text:
Blog | Homelessness
Do Built for Zero communities only focus on veteran or chronic homelessness?
Communities begin by focusing on veteran or chronic homelessness as initial steps on their journey to ending homelessness for all.
We've found that when communities focus their systems transformation work on one population at a time, they can make more rapid progress toward systems that end homelessness for all.
To date, 14 communities in Built for Zero have reached functional zero for veteran or chronic homelessness.
People often misunderstand that communities in Built for Zero work exclusively on veteran or chronic homelessness.
For communities in Built for Zero, ending veteran or chronic homelessness are just steps toward ending homelessness for all.
Every community in Built for Zero is serving all populations of people experiencing homelessness at any time.
As part of Built for Zero, communities create a shared aim around ending homelessness for a particular population, in order to focus a community-wide effort to improve one particular system. We've found that when communities focus their systems transformation work on one population at a time, they can make more rapid progress toward systems that end homelessness for all.
In fact, Built for Zero currently has a cohort of 14 communities that are focused on ending family and youth homelessness, after reaching functional zero for veteran or chronic homelessness. As an organization, we aim to help five communities end homelessness for all populations by the end of 2024.
So why do communities start with veteran or chronic homelessness?
Chronic homelessness
Chronic homelessness refers to long-lasting or recurring homelessness for a community's most vulnerable neighbors. It is defined by the federal government as impacting people who live with a documented disability and have experienced verifiable homelessness for at least a year — or repeatedly over three years.
Focusing on ending chronic homelessness is starting with the hardest part of the problem to solve, and the population that may need those solutions most urgently.
People experiencing chronic homelessness represent the individuals who face the highest barriers to housing. Focusing on ending chronic homelessness is starting with the hardest part of the problem to solve, and the population that may need those solutions most urgently. On average, people who experience chronic homelessness have a life expectancy that is 17 years shorter than those who are housed.
Those experiencing chronic homelessness make up less than 20% of a community's homeless population but use the majority of homeless services due to the compounding effects of long-term homelessness, disabilities, and deteriorating health.
We know that if a system is redesigned to work for those most failed by it, the system is likely to be improved for all. To date, five communities in Built for Zero have functionally ended chronic homelessness.
Veteran homelessness
Veteran homelessness presents a different but also urgent challenge. There is an abundance of opportunity to end veteran homelessness in any geography, thanks to political will, strong public support, and resources from federal agencies like the VA. These resources include rental housing subsidies and case management services. Veteran homelessness is a great example of a systems coordination problem, where a problem still persists despite the availability of ample resources.
By creating data-driven, coordinated systems that can promptly identify and connect veterans with the support they need, 12 communities in Built for Zero have functionally ended veteran homelessness. Ending veteran homelessness also means a community has mastered systems coordination and data improvement for a diverse group of people with veteran status: single adults, families, the elderly, and those with disabilities.
Driving toward a tipping point
Homelessness is a big and complex problem — but it is not one too big or complex to be solved.
Community Solutions is dedicated to making ending homelessness a norm, rather than an exception, helping communities prove that homelessness is solvable everywhere. As part of this work, we are grateful for the Built for Zero communities on the leading edge of this movement.
Together, they are generating the critical mass of proof, learning, and momentum that will bring this movement to a tipping point.
Chronic homelessness, veteran homelessness
Three important takeaways from John Oliver's segment on the homelessness crisis
When you're experiencing homelessness, it's a different manual every day
Trump Administration Doubles Down on Housing Discrimination


text:
Tag: Myanmar
IFC and DaNa Facility Respectful Workplaces Report launched in Myanmar-language to Help Businesses Prevent Bullying and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
September 24, 2019 September 22, 2019 Stuart Mitchell
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the DaNa Facility today launched the Myanmar-language version of their groundbreaking study, "Respectful Workplaces: Exploring the Costs of Bullying and Sexual Harassment to Businesses," as part of moves to help employers deal with such behaviors in the workplace. Launched at the Myanmar Center for Responsible Business and Colors Rainbow event, Working with Business to Promote LGBTI Equality in Myanmar, the report lays out practical examples of how to address and prevent bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace. "Bullying and harassment…
NewsDaNa Facilit, IFC, MyanmarLeave a comment
New Holland Agriculture Helps Myanmar Farmers Fight Malaria
May 27, 2019 May 23, 2019 Stuart Mitchell
New Holland Agriculture, a brand of CNH Industrial, and its local distributor in Myanmar, Yoma Heavy Equipment (YHE), are partnering with M2030, a movement launched by the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA) to eliminate malaria in Asia by 2030. Through this partnership, New Holland will be engaged in an innovative campaign that will see its dealers and customers at the forefront, with the common goal to help Myanmar's farmers in the fight against malaria. The campaign is being rolled out in 14 New Holland showrooms across 10 regions, including Yangon, Mandalay,…
NewsM2030, Malaria Alliance, Myanmar, New Holland Agriculture, Yoma Heavy Equipment (YHE)Leave a comment
Cristiano Ronaldo Shares Unifying Message to Urge World to Help Rohingya Refugee Children
March 3, 2018 February 25, 2018 Stuart Mitchell
Cristiano Ronaldo is supporting Save the Children's Rohingya humanitarian response by urging people to help refugee children who have fled the violence in Myanmar's northern Rakhine State and are now living in camps and makeshift settlements in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. "I count my blessings. I have four beautiful children. I would do anything for them. When you become a parent, you understand that all parents must feel the same way. We love our children," said Cristiano Ronaldo, a Save the Children Ambassador. "It is difficult as a father to watch…
Ethical News (non Marketing)Cox's Bazar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Myanmar, Rakhine State, Rohingya, Save The ChildrenLeave a comment

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
THIS JUST IN! JINX!
THE MIAMI HEAT IS FIZZLING AND PEOPLE ARE NOTING THIS FOLLOWS THE HEAT'S MEET-UP WITH CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O.
THE DAHLI BAMA'S BEING CALLED A "JINX" AND, FOR A CHANGE, IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ECONOMY.
REACHED FOR COMMENT BY THESE REPORTERS, WHITE HOUSE PLUS-SIZE SPOKESMODEL JAY CARNEY DECLARED, "WHY ARE YOU CALLING ME AT THIS HOUR! IF I DON'T GET AT LEAST 12 HOURS A SLEEP EACH NIGHT, MY BEARD WILL NEVER FULLY GROW OUT AND I'LL KEEP LOOKING LIKE A 13-YEAR-OLD WITH PEACH FUZZ!"
Let's talk about arming and training. AFP speaks to an unnamed Defense Dept official, "Pending an agreement with Jordan or another nation to host the effort, the training was "likely" to go ahead as both Baghdad and Washington supported the idea, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity." Luis Martinez (ABC News) adds:
Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren told reporters Friday there were discussions underway with Iraq about future training possibilities for Iraq's security forces. "We are continuing to discuss with the Iraqis how we can train them and how we can keep their security forces at the highest possible levels," Warren told reporters.
"The department recognizes that it is important for the Iraqis to have a capable force," said Warren. He would not detail whether those discussions would have U.S. troops doing the training or where such training might occur if it is agreed to.
Loveday Morris and Ernesto Londono (Washington Post) report, "Maliki said during the interview that he would support a new U.S. military training mission for Iraqi counterterrorism troops in Jordan, marking the first time he has expressed support for a plan that the Pentagon has been contemplating in recent months. U.S. military officials have not provided details on the scope or timing of such a training mission."
That's the training issue. And it should be noted that training in Jordan isn't a new idea. It dates back to the Bully Boy Bush administration when Jordan was going to be used as a location to train Iraqi police. Let's move over to the arming. Oren Dorell (USA Today) reports, "The Obama administration said Friday it is sending more weapons to Iraq to help Baghdad put down a resurgent al-Qaeda that is battling government troops in cities that U.S. troops helped liberate during the Iraq war." David Lerman (Bloomberg News) adds, "The aid will be delivered "as rapidly as possible" to meet a request made by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, said Army Colonel Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman."
In light of the above, it's interesting that the Chair of Joint-Chiefs of Staff, Gen Martin Dempsey declared, "No one has asked, nor have we offered direct military involvement because of the underlying religious issues and extremist issues."
That statement may surprise some.
It will certainly surprise the listeners of NPR who caught Tom Bowman's lousy report for Morning Edition today.
It really is amazing how NPR works to pull news from their broadcasts.
Dempsey made the quoted remark to Bowman. It didn't make the edit.
Jim Garamone (DoD's American Forces Press Service) found the remark newsworthy:
The United States is looking at how to help solve the problems of the region. Dempsey said the U.S. military can help in planning and logistics. "No one has asked, nor have we offered direct military involvement because of the underlying religious issues and extremist issues," he said.
Claudette Roulo (DoD's American Forces Press Service) also found the remark newsworthy:
"No one has asked, nor have we offered direct military involvement because of the underlying religious issues and extremist issues," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey told NPR this week.
On the heels of embarrassing adoption 'report,' NPR really didn't need to get caught with bad editing choices again. But they have been caught.
Tom Bowman didn't report Dempsey saying, "No one has asked, nor have we offered direct military involvement because of the underlying religious issues and extremist issues."
It's a real shame Tom Bowman fell in love with his own voice (he offers several cut-aways as though he's Peter Griffith on Family Guy) and lost interest in the subject of his supposed report. What "underlying religious issues and extremists issues" was Dempsey referring to?
It's a shame Bowman and NPR didn't feel the need to allow the American people to hear the discussion.
Robert Gates is a former US Secretary of Defense (December 2006 to July 2011). He has a new book he's promoting entitled Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War. The Christian Science Monitor hosted a press breakfast for him this morning. Anna Mulrine (Christian Science Monitor) reports he declared that the US military had accomplished the goals they were tasked with and handed control of the country over to the Iraqi government:
The mistakes that have since been made by Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki have included isolating Sunnis in a country dominated by a Shiite-led government and "treating the Sunnis in such a hostile manner over the last couple of years or so."
The Christian Science Monitor has posted a brief clip of Gates speaking about Iraq.
Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates: Well I think if I were sitting in the [White House] Situation Room today, I would recommend that we offer the Maliki government a wide range of military assistance -- both equipment and training. But I would be very explicit about conditioning it on his outreach to the Sunnis and pulling back on all these acts such as trying to arrest Vice President [Tareq al-] Hashemi and other Sunni officials from his government, make some investments in Anbar and other Sunni areas that give the Sunnis some reason to believe this government in Baghdad does represent them and is better -- is better than any other. I think -- I think there are two causes of the situation that we face, that is going on in Iraq. One is Maliki treating the Sunnis in such a hostile manner over the last couple of years or so. And -- and the other then is the spillover from Syria.
"Barack fondles Nouri's trigger"
"What's the press' excuse this time?"
"Obama Fans Aren't even Pretending That Was a Good ..."
"Barack does nothing to stop illegal spying"
"Illegal spying and net neutrality"
"Ride Along"
"Oliver Stone out on MLK biopic"
"Benghazi and the Senate report"
"Bob Somerby's a lazy dumb ass"
"community: cooperative polygraphy"
"Redford, Whitaker, Bullock and Roberts"
"Sheri Shepherd putting the "ew" in The View"
"Roast in the Kitchen"
"He underwhelms again"
"THIS JUST IN! DO NOTHING DOES NOTHING!"
THIS JUST IN! DO NOTHING DOES NOTHING!
FADED CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O STOOD TODAY IN FRONT OF SIX -- 1,2,3,4,5,6! -- AMERICAN FLAGS IN AN EFFORT TO SHORE UP HIS CREDIBILITY AS HE TICKED OFF SOME GENERALITIES HE CALLED "REFORMS" WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS THE ILLEGAL SPYING.
ALREADY HIS NSA 'REFORMS' ARE BEING COMPARED TO HIS (FAILED) PROMISE TO CLOSE GUANTANAMO.
REACHED FOR COMMENT BY THESE REPORTERS, THE DAHLI BAMA SNAPPED, "I STOOD IN FRONT OF SIX FLAGS! SIX! WHAT MORE DO YOU PEOPLE WANT!!!"
Iraq is in so many crises that even the US can't ignore it (continue to ignore it) these days. It was an issue raised repeatedly yesterday in the House of Representatives' Homeland Security Committee. We covered the hearing in yesterday's snapshot, Ruth covered it in "Benghazi addressed in Congress," Kat in "Homeland Security Committee hearing," Wally in "Beto O'Rourke talks about Iraq" and Ava in "US Rep Brian Higgins weighs in on Iraq." US House Rep Michael McCaul is Committee Chair and US House Rep Bennie G. Thompson is the Ranking Member. The Committee heard testimony from former US Senator Joe Lieberman, former US House Rep Jane Harman, retired General Jack Keane and the RAND Corporation's Dr. Seth Jones. We're going to drop back to the hearing for these remarks from Keane during US House Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee.
Retired General Jack Keane: I disagree with you, Congresswoman, on Iraq. The fact of the matter is that the immunity issue was not a serious issue, it was a false issue presented by Maliki as face saving because the United States envoy came in after the military had recommended 24,000 soldiers stay in Iraq. The president's envoy put 10,000 on the table. Maliki knew that was not a serious proposal and it eventually got down to nothing. The immunity issue got brought up at the end. And was more face saving for him inside Iraq than anything else. The fact of the matter is that is a significant strategic blunder -- not leaving forces there -- much as we did post-WWII, not for security reasons but for influence. And we lost this influence over Maliki. And even further than that, it's more than just the troops. We disengaged geo-politically with Iraq in terms of partnering with them which they wanted very much so. They forced a Strategic Framework Agreement on us. We wanted to have a Status Of Forces Agreement on the troops and they said no. Maliki said we're not doing that until we agree to have a strategic partnership that will last twenty years. That was their idea. We walked away from that as well. And now we have this debacle on our hands.
We're including that because a simplistic memory has replaced actual history. Just last week, The National Interest was mocking Senator John McCain over accurate remarks that McCain was making. The idiot at National Interest wasn't even aware that McCain had been making those accurate remarks publicly since November 2011. McCain knows a great deal about the political mood in Iraq during the negotiations for a new SOFA.
I didn't support another SOFA. I also don't think the lack of one is what's responsible for Iraq's problems today. Those are my strongly held opinions. My opinions do not allow me to lie about McCain or anyone else. It's a shame The National Interest has standards lower than mine.
Keane's facts on the negotiations are solid. His interpretation of the facts you can agree with or not.
But the notion that has taken hold has been a huge lie. On the 'left,' for some (the ya'll drawling radio host for one -- whose Libertarian, not left) the lie was Nouri defeated the US!!!! WE LOVE NOURI!
Which is why Antiwar Radio has been the biggest joke for years -- unable to call out Nouri al-Maliki because the host was too busy sucking his knob. Nouri didn't do anything wonderful to end a war.
Nouri's plan was to renew the SOFA, that is known. It became more difficult due to political considerations on the ground. When the numbers dropped from what he wanted (at one point, the US State Dept was aware Nouri wanted 36,000 US troops to remain in the country), it became, for Nouri, not worth the risk of the SOFA. But he was saying for that time and planning to pick the topic back up. This was testified to Congress by Leon Panetta.
A lot of people who have heard none of the Congressional testimony on this issue have weighed in with half-baked b.s. So much so that The National Interest thought they could mock John McCain for telling the truth. There are a lot of times I have mocked John McCain in the past -- and I'm sure will do so in the future -- but I've never mocked for speaking the truth.
We may come back to the hearing tomorrow, we may not. But for the record, my belief is and has been that the current crises in Iraq stem from the White House's refusal in 2010 to support Iraqi voters and instead back Nouri for a second term as prime minister even though his State of Law came in second to Ayad Allawi's Iraqiya. From Ned Parker's "Who Lost Iraq?" (POLITICO):
It was the April 2010 national election and its tortured aftermath that sewed the seeds of today's crisis in Iraq. Beforehand, U.S. state and military officials had prepared for any scenario, including the possibility that Maliki might refuse to leave office for another Shiite Islamist candidate. No one imagined that the secular Iraqiya list, backed by Sunni Arabs, would win the largest number of seats in parliament. Suddenly the Sunnis' candidate, secular Shiite Ayad Allawi, was poised to be prime minister. But Maliki refused and dug in.
And it is here where America found its standing wounded. Anxious about midterm elections in November and worried about the status of U.S. forces slated to be drawn down to 50,000 by August, the White House decided to pick winners. According to multiple officials in Baghdad at time, Vice President Joseph Biden and then-Ambassador Chris Hill decided in July 2010 to support Maliki for prime minister, but Maliki had to bring the Sunnis and Allawi onboard. Hill and his staff then made America's support for Maliki clear in meetings with Iraqi political figures.
The stalemate would drag on for months, and in the end both the United States and its arch-foe Iran proved would take credit for forming the government. But Washington would be damaged in the process. It would be forever linked with endorsing Maliki. One U.S. Embassy official I spoke with just months before the government was formed privately expressed regret at how the Americans had played kingmaker.
Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke with Piers Morgan (CNN -- link is text and video) last night and declared of Iraq, "I think that we succeeded in the mission in 2008 and 2009 in terms of being able to turn over to the Iraqis a fragile, but real, democratic government . . . as well as security and stability in the country. We basically handed them their future on a silver platter . . . I think we accomplished our mission, and we withdrew in a way that was not a strategic defeat with global consequences for us." So if Iraq was, in Gates' opinion, handed "a fragile, but real, democratic government," what changed that? Maybe in 2010, the White House refusing to endorse the election results and demand that the voters and the country's Constitution be followed?
"The continued assault on Anbar (Khalidiya will be ..."
"Iraq: Spoiled food, corruption, missing voters"
"Michigan Greens Oppose Trans-Pacific Partnership (..."
"Arrow"
"They say they come in threes"
"Three to read"
"Senate Intelligence Committee on Benghazi"
"Elementary and Time pimps mafia"
"The illegal spying"
"Stand Up Barack"
"whining for redford?"
"The treaty they don't want you to know about"
"Workers Inquiry Into The Detroit Bankruptcy"
"Barack's out of the loop, Carney's just out"
"THIS JUST IN! SOCIAL MEDIA LEAVES HIM BEHIND!"
THIS JUST IN! SOCIAL MEDIA LEAVES HIM BEHIND!
FADED CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O IS DESPAIRING OVER THE FACT THAT HE'S NOW OUT OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA LOOP AND ABOUT AS RELEVANT TODAY AS THE ALTA VISTA SEARCH ENGINE.
WHICH MAY EXPLAIN HIS EXPECTED DECISION TO DO NOTHING ABOUT THE ILLEGAL SPYING HE OVERSEES AND INSTEAD LEAVE IT UP TO CONGRESS. HE WILL INSTEAD 'KICK THE CAN' WHICH, YOU MAY REMEMBER, 2007 CANDIDATE BARRY O INSULTED OTHERS FOR DOING.
REACHED FOR COMMENT, WHITE HOUSE PLUS-SIZE SPOKESMODEL JAY CARNEY EXPLODED, "WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT MY DAMN BEARD! I SHOULD BE EXPLODING ALL UP ON THE TWITTERS AND THE INSTAGRAMS AND THE TUMBLERS! I WANT PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT MY BEARD!"
THESE REPORTERS AND OUR OUTLETS SINCERELY APOLOGIZE TO JAY CARNEY. WE HAD ALL ASSUMED HIS MARRIAGE TO CLAIRE SHIPMAN WAS A LOVING AND REAL ONE. WE HAD NO IDEA CARNEY WAS ACTUALLY GAY AND WE REGRET ANY HARDSHIPS HE MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED WHILE LIVING ON "THE DOWN LOW" AND "IN THE CLOSET."
Former US Senator Joe Lieberman: Yet increasingly we hear voices -- on both sides of the political spectrum -- who say that the threat from terrorism is receding, the end of this conflict is here or near, and therefore that we can withdraw from much of the rest of the world. This narrative is badly and dangerously mistaken. There is no question, the United States -- under President Bush and President Obama -- has inflicted severe damage to 'core' al Qaeda, the senior leadership that reconstituted itself in the mid-2000s in the tribal areas of northwestern Pakistan, after being driven by the American military from neighboring Afghanistan after 9/11. To borrow a phrase from General David Petraeus, while the progress we have achieved against core al Qaeda is real and significant it is also fragile and reversible . What has degraded core al Qaeda in the tribal areas of Pakistan has been the persistent, targeted application of military force against these indi viduals and networks. The precondition for these operations, and the intelligence that enables them , has been our presence in Afghanistan. If the United States withdraws all of our military forces from Afghanistan at the end of this year -- the so-called "zero option," which some now advocate -- you can be sure that al Qaeda will regenerate, eventually on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border. If you doubt this, I urge you to look at what is now happening in western Iraq, where just a few years ago, during the US-led surge, al Qaeda was dealt an even more crippling blow than core al Qaeda has suffered in Pakistan. Yet now it is al Qaeda that is surging back in Iraq, hoisting its black flag over cities like Falluja and Ramadi, murdering hundreds of innocent Iraqis this year, with violence surging back to 2008 levels.
Lieberman went on to advocate for "a small number of embedded [US] advisors on the ground" in Iraq as well as for the US to provide "airpower." He was testifying today before the House Homeland Security Committee -- US House Rep Michael McCaul is Committee Chair and US House Rep Bennie G. Thompson is the Ranking Member. Also testifying were former US House Rep Jane Harman, retired General Jack Keane and the RAND Corporation's Dr. Seth Jones.
Gen Jack Keane: After the strategic blunder of leaving no residual force in Iraq -- and immunity for US troops was a false issue -- equally damaging was distancing ourselves from a long term strategic partnership between the US and Iraq leaving the al Qaeda to have re-emerged and the level of violence today is as high as it was in 2008 and destined to get higher. The al Qaeda are quickly taking control of western Iraq while they have seized control of northern Syria.
Harman had nothing to offer on Iraq -- possibly because she was still focused on the Defense Policy Board briefing on South Asia that "I've just come from" -- a briefing which she described as "bone chilling." (What was she referring to? US assessments on where nuclear war stands currently between Pakistan and India.)
We'll note this exchange. It's typical of the hearing -- talking down to Americans, preaching war and death and destruction.
Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson: A lot of us our faced, when we go into our districts, with an effort that's gone on a long time. The people are becoming weary -- not defeated, but weary. And they say, "Why don't you do something to bring this to an end?" If we had a magic wand, we could do that. So, listening to some of our constituents who talk about the 6,000 people who died and the enormous costs so far, and I'll go, because I've heard it -- what would you suggest as a response to those constituents going forward, as to what members of Congress, the House and the Senate should do to bring that to an end? I'll start with you, Senator.
Former Senator Joe Lieberman: Thanks, Congressman Thompson, that's a -- that's a really important question. I'm glad you asked it because that's the reality. And I know that's what you face and what members of both parties probably face -- when you go home. So here's the point at which -- I mean one first reaction I have, which won't really convince people, but it - but it's an important one. I will tell you that every time I went to a funeral of a soldier from Connecticut who was killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, I was amazed and moved by the families saying, 'Please make sure that our son/daughter/husband/whatever didn't die in vain.' So there is that element. I mean, if we just, we learned some lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan, that if we just walk away, we do risk saying to those families whose family members gave their lives because we ordered them to go there in our defense that they did die in vain. I don't think we ever want that to happen. Second thing, I want to go back to and, in some ways, I want to make this personal about President Obama. Put it in this context, President Obama ran for office in 2008 and again in 2012 with one of the basic themes -- in addition to all the change and dealing with domestic problems -- was that he was going to get us out of the wars that we were in and not get us into additional wars around the world/ And, uhm, you know, fair enough. But sometimes the world doesn't cooperate with a presidential narrative and I think that's where we are in the countries that I've talked about: Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya. Which, if we don't do something more than we're doing now, they're going to tip over. So, I say this personally, I'm not here just to criticize what the Obama administration has done. In some sense, I'm here to appeal to the Obama administration -- which, after all, the president's going to be our president for three more years and a lot that could be good or bad for our security couldan happen. I repeat, what's a lesson learned that's consistent with the message that the president -- the policy that the president has adopted? We're not going to send tens of thousands of troops on the ground to any of these countries. But there's something in between that and just pulling out. And I think what we've all , in different ways, tried to argue today, both militarily and in other ways in terms of aid and support where if we don't -- and this is what I'd say to the constituents -- if we don't at least maintain a presence, if we don't help the freedom fighters in Syria, the non-extremists, anti-Assad people, if we don't build up the Libyan military to maintain order against the militias, if we don't make the kind of agreement and support the government in Iraq, then we're going to get attacked again. Same from Afghanistan. And, uh, then we're going to have to go back in there and have to spend more, risk more American lives. It's not an easy argument to make -- and particularly, not in tough economic times. But so I think, bottom line, we've learned from Iraq and Afghanistan, it's not going to be hundreds of thousands of troops but if we just turn away we're going to suffer and, therefore, we need your support, Mr. and Mrs. Constituent, to help us do that.
Former US House Rep Jane Harman: I can think of five things -- some of which I've already mentioned, but I'll tick them off. One, honor the service of those who followed orders and went to Iraq and Afghanistan. Tens of thousands grievously wounded. Many came home in decent shape. Honor their service. Make sure we have in place a welcome mat that includes all the benefits they're entitled to but also hopefully efforts to build good jobs for them -- the unemployment rate among returning vets is disproportionate to the unemployment rate of others. Second, engage in a whole of government approach to solve this problem. We've discussed that at length, I won't go into it again. Third, continue the counter-terrorism mission in not just the Middle East but around the world. The US has interests in other places other than our own country but we surely don't want training grounds to develop again in pick a place. And we know that some are and we need to be active there using all the tools that we have. Fourth, continue our surveillance system although I think some reforms are in order. The president will speak on Friday. I was quite impressed with the report that was presented to him. It's not clear exactly what he'll adopt but we need to have an effective system that can spot bad guys and prevent and disrupt plots against us. And finally, enact cyber security legislation so that we are protected against what is a growing threat and could in the end be a more -- many predict -- a much more severe threat than some other form of terror threat against the homeland.
Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson: General?
Retired General Jack Keane: Yes, I would first say to them that never before in the history of the country have so few sacrificed so much for so many and have done it for so long. And the fact of the matter is that the reason why it has been so long is because of the mistakes that we made and be honest about it. The fact of the matter is that our strategy initially in Afghanistan -- military strategy I'm talking about here -- and our military strategy in Iraq after we liberated Iraq was flawed And that led to protracted wars. And we should have an honest discussion with the American people and with your constituents. Now the fact of the matter is that if you know America's military -- and I can say this with some knowledge -- is that we normally get off on the wrong foot and we have throughout our history with some rare exceptions. But because we're reflections of the American people, the American society, we're intellectually flexible and operationally adoptable. And we sort of get to the answer faster than other people would when we're on a much larger war than what we're dealing with here. And we did figure it out eventually in Iraq and we have figured it out in Afghanistan as well. And the sacrifice is definitely worth it to protect the American people. I mean, when you talk to the troops we deployed in the 90s and we were all over the world doing things in Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Herzegovina, you name the place, there were problems and we were there. Not necessarily fighting to the degree that we've done post-9/11 but nonetheless deployments and some fighting. From 9-11 on, and we have a 9-11 generation in the military, we have a 9-11 generation in the Central Intelligence Agency -- The fact of the matter is when you talk to these troops, it's all about the American people. Before it was about helping others. This is about protecting the American people and they get it. That's why they willingly go back and do four, five, six tours. We have generals that have been away from their families for 8 out of 10 years. I mean it's quite extraordinary the sacrifice that is willingly be made. Tell that story. It's extraordinary because they are protecting the American people and our way of life. And they're willing to do something that most of the American people cannot do and that is die for that. And that is really quite extraordinary. So I say be honest with them. And then, in terms of this troublesome area, I know intellectually we like to talk about we're pivoting to the east because of the emergence of China. Does anyone in this room believe that in any near term we're going to go to war with China? Not that we shouldn't be vigilant about them. We can't be serious about that. The fact of the matter is we have huge problems in the Middle East that threaten the United States. And we have to stay engaged, Mr. Congressman, that is the word that we need to use. We partner with our allies in that region and we support people who want to overthrow dictatorial regimes -- like in Libya, like in Tunisia, like in Syria. In Libya and Syria, they just want us to help them. They don't want our troops. And in Iraq, where we did help them, we walked away and look at the mess we have as a result. That should inform us of how dangerous this situation is and how important American commitment is to stay engaged. And we have to do that if we're going to protect the American people.
Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson: Dr. Jones?
Dr. Seth Jones: I would say three things that are worth reminding constituents and all Americans that we talk to. One is, as much as we would like this war and this struggle to end, there are organizations committed to fighting Americans and conducting attacks overseas that will not end. They don't have a desire to end this and the struggle on their part will continue. Therefore, the struggle continues. As much as we want to end it, the terrorists we've talked about today are committed to continuing this struggle. Second, I would say, as everybody here has noted, the days of large numbers of American forces targeting terrorists overseas -- particularly conventional forces -- are over. And I think that as we have seen over the past several years, they have tended to radicalize populations rather than to facilitate. So what that does leave us is, I would say, a third point. There is a more modest approach. I think we have learned we're talking about smaller number of forces, lethal ones overseas -- as well as civilians; we're talking about smaller amounts of American dollars that are being sent. There is a need for direct action -- some direct action activity. We have stopped plots targeting the US homeland from overseas because of this action. We also have an interest in building some of the local partnership capacity so that we don't have to do all of this -- so that we don't have to do all the fighting and dying and that locals can do it. This is the direction we've moved on in several fronts. So I would say there has been a learning process. But let me just conclude by again just reminding constituents and Americans, that from the al Qaeda and jihadists perspective, the war continues and, in that sense, we cannot retreat.
Some quick take aways. Joe Lieberman has never understood 9-11, not even the official story. If you examine his claims about how inaction will cause another 9-11, you should realize quickly that the only inaction in the official story is the failure to heed warnings. The reasons given for the attack are not reasons calling for more US troops stationed around the world. In fact, one reason given for the attacks was US troops stationed in the Middle East. Second, it's really sad that two people who voted for the Iraq War -- Lieberman and Harman -- can do nothing to justify the war but hide behind dead soldiers. Contrary to their embarrassing remarks, you don't continue insanity because some people died. You learn from your mistakes. Or, in Lieberman and Harman's case, you never learn. Last main point we'll make: only a smaller number of forces will be used.
That's what the War Hawks said. And that can be seen as a victory. The force size -- even at its largest -- in Iraq was never as great in number as what the US sent to Vietnam. So it's worth noting that the Iraq Wae which was supposed to bury memory and fact (more popularly known as "the Vietnam syndrome") didn't work. And even War Hawks have to face that in the next go rounds the numbers sent will be even smaller.
Lieberman and others, of course, say send advisers so we should probably point out that this is the way they birth wars -- start it with advisers and kick it up to something greater.
I'll probably come back to the hearing tomorrow to note one more thing regarding Iraq. Also in today's State Dept press briefing:
QUESTION: Marie --
MS. HARF: Uh-huh. Yep.
QUESTION: I have one more – Iraqi members of parliament are in town. Have they met anyone from the State Department?
MS. HARF: Members of parliament?
QUESTION: Yeah.
MS. HARF: I can check. I don't know. I'll check.
That's what we need to cover and I'll kick that back to tomorrow. This is about the DC event that we covered in yesterday's snapshot. We'll try to pick up the Iraq from the hearing and one of the MPs from yesterday. Also Ruth and Kat were at this morning's hearing and plan to write about it at their sites tonight focusing on Benghazi. Ava and Wally were at the hearing and are debating if they've got anything else they can cover.
Yesterday, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq began a visit to DC. Speaking to Eli Lake (Daily Beast) al-Mutlaq called for the US to send election monitors to Iraq. He made his call for election monitors on the same day as a Nineveh Electoral Commission official was assassinated in Mosul. Today, National Iraqi News Agency reports, "Unknown gunmen assassinated on Wednesday 15, Jan. an employee at Nineveh Elections Office, near his home in eastern Mosul."
The elections are the parliamentary elections which are supposed to take place April 30th.
Some have argued that Nouri al-Maliki's current assault on Anbar Province is a campaign move as he seeks a third term as prime minister. Others have argued Nouri's assault is an attempt to delay the elections.
Alistair Lyon and Yara Bayoumy (Reuters) provide an analysis of Nouri's rule and we'll note this part on the 2010 parliamentary elections where Nouri's State of Law was beaten by Ayad Allawi's Iraqiya but the White House insisted Nouri be given a second term:
A former senior adviser to Maliki is cited by Iraq expert Toby Dodge of the London School of Economics as saying the prime minister began keeping decision-making far more to himself after the formation of his government in 2010.
"Maliki's paranoia went stratospheric and he wouldn't listen to any advice," Dodge quoted the adviser as saying.
The election also discouraged Sunnis who, after boycotting earlier U.S.-sponsored elections, had put their faith in the ballot box and supported Iraqiya - only to see it stymied after its success. "It's against that background that violence and alienation has flourished in Anbar," Dodge said.
In 2010, the Iraqi people voted and the White House stripped them of their votes. Since then things have gotten progressively worse each year in Iraq leading up to the just finished 2013 which Prensa Latina describes as follows: "The city [Baghdad] is sunken in a wave of violence that left a death toll of 9 500 people last year, caused by the resurgence of the conflict between the Sunni Muslim Community, which feels discriminated, and the Shiite-led government."
"Iraq: At least 62 killed today and 83 injured"
"Buffer Zones for the Safety of Patients, Doctors a..."
"Free Hawaii! Native Hawaiian Independence (Francis..."
" Mumia and Netflix"
"Revolution"
"US Rep Brian Higgins weighs in on Iraq"
"Barack kicks the can again"
"One more time on net neutrality"
"Beto O'Rourke talks about Iraq"
"Homeland Security Committee hearing"
"Benghazi addressed in Congress"
"The awful New Yorker"
"He calls it work"
"THIS JUST IN! HE'S HARD AT WORK!"
THIS JUST IN! HE'S HARD AT WORK!
52% OF AMERICANS CONTINUE TO DISAPPROVE OF FADED CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O'S JOB PERFORMANCE.
THIS IS CAUSING MASSIVE DISTRESS TO THE DAHLI BAMA.
SPEAKING TO THESE REPORTERS TODAY, BARRY O DECLARED, "I DON'T GET IT. I'M WORKING MY BUTT OFF. I JUST MET WITH THE MIAMI HEAT. I'M PLANNING TO MEET WITH THE POPE IN A FEW DAYS AND AFTER A FEW FACIALS. AND JUST A WEEK AGO, I SANG LADY GAGA'S 'DO WHAT U WANT!' THE GAGA SONG ALONE, IN 2010, WOULD HAVE KEPT MY FANS TALKING, TWEETING AND TEXTING FOR A WHOLE MONTH! WHAT DO PEOPLE WANT FROM ME ANYWAY?"
It's rather sad that on the day the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon begins a visit to Iraq, the US State Dept doesn't even note the visit. Monday, Ban Ki-moon spent the day in Baghdad. Among those he met with? Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Deutsche Welle explains, "Visiting refugees from neighboring war-torn Syria in the Kurdish-hub of Irbil in northern Iraq on Monday, Ban had urged Iraqi leaders to seek 'political dialogue' and said he was saddened to 'so many young children and vulnerable groups who suffer from this man-made tragedy'." UPI notes, "Their meeting followed a bloody Sunday that left 22 dead and 80 injured. On his fifth trip to Iraq, the UN leader expressed concern about the deteriorating security situation and encouraged political unity and civic participation." ABC News Radio says the violence "overshadowed" the Secretary-General's visit to the capital.
Today, he visited the KRG in northern Iraq. The UN News Centre reports:
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits the Kawrgosik Refugee Camp near Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, where more than 200,000 Syrian refugees are being hosted by the regional government. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Visiting with Syrian refugees in northern Iraq, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called "heart-breaking" what he saw in Kawrgosik camp, saying he was particularly saddened to see so many young children, women and vulnerable people suffering from "this man-made tragedy."
"I am here to send our strong solidarity and support to all the refugees who came from Syria, on behalf of the United Nations and the international community," said Mr. Ban alongside the High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, and Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator.
"We are also here to listen to the concerns and aspirations of all the refugees here," the UN chief said, recalling the people with whom he met in their tents. "Families shared their struggles to survive, find their loved ones and cope with the sadness of those who have been lost."
The Kurdistan Regional Government is hosting more than 220,000 Syrian refugees. Mr. Ban highly commended "its commitment to humanitarian principles" in establishing refugee camps, transit sites and a humanitarian corridor to north-east Syria.
And they note:
In a private meeting in Erbil with the President of the Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, and Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, Mr. Ban urged the Government to keep the border open for refugees fleeing the conflict.
The request was echoed by Mr. Guterres, who said it "breaks my heart" to see Syrian refugees risking their lives to escape from the country, such as the reported 200 people who drowned in a Nile River ferry accident.
"Your border is open," he said, urging Governments to take in refugees and assume full-burden sharing with neighbouring countries "in the noble need to respond to this dramatic situation."
The KRG notes the Erbil meet-up with President Barzani and Ban Ki-Moon was also attended by Prime Minister Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Imad Ahmed as well as other officials. Ban Ki-Moon expressed his thanks for the KRG hosting the Syrian refugees and that the situations in Syria and Iraq were discussed.
Amir Taheri (Asharaq Al-Awsat) observes:
Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki has claimed that the city, which drove governmental forces out last week, is now controlled by Al-Qaeda. His aides have warned that the new Iraqi army has received orders to "liberate" the city with a shoot-to-kill strategy. "We are not going to take any prisoners," says Muwaffaq Al-Rubai, a veteran advisor to Maliki. Using the Al-Qaeda bogeyman, Maliki has managed to persuade the Obama administration in Washington to speed up arms deliveries, including drones using Hellfire missiles, to Iraqi government forces.
However, the black-and-white picture painted by Maliki does not tell the whole story. To start with, although radical Islamist groups are involved in the current crisis in Fallujah, it is simply wrong to brand them all with the Al-Qaeda label. Elements from the groups operating under the label of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are certainly present in Fallujah and, to a lesser extent, in Ramadi, another town in Anbar. But the insurgency that has wrested control of Fallujah away from Maliki has also attracted armed Arab Sunni tribes that helped drive Al-Qaeda out of the city almost a decade ago. Some of the radical Sunni armed groups came to Fallujah from neighboring Syria, where they have suffered a series of defeats at the hands of rival Islamist groups. In a sense, Maliki provoked them into direct control by launching operations at the Kilometer 90 junction where the borders of Iraq meet with those of Jordan and Syria, a major crossing point for radical Islamists fighting against President Bashar Al-Assad in Syria.
Nouri's assault on Anbar Province continues. Alsumaria reports that Anbar Province's Health Committee announced today the vast number of victims (300 dead and 251 injured) in the two week assault have been women and children. Mu Xuequan (Xinhua) reports, "Gunmen on Tuesday regained control of more districts in Ramadi, the capital of the volatile Anbar province in western Iraq, after fierce clashes with Iraqi army backed by Sunni tribes. [. . .] On Tuesday, they managed to retake control of most areas in central and northern city, a provincial police source told Xinhua." Al Jazeera adds, "Rebel fighters have staged coordinated attacks near the western Iraqi city of Falluja, destroying two army tanks and capturing a police station, police have said." AFP notes of Ramadi, "Most civil servants have returned to work and many shops reopened, but schools remained closed." Meanwhile World Bulletin reports the Anbar tribal leaders held a press conference today:
Tribal chieftains held a conference on Tuesday in provincial capital Ramadi at which they issued a joint statement condemning what they called "the unjust war waged by the government of [Prime Minister Nouri] al-Maliki" on the province.
The province was rocked by clashes early this month when Iraqi security forces dismantled a months-old anti-government sit-in. The sit-in was staged by Sunni tribesmen to protest perceived anti-Sunni discrimination by the Shiite-dominated government.
Chieftains said that the crackdown on the province had led armed tribesmen to take up arms against government troops "in defense of their souls and the pride of the tribes that al-Maliki tried to undermine."
UNHCR issued a statement today which included:
The UN refugee agency said on Tuesday that it has been able to deliver aid over the past week to some of the estimated 70,000 people displaced by fighting and insecurity in central Iraq's Anbar province.
"Aid from the UN and partner agencies has been reaching some of the affected communities since January 8, and yesterday a further 12 trucks of UNHCR relief reached neighbourhoods around Fallujah, carrying non-food aid," spokesman Adrian Edwards said, adding that the International Rescue Committee was conducting the distribution for UNHCR.
"At present, insecurity and access difficulties are still hampering the overall effort. The UN is advocating with the government of Iraq to ensure access to displaced persons and safe passage of humanitarian aid," he added.
Other responses to Nouri's assault on Anbar? Deutsche Presse-Agentur reports, "Up to 10,000 Iraqi commandos would get antiterrorism training from the United States to bolster Baghdad's fight against al-Qaida under a plan currently being negotiated, diplomats said on Tuesday. Washington and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki are finalizing a security pact that would arrange for antiterrorism training for between 8,000 and 10,000 Iraqi commandos in Jordan, US diplomats based in Amman said." Tom Roeder (Colorado Gazette) reports on Fort Carson service members in Kuwait:
Soldiers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team are preparing for three major training exercises in the next 40 days, with the biggest matching their tanks against a Kuwaiti battalion. The training allows the 3,800-soldier unit to fulfill its mission of helping America's friends while honing skills that leaders hope deter threats in the roiling region.
"It has taken on increased significance and meaning, many of us in the brigade are veterans of Iraq," said Col. Omar Jones, brigade commander and a veteran of fighting in Fallujah, Baghdad and Mosul.
The brigade deployed to Kuwait in the fall, replacing Fort Carson's 1st Brigade Combat Team for a nine-month stint.
Keeping Fort Carson troops at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, near the Iraqi border is seen as a safeguard against violence that could spread beyond Iraq. The Colorado Springs soldiers also are the nation's first responders if trouble arises in the Persian Gulf region.
And there are other reactions to note as well. Michael Holmes (CNN) reports on Iraq today including interviewing Iraqiya leader Ayad Allawi:
Ayad Allawi: And I warned all the leaders in the world and the region that unless this is averted then Iraq really is on the -- has started the civil war but hasn't reached the point of no return. Once it reaches the point of no return then, unfortunately, the whole region will burn up.
Michael Holmes [. . .] what he's saying about the US is that they backed al-Maliki which he says is fine. They have no put enough pressure on him to reign in this sectarianism, to be more inclusive. Here's part of what he [Allawi] said about the US.
Ayad Allawi: They should support Maliki, it's up to them. But they should also clarify to Maliki that their support is conditional on the inclusivity of the political process and respecting the Constitution and respecting human rights. But unfortunately, the Americans are not doing this.
Michael Holmes: And he's a very worried man. You know, I've had that sense coming back this time. He's very worried that this could slip down that road to all-out sectarian war. He says at the moment it's an asymeterical war with the car bombings, the assassinations. He said it wouldn't take much for it to become a symeterical war -- that is armed rebellion, if you like, by the Sunnis in this country. And that would be a disaster for the region and the country.
"Women and children make up the dead and wounded in..."
"Ariel Sharon: Honoring a Genocidaire (Francis A. B..."
"revenge (the good)"
"Best male acting performance of the 20th century"
"Net neutrality"
"The stolen artifacts"
"The Mindy Project: Casey slams into Cliff"
"Aaron Swartz"
"Iraq and the avoidance"
"She's rejoining the Mac"
"The brief flare up"
"Out of control"
"THIS JUST IN! HE DISREGARDS THE LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION!"
THIS JUST IN! HE DISREGARDS THE LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION!
FADED CELEBRITY IN CHIEF BARRY O DECLARED TODAY THAT "WE ARE NOT JUST WAITING FOR LEGISLATION" AND IF CONGRESS WON'T CREATE THE LAWS, THE WHITE HOUSE INTENDS TO JUST FORCE THINGS THROUGH WITHOUT IT.
THE DAHLI BAMA SEEMS TO HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT THE PRESIDENT IS THE HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WHICH EXECUTES LAWS. CONGRESS IS THE HEAD OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH WHICH MAKES LAWS.
BARRY'S PANTIES UP THE CRACK SEEMED TO HAVE EFFECTED THE BRAIN.
IT'S EXACTLY THIS REFUSAL TO FOLLOW THE LAWS THAT HAS BARRY O BEFORE THE SUPREME CURRENTLY.
Tweet of the day:
Mohammed Ansar @MoAnsar 9h
Iraq: before and after democracy was imposed by the West. Let's hope they realise how lucky they are. (via @MPACUK) pic.twitter.com/fkY3ku47TS
As more eyes turn to Iraq internationally, Michael Holmes (CNN -- link is video and text) observes:
The government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was supposed to usher in a political era of inclusion and reconciliation. His critics say those first days after the American departure were a signal of opposite intentions that have continued to this day.
The Sunni minority that had ruled Iraq via the iron fist of Saddam Hussein was at the political and social mercy of al-Maliki's Shia-dominated government. Today, they say, "inclusiveness" never materialized, Sunnis have been marginalized and resentment has festered in a divide-and-conquer political climate. As one local put it, "It's like if you're against us, you're a terrorist and we'll arrest you."
And the Sunnis are correct. US President Barack Obama backed Nouri for a second term as prime minister even though Nouri's State of Law came in second to Ayad Allawi's Iraqiya. As Ned Parker explained in "Who Lost Iraq?" (POLITICO) last week:
And the US government brokered The Erbil Agreement to give Nouri the second term. This was a power-sharing agreement, a legal contract, one that US officials told the leaders of Iraq's political blocs would have the full backing of the White House.
But Nouri used this contract to secure a second term in November 2010 and refused to then implement the concessions he agreed to in the contract to get the second term.
And the White House?
They played dumb.
Nouri stalled on implementing The Erbil Agreement. Then came the summer of 2011 and Iraqiya, the Kurds and Moqtada al-Sadr all began publicly demanding that Nouri implement The Erbil Agreement as planned. He refused to. He's still refused to. He's a liar who never keeps his word.
From December 2006 to July 2011, Robert Gates was the US Secretary of Defense. Tony Capaccio (Bloomberg News) gets Gates' opinion on Iraq today:
Maliki "has turned out to be far less inclusive and more of a sectarian leader then we had hoped" after the U.S. "handed the Iraqis a golden opportunity in 2009, 2010," Gates said today in an interview in New York. "Since then, he's really been sort of antagonistic towards the Sunnis in a kind of unrelenting way."
Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq also points the finger at Nouri. David Kenner (Foreign Policy) reports:
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq -- a former member of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party before being expelled in 1977 -- told Foreign Policy that the government in Baghdad was using al Qaeda as a pretext to crack down on its political opponents. Marginalization of Sunni Arabs, Mutlaq added, was leading to their radicalization. And even as he deplored the U.S. invasion for being the root cause of Iraq's problems, he called on Washington to intervene in Iraqi politics to save the country from disaster.
"Yes, I do blame [the Americans]," he said. "And I expect them to do some changes in Iraq now. Not necessarily through military operations, but through political pressure and economic pressure on Iraqi politicians, to make sure that Iraqis feel that they are equal in their own country."
Now might be a good time to remember when Saleh al-Mutlaq last gave an interview to a US news outlet. We need to drop back to December of 2011 for that. Arwa Damon and Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) reported:
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is amassing dictatorial power as U.S. troops leave the country, risking a new civil war and the breakup of the nation, his deputy warned Tuesday.
Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq told CNN that he was "shocked" to hear U.S. President Barack Obama greet al-Maliki at the White House on Monday as "the elected leader of a sovereign, self-reliant and democratic Iraq." He said Washington is leaving Iraq "with a dictator" who has ignored a power-sharing agreement, kept control of the country's security forces and rounded up hundreds of people in recent weeks.
"America left Iraq with almost no infrastructure. The political process is going in a very wrong direction, going toward a dictatorship," he said. "People are not going to accept that, and most likely they are going to ask for the division of the country. And this is going to be a disaster. Dividing the country isn't going to be smooth, because dividing the country is going to be a war before that and a war after that."
Remember how Nouri responded to that? Dropping back to December 17, 2011:
Like Tareq al-Hashemi, Saleh al-Mutlaq is a member of the Iraqiya political slate. Dar Addustour is reporting that the homes of al-Hashemi and al-Mutlaq as well as the home of Rafi Hiyad al-Issawi have been surrounded by "tanks and special forces." Dr. Rafi Hiyad al-Issawi was the previous Deputy prime minister (2007 through 2010). He was the head of Falluja General Hospital prior to that and he is currently the Minister of Finance. Like the other two, al-Issawi is a member of Iraqiya.
And from the December 19, 2011 snapshot:
Late Saturday night online (Sunday in print), Liz Sly (Washington Post) noted that the 'government' in Iraq is "unraveling faster than had been anticipated Saturday." Really? All in one day. Well, no, not in one day. She continued, "In recent days, the homes of top Sunni politicians in the fortified Green Zone have been ringed by tanks and armored personnel carriers, and rumors are flying that arrest warrants will be issued for other Sunni leaders."
That's how Nouri responded to criticism just two years ago. Let's wait and see if he handles it any better today.
Today the Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Michael Knights argues at USA Today:
Providing counter-terrorism advisors and air support during crises such as the present one does nothing to invalidate President Obama's claim to have ended the U.S. military occupation of Iraq. No "boots on the ground" should not be taken to extremes. And if a post-occupation Iraq cannot openly ask for help from its recent occupier, this should not stop the U.S. from occasionally pursuing terrorists in Iraq when they become vulnerable. After all, is al-Qaeda in Iraq any less threatening than al-Qaeda's ideologues in Pakistan, where America risked undermining the government of a nuclear-armed Islamic state to kill Osama bin Laden without the host government's permission?
Joining in the arm-arm-Iraq chorus, the editorial board of the Middleton Press insists:
Critics worry that Maliki's Shiite-dominated government might turn U.S. weapons on perceived foes in the Sunni tribal ranks; given the increasingly sectarian style of his rule, that's a legitimate fear. That's why the Obama administration should make its military aid explicitly conditional on a new political effort by Maliki for a rapprochement with Sunnis. Sunni leaders, who dominated during the long reign of Saddam Hussein, have also been slow to adjust to their minority status. But Maliki is in charge and must take the initiative.
How do conditions placed on Nouri work?
In his first term, which began in 2006, he took an oath to uphold the Iraqi Constitution. That Constitution includes Article 140 which calls for a referendum and census to be held on Kirkuk by the end of 2007. He refused to do that.
Then, in 2010, he wanted a second term the voters didn't give him so the US brokered The Erbil Agreement -- a legal contract. He used it to get his second term and then refused to honor his contractual promises -- which included, yes, implementing Article 140.
In February 2011, he insisted that if protesters would leave the streets, he would end corruption in 100 days. 100 days came and went. No end to corruption.
When he became prime minister for the second time, he was supposed to assemble a Cabinet. In fact, that's the only condition to move from prime minister-designate to prime minister. But Nouri never did that. In fact, he still hasn't. Back in July, 2012, Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) observed, "Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has struggled to forge a lasting power-sharing agreement and has yet to fill key Cabinet positions, including the ministers of defense, interior and national security, while his backers have also shown signs of wobbling support." True then and still true.
You might think if the country was gripped by violence, Nouri would finally get around to filling those positions but you'd be wrong.
So I'd love to know how the editorial board of the Middleton Press thinks they can impose conditions that Nouri will follow since he's failed to follow every condition (including the White House benchmarks) and every law previously.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies' Anthony H. Cordesman offers an assessment of Nouri today:
He has refused to honor the Erbil power-sharing agreement that was supposed to create a national government that could tie together Arab Sunni and Arab Shi'ite, and he has increased tensions with Iraq's Kurds. As the U.S. State Department human rights reports for Iraq, Amnesty International, and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) make all too clear; Maliki's search for power has steadily repressed and alienated Iraq's Sunnis on a national level. It has led to show trials and death sentences against one of Iraq's leading Sunni politicians including former Vice President Taqris al-Hashimi, who has been living in asylum in Turkey since being convicted nad sentenced to death in absentia by an Iraqi court. It has shifted the promotion structure in the Iraqi Security Forces to both give the Prime Minister personal control and has turned them into an instrument he can use against Sunnis.
Al Qaeda in Iraq - nor its recent incarnation the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) - has not risen up as a rebirth of the opposition the U.S. faced in 2005-2008. In spite of attempts by the Maliki government to label virtually any major Sunni opposition as terrorists, the steady increase in that opposition orginated primarily in the form of peaceful and legitimate political protests against Maliki's purges of elected Iraqi Sunni leaders, and a regular exclusion of Sunnis from the government – including the Sons of Iraq in areas like Anbar. It came because Maliki used the Iraqi Security Forces against segments of his own population in the name of fighting terrorists and extremists. It came because of the failure to use Iraq's oil wealth effectively and fairly – resulting with an economy that the CIA ranks Iraq 140th in the world in per capita income. The opposition to Maliki's government also resulted from corruption so extreme that in December 2013 Transparency International ranked Iraq the seventh most corrupt country in the world, with only Libya, South Sudan, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, and Somalia ranking worse than Iraq in terms of corruption.
Nouri's word is useless. He's refused to ever keep it and he is the root cause of violence in Iraq. Furthermore, if the editorial board of the Middletown Press needs a condition, here's a condition:
Consistent with U.S. law and policy, the Department of State vets its assistance to foreign security forces, as well as certain Department of Defense training programs, to ensure that recipients have not committed gross human rights abuses. When the vetting process uncovers credible information that an individual or unit has committed a gross violation of human rights, U.S. assistance is withheld.
That condition? Happens to be a US law. It's the Leahy Amendment, names after Senator Patrick Leahy. In spit of that law, people are advocating for the US government to continue to arm a despot who regularly uses weapons on the Iraqi people.
"420 violent deaths in Iraq so far this month"
"Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Duty""
"Hejira"
"Kat's Korner: Limp Bruce"
"HRW: Protext Anbar Residents From Abuses"
"Flurry of talks as Anbar assault continues"
"Some of the ongoing violence"
"Iraq War encouraged growth of al Qaeda (Simon Assa..."
"International meeting to seek justice for Iraq (Jo..."
"Feds try to strip Vet of 2nd Amendment Rights (Tim..."
"Streaming Francis Boyle"
"revenge (the bad)"
"The Good Wife echoes season 7 of The Practice"
"Turley on war profiteering"
"2 Broke Girls and Adolf and aliens"
"Barack, employment, Isaiah, Third"
"Mia Farrow and her son Ronan need to stop lying and shut up"
"Armond White and other things"
"I don't get the point of Ms. magazine's blog"
"Politicans and the lack of jobs"
Editorial: Look at the ahistorical
TV: Running off the audiences
Film Classics of the 20th Century
Barack returns to work
Canada outshines the US
Barack wants to arm Nouri . . .
International meeting to seek justice for Iraq (WW...
Iraq War encouraged growth of al Qaeda (Simon Assa...
"He briefly looks to the economy"
"THIS JUST IN! THE ECONOMY -- FOR A MINUTE OR TWO!"
THIS JUST IN! HE DISREGARDS THE LAW AND THE CONSTI...


This is the only time I've aimed to reproduce a look of hers exactly. A baseball tee, jeans, sneakers. Simple. So me. I loved it the first time I saw it.
Really the big thing for this is shortening the sleeves of the shirt. Finding a raglan shirt with 3/4 sleeves in the right colors wasn't happening. So I bought one with full sleeves with the intention of shortening them to the right length.


Last week I returned from a family trip to (and, more specifically, to the bottom of) the Grand Canyon. During my various treks throughout the canyon labyrinth, I conjured up numerous disaster scenarios. Naturally, my thoughts – as they often do – drifted to litigation. If I were injured, who would I sue? Under what theories? Would I succeed?
Last month, the New York State Court of Claims provided some guidance on similar issues. A copy of the decision, Arsenault v. State of New York, 018-220-2011 (June 3, 2011), can be found here. In sum, the case arose from injuries sustained by the claimants and wrongful death of one hiker due to a rockslide in Taughannock Falls State Park.
Claimants alleged that the State failed to maintain the park in a reasonably safe condition, despite numerous signs apparently warning of danger (including due to falling rocks). The Court denied the State's summary judgment motion, finding that material issues of fact required a trial.
The Court began by highlighting that summary judgment is a "drastic remedy which should only be granted where there are no issues of fact and the claim can be decided as a matter of law", that the court's role on such a motion is limited to issue identification, and that the evidence must be assessed in a light most favorable to the party opposing the motion.
The State, as a landowner, like any private citizen, owes the same duty of care to keep its property in reasonably safe condition in view of all of the circumstances. … The scope of that duty varies depending upon the foreseeable harm. … Where a dangerous condition exists of which the State has notice, either actual or constructive, it must take some action to remedy the danger. … As part of the State's duty to keep its property reasonably safe, it has a duty to warn of a dangerous condition that is not open and obvious. … Even where the landowner has warned of a dangerous condition, or where the defect is found to be open and obvious, liability may still be imposed if the property is not reasonably safe under all of the circumstances …, or if the landowner has reason to expect or anticipate that a person may be distracted so as not to discover what is obvious, forget what he has discovered, or fail to protect himself against it.
Given Claimants' submissions indicating that many people disregarded the posted signs and went to the site of the Falls, and that the State was well aware of this fact, raises questions as to the sufficiency of the signs, [i.e.], the reasonableness of the State's preventative actions. Claimants assert, without contradiction, that they did not see the signs and were not aware of the risk of falling rocks. At the location of the footbridge, the submissions reflect that those walking in the creek bed had to traverse over many rocks and stones, which Claimants assert may have taken their attention away from seeing the signs. Although they are bound to see what, with the normal use of their senses, is there to be seen, given that so many people disregarded the signs raises questions of fact as to whether the signs alone were sufficient to make the property reasonably safe. … Whether the State undertook reasonable measures in this case requires a factual weighing of the severity of potential injuries against the burden on the landowner to avoid the risk.
Among other things, this case illustrates (yet again) the stringent burden faced by a summary judgment movant, as well as the fact that warning signs do not always foreclose a finding of liability due to an allegedly unsafe property condition.


So, it has been a bit of time since last there was an update. This has been a little bit by design; the political climate of 2016, and some events in my own life took a lot out of me, and it was difficult to keep focused on my work. I realized I'd been spending a great deal of energy focusing on the problems of others, and wasn't doing the level of self care I needed to be doing--effectively, I'd forgotten to put on my oxygen mask first, and was suffering for it. So I have been largely taking a break since fall, and haven't done any shows since early November, selling only directly through the Dead Things by Sarah Facebook page (where you can always find new pieces!).
That being said, the break did the trick, and my oxygen mask is now firmly planted on my face, I just updated the photos here of some recent work, and I am ready for this upcoming show season!
Here are some tentative upcoming dates!


Southern California in general and Orange County, in particular, has one of the world's most pleasant, warm and inviting climates that is perfect for boating. This amazing climate coupled with our proximity to the ocean, many inland lakes, and the Colorado River its connected lakes in neighboring Arizona and Nevada is a winning combination for boating enthusiasts.
It is no surprise that boating is very popular for Californians during the spring and summer months. If you have been involved in a boating accident and are the victim of another's carelessness, negligence or even equipment failure you may have a case. If so, having an experienced and skilled personal injury attorney represent you with your boating accident case will give almost always get a larger monetary settlement than if you were to attempt to negotiate a claim on your own.
Many individuals pilot motorboats, yachts, fishing boats, sail boats, ski boats, speed boats, and Personal Water Craft (PWC, or "Jet Skis") for leisure, relaxation, and recreation here in Southern California, at the beach, or at the Colorado River and connecting lakes in Arizona and Nevada such as Lake Mohave, Lake Powell, Lake Havasu, Lake Mead and others.
When you planned your boating excursion, the last thing you expected to happen was a boating accident, but many people are confronted with this harsh reality every year. Boating accidents often result in catastrophic injuries that could affect a person for the rest of their life. When someone else is responsible for causing the accident you will want to take legal action against them by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Often the victims of boating accidents will try to represent themselves in their boating accident claims, only to find that their claims are denied or delayed.
Whether a defective watercraft, a negligent swimmer, or another boat or Jet Ski pilot is responsible for causing your boat accident, your personal injury attorney will do everything they can to establish liability so that compensation will be provided.
The process of obtaining this compensation requires extensive knowledge of the law and litigation experience. It is important for boating accident victims to obtain a qualified Southern California Personal Injury accident lawyer, who will defend the victim's rights and help to obtain proper compensation.


text:
Neva Haites es una científica y médica que investiga la genética molecular y las enfermedades en los humanos, y se especializa en genética del cáncer. Tiene más de 90 publicaciones en genética sobre predisposición hereditaria al cáncer, retinosis pigmentaria, neuropatía periférica hereditaria y neuropatía sensorial.

Haites es profesora de genética médica y directora de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida y Medicina en la Universidad de Aberdeen. En 2004, fue nombrada subdirectora de la Universidad de Aberdeen, representando a la primera mujer en la universidad que ocupó ese cargo. También es miembro de la Autoridad de Fertilización Humana y Embriología (HFEA), miembro del Comité Asesor Gubernamental de la Comisión de Aspectos Médicos de la Radiación en el Medio Ambiente (COMARE), y miembro del Comité Biomédico y Terapéutico de la Oficina del Científico Jefe (CSO) de la Oficina de Escocia.

Haites recibió una Orden del Imperio Británico (OBE) por sus servicios de Medicina durante los Honores de Año Nuevo de 2006, elegida Miembro de la Academia de Ciencias Médicas (FMedSci) en 2000, elegida miembro de la Royal Society of Edimburgo (FRSE) en 2010 y ha ganado becas con el Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) y en el Royal College of Pathologists (FRCP).

Haites es vicepresidenta de Ciencias de la Vida de la Royal Society of Edimburgo.

Aunque reside en Escocia, Haites nació en Brisbane, Australia.

Referencias

Profesores de la Universidad de Aberdeen
Miembros de la Royal Society of Edinburgh
Miembros de la Academia de Ciencias Médicas
Oficiales de la Orden del Imperio Británico
Genetistas de Australia
Wikipedia:Páginas con traducciones sin revisar
Nacidos en Brisbane

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Butte County Prosecutor Wants State Agency Fined Up To $51 Billion For Oroville Spillway Failure
February 8, 2018 /in California and the U.S. /by Ed Joyce /Los Angeles Timesby Joseph Serna
Butte County prosecutors are seeking up to $51 billion in fines and penalties against California's water agency for damage caused to local river-based wildlife after the Oroville Dam spillway failure last year, officials said. In a civil complaint filed Wednesday, Dist. Atty. Mike Ramsey accused the Department of Water Resources of failing to build the Oroville Dam's spillway on sturdy bedrock, which led to its rapid deterioration last February amid the heaviest winter storms the region had seen in years.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png 0 0 Ed Joyce https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png Ed Joyce2018-02-08 09:40:232018-06-26 17:51:35Butte County Prosecutor Wants State Agency Fined Up To $51 Billion For Oroville Spillway Failure


text:
Taking pets to work is NOT work-life balance!
I'm really happy for the staff at CWA New Media in Wellington. The Dom-Post says they get to take their pets to work on Thursdays. Fine - though I'm not sure I'd be thrilled to have a blue-tongued skink wandering around the office in search of cuddles...
But here comes the catch:
"Their bosses say it's a way for modern workplaces to address work/life balance, by bringing people's favourite part of home into the office."
Well, no, not exactly. "Work/life balance" is a stupid phrase, but what it's supposed to mean is being able to fit together your paid work and all the other stuff you need to do without becoming totally stressed out. For most of the women I know, it's more about "paid work/unpaid work balance".
What we call "full-time work" means the amount of paid work someone [being very gender-neutral here] can do when they have someone else at home to do all that other stuff. It wasn't ever meant to be done by the people who DO all that other stuff.
But now all these people, usually known as women, have moved en masse into paid work, and even into full-time jobs. What to do? Introduce work/life balance. We mustn't go too far, of course. Pets at work, maybe. Kids at work - definitely not.
But wait, there's more. In a new book of essays just out from Victoria University Press, Rethinking Women and Politics, Tania Domett looks at the reality of this great new idea. The news isn't good: those who make use of such policies are generally seen as not really committed to their work.
These policies, she says, are a "band-aid" remedy for what is fundamentally an issue of gender injustice. While they do "facilitate women's dual roles and allow them at least limited access to the labour market", they also mask and perpetuate existing gender inequalities.
She quotes Philippa Hall of the [now dismantled] Pay and Employment Equity Unit: "Women have got to get more money and men have to get more time. Men have to work less [for pay] and women have to get paid more for things to change."
Sorry, but it's not about the pets.
Declaration of interest: I have an essay in Rethinking Women and Politics.
Posted by AnneE at 10:40 PM
Great work, guys
Julie and Julia/Elizabeth and me
The personal life?


text:
Billingham är en stad och civil parish i grevskapet Durham, norra England vid floden Tees mittemot Middlesbrough.

Staden var tidigare känd för sin kemisk industri, järnindustri och sina skeppsvarv.

Källor
 Svensk uppslagsbok, andra upplagan 1947

Orter i Durham
Civil parishes i Durham


Actors just tell beautiful stories with their series and films script. Similarly, this quote applies to the most notable actress, Faye Marsay who tells various beautiful stories to the audiences through her movies and TV shows. She received massive respect and popularity due to the famous for her outstanding role in the series Game of Thrones.
Born on December 30, 1986, in Middlesbrough, Cleveland, North Yorkshire, England, Faye Marsay has reached the age of 33. She was born under the constellation sign Capricorn which describes her as a disciplined person.
Paul and Faye and an 80's carpet. ?
Regarding her educational background, Faye joined Laurence Jackson School then went to Prior Pursglove College. Later, she attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Body Measurements: Faye Marsay maintains a pear body shape along with the measurements of 34 inches breast, 24 inches waist, and 33 inches hips.
Height: She stands at 5 feet 2 inches or 157 cm tall in height which is similar to an actress, Kiernan Shipka.
Weight: Marsay weighs 50 kg or 110 lbs which is similar to the actress, Daniella Deutscher.
Eyes Color: She has attractive blue eyes. The ocean blue color describes her personality as peaceful.
The relationship status of Faye Marsay is a bit confusing. She has sealed her lips regarding her dating, boyfriend, and affairs. But who knows she is secretly dating her mysterious boyfriend. Though she is active on social media like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, she has not shared any pictures of her boyfriend.
It seems that Faye is single in her life. She might be enjoying her single life at present. She is currently focusing on her career rather than her love life. Well, there are also rumors about her being a lesbian due to her roles in some movies. However, this rumors is yet not confirmed. Looking at her relationship status, it also gave a hint that she is waiting for her is waiting for her perfect match or husband in future. Hope she soon finds her life partner in the coming days.
Faye Marsay is one of the brilliant and successful actresses who won millions of heart through her performances in several movies. Some of her notable movies and TV shows are Pride, Darkest Hour, You, Me and Him, A Private War, The White Queen, Fresh Meat, Game of Thrones, Black Mirror, and many more.
Marsay has shared her screen with the actors like Ben Schnetzer, Andrew Scott, Imelda Staunton, Jessica Gunning, Jessie Cave, Justin Bartha, Donna Murphy, Jordan Gelber, Rebecca Ferguson, Andrew Gower, Rosamund Pike, Tom Hollander, Sean Nelson, Sophie Turner, Rory McCann and much more.
Game of Thrones star, Faye Marsay collects a net worth over $1 million from her successful career. She might receive a salary in thousands of dollars but has not opened her lips regarding her income, salary, net worth.
In the United States of America, actress earns an average salary of $50,195 per hour. Similarly, actors also get $1,007 as the bonus and $700 as profit sharing. Likewise, actors also get an average commission as $54,000. Nevertheless, she has not shared any information regarding her net worth but she might receive a salary at a similar range.
Faye used to work in a restaurant and in a night cloakroom before acting.
She loves football and played it with boys until she was 11 and for a girls' club before she was 16 in Middlesbrough.
Marsay was born in the year of Tiger according to the Chinese zodiac.
Also, Read Twitter, Affairs, Boyfriend, Career, Net Worth of Kane Brown.


text:
After 16 years of dreaming, injured City star will have a few more weeks for it to become reality
michael.bailey@archant.co.uk
@michaeljbailey
Ben Godfrey and Christoph Zimmermann were Daniel Farke's go-to central defensive pairing during the Championship run-in last season. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images
Paul Chesterton
Christoph Zimmermann has had to wait 16 years for his Premier League dream to become reality - so another six weeks shouldn't be a problem.
Timm Klose and Grant Hanley will be hoping they get a shot at Norwich City's Premier League opener, following injury to Christoph Zimmermann. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images
Norwich City confirmed on Wednesday the 26-year-old German centre-back will be sidelined for the whole of pre-season, and may well miss the Canaries' opening few games of the top-flight campaign as a result.
However for a man fresh from signing a new four-year deal with City that was playing in the fourth tier of German football little more than two seasons ago, Zimmermann will be hoping his Premier League chance won't be put off for long.
"When you are young and 10 years old, of course your dream is to play in the Premier League," said Zimmermann, before his injury was publicly confirmed.
"But the older you get, the more realistic you become because especially with my case, I didn't think it was likely for me to play in the Premier League so it's more than I have ever expected.
Grant Hanley and Timm Klose proved a useful double act during Norwich City's 2017-18 campaign - although a lot has happened since then. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images
"Even two years ago, I couldn't see the connection of how it was possible for me to first of all come over to England but then to play in the Championship and also have the opportunity to get promoted and then to play in the best league of the world.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet to be honest. I think it's the same for people around the club but as soon as the season starts, we know we will belong in the Premier League."
Daniel Farke will certainly hope to avoid further centre-back setbacks in pre-season, after Zimmermann underwent surgery last week.
City kick-off their Premier League return at Anfield against Liverpool on Friday, August 9 - little more than four weeks away. Norwich then host Newcastle and Chelsea at Carrow Road on successive weekends, after which the club will be hoping Zimmermann - a man with proven natural fitness - will be available; albeit he will have missed the entirety of pre-season.
With Zimmermann the most used centre-back by head coach Daniel Farke last term - including the German taking the captaincy for most of the Championship title-winning campaign - it will leave Grant Hanley, Timm Klose and Ben Godfrey to vie for City's starting XI come their big opener at the European champions.
At the same time, Farke will no doubt hope to get through his pre-season plans - which relocate to Germany for their two-game, 10-day tour from tomorrow - without any more injury blows to his central defensive cover.
Club captain Hanley, who had been touted with a possible loan exit earlier this summer, has 31 Premier League appearances to date - all coming during his Blackburn spell. His last appearance - and solitary top-flight goal - came in Rovers' 2011-12 campaign.
Klose's 10 Premier League outings - and goal in victory against Newcastle - were within the first few months of his move from Wolfsburg; his knee injury ultimately hitting the Canaries' survival hopes hard in 2016.
Like Zimmermann, 21-year-old Ben Godfrey has yet to taste Premier League football - although he did impress against Premier League opposition in cup competitions for Norwich last season and Shrewsbury the campaign before.
Godfrey and Zimmermann's pairing also excelled during last season's successful title run-in.
- For the latest Norwich City news and opinion follow Michael Bailey on the following channels…
Michael Bailey on Twitter @michaeljbailey
Michael Bailey on Facebook @mbjourno
Michael Bailey on Instagram @mrmichaeljbailey
Christoph Zimmermann
NCFC


This is a really interesting article that talks about computing as a function of a living organism's behavior in terms of a slime mold's responses to its environment.
This is a really interesting paper that attempts to build a bridge from computational thinking to the work of practicing teachers and classrooms.
This article discusses ongoing debate about whether or not the notion of "learning styles" is supported by research.


text:
Home / Competition / Tristao Triumphs at UK Open
Tristao Triumphs at UK Open
British Success at Last! It was Valentine's weekend in 2016 and Daniel Tristao gave all his time to his one true love – smacking balls. This year he did it spectacularly and having shown immense promise over the past 6 months – both winning the B Singles at the World Championships and more recently narrowly losing in the final of the Belgium Open, it was almost inevitable that he would contend strongly for the UK title. He came through second in his group, losing ground to Torres from the USA, but pipping Thomson to the post in a nailbiting and crucial group stage match. He then cruised his quarter final before coming up against his compatriot, Grant, in the semi-finals. This match was neck and neck for almost half an hour before Tristao gained the edge in the closing stages.
The final was against USA's Mike Ngai, who had won the French Open last year – beating the great William Polanco. The match was astounding. Mike is a clear Open player in the USA now and it showed as he put away shot after shot into the bottom left hand corner. But Dan is a retriever of the highest order – without a doubt his speed and change of direction is amongst the best in the game and time and again he forced Mike to play an extra shot and eventually forced an error. He got a good lead on Mike, but then the American took his precious one time-out and came back in "beast mode". He closed the gap to the narrowest of margins and what had looked like Tristao's game now lay in the balance. It was 19-17 to DT. Fortunately for our plucky Brit the Yank made an agonising error and as Dan came back in he played the slow down lob game that had worked so well against Grant and Marcus Bate and came through in a historic victory. The first GBR player to win a European Open since Grant way back in 2011.
Mike Ngai goes into BEAST MODE
In the Women's Open the two top seeds cruised to the final as Lorraine Havern of Ireland took on women's no.1 Miranda Scheffer. Nerves abounded as Lorraine is a dark horse, rarely playing the European ProTour, but has world titles to her name. Miranda has never won the UK Open – the only title which eludes her. She got a great lead as Lorraine made some uncharacteristic hand errors but when she was moments from victory mistakes crept into Miranda's game. A wide shot here. A double fault there. Could she blow it!? It was not to be. Lorraine hit a shot wide and Miranda screamed in ecstasy as she completed her collection of at least one title from each European stop.
In the B Grade the two players who really shone were a much improved, dangerous and consistent Daniel Kavanagh from Ireland (this guy is going places!) and the new player from the USA, John Sese. The final was a close fought affair and despite Dan's best efforts it was John's New York driving power that scored him the win.
John makes a winning dive against Daniel Kavanagh
The Beginners Grades for both Men's and Women's divisions were full to the brim of fresh players and it was wonderful to see so many people giving the game a go for the first time or taking the big step into competition from social play. Particular mentions here must go to two British players who had barely hit a ball before today. Shinan Zhang of Southampton University made the semi-finals of the women's division with immaculate hand-eye coordination and Cameron Lowe, the schoolboy from Bedford, was on unbelievable form. Not only was this the 2nd time he'd ever played, but he dominated many of his matches, retrieving and killing like a veteran. In the final he was undone by Boomsma from Holland who lived up to his name by booming the ball at a pace too fast for poor Cameron.
Boomsma booms a serve to Cameron
In the women's division Cailosa Ni Dhuill outplayed a young Siobhan Prentice to win her first (of many we hope) UK titles.
Caliosa wins over Siobhan
The doubles showed another great display of athleticism, sportsmanship and camaraderie from all players on show. Once again the beginners grades had some great matches and it was fantastic to see our first ever contingent from Portugal coming over and competing in the Open. Much improved from last year when they started out, the Portuguese have real potential and we support their expansion with all our good will.
The highlight of the doubles was probably the group stage of the Women's Open. A big round-robin saw all pairs play off against eachother and on paper you'd have to say that Scheffer and Siegersma from Holland, and Havern and Mcelduff from Ireland were hot favourites to make the final. In the end, anti-climactically, they did, but it was oh so close to a different story. The spritely, fun-loving, karaoke singing, unnecessary diving champions from Holland, Marrit Zeinstra and Anne Monfils almost caused two huge upsets. The pair were the youngest competing but they've come so far in the last few years and we have no doubt they are the champions of the future. They took both the top pairs all the way and indeed had match points against them both before agonisingly losing them at the 11th hour. The games were so close and so magnificent that play unintentionally stopped on the neighbouring court to watch the conclusion!
The final was a hard fought affair but the Miranda and Harmke from Holland are now specialists in power and consistency. They have adapted well to the 1-wall game and hit it straight and accurately. The Irish still have a tendency to hit a side-arm shot and while when it works it works, sadly their unforced error count was a little too high. Miranda Scheffer achieved her dream and did the double.
Winners in the doubles – Harmke and Miranda – who also won the singles
In the Men's Open the top 4 pairs fought it out in the semis as per expectations. The Irish pair of Kavanagh and Quish had some magnificent runs against the Brits, Grant & Tristao, but the latter pair proved too strong in the end. The other semi was a hot headed affair – 3 New Yorkers and Luke Thomson (playing with Ngai) went at it hammer and tong. Hard hitting Danny Torres and super consistent John Sese were always a nose ahead. Ngai's frustration began to show by the end of the match and errors abounded at just the wrong time.
The final was a solid match but the Americans were too strong for our Brits, playing at a pace we're still not quite used too. Strong and efficient, it was great to see Danny and John place, kill and split the opposition. There were some good moments from our boys though – Tristao showed why he won the singles by killing in front of him wonderfully and Grant's deft touch on the lobs won some crucial points. In the end though, Torres and Sese won a well-deserved title.
In the Men's B grade it was superb to once again see father and son pairing of Brian and Eugene Kennedy make the finals. They lost last year but you can tell these guys are related as their seamless play has the air of a pair who know each other inside out. They played fresh pair Colm Grace and Jelmer Siegersma in the final and Brian's immense power and Eugene's consistency were too much for the others. The Kennedys did one better than last year and scored a famous victory. The stress levels were all the higher as Eugene needed to leave almost immediately to catch his flight. We hope he made it….
In the Beginner's we once again saw the appeal of Wallball as a sport for all as everyone took to the sport with a smile on their face. In the men's it was Cameron Lowe again, this time with his partner Hijane who made the final and sadly again Cameron was pipped to the post by a slightly more experienced pair. Dan Breen and John Bosco Hurley from Ireland took the title and played with the kind of respect and good humour that we've come to love.
The women's division saw our very own Maddy Raynor emerge victorious with scratch USA partner Crystal Kwok (roped in to play at the last minute). They beat Mary Havern and Siobhan Prentice in the final. This was another tremendous game from all players we were thrilled that this capped off an incredible women's entry this year.
Winner Brian, on the left, with runner-up Theunis
Last but not least was the Over 40s. This division has typically been dominated by the brilliance of the Great Dick Warner, but alas this year his cries of passion were in vain. With some quite remarkable play in the singles it was Brian Havern who came to form – finally winning a gold for the Havern family, and in the doubles the years of Westway Club practice paid off in spades for Freddie Rowe and Gavin Denman as they conquered Theunis Piersma and Sijmen Scheffer in an epic final.
As always huge thanks must go to everyone who made the UK Open possible. Not only the players who have travelled far and wide and conducted themselves with the good spirit that makes us all feel like family, but also the volunteers who refereed, manned the desks and helped with food. Chris and Julie once again were the saviour of the catering, with Gareth Price out and about to pick up the supplies. And finally Luke Stradwick – turning 30 and spending his birthday running the smoothest UK Open to date. Thank you and see you next year!
Happy Birthday Stradders!
Previous First UK Nationals Huge Success
Next 200 children try Wallball – SportInspired
Brits make their mark at Italian Open in Palermo
Five silver medals make their way back to the UK after a very successful Italian …
Main Slider
other parnters


Ankylosaurus belongs to a family of dinosaurs known as the Ankylosauria, or "fused together lizard". Ankylosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous approximately 66 million years ago. Ankylosaurus lived during the time of Tyrannosaurus rex and they were fierce opponents. Ankylosaurus fossils have been discovered primarily in western North America. Ankylosaurus was quite a large animal; it grew up to 33 feet in length and weighed 5 tons. It is believed by some researchers that Ankylosaurus could grow up to 40 feet in length. Other members of its family were smaller, the smallest measuring only 3 feet in length, Pinacosaurus. Ankylosaurus was the largest member of its family and also the last to evolve before the dinosaurs went extinct. Because of its weight, Ankylosaurus was a slow moving animal, at risk of attack from carnivores such as Tyrannosaurus rex. But Ankylosaurus was well protected and could also deliver a powerful counter attack with the swing of its clubbed tail. This bony club was made of several plates of armor that locked together and could easily crush Tyrannosaurus rex femur (leg bone). An amazing fact about Ankylosaurus is that when it blinked its eyes, armor-plated eyelids would close over them. Ankylosaurus also had rows of spikes and horns along its back starting at the head all the way down to where its tail started. Ankylosaurus had short, powerful legs that kept it low to the ground to protect its soft, unprotected under belly. Barnum Brown described an entirely new dinosaur at the American Museum of Natural History back in 1908. Its fossilized remains were unearthed in the state of Montana in the United States and in Alberta Canada. Brown, who at the time was known as one of the most famous dinosaur collectors, named the dinosaur Ankylosaurus.


text:
Howard Stern's Wild 60th Birthday Bash
By ETonline Staff 9:36 PM PST, February 3, 2014
Howard Stern might be the only person capable of bringing Barbara Walters, Louis C.K., John Stamos and the Tan Mom under the same roof. And that he did for his 60th birthday party over the weekend.
Amid all the Super Bowl festivities, some of the biggest stars in the world paid tribute to the shock jock in New York City.
Click the video to find out what the guests did and didn't give Stern for his big day.
PICS: ET Birthday Babes
Howard Stern
Samsung's Top-Rated Cordless Stick Vacuum Is On Sale for 2023


On Saturday, June 26, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., South Jersey Hot Chefs will present a "Feast in the Fields" at the Pettit Farm, 145 Marl Road, Harrisonville, New Jersey.
A gourmet meal with freshly grown local ingredients catered by Chef Mario DiVentura of Filomena's Lakeview Restaurant, live blue grass band, nature walks on the farm and surrounding natural area, "sheep to shawl" demonstration, a native plants and herbs booth, and local farm produce stand.
The cost is $30.00 for adults; $10.00 for children 12 and under. For reservations, please call the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, (908) 234-1225.