9688. arkymalarky - 2/6/2015 7:13:43 PM Will there ever be a Kurdish nation? 9689. robertjayb - 2/6/2015 8:11:02 PM Shit happens. Collateral damage.
Today: BEIRUT (AP) — A purported statement by the Islamic State group claimed that an American female hostage was killed in a Jordanian airstrike on Friday on the outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, the militant group's main stronghold. 9690. Trillium - 2/17/2015 2:50:22 AM The Atlantic on Islamic State 9691. arkymalarky - 7/6/2015 11:11:38 PM Hey Judith, what are your Greek friends thinking about the vote? 9692. RickNelson - 7/10/2015 1:39:23 PM I suggest the Greeks keep their 'no' attitude, negotiate out of severe austerity, and into realistic recovery.
There are too many doom and gloom attitudes. Krugman has remained realistic. 9693. judithathome - 7/10/2015 6:44:15 PM My Greek friends are agreeing with Rick!
Simon said they sit out on their balcony and are seeing people scrounging through the trash bins...and the ATMs have lines around the block.
Of course, they are not worried because they are on his Air Force retirement (and bank through an American bank) and already own their condo. So they are not going to be in dire straits. She is Greek and came with money and property...heh.
He speaks fluent Greek so he's out talking to people on the streets...he looks Greek, too...ha! But he's a good conduit to what's going on because he can listen to and understand the news there and he's not dependent on the American interpretations.
I'll post his next email on the subject! 9694. judithathome - 7/10/2015 6:53:44 PM He's one he sent the other day; I seem to have deleted the one about the garbage bins :-(
Well guys it has started, the finance minister has resigned because the Euro Group does not want him on the negotiating table. The NO vote will cause many problems for Greece in negotiations.
The banks are to remain closed until who knows when or the ECB provides funds. There is no money and the population does not want to live on their knees to lenders who want more austerity for their loans. The Euro group does not trust Greece to implement reforms so they refuse loans.
It could get nasty politically but we wait and see. They are a very proud people; a man at the ATM said “ I would rather eat trash than live on my knees. Drachma come on”
Keep you posted! 9695. arkymalarky - 7/10/2015 8:20:39 PM Wow! Very insightful! Sounds like they're preparing to ride this wave however how it goes and long it lasts. That's a good thing for them. 9696. judithathome - 7/12/2015 5:39:38 PM Update from Simon:
Hey guys! Well, its crunch time for Greece. Today will be the day that a decision is made. The Europeans are set to kick Greece out of the union or lend them more money. The banks are closed except for ATM’s and cash is the main way of shopping for Greeks. Tourism has taken a beating as many people are passing Greece because of the situation.
Though the situation is critical, the buses to the local beachs in Athens are packed. You would not think there is a problem. We will see Monday morning what will happen……….
9697. judithathome - 8/9/2015 9:05:09 PM Oh well... 9698. judithathome - 8/9/2015 9:05:30 PM ...what... 9699. judithathome - 8/9/2015 9:05:43 PM the 9700. judithathome - 8/9/2015 9:06:00 PM hell! 9701. arkymalarky - 8/9/2015 9:45:04 PM Yay Judith!!! 9702. arkymalarky - 11/14/2015 3:46:14 AM Alistair? 9703. robertjayb - 11/14/2015 4:39:35 PM French President Francois Hollande, speaking to the nation, said attacks Friday that killed 127 people were "an act of war."
He said France "will be merciless toward the barbarians of Islamic State group." France "will act by all means anywhere, inside or outside the country."
Yes! Vive la France
9704. robertjayb - 11/14/2015 4:48:37 PM Me (2-26-15)
I do think the U.S. should take a hand in this horror. But not some replay of the self-serving Bush/Cheney (et al.) disasters.
These villains should be dealt with as criminals as we should have dealt with the 9/11 murderers. We are a rich, rich country and can always print more money. Put our many spooks to work scouring the globe for the baddest, meanest motherfuckers that can be hired. Pay them extravagantly, equip them well, and give them the best intelligence possible. Then have them go Keyser Soze on these loonies. Kill them, their families, their associates, their friends and neighbors.
I read of a Jordanian using the word exterminate. Exactly. 9705. arkymalarky - 11/14/2015 5:25:46 PM
I agree 9706. arkymalarky - 11/14/2015 5:29:59 PM Maybe not to extent, but we need to take a much more surgical approach than we've been taking. What we've been doing is creating more resentment that leads to more radicalization. And we have nothing to show for it except a big hot mess. 9707. Ms. No - 11/15/2015 4:18:27 AM I think terrorists and assassins should no longer be identified by name in the media.
They should get codes like 111315m35Sy - 35yo Syrian male involved in a terrorist attack on 11-13-2015. Nobody ever should be able to pick up a mainstream newspaper and hold these guys up as heroes or martyrs or role models for bragging rights.
Their victims are the true martyrs - people violently murdered for their beliefs which don't match those of their attackers.
I think the same rule should apply to mass murderers here in the States. It has become the new way for angry, self-absorbed, mal-adjusted shitheads to grab their 15 weeks of fame, and we shouldn't give it to them.
"Wanna get famous by killing a bunch of innocent people because you're too lazy to actually make something of yourself? Screw you. Nobody will know your name."
|