China has] seven central government agencies, the People’s Liberation Army Navy, provincial governments and state-owned enterprises who all have their own interests and claims in the disputed waters. Without very solid inter-agency co-ordination, the multitude of players often make case-by-case policy decisions on the ground in accordance with their individual priorities. “Some of the harder-line actors can justify their actions with the voices of strident nationalism, contributing to a heated domestic environment and marginalising more moderate voices.” China Vietnam Malaysia Philippines Taiwan Brunei Tania Branigan guardian.co.uk
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Libya’s intransigent leader appears increasingly isolated as capital’s wary residents wait for rebellion to break through In the late afternoon the cafe was full of men smoking and drinking coffee, mint tea or strawberry juice. It was a very public setting, but the businessman judged that he was in like-minded company and so did not bother to lower his voice. “Gaddafi is losing support every day,” he said, placing another small coal on top of his shisha pipe. “If he wanted peace he would have quit.” These days of bombs and bluster and seemingly endless queues for fuel in Tripoli are the “glorious hours” of the Libyan people, according to their leader, Muammar Gaddafi, whose stern image gazes down from billboards across the capital. For nearly 42 years it has been only the exceedingly brave, or the foolish, who dared to dispute what he said. Or to talk openly about life without the “Brother Leader” in charge. But now, nearly four months into a conflict that has torn the country apart, people in Tripoli appear to be slowly losing their fear of speaking out. “Ninety-five per cent of people want him to leave, not just because of politics, but because of our desire for a return to normal life,” the businessman said. Foreign reporters are not permitted to work freely in Tripoli, so obtaining a genuine sense of people’s feelings here is difficult. But on several furtive trips around the city without government minders, it was possible to talk to a range of residents on the streets. The picture that emerged was of a people weary of the inconveniences of war, and weary of being held hostage to the whims of one man – a people now just waiting for the end. “He [Gaddafi] is finished, we know it,” said a shop owner in his 50s, as he sat behind his cash register. Like all the people critical of the regime, he requested anonymity, for the regime still has plenty of ears and eyes on the street. In the backroom of another store, a small, friendly man old enough to remember the days before Gaddafi, confirmed this. “Most people want him out and more people can talk about this now than before because he is under pressure. But you still have to be careful. If you are caught, God knows what will happen to you.” The image of a leader increasingly on his own is reinforced by the size of the public shows of support for the regime. As Nato’s bombing campaign has intensified, forcing Gaddafi and his family into hiding, he has called on Libyans to stand with him. But the nightly gatherings outside his Bab al-Aziziya compound now attract just a few hundred people, judging by the live broadcasts on state television. After a heavy day of bombing last week, a demonstration called to protest against Nato’s campaign attracted 300 people at most. This in a city with a population of more than 1 million. The accuracy of the air strikes, which appear to have caused few civilian casualties, mean that Gaddafi has been unable to convince people that this is “crusader aggression” against all Libyans, even if many agree that the bombing raids are no longer just about protecting ordinary people. “Nato good, good,” is a common refrain from people talking to foreign reporters. Indeed, it is Gaddafi’s intransigence that many here blame for the continuing conflict and increasing inconveniences in the city. Despite government assertions that he is ready to talk peace, Gaddafi called the rebels “traitors” in a fiery speech last week, and promised to “bust the armed gangs with steadfastness and courage”. With few ships docking at Tripoli’s port due to a partial embargo by Nato, most goods must be sent by road from Tunisia. Predicted shortages of food, especially essential items, have yet to occur. Fruit and vegetables are being harvested on local farms, and wheat, flour and cooking oil remain in good supply, according to the businessman in the cafe. Fuel is a different matter. Petrol in Libya is among the world’s cheapest, and filling up a saloon car can cost as little as £3 or £4. But despite its vast oil production, Libya only refines a quarter of its needs and imports the rest. Now, oil tankers trying to reach Tripoli have been turned away by the warships of Nato, which does not want to allow the fuel to power Gaddafi’s army. So petrol must come by road from Tunis, which the government says is badly affecting essential services. The average wait in a petrol station queue is four to seven days. On the black market, petrol sells at more than 40 times the official price. Even those who can afford to cannot go very far outside Tripoli because of the conflict raging on various fronts. “People are fed up with this situation,” said a young man who works near the medina quarter, adding that the fault lay with Gaddafi. Though he glanced around nervously as he spoke to see if anyone was listening, he carried on. “We used to be so afraid. But every day our brothers in Misrata, Benghazi and Zawiya are dying, so we must speak out. We need this to end.” One of the few foreign observers left in Tripoli said that at the start of the uprising there was still a fair amount of sympathy for Gaddafi – more than his opponents would like to admit. And most of these supporters are armed because the regime handed out AK-47s to civilians when the rebellion began. But the observer said that as the conflict has gone on, a lot of Gaddafi’s support has ebbed away. “People are getting tired and saying ‘What for? We need our fuel, our food. We need our regular life. If he [Gaddafi] has to go to get that back, then so be it.’ ” He added, however, that Tripoli does not seem about to rise up against Gaddafi, and there is a sense here that people have decided to wait for the rebels to break through from the east before they join the revolt. In the eastern suburbs of Tripoli, dissidents have been attacking police checkpoints at night and spraying anti-Gaddafi graffiti on walls. But the slogans are quickly painted over, and the police presence in these neighbourhoods remains heavy. “Look there – plainclothes police,” said a taxi driver, driving through an area called Fashloum. “And there, and there. The only people who like Gaddafi are the police and people working with him.” Ordinary people who support Gaddafi can be found. Unprompted, another taxi driver pulled a postcard featuring the Libyan leader from his glove compartment and held it against his heart. Around Green Square, in the city centre, a father bought small pictures of Gaddafi for his two young sons to hang around their necks. Nearby a 30-year-old man, Reda Ali Tarhoni, described the leader as his “number one father. We had safety, food, school. He gave us money.” Yet even among some senior officials close to Gaddafi there is sense of gloom, regret, and even inevitability, which is compounded by the day as the last of the regime’s “friends” – leaders from the continent who have enjoyed its largesse – abandon Libya. “All that money we spent on Africa?” said one official. “We really should have spent it at home.” Muammar Gaddafi Libya Arab and Middle East unrest Nato Middle East Africa Xan Rice guardian.co.uk
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Two of Britain’s biggest teaching unions overwhelmingly support strike action over changes to pensions, in a dispute expected to close schools this term Two of Britain’s biggest teaching unions have voted in favour of a strike over changes to pensions, in the first sign of collective opposition to the coalition’s austerity programme. The ballot in favour of a strike by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is expected to close schools across England and Wales this term, affecting millions of children. The civil service union the PCS publishes the result of its own strike ballot on Wednesday. In the NUT’s ballot, 92% voted in favour of strike action, with a turnout of 40%. The ATL result was 83% in favour of a strike on a 35% turnout. The strike will affect both state and private schools. Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, the largest teachers’ union, said: “The government’s unnecessary attack on public sector pensions has convinced NUT members that there is no alternative but to support strike action. “It is disgraceful that the government is pressing ahead with its reforms, which will affect teachers’ pensions. The government knows that they are affordable. This is a policy which has nothing to do with economics and everything to do with politics.” The strike is expected to take place on 30 June. A spokesman for the Department for Education said the government expects to see heads working to keep schools open. The general secretary of the ATL, Mary Bousted, said: “For the average member [the changes] will be £1,500 a year in increased pension contributions. At a time of a two-year pay freeze, its a 3% cut, which has nothing to do with the health of the scheme. It’s a tax on pensions to pay for the deficit.” ATL, seen as the most moderate teaching union, has never taken national strike action before. The pension reforms, put forward in a government-commissioned report by former Labour minister Lord Hutton, include raising the retirement age for state employees from 60 to 66 by 2020. Final-salary schemes will be scrapped and replaced by career averages, while ministers will get more powers to raise employee contributions. The government says the cost of paying for teachers’ pensions is forecast to rise from around £5bn in 2005 to almost £10bn by 2015 as more staff retire and life expectancy increases. The schools minister, Nick Gibb, was heckled and jeered by teachers as he attempted to justify proposed changes to their pensions, at the ATL’s annual conference in Liverpool in April. When Gibb told delegates: “I fully understand the strength of feeling on this” and said teachers’ pensions remained a priority, he was greeted by shouts of “no, you don’t” and “rubbish” – along with calls for evidence of the need for change. Other unions have warned of possible industrial action later in the year unless negotiations over public sector pensions can lead to a deal. The GMB has said it is prepared to ballot its members, including those in local government, if the deadlock is not broken. Last year, the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, urged the government to introduce legislation preventing industrial action unless at least 50% of union members in a workplace take part in a ballot. Teaching Schools Cuts and closures Trade unions Public sector pensions Public sector cuts Jeevan Vasagar guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Herman Cain thinks Barack Obama was raised in Kenya. Because Kenya, Indonesia, they’re all the same, right? Bloomberg News: “Barack Obama is more of an international,” Cain said. “I think he’s out of the mainstream and always has been. Look, he was raised in Kenya, his mother was white from Kansas and her family had an influence on him, it’s true, but his dad was Kenyan, and when he was going to school he got a lot of fellowships, scholarships, he stayed in the academic environment for a long time. He spent most of his career as an intellectual.” Indonesia, Kenya, Whatever. I left unasked the question of whether it’s more disreputable to be Kenyan or to be an intellectual (and let us pity those suffering Kenyan intellectuals). But I suggested to Cain that while Obama had, in fact, spent four years of his youth abroad, it was in Indonesia, not Kenya. To which Cain, who has dallied with the fading phenomenon known as “birtherism,” responded, “Yeah, Indonesia.” Yeah, that Kenyan dad who saw him twice after he left was such an influence. And even if he was, so what? Is there something awful about Kenya? And if there is, then why do those dominionist types keep pouring money into that area? Cain may have made an unwitting error, or an intentional one. Who really knows? But if the best they can do is to sort of suggest that he’s “different” because of his childhood, they’re really reaching at straws. Of course, having such things come from Cain are a teaBircher’s dream, because he’s black, but he’s their black guy, and he was fer shure born in the good ole US of A. And just to prove it, that Cain ad at the top is all about being a “real American”. [h/t Huffington Post ]
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• Daily postbag has fallen to 62m from 80m five years ago • Average person spends just £18 a year on postage The Royal Mail signalled fresh job losses on Tuesday after reporting a £120m loss in its letters and parcels business following a huge slump in the number of people sending post. The daily postbag has fallen from 80m items five years ago to 62m, a decline of 20%, with further reductions of 5% a year predicted. Chief executive Moya Greene said the average person was spending just £18 a year on postage, highlighting the rise in texts, which now make up 50% of personal messaging, and emails. Around 65,000 full and part-time workers have left the business since 2002, including 5,500 in the past year, while 12 mail centres have closed and a further 16 are set to shut. The letters and parcels business is now losing £2m a week, with losses for the 2010/11 financial year totalling £120m – the worst for seven years – compared with a £20m profit in the previous year. The Royal Mail Group made an operating profit of £39m, down from £180m, with profits at the Post Office arm of the business declining from £33m to £21m as a result of lower revenues. The General Logistic Systems business, which delivers parcels across Europe, saw its profits rise by 5.3% to £118m in the last year. Greene said the Royal Mail was in the middle of “very important” change, predicting further mail centre closures and job losses because of the decline in its business. “With the decline in our volumes, we are going to be a smaller company in the future than we are today,” she said, although she declined to put a figure on how many postal workers will be made redundant. “The next two years will be challenging. We need to reduce our costs faster than the decline in revenues from our core letter business, “The pace of change in our mail centres will continue. We expect that around half of the mail centres could close by 2016/17.” There are currently 59 mail centres, with two set to close in London, which has sparked the threat of a strike by members of the Communication Workers Union. Greene launched a new attack on the regulatory regime the Royal Mail has to operate under, saying the organisation lost 2.5p on every letter it delivered for a competitor, totalling £160m of losses in the past year alone. The regulatory regime was a “stranglehold” on the business, said Greene, calling for a less “punitive” system to be introduced by the government. Royal Mail also revealed that its pension deficit had fallen from £8bn to £4.5bn following the government decision to change the inflation measure from RPI to CPI, as well as an increase in asset values. But the organisation said its pension deficit was a “disproportionate burden”, with cash payments of £771m made last year. Around £400m has been invested in modernisation, while the jobs of more than 100,000 workers were changing, said Greene. “We have to develop new products and services to meet the needs of our customers and generate additional revenues to offset the decline in earnings from our letters business.” Greene said progress had to be made in areas including lifting the “crushing” pensions liability and changing the regulatory regime before the Royal Mail is privatised. The postal services bill has been passed, but the privatisation is not expected before next year. Greene said she had always maintained the Royal Mail was going to be smaller, but it would be “disrespectful” to put a figure on how many jobs could be lost, adding: “It is very sad to say that, but it is necessary for a high quality service to be sustained.” Previous cuts were achieved through voluntary redundancy and Greene said she hoped that would continue. “I have seen nothing that will shake my belief that we will be able to manage this on a voluntary basis. “We are not seeing any reduction in the willingness to take up voluntary redundancy.” Greene, who moved from Canada to take over from previous chief executive Adam Crozier almost a year ago, said Royal Mail had been forced to transfer £1bn of revenue to its competitors because of the regulatory regime. Job losses Royal Mail Postal service guardian.co.uk
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Juror contacted acquitted defendant online during multimillion-pound drugs trial, causing it to collapse A juror and acquitted defendant who made contact through Facebook during a multimillion-pound drugs trial, causing it to collapse, have been found guilty in what is believed to be the UK’s first prosecution for contempt of court involving the internet. Joanna Fraill, 40, admitted contacting the defendant via Facebook. The former foster parent, who was at the high court in London for the hearing, is facing up to two years in prison over the breach. The acquitted defendant, Jamie Sewart, denied contempt of court, but the case against her was found proved. The case was heard by the lord chief justice, Lord Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Ouseley and Mr Justice Holroyde, who said they would announce Fraill and Sewart’s sentences at a later date. Fraill admitted emailing Sewart, 34, while the jury was still deliberating in the drugs trail in August last year because she felt “empathetic” and saw “considerable parallels” between their lives. Sewart, who was acquitted at the trial in Manchester, admitted knowing that Fraill was a juror in the trial when she added her as a Facebook friend during jury deliberations. Sewart asked her in a Facebook chat on 3 August “what’s happenin with the other charge??”, to which Fraill responded by asking her to clarify her question. Fraill then wrote: “cant get anyone to go either no one budging pleeeeeese don’t say anything cause jamie they could all miss trial and I will get 4cked to0.” The solicitor general, Edward Garnier QC, acting on behalf of the attorney general, Dominic Grieve, accused Fraill and Sewart of acting in “plain contempt of court”. Fraill, a mother of three, sobbed and rocked back and forth as details of her Facebook conversation and internet research were read out in the high court. Peter Wright QC, acting on behalf of Fraill, denied his client acted out of a “cavalier disregard” for the judicial process and told the court how the breach had left her “depressed, isolated and in utter despair”. Wright said Fraill was “distraught and inconsolable” at what had happened and “terrified” at the prospect of imprisonment. A psychiatric report on Fraill, whose husband was also in court, reveals a “most unhappy adolescence, a troubled adult life” and “domestic misfortune on a very considerable scale”, Wright said. One of the defendants convicted in the original drugs trial, Gary Knox, is applying for his conviction to be overturned on the basis of alleged jury misconduct. Knox, the 35-year-old partner of Sewart, was jailed for six years after being found guilty of paying a police officer to disclose information on drug dealers. Crime Facebook Internet Digital media Media law Social networking Josh Halliday guardian.co.uk
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PM endorses main recommendations of independent review into proposals to reform NHS but denies changes amount to U-turn Get all the latest reaction on the NHS reforms live blog David Cameron admitted that he had made mistakes on the NHS as he agreed to make “substantive” changes to the health and social care bill after endorsing the main recommendations of an independent panel of experts. Speaking at Guy’s Hospital in London alongside the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and the health secretary, Andrew Lansley, the prime minister attempted to show his commitment to the NHS by paying tribute to staff at the nearly Evelina Children’s Hospital who cared for his late son, Ivan. Cameron, who paused the health and social care bill in April amid Liberal Democrat concerns and Tory fears that it was jeopardising his work in neutralising the NHS as an issue, reeled off a series of changes. Speaking in front of NHS staff on the top floor of the hospital, Cameron said: • The bill will be amended to make clear that the primary duty of Monitor, the health service regulator, is not to promote competition. It will only do that if it helps patients. Cameron said: “You wanted us to make clear that competition isn’t there for its own sake, but to make life better for patients – done.” • The membership of the new GP-led consortiums, designed to take control of around 65% of the NHS budget, will be opened up. “You wanted us to get specialists, not just GPs, on commissioning groups – done,” Cameron said. “You wanted us to join up the different parts of the NHS, to put integration right at the heart of our reforms – done. “We have listened, we have learned, and we are improving our plans for the NHS. We come here today with a substantive package of changes.” Among other changes: • Clegg announced that the proposal to allow “any qualified provider” to deliver NHS services will be introduced at a slower pace. • The Department of Health confirmed that one of the key Lib Dem demands, that Lansley’s original 2013 deadline should be relaxed, had been met. The department said: “We will allow clinical commissioning groups to take charge of commissioning when they are ready and able.” The department also confirmed that the “relevant parts” of the health and social care bill will be sent back for consideration at the Commons committee stage. The main challenge facing Cameron now will be to win over Tory backbenchers who are angry at the treatment of Lansley. They believe the health secretary has been the subject of unfair briefings after he implemented a white paper on health agreed by the prime minister and his deputy last year. Tory backbenchers are particularly alarmed by the relaxing of the 2013 deadline and the watering down of Monitor’s role in promoting competition. But backbenchers are being won over by Lansley, who told them at a private meeting last week that the main principles of his reforms remain in place. These are giving greater commissioning powers to GPs and allowing greater competition in the NHS. Cameron denied that the changes amounted to a U-turn or to doing nothing. He said: “Now there were those who said this was a humiliating U-turn, that we were backtracking and ditching all our plans. “And there were those who said the opposite – that actually we weren’t going to change anything, that this was all a big PR stunt. “Today, we show that both are wrong. The fundamentals of our plans – more control to patients, more power to doctors and nurses, less bureaucracy in the NHS – are as strong today as they’ve ever been. “But the shape of our plans, the detail of how we’re going to make all this work, that really has changed, as a direct result of this consultation.” The prime minister insisted it was essential to reform the NHS as it copes with an ageing population and a tight fiscal climate. “Fail to reform now and we could see a bigger and bigger black hole opening up in the budget,” he said. “Fail to confront this and the founding principle of the NHS – healthcare available to everyone who needs it, free at the point of use – would be in danger. I refuse to let that happen. “Because of what we’re doing today, the NHS will continue to thrive tomorrow, it will continue to be free at the point of use, based on need and not ability to pay, and our children and grandchildren will be able to rely on it, just as we have done.” Clegg said: “Patients, doctors and nurses have spoken. We have listened. Now we are improving our plans for the NHS. Yes to patient choice. No to privatisation. Yes to giving nurses, hospital doctors and family doctors more say in your care. No to the free market dogma that can fragment the NHS. The right reforms at the right pace. Evolution, not revolution.” Lansley said: “The independent NHS Future Forum has made a number of recommendations, and we are accepting them. This has been a genuine exercise and it is clear from our response today that substantial changes have been made in the interests of patients.” Diane Abbott, the shadow health minister, said: “This is a short-term political fix that is bound to unravel. “We still have a NHS plan which no one voted for, which some of the leading health experts in the country do not understand, and will still cost billions of pounds. It is incredible that David Cameron and Nick Clegg are trying to spin their NHS car crash as some kind of triumph.” NHS Health Health policy Public services policy David Cameron Nick Clegg Nicholas Watt guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …The 4th Amendment Is Now A Mere Guideline For The FBI. But ‘Prominent’ Bloggers To Get Extra Protection!
June 14, 2011 No CommentThis is really discouraging . We’ve entered the Age of Surveillance, and no matter who’s in the White House, it will continue to get worse: WASHINGTON — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is giving significant new powers to its roughly 14,000 agents, allowing them more leeway to search databases, go through household trash or use surveillance teams to scrutinize the lives of people who have attracted their attention. The F.B.I. soon plans to issue a new edition of its manual, called the Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide, according to an official who has worked on the draft document and several others who have been briefed on its contents. The new rules add to several measures taken over the past decade to give agents more latitude as they search for signs of criminal or terrorist activity. The F.B.I. recently briefed several privacy advocates about the coming changes. Among them, Michael German, a former F.B.I. agent who is now a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that it was unwise to further ease restrictions on agents’ power to use potentially intrusive techniques, especially if they lacked a firm reason to suspect someone of wrongdoing. “Claiming additional authorities to investigate people only further raises the potential for abuse,” Mr. German said, pointing to complaints about the bureau’s surveillance of domestic political advocacy groups and mosques and to an inspector general’s findings in 2007 that the F.B.I. had frequently misused “national security letters,” which allow agents to obtain information like phone records without a court order. . Here’s the really bizarre part: In addition, the manual clarifies a description of what qualifies as a “sensitive investigative matter” — investigations, at any level, that require greater oversight from supervisors because they involve public officials, members of the news media or academic scholars. The new rules make clear, for example, that if the person with such a role is a victim or a witness rather than a target of an investigation, extra supervision is not necessary . Also excluded from extra supervision will be investigations of low- and midlevel officials for activities unrelated to their position — like drug cases as opposed to corruption, for example. The manual clarifies the definition of who qualifies for extra protection as a legitimate member of the news media in the Internet era: prominent bloggers would count, but not people who have low-profile blogs . And it will limit academic protections only to scholars who work for institutions based in the United States. Why on earth would the FBI be investigating “prominent bloggers” in the first place? What am I missing?
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All the action, races, news, gossip, fashion and everything you could want from the first day of Royal Ascot 2011, including wonder horse Frankel 2.30pm: Queen Anne Stakes – the result 1 Canford Cliffs (R Hughes) 11-8 2 Goldikova (O Peslier) 5-4 Fav 3 Cityscape (R L Moore) 14-1 7 ran Also: 25-1 Rio De La Plata 4th CSF: £3.18 2.30pm Queen Anne Stakes: The race They’re off … Cape Blanco goes straight into the lead with the field strung out over about seven lengths … Flash Dance takes it up with Canford Cliff sitting quietly in midfield … Goldikova and Canford Cliffs kick away, with the latter getting up to win by about three parts of length under Richard Hughes. “Breeder’s Cup here we come,” declares Tony Paley, sitting oposite me on the Guardian racing desk. Goldikova jockey Olivier Peslier was put up a pound overweight and lost by less than a length. That’s embarrassing for the Frenchman and Goldikova-backers will be entitled to be very annoyed with him. 2.25pm: The parade is over and the horses are cantering down to the stalls. Not long now to the Queen Anne Stakes, which is run over a straight mile. My money’s on Goldikova; happy punting and good luck to one and all with your bets this afternoon … unless they’re different to my bets. 2.22pm: One pound overweight announced on wonder mare Goldikova in the first, according to Richard Hoiles on Twitter. Meanwhile Chris Cook has been getting in the way … “Honestly. You imagine yourself to be unimpressed by royalty. Then Princess Haya [married to Sheikh Mohamed] smiles at you and you feel 10 feet taller. Looked up to find entire Dubaian royal family approaching. Stepped into doorway to let them past. It was the door they wanted to go thru.” 2.21pm: This from Greg Wood in the Royal Ascot parade ring. “Paddock for Queen Anne; warm here now but all seem to be handling it well. Rio De La Plata always looks well, Cityscape looks very well too.” Tony Paley previews the Queen Anne Stakes (2:30pm) Eeny, meeny, miny, moe; it’s the French versus the Brits; male versus female and Olivier Peslier against Richard Hughes. If ever a race was a two-horse affair this is the one. If Goldikova and Canford Cliffs turn up and run to their best this surely only concerns the pair. Cape Blanco needs a longer trip; Cityscape needs softer ground; Ransome Note needs forgiving a very bad most recent run; Rio De La Plata needs to run a lot faster than he ever has before and Flash Dance is there to give Goldikova a lead. And that will be the key as this is going to be a tactical affair and on paper the tactics should suit Goldikova. Stablemate Flash Dance will cut out the pace and she will sit behind her and Cape Blanco and Peslier will pounce with a furlong to go. Her brilliant kick will ensure she goes clear and then it will be up to Hughes and Canford Cliffs to catch her. The imponderable is that though Goldikova has just the superior overall form, Canford Cliffs is capable of better than he has shown so far. Timeform rate Goldikova 146 and Canford 145+. It’s that close. Roll up, roll up. Take your pick. A reminder of today’s card 2.30 Queen Anne Stakes Will Hayler: Goldikova; Top Form: Goldikova 3.05 King’s Stand Stakes Will Hayler: Star Witness; Top Form: Sole Power (nap) 3.45 St James’s Palace Stakes Will Hayler: Grand Prix Boss: Top Form: Frankel 4.25 Coventry Stakes Will Hayler: Mezmaar; Top Form: Gatepost 5.00 Ascot Stakes Will Hayler: Zigato (nb); Top Form: Junior (nb) 5.35 Windsor Castle Stakes Will Hayler: Caspar Netscher; Top Form: Worthington Racecards can be found here . Chris Cook on one American jockey’s flying visit The American-based jockey John Velazquez is here to ride Bridgetown for Todd Pletcher in our second race, the King’s Stand Stakes. He has had time to walk the course but is pretty familiar with the layout, having ridden two winners here in 2009 for Wesley Ward. But this is really a flying visit because, as soon as he’s ridden Bridgetown, he gets a fast car back to the airport with the aim of riding at Belmont, New York, tomorrow. It is especially important that he makes it to Belmont because the track will also stage an inquiry into the Belmont Stakes on Saturday night, when Velazquez’s highly fancied mount, Animal Kingdom, was almost brought down by scrimmaging right after the stalls opened. Random picture of a former England international and his model wife “So, Danielle Bux, what exactly was it that attracted you to the multi-millionaire footballer-turned-Match of the Day-presenter Gary Lineker?” 2.06pm: Silver-tongued racing commentator Richard Hoiles is enjoying the royal procession. “Once again Her Majesty makes all down the middle in the Ascot opener. Too early for track bias?” 2.04pm: Chris Cook is Tweeting like a man possessed. Here he is with some betting news. “Hill’s reporting some hefty bets in their shops. One of £20k and another of £15k, both on Goldikova. Latter was in their Ascot shop. According to Kate Miller of William Hill, “the pro punters are backing Canford Cliffs and the wealthy romantics are backing Goldikova” 1.59pm: If you bet on the Queen wearing a green hat, you can go and collect She’s wearing a mint-green number created by her personal assistant Angela Kelly, according to Jennie Bond on the BBC – the odds against that were a generous 8-1. 1.56pm: Royal Ascot coverage has started on the BBC Clare Balding and Willie Carson-standing-on-a-box, are anchoring the BBC coverage and we’ve already had the obligatory hat montage. They’re “big and loud and colourful and full of feathers” declares a strawberry blonde model whose name I didn’t get upon being quizzed about her thoughts on the millinery on show. 1.46pm: Chris Cook takes in Overdose One of the most fascinating contenders here today is the Hungarian-based Overdose, who takes his chance in today’s second race, the King’s Stand Stakes. I wrote about his background and funny little quirks here and here before he ran in Haydock’s Temple Stakes last month. Alas, he was beaten there and many are now prepared to take the view that he has been over-rated, despite having won 15 of his 17 races. Those close to him, however, insist that the firmish ground at Haydock was all against him. If they’re right, today’s race should show him in a much better light because the going is good after plentiful recent rain. His regular rider, Andreas Suborics, told me just now that this surface should not be a concern and said that all had gone well with Overdose since Haydock. I was worried that he might have been jarred-up by the ground there but Suborics assures me there has been no problem. The horse is a 12-1 shot. 1.35pm: Don’t worry, it’s only a statue “Statue of 4-times Gold Cup winner Yeats about to be unveiled here. Pics at track show him being lowered into place ,” Tweets Chris Cook. Elsewhere on the course, in what looks suspiciously like a corporate hospitality box Guardian freeload … sorry, newshound Owen Gibson Tweets: “Haven’t seen a horse or a jockey yet…but I do know what Vivienne Westwood’s next season collection looks like .” 1.31pm: Chris Cook gets to grips with the Royal Ascot brochure “Royal Ascot, the glossiest of race-meetings, comes with an ‘official magazine’ running to 300 pages of earnest copy and aspirational advertising. The first ad I came to, on page 18, appears to be for a website selling rifles, which seems a faintly dangerous concept. Of course, anyone who turns up at the Queen’s track must, by definition, be a trustworthy sort of chap or chappess. The picture shows just such a fella in mustard tweeds descending a hill, gun resting on shoulder, Labrador at feet. Chillingly, the caption reads: “Not long now … ” 1.28pm: Guardian tipster Up North’s Will Hayler is really entering into the spirit of Royal Ascot, tweeting relentlessly about the card … at Brighton tonight. “I’d love it if The Tatling got his head in front tonight at Brighton on King’s Stand Stakes day. Best of luck to @hudsonshorses.” 1.24pm: Chris Cook on footballers and horse racing … Pre-Ascot fever is by no means confined to the sport of racing, as anyone who follows certain footballers on Twitter will be aware. Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) reported that he’d been awake since 4.20am, unable to sleep, presumably because of excitement, though I suppose some injury may also be to blame. He later posted a very fetching picture of himself in a morning suit by a rented helicopter that was to bring him here from his Cheshire base. But he appears not to fancy the two runners he owns, Barolo Top (also part-owned by Jonathan Woodgate) and Bear Behind, saying he’d be delighted if either got placed and that he has better chances later in the week. His Brown Panther may be the one to look out for in Thursday’s King George V Handicap. Meanwhile, Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) was also up with the lark, tweeting “7.42am What a day for golf, then Royal Ascot. Good to be alive. Good luck to anyone with runners”. A noble thought, Mr Barton. Later in the week, Ascot awaits the arrival of Craig Levein, who has just revealed he wants Scotland to play like Barcelona . There must be a significantly greater chance of Levein finding his way into the winner’s enclosure with Degas Art after Saturday’s Queen Alexandra Stakes. 1.22pm: Wow, Hayward’s really cranking out the zingers today. His latest missive in 140 characters or less … “Just been handed the Royal Carriage List. I just had to type that sentence. My money’s on Carriage 4 to perform a Jenson Button.” 1.19pm: This fascinating Tweet from our man Paul Hayward, who is also at Royal Ascot today. Divorcees, a threat to world peace, were banned from Ascot’s Royal Enclosure until 1955. Imagine that rule now. The place would be empty. 1.15pm: Win, win win with our Bet365 tipping competition You could win a £50 bet from Bet365 by proving your tipping prowess on today’s races. All you have to do is give us your selections for all of today’s races at Ascot. As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price. Non-runners count as losers. Please post all your tips in a single posting , using the comment facility below, before the first race at 2.30pm. There are six races at Ascot today and you must post a single selection for each race. Our usual terms and conditions – which you can read here – will apply, except that this will be a strictly one-day thing. If we get a tie after all the races have been run, the winner will be the one who posted their tips earliest out of those with the highest score. If you don’t win today, don’t despair. We are running an identical competition on each day of the Royal meeting, up to Friday. 1.08pm: Good afternoon everybody. Barry Glendenning here, shackled to a desk in Guardian Towers, rather than wandering around Ascot in a top hat and tails, lorrying back fizz and admiring the scenery. Bah! On the plus side, Guardian tipster Will Hayler is there, having travelled down from his hovel Up North with the Hovis music blaring on his car stereo and his whippet riding shotgun, his long tongue lolling in the breeze as his head hung out the window. Will has sent this dispatch from the front line of pomp and pageantry … WILL HAYLER’S GOING REPORT Twenty-four hours of dry weather means that fears of soft ground at Ascot have proved misplaced – just as clerk of the course Chris Stickels said they would – and the Royal meeting will get underway on ground that is officially ‘good, good to soft in places’. Goingstick readings continue to suggest that the ground is quickest up the middle of the home straight, but it remains to be seen how things will work out once racing gets underway. It would be lovely to think that the runners will remain in one group up the middle of the track but I suspect that someone will be left complaining after the King’s Stand Stakes, as they usually do. My ante-post portfolio is looking light on Royal Ascot this year. I couldn’t find anyone to beat Ryan Moore in the market for top jockey and having missed the early 33-1 on Grand Prix Boss in the St James’s Palace Stakes, I’ve sat out so far from getting involved on that race too. Instead, the only two bets I’ve had so far today are away from Ascot. Given Fault’s (8.00) habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, it might seem like a risky play to be with him at Brighton tonight. However he simply has too much in his favour to be overlooked in this moderate contest. Seb Sanders rides this track better than any other and he was also on board when Fault scored over course and distance last September. Indifferent efforts afterwards saw the horse plummet in the weights, but he is back in form again and simply must go well. I’ve also had a very small bet on Easy Terms (2.50) at Thirsk on the strength of the manner of her victory in what I had thought a fair contest at Ripon on her last start. She never managed to win a race for the Millmans, but Edwin Tuer has got a good tune out of this filly since picking her up for four and a half grand at the sales last October. Tuer, who went into training after scooping £4million on the National Lottery in 2002, has proved himself a bit of a dab hand with other trainers’ cast-offs. 12.50pm: Why are all the big races at the start? Simon Clare, director of communications at Coral bookmakers, writes for the Royal Ascot Live! blog about British horse racing’s habit of front loading its race meetings: “This is one of the all time great days at Royal Ascot with Goldikova, Canford Cliffs, Frankel all taking centre stage yet by 3.45pm the best races are over and half the races are still to be run. This is the same on every day this week and is by no means unique to Ascot, it is almost the standard model for all major British race meetings. I find it impossible to believe that this is the best way to build anticipation, and more importantly spend, from racing’s customers whether they are racegoers at the track or punter and fans watching the racing at home or in the nation’s 8,000 betting shops. My view is hardly revolutionary. Every major horse race meeting in the world saves the best until last, building to a crescendo. The Breeders Cup Classic, the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe, The Dubai World Cup, The Melbourne Cup, The Kentucky Derby, are all either the last or second last races on the biggest days with the quality of race improving with each passing race until they reach the main feature. When would a heavyweight title clash in boxing be anything other than the final event on the card? Never. Would Take That perform halfway through the evening with a couple of warm up acts following them to close out the evening? Of course not. Wherever you look, be it Sport or the world of Entertainment, the best and most logical way to develop excitement and anticipation is to stage the headline act or race at the end of the event. British Racing is doing itself a costly disservice. There is no question in my mind that if the Queen Anne and the St James Palace stakes were the last two races on today’s card at 5pm and 5.35pm then significantly more money would be bet, and more people would be able to watch the races on TV and in betting shops. It is definitely worthy of serious debate and exploration. I can think of no more obvious and valuable change to the fabric of major race days in Britain than reappraising the order of the main events. 12.24pm: Top Five Royal Ascot fashion spots Fashion writer Imogen Fox gives the lowdown on the outfits that will undoubtedly appear at Royal Ascot: Paddy Power can give you odds on the colour of the Queen’s hat* but they won’t give you odds on this stuff because, frankly, a sighting is a dead cert. Here are five things the fashion desk are expecting to see at Royal Ascot. 1. The Shola Reiss dress. For those with furrowed brows I’m referring to the caramel coloured bandage dress that Duchess Kate wore to meet the Obamas . It was an instant sell-out, and so by rights we should see it at Ascot at some point this week. It goes without saying that chiffon above the knee dresses in white and cornflower blue will also score a high count since Kate Cambridge is without doubt this meet’s style inspiration 2. A sub-Princess Beatrice hat . Whatever your view on the Werther’s Original styling of that wedding hat, it was beautifully made. The copies, alas, won’t be. 3. Colour blocking – ie summer’s headline fashion trend. Naturally the jockeys have this trend down pat. Most stylish colour blocking jockey silks of the day? P Mulrennan on Stonefield Flyer in the 5.35pm is the fashion desk’s unanimous choice. 4. An espadrille wedge. Rope heeled wedge shoes with a round toe are very Pippa Middleton and so will be no escape. Worn with bare legs they look great, worn with sheer tights they’re unforgivable. 5. A pastel waistcoat. “No man should wear sorbet” says the fashion desk menswear expert Simon Chilvers. Alas Prince Harry wore a lemon waistcoat at Epsom recently and so since the Facebook Royals will be defining the look at this year’s Ascot there’s an outside chance of spotting one in the Royal Enclosure this week. *Those Queen’s hat odds: 9/4 Yellow 7/2 Peach/Apricot 5/1 Blue 6/1 Pink 6/1 Purple 8/1 Green 11/1 Red 14/1 White/Cream 16/1 Orange 20/1 Brown 25/1 Grey/Silver 40/1 Black 200/1 Union Jack Design 500/1 Princess Beatrice’s Pretzel Hat 12.03pm: On Fallon, the Press Association adds: Kieren Fallon will sit out his two rides at Royal Ascot this afternoon. The former champion jarred his neck while riding out this morning, but is expected to take his rides at the meeting tomorrow. His agent Terry Norman said: “He was advised to miss today and to have physio. It’s more a precaution than anything, he will definitely be OK tomorrow and the rest of the week.” Eddie Ahern will take the mount on Nicky Henderson’s Veiled in the Ascot Stakes at 5.00. 12.01pm: Top jockey Kieron Fallon is out of the first day’s racing at Royal Ascot, tweets the BBC’s Cornelius Lysaght . 12.00pm: Frankel – the wonder horse? Frankel is the name on everybody’s lips as racing’s latest wonder horse prepares to strut his stuff this afternoon. Here is racing correspondent Greg Wood’s superb piece on the colt . Sports correspondent Paul Hayward talked to Sir Henry Cecil, Frankel’s trainer, last week and the result was this profile of the hugely popular man in the Observer . If you want to get some idea of the power Frankel can unleash. Have a look at his runaway victory in the 2,000 Guineas on YouTube: What is it like to ride the great Frankel? His jockey Tom Queally gives us an insight in the Daily Telegraph in an interview with Ian Chadband . The best of Royal Ascot For the vast majority of people what matters is what to wear. Here’s the BBC guide to what to get out and what to leave in the wardrobe . Which includes this handy tip on hats: Don’t wear it at a jaunty angle. Resist the temptation to rest it on your ears. If you want to exercise the grey matter on what people wear at Ascot says about Britain here’s a thought-provoking feature from the Independent written at last year’s meeting by Liz Hoggard . This is the most anticipated Royal Ascot for many years. The Racing Post is calling it racing’s Olympics. The Mail plumped for racing’s World Cup. Find out why here . For an excellent free preview of the racing each day you can do no better than consult tipping experts Timeform here. And if you want a meaty digest of the racing on the track and a guide to how the races went and the horses to follow after the day’s action have a look at Mark Howard’s diary here . Today’s races 2.30 Queen Anne Stakes Will Hayler: Goldikova; Top Form: Goldikova 3.05 King’s Stand Stakes Will Hayler: Star Witness; Top Form: Sole Power (nap) 3.45 St James’s Palace Stakes Will Hayler: Grand Prix Boss: Top Form: Frankel 4.25 Coventry Stakes Will Hayler: Mezmaar; Top Form: Gatepost 5.00 Ascot Stakes Will Hayler: Zigato (nb); Top Form: Junior (nb) 5.35 Windsor Castle Stakes Will Hayler: Caspar Netscher; Top Form: Worthington Racecards can be found here . Twitter The best of our team’s tweets will be on this blog, but you can follow our Royal Ascot here: Tony Paley , Greg Wood , Chris Cook , Barry Glendenning , Will Hayler and Steve Busfield . Ascot Horse racing Horse racing tips Frankel Barry Glendenning Tony Paley Steve Busfield Will Hayler Greg Wood Chris Cook guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Cain Tries to Backtrack on Comment About Muslims: I Was Thinking About the Ones That are Trying to Kill Us
June 14, 2011 No Comment
Click here to view this media During the New Hampshire GOP Primary Debate, Herman Cain attempted to backtrack on his earlier statement that he would not appoint a Muslim to his cabinet, claiming he was taken out of context. Q: Are American Muslims as a group less dedicated to the Constitution than say Christians or Jews? CAIN: First, the statement, would I be comfortable with a Muslim in my administration, not that I wouldn’t appoint one. That’s the exact transcript. And I would not be comfortable because you have peaceful Muslims and then you have militant Muslims, those that are trying to kill us. And so when I said I wouldn’t be comfortable, I was thinking about the ones that are trying to kill us, number one. Secondly, yes, I do not believe in Sharia law in American courts. I believe in American laws in American courts. Period. There have been instances where… there have been instances in New Jersey. There was an instance in Oklahoma where Muslims did try to influence court decisions with Sharia law. I was simply saying very emphatically, American laws in American courts. KING: And so on that point, Governor Romney let me come to you on this subject. What Mr. Cain is saying, that he would have, my term, not his, a purity test or a loyalty test. He would want to ask a Muslim a question or a few questions before he hired them. But he wouldn’t ask those questions of a Christian or a Jew… CAIN: Sorry. You are restating something that I did not say. Okay? If I may. KING: Please, let’s make it clear. CAIN: When you interview a person for a job, you look at their work record, you look at their resume and then you have a one on one personal interview. During that personal interview, like in the business world or anywhere else, you are able get a feeling for how committed that person is to the Constitution, how committed they are to the mission of your organization… KING: But when I asked you this question the other night though, you said that you would want to ask the Muslim those questions, but you didn’t think you would have to ask them to a Christian or a Jew. CAIN: I would ask certain questions John. And it’s not a litmus test. It is simply trying to make sure that we have people committed to the Constitution, in order for them to work effectively in an administration. Romney responded by saying: Of course we’re not going to have Sharia law applied in U.S. courts. That’s never going to happen. We have a constitution and we follow the law. No, I think we recognize that the people of all faiths are welcome in this country, our nation was founded on a principal of religious tolerance. That’s in fact why some of the early patriots came to this country and we treat people with respect…with their religious persuasion. Not to be outdone by Cain, Newt Gingrich followed up by doubling down on the Muslim bashing fearmongering. For the record, here’s what Cain did say via Think Progress — EXCLUSIVE: Herman Cain Tells ThinkProgress ‘I Will Not’ Appoint A Muslim In My Administration : Earlier this week, Cain gave an interview to Christianity Today in which he declared that , “based upon the little knowledge that I have of the Muslim religion, you know, they have an objective to convert all infidels or kill them.” ThinkProgress caught up with the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza today at the Conservative Principles Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, to discuss his comments further. We asked him, in light of his statements on Islam, would he be comfortable appointing any Muslims in his administration. Rather than skirting the question or hedging his answer, as most presidential aspirants are wont to do, Cain was definitive: “No, I will not”: KEYES: You came under a bit of controversy this week for some of the comments made about Muslims in general. Would you be comfortable appointing a Muslim, either in your cabinet or as a federal judge? CAIN: No, I will not. And here’s why. There is this creeping attempt, there is this attempt to gradually ease Sharia law and the Muslim faith into our government. It does not belong in our government. This is what happened in Europe. And little by little, to try and be politically correct, they made this little change, they made this little change. And now they’ve got a social problem that they don’t know what to do with hardly. The question that was asked that “raised some questions” and, as my grandfather said, “I does not care, I feel the way I feel.” I was asked, “what is the role of Islam in America?” I thought it was an odd question. I said the role of Islam in America is for those that believe in Islam to practice it and leave us alone. Just like Christianity. We have a First Amendment. And I get upset when the Muslims in this country, some of them, try to force their Sharia law onto the rest of us.
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