Thursday, December 29, 2011

US warns Iran against closing Hormuz oil route

US warns Iran against closing Hormuz oil route

Foreign monitors energize Syrian protests

Foreign monitors energize Syrian protests

At least 13 killed in Venezuela tanker truck fire

At least 13 killed in Venezuela tanker truck fire

Argentine leader's cancer forces her to delegate

Argentine leader's cancer forces her to delegate

Argentine leader's cancer forces her to delegate

Argentine leader's cancer forces her to delegate

Iran says it recorded video of US aircraft carrier

Iran says it recorded video of US aircraft carrier

Bahrain to try 8 in terror case next month

Bahrain to try 8 in terror case next month

Worst year in decades for elephants

Worst year in decades for elephants

Oil hovers below $100 after US supplies soar

Oil hovers below $100 after US supplies soar

Israeli police arrest 6 suspects in settler riot

Israeli police arrest 6 suspects in settler riot

China reveals its space plans up to 2016

China reveals its space plans up to 2016

2 French Foreign legionnaires die in Afghanistan

2 French Foreign legionnaires die in Afghanistan

Camera traps capture 35 rhino in Indonesian park

Camera traps capture 35 rhino in Indonesian park

Snow church opens in Bavaria

Snow church opens in Bavaria

Report: Turkey attacks suspected rebel targets

Report: Turkey attacks suspected rebel targets

North Korea Declares Kim Jong-un as Supreme Leader

Weapons Sales to Iraq Move Ahead Despite U.S. Worries NYT

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Iranian exiles in Iraq agree to move camps

Iranian exiles in Iraq agree to move camps

Libya ex-rebels sign up for government jobs

Libya ex-rebels sign up for government jobs

US warns Iran against closing key oil passage

US warns Iran against closing key oil passage

Cuban Jewish leaders meet with jailed American

Cuban Jewish leaders meet with jailed American

Puerto Rico approves political status referendum

Puerto Rico approves political status referendum

North Korea begins memorial for Kim Jong Il

North Korea begins memorial for Kim Jong Il

Iran to 'block' Gulf oil if sanctions proceed - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Iran to 'block' Gulf oil if sanctions proceed - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

North Korea holds late leader's funeral - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

North Korea holds late leader's funeral - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

3 NATO troops killed by bomb in east Afghanistan

3 NATO troops killed by bomb in east Afghanistan

Oil hovers above $101 amid rising Iran tensions

Oil hovers above $101 amid rising Iran tensions

NKoreans line streets for Kim Jong Il's funeral

NKoreans line streets for Kim Jong Il's funeral

NKoreans line streets for Kim Jong Il's funeral

NKoreans line streets for Kim Jong Il's funeral


Activists: 4 Syrian soldiers killed in ambush

Activists: 4 Syrian soldiers killed in ambush

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Tensions build as Iraqi leader accrues powers

Tensions build as Iraqi leader accrues powers


FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 file photo, Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki gestures during his news conference with President Barack Obama in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington. In the week since the last American troops left Iraq, Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered an arrest warrant for the country's highest-ranking Sunni official, threatened to exclude the rival sect from his government and warned that

Syrian troops kill 3 Lebanese in border incident

Syrian troops kill 3 Lebanese in border incident

Iran seeks death for American accused of spying

Iran seeks death for American accused of spying

Iran warns it might close Hormuz strait, stop oil

Iran warns it might close Hormuz strait, stop oil

Iran begins naval drills in Strait of Hormuz - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Iran begins naval drills in Strait of Hormuz - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

North Korea prepares for Kim's funeral - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

North Korea prepares for Kim's funeral - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

Arab monitors visit Syria's Homs - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Arab monitors visit Syria's Homs - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Deadly riots challenge Kazakhstan stability

Deadly riots challenge Kazakhstan stability

Military battle against militants in Yemen kill 9

Military battle against militants in Yemen kill 9

Guinea-Bissau quells attempted coup, official says

Guinea-Bissau quells attempted coup, official says

Guinea-Bissau quells attempted coup, official says

Guinea-Bissau quells attempted coup, official says

Al-Qaida in Iraq says it was behind Baghdad blasts

Al-Qaida in Iraq says it was behind Baghdad blasts

Al-Qaida in Iraq says it was behind Baghdad blasts

Al-Qaida in Iraq says it was behind Baghdad blasts

Mexico's cartels build own national radio system

Mexico's cartels build own national radio system

Nigerians fear more church attacks after 39 killed

Nigerians fear more church attacks after 39 killed

Darfur rebels confirm death of their leader

Darfur rebels confirm death of their leader

Finland says ship can sail again, without missiles

Finland says ship can sail again, without missiles

Monday, December 26, 2011

God and his Angels Once Again… Dios y sus Angeles Una vez mas


God and his Angels Once Again…
For those of you who do not believe in Angeles here is my second encounter with them this year….. The first one was in August when I moved my daughter up north out of state.
Now they appeared on Christmas Eve, and not announcing the birth of Christ, but to help a sinner and his family in distress. This year, my wife and youngest daughter decided to do for a second year in a row the Orlando  Run(Xmas Eve at Islands of Adventure & Xmas Day at the Magic Kingdom) and we went off the morning of the 24th up to Orlando to meet up with my brother in law, wife and young son… also my Godson.
We had a great day at the park. And for some reason decided to go eat early (Hard Rock Café); at Universal Studios which did not have a wait time compared to a year ago. But things were ok until then.  About 8:00 PM we departed the park towards the hotel and the “..Ladies (mom & daughter) forgot to buy shampoo   so we stopped at a local Walgreen’s and got some items. When we got in the car……..a dead battery…..  8:07 PM Xmas Eve, dead Battery….. I forgot to put my booster cables from my car, but no problem walked back in to Walgreens and they did have booster cables… So for all the years I have criticized Walgreens for becoming a 5-10 (nickel and dime store) selling more chips, beer, ice and Coke that drugs….. thit night I was grateful they did carry booster cables.
Within minutes I get a phone call from my wife (sitting at the car) who had the first encounter with an Angel who came to offer assistance. I came out, he offered giving us a booster and we got the car started he gave us direction to where most service stations would be, but then it occurred to him to recommend Wal-Mart’s…….
Again we decided to search, thanked him and went hunting for the closest Wall Mart’s. Once again a store which many criticize since it sell more, food, CD,s music, jewelry and basically everything (to include car batteries);  A store that is blamed to have cleaned the clock on small businesses and driven them out of the market whenever they open a Mega Store. But there it was within 2 miles of my original location but when I arrived I was confronted with the fact that the store had been closed for 20 minutes. Again the two men outside (assistant managers controlling the exits, first said they were sorry…… I told them I was from out of town and my car had a dead battery which meant I could not shut it down or else I was stuck. Within seconds, these two assistant managers transformed into Cherubim’s and told me to wait until  the crowd left and they permitted me to go in and get the battery…
By 8:27 PM I was out the door with my battery and thanked God’s angels   again for being there when I needed them the most.  So before year’s end twice I have been spared a troubling moment on such important events. Christmas Eve is a very special day and to spent the evening waiting for a AAA truck to show up would have been ok, but given the date it would have been hours before that happened. And God shed his blessing on Us by sending his Angels to the rescue…….

Dios y sus Angeles una vez mas…..
Para aquellos de ustedes que no creen en Ángeles aquí es mi segundo encuentro con ellos este año... La primera fue en Agosto cuando mudé a mi hija hacia Carolina del Norte
 Ahora aparecieron en vísperas de Navidad, y no anunciando el nacimiento de Cristo, pero para ayudar a un pecador y su familia en peligro. Este año, mi esposa y mi hija decidieron hacer por segundo año consecutivo la carrera de Orlando (víspera de Navidad en Islas de Aventura &  dia Navidad en el Magic Kingdom) y nos fuimos en la mañana del día 24 hasta Orlando para reunirnos  con mi  cuñado, esposa y sobrino quien … también es mi ahijado.
 Tuvimos un gran día en el Parque. Y por alguna razón decidieron ir a comer temprano en el (Hard Rock Café); en los Estudios Universal. El restaurant  que no tenía un tiempo de espera en comparación con hace un año. Y quedo todo muy bien  Pero las cosas fueron bien hasta entonces.  Sobre las 08:00 PM  partimos del Parque hacia el hotel y  ".. las Damas (mamá & hija) olvidaron comprar champú, por lo que se detuvo en un Walgreen local y consiguió algunos elementos. Cuando llegamos en la carro…….. la bacteria estaba  muerta...
….. A mi se me olvidó poner  los cables de asistencia en  mi coche, pero no  titubie  y volvi a entrar al Walgreens  y si  tienen booster cables… Por  todos los años que he criticado  a Walgreens por convertirse en un 5-10 (Quincalla) vendiendo más golosinas, cerveza, hielo y Coca Cola que medicinas, esta  noche estaba agradecido que tuviesen los  booster cables. En cuestión de minutos recibo una llamada telefónica de mi esposa (sentado en el coche) que tuvo el primer encuentro con un ángel que vino a ofrecer asistencia. Salí,  el ofreció darnos una detonante y pusimos a el coche a  caminar. El nos dio la dirección de  donde sería la mayor area  de las estaciones de servicio,  aunque ya a esa hora se veia algo dificil que hubiese algo abierto;pero luego el  recomendo que buscaramos un  Wal-Mart's……. Con eso nos decidimós buscar un Wall Mart’s y  le agradecimos su ayuda. De ahi salimos  de caza para el más cercano Wall Mart. Una vez más,  una tienda que muchos critican ya que vende más, comida, CD’ s  de música, joyería y básicamente todo (inclutendo baterías de automóvil);  Una tienda que se culpó de haber limpiado el reloj a las pequeñas empresas y que cuando abre un super centro las lleva a la banca rota...
Efectivamente a menos de 2 millas de mi ubicación original, se encontraba un Super Centro, pero cuando llegué tuve que afrontar el hecho de que se había cerrado la tienda acia mas de 20 minutos. En la puerta se encontrabans dos hombres fuera (administradores adjuntos que controlaban las salidas,  yprimero  me dijeron que lo sentian mucho …… Y les dije que yo venia de vacaciones y vivia fuera de la ciudad y mi coche tenía una batería muerta, lo que significa no podría apagarlo o bien yo estaba atascado. En cuestión de segundos, estos dos administradores adjuntos  se transformaron en querubines y me dijeron que esperara hasta que se fuera la multitud y  y me permitio entrar y obtener la bacteria del auto… Ya hacia las 08:27 PM estaba a la puerta con mi batería y agradeci nuevamente a los Ángeles de Dios por estar ahí cuando mas los necesite. 
Así que antes del fin de este año,  dos veces  los angeles  me han salvado un momento preocupante.  Nochebuena es un día muy especial y  pudimos haber pasado  la noche esperando un camion de asistencia de la AAA , pero dada la fecha habría sido horas antes de que sucedió. Y Dios había derramado su bendición sobre nosotros enviando a sus Ángeles a nuestra asistencia una vez mas…
El coronel  26 de Diciembre 2011..

Kim Jong Il's heir meets with SKorean delegation

Sadrists call for new elections in Iraq

Sadrists call for new elections in Iraq

Mexican army: Ally's arrest is blow to 'El Chapo'

Mexican army: Ally's arrest is blow to 'El Chapo'

Arab monitors head to Syria, opposition skeptical

Arab monitors head to Syria, opposition skeptical

Egypt charge 2 Israelis with smuggling weapons

Egypt charge 2 Israelis with smuggling weapons

Egypt charge 2 Israelis with smuggling weapons

Egypt charge 2 Israelis with smuggling weapons

Friday, December 23, 2011

AP Interview: Iraq VP warns of sectarian conflict

AP Interview: Iraq VP warns of sectarian conflict

Mexico seizes 229 tons of precursor chemicals

Mexico seizes 229 tons of precursor chemicals

Boss of Colombian criminal group turns self in

Boss of Colombian criminal group turns self in

Pakistani army rejects US report on airstrikes

Pakistani army rejects US report on airstrikes

flew over, shooting flares in a "show of force" to signal the presence of American or NATO troops. Taliban insurgents fighting in the area do not have aircraft.

NKorea transition clouds Asia security outlook

NKorea transition clouds Asia security outlook

Police: Militants attack Pakistani paramilitary fort, kill 1 soldier; 15 missing

Police: Militants attack Pakistani paramilitary fort, kill 1 soldier; 15 missing

Tear gas fired at protesters in China seaside town

Tear gas fired at protesters in China seaside town

Too many stars: Vietnam in flag gaffe with China

Too many stars: Vietnam in flag gaffe with China

Turkey now accuses slams France of genocide

Turkey now accuses slams France of genocide

Syria government says 30 killed in suicide blasts

Syria government says 30 killed in suicide blasts

Pakistan rejects US probe into border deaths - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English

Pakistan rejects US probe into border deaths - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English

'Twin suicide bombs' hit Syrian capital - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

'Twin suicide bombs' hit Syrian capital - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Despite observers, Syria's Assad hikes crackdown

Despite observers, Syria's Assad hikes crackdown


Graphic shows the cumulative death toll from the uprising in Syria

Mexico port city police infiltrated by Zetas gang

Mexico port city police infiltrated by Zetas gang

Bombs rock Baghdad, raising fears of sectarian war

Bombs rock Baghdad, raising fears of sectarian war

Turkey-France ties fray over Armenia genocide bill

Turkey-France ties fray over Armenia genocide bill

Obama's Foreign Policy what else could you expect

Less than 24 hours after the last  US troops crossed the border on Saturday at around 7:30 AM Baghdad time, an arrest warrant was issued to Sunni VP Tariq al Hashimi. Fortunately he took a plane to Mosul (Kurdistan) or the semi autonomous Kurdish sector to prevent an embarrassing arrest and consequent Kangaroo court.


Despite the allegations that he personally dispatched to kill  member of the government (a charge that Maliki could also be attributed to, as well as all others) shows how fragile democracy in Iraq is.... This morning's article on the New York Times by Tim Arango points out some good reasons, un-foreseen results by the Obama Foreign Policy Team his State department and advisers:




(1)"... He also threatened the Kurd s, valuable allies with close ties to the Americans, warning that there would be “problems” if they protected Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi,..."
(2) "... a judiciary that the populace views as beholden to one man and a political culture with no space for compromise..."
(3)"...  Many on the extensive American Embassy staff here have gone home for the holidays. Ambassador James F. Jeffrey, who left the country after a ceremony last week to mark the end of the war, cut short his trip to rush back to Baghdad, and was meeting with senior Iraqi leaders, as was David H. Petraeus, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency and former military commander in Iraq, who arrived on Tuesday, an American official said.
(4)"...If the crisis continues to intensify, the Obama administration is likely to draw new criticism for failing to negotiate an extension of the American troop presence in Iraq. 


Here is the key to it all......... President Obama sat down in October to deal with this issue , when he should have done it early in 2011. But his mind is on re-election  and knowing his approval ratings  he wants a legacy....... 


Bringing troops back home. The United States of America since 1945 has achieved SOFA (Status of Forces Agreements) in over 100 countries worldwide, some are one page, others are as complicated as a 200 page constitution, but they have been made.


The most importat ones:  Europe (Spain, Italy, UK and foremost Germany) for 66 years they have been negotiated, amended the one with Japan another (66) and there have been changes made due to civil law suits and so forth.. In South Korea (58) years and going....


Likewise  the United States of America has had troops in Europe for (66) years continously......initially to prevent a Soviet invasion while Europe reconstructed after the War, then the Cold War.....from 1.4 Million troops at its peak down to less than 100,000 now but they are still there, responding to the crisis in the Balkans, Kosovo


Japan  is another (66) SOFA and believe me, changes have been agreed along the way


The US has troops in South Korea for over (58) years and that SOFA has also changed. Both Republican and Democrat presidents since Eisenhower have all managed to agree on renewals, of these agreements but Obama.


This is what change means.........  not leading in a conflict like Libya, not negotiating a SOFA a year before its up but in October three months from its termination.


It is a sad day in Iraq, for many Iraqis who briefly rejoiced the departure of the American troops  and as  Tim Arango clearly said:  "..... the departure of American troops and potentially tarnishing what has been cast as a major foreign policy achievement for President Obama..."


Where are those FP advisers now?  We have troops in Europe yet, for over 44 years to prevent the Soviets from invading, In South Korea we have been there for 58 years to prevent  North Korea from Invading. In Iraq we spent only 9 years to prevent them from killing themselves    (7 1/2 years the SOFA was in place the last 1 1/2 it was just let to die off its existence)  that is Obama's FP, what else could you expect









Prime Minister Puts Power-Sharing at Risk in Iraq

Dozens killed in Baghdad blasts - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Mexico disbands entire police force in top port

Mexico disbands entire police force in top port

NZ commando troops to leave Afghanistan in March

NZ commando troops to leave Afghanistan in March

NZ commando troops to leave Afghanistan in March

NZ commando troops to leave Afghanistan in March

China backs stable transition in North Korea - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

China backs stable transition in North Korea - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

Frankincense tree facing uncertain future

China wants to preserve Korean interests post-Kim

French resist new spelling rules

French resist new spelling rules

Amid uncertainty, Egyptians vote in runoffs

Huge crowd of mourners gather for Kim Jong Il

Huge crowd of mourners gather for Kim Jong Il

Huge crowd of mourners gather for Kim Jong Il

5 NATO troops killed in eastern Afghanistan

Afghanistan opening first major train service

Iraq PM urges Kurds to hand over accused Sunni VP

SNC calls for action to halt Idlib 'massacre' - Middle East - Al Jazeera English