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<p>J. Terrill/AP/REX/Shutterstock</p>
<p>Hollywood writers will need to issue an official strike threat in 2020 to get a decent contract, according to the incoming president of the <a href="http://variety.com/t/writers-guild-of-america-west/" type="external">Writers Guild of America West</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://variety.com/t/david-a-goodman/" type="external">David A. Goodman</a>, who will become the new WGA West president on Sept. 18, has told members in recent days that getting a strike authorization is essential to improving on the current three-year master contract, which was hammered out <a href="http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/wga-amptp-negotiations-strike-contract-1202407152/" type="external">at the last minute on May 1.</a></p>
<p>Goodman, in his statement to members in the 70-page WGA West election booklet sent out a few days ago, asserts that <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/writers-guild-vote-strike-authorization-1202393874/" type="external">membership’s 96% support of a strike authorization</a> in April was requisite for the gains in the current deal.</p>
<p>Goodman, the current VP of the guild and an ex-officio member of the negotiating committee, is the only candidate to succeed Howard Rodman. The WGA West nominating committee selected Goodman and another candidate, who withdrew, and no one opted to run by petition.</p>
<p>The current deal includes revised provisions addressing shorter TV seasons, provides up to eight weeks of family leave and shores up the WGA health plan. Goodman said the strike authorization vote — taken two weeks before the contract expired with 67% of about 10,000 eligible members participating — was the key factor in getting a better deal.</p>
<p>“The leverage of this vote is what gave us the improvements,” Goodman said. “But the gains we made will be ultimately meaningless if they can’t be improved upon. The limits placed around the short season provisions mean that though some writers will see relief, many will not; the family leave provision, while a good start, is only that, a start; in order to keep the health fund healthy, we had to agree to $7 million in cuts, cuts that will certainly be felt by our members.”</p>
<p>Goodman noted that the new deal does not include many important writer demands that were not achieved including script parity across platforms, a second step guarantee for feature writers and improved ad-based VOD residuals.</p>
<p>The WGA last struck a decade ago for 100 days in a bitter work stoppage before reaching a deal in February, 2008. The following two negotiations were relatively quiet while this year’s negotiations featured verbal fireworks and a constant refrain that the six major media conglomerates had generated <a href="http://variety.com/2016/film/news/writers-guild-seek-fair-share-conglomerate-profits-of-49-billion-1201770600/" type="external">combined operating profits of $49 billion</a> in 2016.</p>
<p>“In order for us to do better next time, we will need another strike threat, and with that comes the possibility again of an actual strike,” Goodman said. “And for that, we will need to organize the membership. If a strike is necessary, this negotiation showed that the members can be ready, and this is a considerable achievement.”</p>
<p>This year’s WGA negotiations also prompted debate over the impact of the 2007-08 strike. At one point, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said, “The companies are committed to reaching a deal at the bargaining table that keeps the industry working. The 2007 Writers Strike hurt everyone. Writers lost more than $287 million in compensation that was never recovered, deals were cancelled, and many writers took out strike loans to make ends meet.”</p>
<p>Goodman contended in his statement that the 2007 strike was a “major” success.</p>
<p>“That doesn’t mean it didn’t come without a substantial cost, but it resulted in the WGA gaining the most important jurisdiction since its founding: the internet,” Goodman added. “Jurisdiction of the internet for new work, and residuals for reuse on the internet have become the fastest growing sectors of writers earnings. And when we went on strike, those sectors didn’t exist; there were no original streaming shows, and reruns on internet sites really began after the strike was over.”</p>
<p>By contrast, made-for-internet shows currently employ more than 15% of the working WGA membership, and streaming residuals are the fastest growing residual, according to Goodman.</p>
<p>“This was a vital expansion for the minimum basic agreement,” Goodman said. “It came with a great deal of pain and sacrifice, but it succeeded because the membership was organized.”</p>
<p>He also asserted that he plans to push for organizing: “There is always risk involved in these efforts, and that risk shouldn’t be underestimated, but as this year and 2007 proved, the only leverage we have is our unity.”</p>
<p>Marjorie David, a WGA West board member, has been nominated by the committee to succeed Goodman as vice president. Another unnamed candidate declined to run against her. Aaron Mendelsohn has been nominated to seek re-election as secretary-treasurer along with board member Carleton Eastlake.</p>
<p>The board’s nominating committee also nominated incumbents Andrea Berloff, Luvh Rakhe, Meredith Stiehm, and Zak Penn along with nine other candidates for eight open board seats. The remaining candidates are Francesca Butler, Nicole Yorkin, Angelina Burnett, John August, Michele Mulroney, Spiro Skentzos, and Patti Carr. Adam Horowitz and Ligiah Villalobos withdrew their candidacies.</p>
<p>“House of Cards” creator Beau Willimon is&#160;running unopposed for the presidency of the Writers Guild of America East to succeed Michael Winship, who has opted not to run. Willimon will assume the office on Sept. 19, when voting results are announced.</p>
<p>Incumbent vice president Jeremy Pikser and secretary-treasurer Bob Schneider are also running unopposed.</p>
<p>The 10 candidates for the six open freelance seats are Amy Sohn, David Handelman, Stu Zicherman, Tracey Scott Wilson, David Simon, and five incumbents — Susan Kim, Bill Scheft, Bonnie Datt, Courtney Simon, and Andrea Ciannavei. The five candidates for the three open staff seats are Kim Kelly, Jay Alpert, Hamilton Nolan, and incumbents Phil Pilato and David Keller.</p>
<p>The WGA West has about 9,000 members and the WGA East has around 4,000. The guilds jointly negotiate the master contract.</p> | false | 1 | j terrillaprexshutterstock hollywood writers need issue official strike threat 2020 get decent contract according incoming president writers guild america west david goodman become new wga west president sept 18 told members recent days getting strike authorization essential improving current threeyear master contract hammered last minute may 1 goodman statement members 70page wga west election booklet sent days ago asserts memberships 96 support strike authorization april requisite gains current deal goodman current vp guild exofficio member negotiating committee candidate succeed howard rodman wga west nominating committee selected goodman another candidate withdrew one opted run petition current deal includes revised provisions addressing shorter tv seasons provides eight weeks family leave shores wga health plan goodman said strike authorization vote taken two weeks contract expired 67 10000 eligible members participating key factor getting better deal leverage vote gave us improvements goodman said gains made ultimately meaningless cant improved upon limits placed around short season provisions mean though writers see relief many family leave provision good start start order keep health fund healthy agree 7 million cuts cuts certainly felt members goodman noted new deal include many important writer demands achieved including script parity across platforms second step guarantee feature writers improved adbased vod residuals wga last struck decade ago 100 days bitter work stoppage reaching deal february 2008 following two negotiations relatively quiet years negotiations featured verbal fireworks constant refrain six major media conglomerates generated combined operating profits 49 billion 2016 order us better next time need another strike threat comes possibility actual strike goodman said need organize membership strike necessary negotiation showed members ready considerable achievement years wga negotiations also prompted debate impact 200708 strike one point alliance motion picture television producers said companies committed reaching deal bargaining table keeps industry working 2007 writers strike hurt everyone writers lost 287 million compensation never recovered deals cancelled many writers took strike loans make ends meet goodman contended statement 2007 strike major success doesnt mean didnt come without substantial cost resulted wga gaining important jurisdiction since founding internet goodman added jurisdiction internet new work residuals reuse internet become fastest growing sectors writers earnings went strike sectors didnt exist original streaming shows reruns internet sites really began strike contrast madeforinternet shows currently employ 15 working wga membership streaming residuals fastest growing residual according goodman vital expansion minimum basic agreement goodman said came great deal pain sacrifice succeeded membership organized also asserted plans push organizing always risk involved efforts risk shouldnt underestimated year 2007 proved leverage unity marjorie david wga west board member nominated committee succeed goodman vice president another unnamed candidate declined run aaron mendelsohn nominated seek reelection secretarytreasurer along board member carleton eastlake boards nominating committee also nominated incumbents andrea berloff luvh rakhe meredith stiehm zak penn along nine candidates eight open board seats remaining candidates francesca butler nicole yorkin angelina burnett john august michele mulroney spiro skentzos patti carr adam horowitz ligiah villalobos withdrew candidacies house cards creator beau willimon is160running unopposed presidency writers guild america east succeed michael winship opted run willimon assume office sept 19 voting results announced incumbent vice president jeremy pikser secretarytreasurer bob schneider also running unopposed 10 candidates six open freelance seats amy sohn david handelman stu zicherman tracey scott wilson david simon five incumbents susan kim bill scheft bonnie datt courtney simon andrea ciannavei five candidates three open staff seats kim kelly jay alpert hamilton nolan incumbents phil pilato david keller wga west 9000 members wga east around 4000 guilds jointly negotiate master contract | 577 |
<p>The parallels between this year’s Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis and 2014 are striking.</p>
<p>No. 5 Wisconsin and No. 9 Ohio State are not only playing for the conference title again this Saturday, but both have a chance to make the College Football Playoff.</p>
<p>Each team has a standout running back. This year, both happen to be freshmen.</p>
<p>And Ohio State enters the game with uncertainty at quarterback because of an injury.</p>
<p>Back in 2014, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/JT-Barrett/" type="external">J.T. Barrett</a> suffered a broken ankle in the final regular-season game against Michigan and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Cardale-Jones/" type="external">Cardale Jones</a> came off the bench to famously lead the Buckeyes’ national championship run that began with a 59-0 rout of Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.</p>
<p>Barrett is a senior now, and he also was hurt in the regular-season finale against Michigan, a 31-20 Ohio State victory. This time around, Barrett has a knee injury and is considered probable against Wisconsin.</p>
<p>There’s a possibility that Ohio State might need to call on redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins if Barrett is unable to go. Haskins came in at Michigan during the third quarter last Saturday and led Ohio State’s fourth-quarter comeback that resulted in its sixth straight win in the rivalry game.</p>
<p>It all sounds familiar. And yet the coaches and the players who are still around insist that past history — which includes Ohio State’s 30-23 victory at Wisconsin a year ago in the teams’ last meeting — has nothing to do with the present.</p>
<p>“It’s a different year and a different team,” said Ohio State center Billy Price, who started the 2014 game.</p>
<p>Paul Chryst was not the head coach in 2014 when Wisconsin endured the beat down by Ohio State in the championship game, but he’s obviously familiar with what happened.</p>
<p>“I think you always draw from all your experiences,” Chryst said. “This game is about these two teams this year. Both teams earned the right to play in this game and obviously to play for a Big Ten championship is a big deal.</p>
<p>“It’s about this year, this moment.”</p>
<p>The Badgers (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) enter the contest (8 p.m. ET on Fox) against the Buckeyes (10-2, 8-1) with an unblemished record and yet there are plenty of skeptics who dismiss Wisconsin’s postseason chances. They say the Big Ten West Division was subpar and the schedule was weak.</p>
<p>“I don’t want us to get caught up in too much of that,” Badgers cornerback Derrick Tindal said. “Just play our game. I feel like that’s why we’ve been able to play so well up to this point. Nobody is worried about what the world thinks about us. We just worry about who is in that locker room. We’ve just got to keep doing that.”</p>
<p>Wisconsin offensive tackle Michael Deiter said, “There’s definitely a lot riding on it. Most importantly is winning the Big Ten. That is something we want to do. All the other stuff you definitely notice it, but there is no reason to put a ton of thought into it. All we want to do is win the Big Ten.”</p>
<p>The Badgers’ best chance to win Saturday night revolves around standout freshman running back Jonathan Taylor, who has run behind a massive offensive line for 1,806 yards and leads the Big Ten in rushing, just as Wisconsin’s <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Melvin-Gordon/" type="external">Melvin Gordon</a> did in 2014.</p>
<p>Wisconsin also will try to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Its defense leads the Big Ten in fewest rushing yards (80.5), total yards (236.9) and points (12.0) allowed per game.</p>
<p>“They’re — I can’t tell you the exact ranking — but I think they’re No. 1 in everything,” Ohio State coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Urban_Meyer/" type="external">Urban Meyer</a> said. “And very good skilled athletes. … Giant offensive linemen in Wisconsin. And obviously a very good challenge against an elite running back.”</p>
<p>No Big Ten team has made more trips to the championship game than the Badgers’ five, including three of the past four years, but they’re still looking for their first win.</p>
<p>“We’re going to approach it the same way we have all year and just go out there and try to score one more point than the team against us,” Wisconsin safety Joe Ferguson said. “That’s what we’re going to try to do against Ohio State. We don’t need to change our formula. It’s been working all year.”</p>
<p>Ohio State opened the week as a 6.5-point favorite. The Buckeyes are 1-1 in Big Ten title games, winning it in 2014.</p>
<p>The obvious question mark surrounding Ohio State leading up to the game will be the status of Barrett, the four-year starter who last Saturday tied Art Schlichter’s school record for quarterbacks with 36 wins.</p>
<p>The previously undisclosed cartilage damage in Barrett’s right knee, aggravated when it was bumped on the sideline at Michigan while warming up, is apparently something he has dealt with all year.</p>
<p>But up until that point it hadn’t affected him on the field. Barrett leads the Big Ten in touchdown passes with 33 and is second in total offense. Along the way he has broken numerous school and Big Ten records.</p>
<p>If Barrett is unable to play or is limited, Haskins proved at Michigan that he is ready to take the reins.</p>
<p>“Whoever’s out there I feel confident,” Ohio State wide receiver Terry McLaurin said. “I know the competitor J.T. is that he’s going to do whatever it takes to play in this game.”</p>
<p>Barrett is a big part of Ohio State’s offense, which leads the Big Ten in most statistical categories. But it is built around a strong running game led by two capable backs.</p>
<p>Freshman J.K. Dobbins is second in the Big Ten behind Taylor in rushing with 1,190 yards and sophomore Mike Weber has run equally as well late in the season.</p>
<p>Defensively, Ohio State is strong up front with its “rushmen” package that will attempt to get after Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook (21 touchdowns, 13 interceptions) and slow down Taylor.</p>
<p>“This is going to be a great challenge for us as a defense,” Ohio State linebacker Chris Worley said. “It’s going to be a battle.</p>
<p>“You can’t really worry about the playoffs. Our message has been beat Wisconsin. Our message has been do what you can to win the game that week.”</p> | false | 1 | parallels years big ten championship game indianapolis 2014 striking 5 wisconsin 9 ohio state playing conference title saturday chance make college football playoff team standout running back year happen freshmen ohio state enters game uncertainty quarterback injury back 2014 jt barrett suffered broken ankle final regularseason game michigan cardale jones came bench famously lead buckeyes national championship run began 590 rout wisconsin big ten title game barrett senior also hurt regularseason finale michigan 3120 ohio state victory time around barrett knee injury considered probable wisconsin theres possibility ohio state might need call redshirt freshman dwayne haskins barrett unable go haskins came michigan third quarter last saturday led ohio states fourthquarter comeback resulted sixth straight win rivalry game sounds familiar yet coaches players still around insist past history includes ohio states 3023 victory wisconsin year ago teams last meeting nothing present different year different team said ohio state center billy price started 2014 game paul chryst head coach 2014 wisconsin endured beat ohio state championship game hes obviously familiar happened think always draw experiences chryst said game two teams year teams earned right play game obviously play big ten championship big deal year moment badgers 120 90 big ten enter contest 8 pm et fox buckeyes 102 81 unblemished record yet plenty skeptics dismiss wisconsins postseason chances say big ten west division subpar schedule weak dont want us get caught much badgers cornerback derrick tindal said play game feel like thats weve able play well point nobody worried world thinks us worry locker room weve got keep wisconsin offensive tackle michael deiter said theres definitely lot riding importantly winning big ten something want stuff definitely notice reason put ton thought want win big ten badgers best chance win saturday night revolves around standout freshman running back jonathan taylor run behind massive offensive line 1806 yards leads big ten rushing wisconsins melvin gordon 2014 wisconsin also try control line scrimmage sides ball defense leads big ten fewest rushing yards 805 total yards 2369 points 120 allowed per game theyre cant tell exact ranking think theyre 1 everything ohio state coach urban meyer said good skilled athletes giant offensive linemen wisconsin obviously good challenge elite running back big ten team made trips championship game badgers five including three past four years theyre still looking first win going approach way year go try score one point team us wisconsin safety joe ferguson said thats going try ohio state dont need change formula working year ohio state opened week 65point favorite buckeyes 11 big ten title games winning 2014 obvious question mark surrounding ohio state leading game status barrett fouryear starter last saturday tied art schlichters school record quarterbacks 36 wins previously undisclosed cartilage damage barretts right knee aggravated bumped sideline michigan warming apparently something dealt year point hadnt affected field barrett leads big ten touchdown passes 33 second total offense along way broken numerous school big ten records barrett unable play limited haskins proved michigan ready take reins whoevers feel confident ohio state wide receiver terry mclaurin said know competitor jt hes going whatever takes play game barrett big part ohio states offense leads big ten statistical categories built around strong running game led two capable backs freshman jk dobbins second big ten behind taylor rushing 1190 yards sophomore mike weber run equally well late season defensively ohio state strong front rushmen package attempt get wisconsin quarterback alex hornibrook 21 touchdowns 13 interceptions slow taylor going great challenge us defense ohio state linebacker chris worley said going battle cant really worry playoffs message beat wisconsin message win game week | 595 |
<p>The White House and a compliant media have worked overtime to convince the public that&#160;Obamacare’s&#160;first year should now be seen as a success. But a balanced examination of what has actually happened over the past eight months points in a very different direction — to an epic failure in implementation that is still ongoing, masked in part by on-the-fly workarounds that will eventually cost taxpayers billions of dollars.</p>
<p>The White House likes to say that HealthCare.gov was “fixed” by December 2013, after the botched rollout in October and November, and that, in the months that have followed the supposed fix, everything has gone relatively smoothly and according to plan. Officials have repeatedly pointed to the&#160; <a href="http://eppc.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=be333e74ea841be93db60da61&amp;id=c176051a25&amp;e=4de8d3b2b6" type="external">apparent enrollment of more than 8 million people</a>&#160;in insurance plans offered on the federal and state exchanges as evidence that the law in general, and the websites in particular, are now working just as promised.</p>
<p>But is that true?</p>
<p>Over the weekend, the&#160;Washington Post&#160; <a href="http://eppc.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=be333e74ea841be93db60da61&amp;id=25fcb7cb5b&amp;e=4de8d3b2b6" type="external">reported</a>&#160;that there are about 1.1 to 1.5 million enrollees in&#160;Obamacare&#160;insurance who “listed incomes on their insurance applications that differ significantly — either too low or too high — from those on file with the Internal Revenue Service” and whose information conflicts with the government’s records contained in databases compiled by the IRS and the Social Security Administration. There are also about a million enrollees with discrepancies in their documentation of citizenship or legal-resident status. Together with other errors, there are about 4 million or so enrollees, out of 8 million in total, with issues that are significant enough to require manual reconciliation.</p>
<p>This isn’t how it is supposed to work, or what was promised. HealthCare.gov and the associated state-built exchanges were supposed to be able to cross-check self-reported income and resident information with data from governmental records, reconcile the two, and then ensure accurate, automated payments directly to the insurance plans selected by enrollees. If successful, it would have been the first of its kind: a massive federal benefit program that is administered almost entirely online, with a minimum of federal personnel inserted into the process. Other federal benefit programs with income-tested benefits, such as Social Security’s Supplemental Security Income, started years ago with paper applications and have only transitioned slowly to more automation.</p>
<p>It is now clear that HealthCare.gov and the state-based websites bear no resemblance to the grand vision that was promised. For many millions of enrollees, it now appears that benefit payments have been made without serious confirmation by the government of self-reported applicant information. As the&#160;Post&#160;story indicates, the massive errors in payments that the government is now making, and that it will continue to make at least through the summer, are a direct result of a dysfunctional website that still cannot perform as intended, despite the very significant taxpayer funds devoted to building it. The supposed fixes to the websites back in November and December now look not so much like fixes and more like workarounds intended to unclog the system. The website was incapable of quickly processing the complex checks necessary to ensure fully accurate payments. So, in the interest of smoothing the way for consumers, the site has essentially become a way to process benefits based on the honor system of self-reported information. It is certainly a lot easier to build a website that allows consumers to tap taxpayer funds with minimal or delayed checks on information than it is to make an online process fully secure and accurate before disbursing any payments.</p>
<p>The lax standards on the front end will lead, inevitably, to massive amounts of erroneous benefit payments, costing taxpayers billions of dollars. The law’s defenders will say that the inaccurate payments will work in both directions — toward over- as well as under-payments. But that’s wishful thinking and defies all prior experience, not to mention human nature. The bias in federal programs is toward overpayments. Moreover, once made, it is almost impossible to fully recover erroneously paid benefits.</p>
<p>More errors will probably be uncovered when the so-called back-end payments are finally reconciled later this year. Originally, the websites were supposed to allow fully automated payments from the Treasury to the insurance plans of the subsidy amounts an insurer’s enrollees were entitled to receive. But, as has been noted by many others, the “back-end” payment system still has not been built, and it won’t be before at least September of this year. So the Obama administration devised another workaround, based once again on the honor system. Insurers are submitting invoices on a monthly basis to the Treasury with estimates of the total amount of premium subsidies the insurers believe their enrollees are supposed to receive. Treasury is sending checks to the insurers based on these invoices — and nothing else. All of this will supposedly get reconciled later — but it is hard to see such a reconciliation going smoothly, or without great risk to taxpayers.</p>
<p>The problems are not isolated to the federal government. Four states — Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Oregon — have had such terribly dysfunctional websites that they have pulled the plug on them. All but Maryland now plan to rely on the federally built HealthCare.gov, at least for next year. (Maryland is looking to use the same system that was built for Connecticut.) Other states — Hawaii, Minnesota, and Vermont — have had similarly terrible experiences, though they haven’t abandoned their previous efforts yet. All totaled, about&#160; <a href="http://eppc.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=be333e74ea841be93db60da61&amp;id=e714cdf18b&amp;e=4de8d3b2b6" type="external">$1.3 billion in federal taxpayer funds have been wasted</a>&#160;on website production in these states.</p>
<p>The Obama administration wants the public to ignore all this and focus instead on the supposed success of expanding insurance enrollment. But it is still far from clear that insurance coverage has been expanded appreciably. The&#160;McKinsey&#160;survey <a href="http://eppc.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=be333e74ea841be93db60da61&amp;id=bada167812&amp;e=4de8d3b2b6" type="external">indicates</a>&#160;that less than one-third of enrollees in the federal and state exchanges were previously uninsured. And much of the expanded enrollment in Medicaid is in states that did not adopt the&#160;Obamacare&#160;expansion (the enrollees were already eligible for Medicaid but had not bothered to sign up previously).</p>
<p>It’s true that&#160;Obamacare&#160;did not completely collapse in the first half of 2014. But that’s not the same thing as a success. The first year’s enrollment in&#160;Obamacare&#160;can be best understood as an exercise in doing whatever was necessary to get people on the program, no matter the consequences. And one very likely consequence is that taxpayers will end with a hefty bill for many improperly paid subsidies.</p>
<p>James C. Capretta is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.</p> | false | 1 | white house compliant media worked overtime convince public that160obamacares160first year seen success balanced examination actually happened past eight months points different direction epic failure implementation still ongoing masked part onthefly workarounds eventually cost taxpayers billions dollars white house likes say healthcaregov fixed december 2013 botched rollout october november months followed supposed fix everything gone relatively smoothly according plan officials repeatedly pointed the160 apparent enrollment 8 million people160in insurance plans offered federal state exchanges evidence law general websites particular working promised true weekend the160washington post160 reported160that 11 15 million enrollees in160obamacare160insurance listed incomes insurance applications differ significantly either low high file internal revenue service whose information conflicts governments records contained databases compiled irs social security administration also million enrollees discrepancies documentation citizenship legalresident status together errors 4 million enrollees 8 million total issues significant enough require manual reconciliation isnt supposed work promised healthcaregov associated statebuilt exchanges supposed able crosscheck selfreported income resident information data governmental records reconcile two ensure accurate automated payments directly insurance plans selected enrollees successful would first kind massive federal benefit program administered almost entirely online minimum federal personnel inserted process federal benefit programs incometested benefits social securitys supplemental security income started years ago paper applications transitioned slowly automation clear healthcaregov statebased websites bear resemblance grand vision promised many millions enrollees appears benefit payments made without serious confirmation government selfreported applicant information the160post160story indicates massive errors payments government making continue make least summer direct result dysfunctional website still perform intended despite significant taxpayer funds devoted building supposed fixes websites back november december look much like fixes like workarounds intended unclog system website incapable quickly processing complex checks necessary ensure fully accurate payments interest smoothing way consumers site essentially become way process benefits based honor system selfreported information certainly lot easier build website allows consumers tap taxpayer funds minimal delayed checks information make online process fully secure accurate disbursing payments lax standards front end lead inevitably massive amounts erroneous benefit payments costing taxpayers billions dollars laws defenders say inaccurate payments work directions toward well underpayments thats wishful thinking defies prior experience mention human nature bias federal programs toward overpayments moreover made almost impossible fully recover erroneously paid benefits errors probably uncovered socalled backend payments finally reconciled later year originally websites supposed allow fully automated payments treasury insurance plans subsidy amounts insurers enrollees entitled receive noted many others backend payment system still built wont least september year obama administration devised another workaround based honor system insurers submitting invoices monthly basis treasury estimates total amount premium subsidies insurers believe enrollees supposed receive treasury sending checks insurers based invoices nothing else supposedly get reconciled later hard see reconciliation going smoothly without great risk taxpayers problems isolated federal government four states maryland massachusetts nevada oregon terribly dysfunctional websites pulled plug maryland plan rely federally built healthcaregov least next year maryland looking use system built connecticut states hawaii minnesota vermont similarly terrible experiences though havent abandoned previous efforts yet totaled about160 13 billion federal taxpayer funds wasted160on website production states obama administration wants public ignore focus instead supposed success expanding insurance enrollment still far clear insurance coverage expanded appreciably the160mckinsey160survey indicates160that less onethird enrollees federal state exchanges previously uninsured much expanded enrollment medicaid states adopt the160obamacare160expansion enrollees already eligible medicaid bothered sign previously true that160obamacare160did completely collapse first half 2014 thats thing success first years enrollment in160obamacare160can best understood exercise whatever necessary get people program matter consequences one likely consequence taxpayers end hefty bill many improperly paid subsidies james c capretta senior fellow ethics public policy center visiting fellow american enterprise institute | 588 |
<p>BEREA, Ohio — <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Cleveland-Browns/" type="external">Cleveland Browns</a> rookie quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/DeShone-Kizer/" type="external">DeShone Kizer</a> was again reminded there will be setbacks to his career just when it seems he has things figured out.</p>
<p>Kizer played the best game of his young career on Nov. 26 in a 30-16 loss to the Bengals. He kept the Browns in the game against a rugged Chargers defense on Sunday, but he lost the ball on a strip-sack at the Chargers 18 with 4:48 remaining and the Browns trailing 19-10. He threw an interception on Cleveland’s next possession to seal the Browns’ 12th loss in 12 games.</p>
<p>Kizer had a similar setback two weeks earlier. He played well in a 38-24 loss to the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Detroit-Lions/" type="external">Detroit Lions</a> on Nov. 12, but one week later turned the ball over on the final three possessions in a 19-7 loss to the Jaguars.</p>
<p>Despite the errors late in the Browns’ most recent loss, he is in no danger of losing his starting job to <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Cody-Kessler/" type="external">Cody Kessler</a> or <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Kevin-Hogan/" type="external">Kevin Hogan</a> over the final four games.</p>
<p>“I think DeShone is still a growing young quarterback,” head coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Hue-Jackson/" type="external">Hue Jackson</a> said on Monday. “He’s working extremely hard. He’s trying his tail off to win for his football team, and I think sometimes in those moments, you kind of revert back.</p>
<p>“You’re going to take the good with the bad. He’s done some good things. He did some things that he has to continue to grow and learn from. I’m not down on DeShone. I want DeShone to keep working at this thing. He knows he has my backing and my support, but he knows there are some areas he has to grow and grow up pretty fast.”</p>
<p>Kizer completed 15 of 32 passes for 215 yards with one touchdown and the interception against the Chargers. He was sacked three times.</p>
<p>The rookie from <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Notre_Dame/" type="external">Notre Dame</a> has remained confident through the highs and lows of his first season.</p>
<p>“We are very close to getting where we want to go, but I can definitely sense in this locker room that very close isn’t cutting it anymore,” Kizer said. “We need to get over that hill.”</p>
<p>Kizer has thrown a league-high 15 interceptions.</p>
<p>–Wide receiver <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Josh-Gordon/" type="external">Josh Gordon</a> was targeted 11 times and caught four passes in his first NFL game in nearly three years. It was evident he and quarterback DeShone Kizer are not in sync.</p>
<p>“The speed of the game is going to be a little bit faster (in a game than a practice) from a defensive look,” Gordon said. “We’ve worked on it in practice, and we just have to keep working to get better week by week, working on the rhythm, working on everything else we do.”</p>
<p>Gordon was reinstated by commissioner <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Roger_Goodell/" type="external">Roger Goodell</a> on Nov. 1 after numerous suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.</p>
<p>–The Browns are 1-27 since the start of the 2016 season. It is the worst 28-game stretch in the history of the NFL. The Buccaneers, an expansion team in 1976, lost their first 26 games and then won their next two.</p>
<p>NOTES: S Jabrill Peppers (knee) was injured against the Chargers on Sunday and did not return. … DT Danny Shelton (ribs) was injured in the second half. He returned to the game and was not on the injury report Monday. … CB <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jason-McCourty/" type="external">Jason McCourty</a> made his 100th career start on Sunday. He made nine tackles and broke up a pass, but also gave up a touchdown. … MLB Joe Schobert had 12 tackles. It was his sixth double-digit performance in the last seven games.</p>
<p>REPORT CARD VS. CHARGERS</p>
<p>–PASSING OFFENSE: C — Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer completed fewer than half his passes (15 of 32) and turned the ball over on his last two possessions in a tight game. He also threw some rockets for completions, connecting four times with rookie tight end <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/David-Njoku/" type="external">David Njoku</a>. Kizer completed four passes to Josh Gordon, but overthrew him several times. Kizer and Gordon need more practice time together.</p>
<p>–RUSHING OFFENSE: C-minus — It is not a good sign when the quarterback is the leading rusher. Kizer led the Browns with 46 yards on five carries. The Chargers keyed on running back <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Duke-Johnson/" type="external">Duke Johnson</a>, and he carried seven times for a net gain of 2 yards. Running back <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Isaiah-Crowell/" type="external">Isaiah Crowell</a> broke one 16-yard run, but he was corralled most of the day while gaining 41 yards on 10 carries.</p>
<p>–PASS DEFENSE: D — The Chargers scored only one touchdown because the Browns’ red-zone defense forced three field goals inside the 20, but <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Philip_Rivers/" type="external">Philip Rivers</a> still passed for 344 yards while completing 31 of 43 passes. The Browns did not pressure Rivers well, registering only one sack. That resulted in the Chargers getting 19 first downs through the air. The Browns’ struggles covering tight ends continued. Chargers tight ends <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Hunter-Henry/" type="external">Hunter Henry</a> (seven) and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Antonio_Gates/" type="external">Antonio Gates</a> (three) combined for 10 catches for 113 yards.</p>
<p>–RUSH DEFENSE: B-minus — Defensive coordinator <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Gregg_Williams/" type="external">Gregg Williams</a> emphasized getting pushback on the line of scrimmage. The mission was accomplished except for one 29-yard run by running back <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Melvin-Gordon/" type="external">Melvin Gordon</a>. The Chargers’ 24 other runs netted 65 yards. The Chargers tried running the ball late in the game to bleed the clock, but the run defense stiffened and forced a passing situation on third-and-9.</p>
<p>–SPECIAL TEAMS: C — The failure of the Browns’ defense to get stops meant the Chargers punted only twice. Normal punt returner Jabrill Peppers was injured. His backup, Duke Johnson, ran back one punt 12 yards. The kickoff coverage allowed a 44-yard return by Desmond King. Browns kickoff returner Matthew Dayes fielded three kicks for touchbacks. His long return for the day was 32 yards. The Browns need long returns to shorten the field for the offense, but it has not happened often.</p>
<p>–COACHING: C-minus — Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams made the corrections for a better run defense, but his unit allowed four scoring drives of 10 or more plays. Head coach Hue Jackson could have played for a field goal on third-and-goal from the 15 with the Browns down 19-10. Instead he called a timeout with 4:59 to play. DeShone Kizer suffered a strip-sack on the play.</p> | false | 1 | berea ohio cleveland browns rookie quarterback deshone kizer reminded setbacks career seems things figured kizer played best game young career nov 26 3016 loss bengals kept browns game rugged chargers defense sunday lost ball stripsack chargers 18 448 remaining browns trailing 1910 threw interception clevelands next possession seal browns 12th loss 12 games kizer similar setback two weeks earlier played well 3824 loss detroit lions nov 12 one week later turned ball final three possessions 197 loss jaguars despite errors late browns recent loss danger losing starting job cody kessler kevin hogan final four games think deshone still growing young quarterback head coach hue jackson said monday hes working extremely hard hes trying tail win football team think sometimes moments kind revert back youre going take good bad hes done good things things continue grow learn im deshone want deshone keep working thing knows backing support knows areas grow grow pretty fast kizer completed 15 32 passes 215 yards one touchdown interception chargers sacked three times rookie notre dame remained confident highs lows first season close getting want go definitely sense locker room close isnt cutting anymore kizer said need get hill kizer thrown leaguehigh 15 interceptions wide receiver josh gordon targeted 11 times caught four passes first nfl game nearly three years evident quarterback deshone kizer sync speed game going little bit faster game practice defensive look gordon said weve worked practice keep working get better week week working rhythm working everything else gordon reinstated commissioner roger goodell nov 1 numerous suspensions violating nfls substance abuse policy browns 127 since start 2016 season worst 28game stretch history nfl buccaneers expansion team 1976 lost first 26 games next two notes jabrill peppers knee injured chargers sunday return dt danny shelton ribs injured second half returned game injury report monday cb jason mccourty made 100th career start sunday made nine tackles broke pass also gave touchdown mlb joe schobert 12 tackles sixth doubledigit performance last seven games report card vs chargers passing offense c rookie quarterback deshone kizer completed fewer half passes 15 32 turned ball last two possessions tight game also threw rockets completions connecting four times rookie tight end david njoku kizer completed four passes josh gordon overthrew several times kizer gordon need practice time together rushing offense cminus good sign quarterback leading rusher kizer led browns 46 yards five carries chargers keyed running back duke johnson carried seven times net gain 2 yards running back isaiah crowell broke one 16yard run corralled day gaining 41 yards 10 carries pass defense chargers scored one touchdown browns redzone defense forced three field goals inside 20 philip rivers still passed 344 yards completing 31 43 passes browns pressure rivers well registering one sack resulted chargers getting 19 first downs air browns struggles covering tight ends continued chargers tight ends hunter henry seven antonio gates three combined 10 catches 113 yards rush defense bminus defensive coordinator gregg williams emphasized getting pushback line scrimmage mission accomplished except one 29yard run running back melvin gordon chargers 24 runs netted 65 yards chargers tried running ball late game bleed clock run defense stiffened forced passing situation thirdand9 special teams c failure browns defense get stops meant chargers punted twice normal punt returner jabrill peppers injured backup duke johnson ran back one punt 12 yards kickoff coverage allowed 44yard return desmond king browns kickoff returner matthew dayes fielded three kicks touchbacks long return day 32 yards browns need long returns shorten field offense happened often coaching cminus defensive coordinator gregg williams made corrections better run defense unit allowed four scoring drives 10 plays head coach hue jackson could played field goal thirdandgoal 15 browns 1910 instead called timeout 459 play deshone kizer suffered stripsack play | 619 |
<p>By Alexandra Ulmer and Marianna Parraga</p>
<p>CARACAS/HOUSTON (Reuters) – Decisions at some joint ventures with foreign firms are delayed. A growing number of oil tankers sit idle because no one authorizes payments. Employees struggle to get approval for routine expenses, from taxis to training.</p>
<p>An alleged crackdown on graft in Venezuela, seen by critics as an effort by President Nicolas Maduro to consolidate power, has sown panic across the country’s energy industry and all but paralyzed state-run Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, according to people at the company and across the sector.</p>
<p>The ongoing purge, in which prosecutors have arrested at least 67 executives including two recently ousted oil ministers, now threatens to further harm operations for the OPEC country, which is already producing at near 30-year-lows and struggling to run PDVSA units including Citgo Petroleum, its U.S. refiner.</p>
<p>Further trouble for the all-important industry could cause yet more economic chaos in the once-prosperous Andean country, which is currently grappling with a profound recession, soaring crime and violence, crippled public services and the world’s steepest inflation rate.</p>
<p>Many of those detained have not yet been replaced, as the once world-leading company, already struggling with a brain drain, wants for qualified personnel. Executives that remain, meanwhile, are so rattled by the arrests that they are loathe to act, scared they will later be accused of wrongdoing.</p>
<p>“In PDVSA, nobody dares sign anything now, not even a Christmas card,” said one executive at a joint venture between PDVSA and a foreign firm in the Orinoco oil belt, asking to remain anonymous.</p>
<p>Interviews with around 20 current and former PDVSA employees, executives at foreign firms, traders and PDVSA clients say fear is compounding problems including the loss of talent, mounting debts, equipment shortages, rampant theft and chronic underinvestment.</p>
<p>Venezuela’s Oil Ministry and PDVSA [PDVSA.UL] did not respond to a request for comment.</p>
<p>“WITCH HUNT”</p>
<p>Oil accounts for over 90 percent of Venezuela’s export revenue and provides the hard currency for Maduro’s socialist government. Yet the country, which sits on the world’s largest crude reserves, is now producing under 2 million barrels per day (bpd).</p>
<p>A political tool even before Maduro mentor Hugo Chavez became president in 1999, PDVSA has increasingly become an extension of Venezuela’s beleaguered government, critics say, with lackeys and soldiers now filling posts, including the top job, that once required industry expertise.</p>
<p>In what some executives call a “witch hunt,” some mid-level managers are now using the purge as an excuse to fire anti-government employees or even disliked colleagues.</p>
<p>“You say anything against anyone right now, and they believe you,” said one PDVSA employee, calling from a relative’s phone to avoid potential eavesdropping.</p>
<p>The purge comes years after industry analysts and opposition politicians began criticizing PDVSA management for widespread graft. A report by the opposition-led Congress last year said at least $11 billion went “missing” at PDVSA between 2004 and 2014.</p>
<p>For years, the government decried such accusations as “smear campaigns” against socialism and in favor of a U.S.-backed coup.</p>
<p>But Maduro, expected to run for reelection next year, recently changed tone. He now blames “thieves” and “traitors” for an economic crisis so severe that disease and malnutrition are spreading unchecked by a broken public health system.</p>
<p>Arrests, including that of former oil ministers and PDVSA bosses Eulogio Del Pino and Nelson Martinez last month, have targeted officials once thought untouchable. Attorneys and opposition figures criticize prosecutors for providing little evidence of crimes.</p>
<p>Maduro last month appointed a general to take the reins of PDVSA and the oil ministry. The new oil czar, former housing minister Major General Manuel Quevedo, has no experience in the energy sector.</p>
<p>Quevedo has yet to produce a detailed business plan, but has vowed to boost production by 1 million bpd – roughly the volume lost in the last four years.</p>
<p>“If we can build almost 2 million homes, we can recover production!” he said in a recent speech to employees, urging them to name and shame “squalid” pro-opposition colleagues.</p>
<p>Critics within the sector say Quevedo’s words betray ignorance of what it would take to revive the foundering industry. They say there is no proof that the general even oversaw construction of that many houses.</p>
<p>Already, Quevedo decreed that all contracts with PDVSA be reviewed in a “clean up.” While it is unclear what the review will entail, it has already spooked clients and partners who fear for the integrity of existing contracts.</p>
<p>DELAYS AND CONFUSION</p>
<p>There is also growing concern about PDVSA’s dwindling ability to finance payments and operations, especially with inexperienced executives now at the helm.</p>
<p>Some PDVSA employees say boat shortages are so acute in western Lake Maracaibo that workers often cannot get to platforms. Late payments have led tanker operators to halt around 18 vessels needed to carry oil and refined products, two sources said.</p>
<p>PDVSA’s crown jewel, Texas-based Citgo, has not been spared.</p>
<p>Most of its board was arrested in Caracas last month, and Asdrubal Chavez, a cousin of the late president, was appointed to replace his jailed predecessor. So far, Chavez is managing Citgo from Caracas, two sources said, causing delays and confusion.</p>
<p>Citgo did not respond to a request for comment.</p>
<p>Even much of the day-to-day office work at PDVSA has ground to a halt. One PDVSA worker said simple expenses like taxis are now off the table.</p>
<p>“They’ve suspended training courses,” said another employee.</p>
<p>Combined, the woes are prompting analysts to question just how low Venezuela’s oil production will fall.</p>
<p>The International Energy Agency predicts output will fall at least 500,000 bpd to 1.5 million bpd in 2018. Analysis firm Medley Global Advisors forecasts a decline of as much as 550,000 bpd, citing risks including “PDVSA’s militarization and purge of what remains of its technical capacity.”</p>
<p>A steep drop would heighten chances that cash-strapped Venezuela defaults on some $60 billion in foreign debt. Maduro’s government has sought to restructure the debt, but has continued to make payments, albeit with delays.</p>
<p>Even if production rebounded, PDVSA does not stand to reap a windfall. A growing portion of exports are being used to repay loans from allies, like China and Russia, who have thrown vital lifelines to Maduro’s government.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, foreign companies in Venezuela, including U.S. oil major Chevron Corp. (N:) and Russian energy giant Rosneft (MM:), are frustrated. They see little progress on longstanding demands, from more operational control at joint ventures with PDVSA to better security at isolated oil fields, according to people close to the firms.</p>
<p>“We’ve lost hope of resolving our problems,” said one executive. “We’re on hold.”</p>
<p>(For a graphic on PDVSA’s troubles in four charts, click http://tmsnrt.rs/2vc01II)</p> | false | 1 | alexandra ulmer marianna parraga caracashouston reuters decisions joint ventures foreign firms delayed growing number oil tankers sit idle one authorizes payments employees struggle get approval routine expenses taxis training alleged crackdown graft venezuela seen critics effort president nicolas maduro consolidate power sown panic across countrys energy industry paralyzed staterun petroleos de venezuela sa pdvsa according people company across sector ongoing purge prosecutors arrested least 67 executives including two recently ousted oil ministers threatens harm operations opec country already producing near 30yearlows struggling run pdvsa units including citgo petroleum us refiner trouble allimportant industry could cause yet economic chaos onceprosperous andean country currently grappling profound recession soaring crime violence crippled public services worlds steepest inflation rate many detained yet replaced worldleading company already struggling brain drain wants qualified personnel executives remain meanwhile rattled arrests loathe act scared later accused wrongdoing pdvsa nobody dares sign anything even christmas card said one executive joint venture pdvsa foreign firm orinoco oil belt asking remain anonymous interviews around 20 current former pdvsa employees executives foreign firms traders pdvsa clients say fear compounding problems including loss talent mounting debts equipment shortages rampant theft chronic underinvestment venezuelas oil ministry pdvsa pdvsaul respond request comment witch hunt oil accounts 90 percent venezuelas export revenue provides hard currency maduros socialist government yet country sits worlds largest crude reserves producing 2 million barrels per day bpd political tool even maduro mentor hugo chavez became president 1999 pdvsa increasingly become extension venezuelas beleaguered government critics say lackeys soldiers filling posts including top job required industry expertise executives call witch hunt midlevel managers using purge excuse fire antigovernment employees even disliked colleagues say anything anyone right believe said one pdvsa employee calling relatives phone avoid potential eavesdropping purge comes years industry analysts opposition politicians began criticizing pdvsa management widespread graft report oppositionled congress last year said least 11 billion went missing pdvsa 2004 2014 years government decried accusations smear campaigns socialism favor usbacked coup maduro expected run reelection next year recently changed tone blames thieves traitors economic crisis severe disease malnutrition spreading unchecked broken public health system arrests including former oil ministers pdvsa bosses eulogio del pino nelson martinez last month targeted officials thought untouchable attorneys opposition figures criticize prosecutors providing little evidence crimes maduro last month appointed general take reins pdvsa oil ministry new oil czar former housing minister major general manuel quevedo experience energy sector quevedo yet produce detailed business plan vowed boost production 1 million bpd roughly volume lost last four years build almost 2 million homes recover production said recent speech employees urging name shame squalid proopposition colleagues critics within sector say quevedos words betray ignorance would take revive foundering industry say proof general even oversaw construction many houses already quevedo decreed contracts pdvsa reviewed clean unclear review entail already spooked clients partners fear integrity existing contracts delays confusion also growing concern pdvsas dwindling ability finance payments operations especially inexperienced executives helm pdvsa employees say boat shortages acute western lake maracaibo workers often get platforms late payments led tanker operators halt around 18 vessels needed carry oil refined products two sources said pdvsas crown jewel texasbased citgo spared board arrested caracas last month asdrubal chavez cousin late president appointed replace jailed predecessor far chavez managing citgo caracas two sources said causing delays confusion citgo respond request comment even much daytoday office work pdvsa ground halt one pdvsa worker said simple expenses like taxis table theyve suspended training courses said another employee combined woes prompting analysts question low venezuelas oil production fall international energy agency predicts output fall least 500000 bpd 15 million bpd 2018 analysis firm medley global advisors forecasts decline much 550000 bpd citing risks including pdvsas militarization purge remains technical capacity steep drop would heighten chances cashstrapped venezuela defaults 60 billion foreign debt maduros government sought restructure debt continued make payments albeit delays even production rebounded pdvsa stand reap windfall growing portion exports used repay loans allies like china russia thrown vital lifelines maduros government meanwhile foreign companies venezuela including us oil major chevron corp n russian energy giant rosneft mm frustrated see little progress longstanding demands operational control joint ventures pdvsa better security isolated oil fields according people close firms weve lost hope resolving problems said one executive hold graphic pdvsas troubles four charts click httptmsnrtrs2vc01ii | 711 |
<p>Catholics feel so at home in the United States that they can joke about the times when their faith was a severe impediment to high national office. After <a href="http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1495.html" type="external">Al Smith’s</a> Catholicism played a major role in his defeat in the <a href="http://www.multied.com/elections/1928.html" type="external">1928 presidential election</a>, or so the old Catholic joke goes, he sent a one-word telegram to <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xi/index.htm" type="external">Pope Pius XI</a>— “Unpack.” By the same token, however, it’s perfectly natural for Catholics to hear echoes of anti-Catholic prejudice when others ask, “What are Catholic politicians supposed to do if public policy is in conflict with Catholic doctrine? Where’s the bright line between faith and public service?” After all, virtually no one else gets asked those questions in American public life.</p>
<p>Still, the questions are there. So are the confusions, some of them caused by Catholic intellectuals who don’t get the logic of the Church’s social doctrine, and others by Catholic politicians who muddy the waters by suggesting that the moral teaching of popes and bishops is “sectarian.” In the hope of answering the questions and clarifying the confusions, I offer the following “small catechism” on the responsibilities of the Catholic politician.</p>
<p>Question: The official leadership of the Catholic Church addresses a wide range of issues. Do all these teachings have the same moral “weight”?</p>
<p>Answer: No. When the pope and the bishops teach that the right-to-life is inalienable from conception until natural death, they’re defending a first principle of justice that binds everyone, not just Catholics: In a just society, innocent and defenseless human life deserves the <a href="http://www.catholic.com/library/abortion.asp" type="external">protection of the laws</a>. What’s at stake here is not some peculiarly “Catholic truth,” but a truth of reason that can be known by anyone. Thus no politician, Catholic or otherwise, can claim to stand for the common good and defend the abortion license decreed by <a href="http://www.oyez.org/cases/1970-1979/1971/1971_70_18/" type="external">Roe v. Wade</a>, or the euthanizing of the elderly and the “burdensome,” or the creation and destruction of human embryos for medical research. You can’t square the circle. Just law must recognize the inviolable dignity of every human life.</p>
<p>On the other hand, take the case of the Iraq war. The late <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/" type="external">Pope John Paul II</a> repeatedly <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,80875,00.html" type="external">urged</a> that a non-military solution be found to the threat of the <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-12-28-saddam_x.htm" type="external">Saddam Hussein</a> regime; the Catholic bishops of the United States expressed <a href="http://www.usccb.org/bishops/iraq.shtml" type="external">grave reservations</a> about the wisdom of an invasion. On this question, though, as on most questions of public policy, we’re in the realm of <a href="http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0503fea2sb1.asp" type="external">prudential judgment</a>, where morally reasonable people can differ. That’s also true of social welfare policy, environmental policy, immigration policy and economic policy. On these questions, Catholic politicians owe their religious leaders — as they owe every intelligent proposal — a fair hearing. To suggest that these contingent questions are the equivalent of the life issues, however, is to make a very basic mistake in logic.</p>
<p>Q:Is a Catholic public official obliged to challenge public policy that conflicts with Catholic teaching?</p>
<p>A:Yes, sometimes; at other times, no. The bright line here is between Church teaching that involves inviolable first principles and Church teaching that does not. Because the abortion license violates a fundamental moral norm that makes a just society possible, a Catholic politician owes it to both reason and faith to work for the restoration of full legal protection for all innocent human life — for precisely the same reasons that Catholic politicians were morally obliged to work against legal segregation. The common good demands it.</p>
<p>We don’t have that kind of moral clarity on other issues, however. It’s an insult to Christian faith to suggest that the Gospel can tell us what the highest marginal tax rate should be or what the federal gas mileage standard should be (or whether there ought to be a federal gas mileage standard). That society has obligations to the elderly is a clear moral truth; that that obligation is best met by the present <a href="http://www.ssa.gov/" type="external">Social Security</a> system is a legitimate subject for debate. <a href="http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm" type="external">The Catholic Church</a> (like the <a href="http://www.sbc.net/" type="external">Southern Baptist Convention</a>, the <a href="http://www.pcusa.org/" type="external">Presbyterian Church USA</a> or any other voluntary organization with public policy interests) is certainly free to make its leadership’s views known on these disputed questions; politicians have an obligation to weigh those proposals against their own best judgment. But those positions can’t bind consciences the way first principles of justice should.</p>
<p>Q:What obligations do Catholic politicians have in making arguments in the public arena?</p>
<p>A:When Catholic politicians enter the public arena, they’re constitutionally free to make any kind of argument they like. But in a diverse society, democratic courtesy and political common sense suggest that we should all make arguments in ways that our fellow-citizens can engage. This really isn’t difficult, because the Catholic Church’s teaching on public policy questions has always been proposed in a genuinely public way, using a common vocabulary and “grammar” that isn’t peculiarly Catholic. There’s nothing “deeply personal” or “private” about, for example, one’s position on when a human life begins; you either know the science or you don’t, and the Catholic Church is firmly aligned with serious modern science here.</p>
<p>Q:But doesn’t all of this moral argument violate the rules of American pluralism?</p>
<p>A:No, it doesn’t. You can’t invoke “pluralism” to ban rational, moral arguments from public life (as some Catholic politicians have foolishly <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-09-10-biden-abortion_N.htm" type="external">done in recent weeks</a>). Real pluralism means engaging others’ arguments civilly; it also means a willingness to have my own arguments judged by the canons of reason.</p>
<p>George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. and holds EPPC’s William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.</p> | false | 1 | catholics feel home united states joke times faith severe impediment high national office al smiths catholicism played major role defeat 1928 presidential election old catholic joke goes sent oneword telegram pope pius xi unpack token however perfectly natural catholics hear echoes anticatholic prejudice others ask catholic politicians supposed public policy conflict catholic doctrine wheres bright line faith public service virtually one else gets asked questions american public life still questions confusions caused catholic intellectuals dont get logic churchs social doctrine others catholic politicians muddy waters suggesting moral teaching popes bishops sectarian hope answering questions clarifying confusions offer following small catechism responsibilities catholic politician question official leadership catholic church addresses wide range issues teachings moral weight answer pope bishops teach righttolife inalienable conception natural death theyre defending first principle justice binds everyone catholics society innocent defenseless human life deserves protection laws whats stake peculiarly catholic truth truth reason known anyone thus politician catholic otherwise claim stand common good defend abortion license decreed roe v wade euthanizing elderly burdensome creation destruction human embryos medical research cant square circle law must recognize inviolable dignity every human life hand take case iraq war late pope john paul ii repeatedly urged nonmilitary solution found threat saddam hussein regime catholic bishops united states expressed grave reservations wisdom invasion question though questions public policy realm prudential judgment morally reasonable people differ thats also true social welfare policy environmental policy immigration policy economic policy questions catholic politicians owe religious leaders owe every intelligent proposal fair hearing suggest contingent questions equivalent life issues however make basic mistake logic qis catholic public official obliged challenge public policy conflicts catholic teaching ayes sometimes times bright line church teaching involves inviolable first principles church teaching abortion license violates fundamental moral norm makes society possible catholic politician owes reason faith work restoration full legal protection innocent human life precisely reasons catholic politicians morally obliged work legal segregation common good demands dont kind moral clarity issues however insult christian faith suggest gospel tell us highest marginal tax rate federal gas mileage standard whether ought federal gas mileage standard society obligations elderly clear moral truth obligation best met present social security system legitimate subject debate catholic church like southern baptist convention presbyterian church usa voluntary organization public policy interests certainly free make leaderships views known disputed questions politicians obligation weigh proposals best judgment positions cant bind consciences way first principles justice qwhat obligations catholic politicians making arguments public arena awhen catholic politicians enter public arena theyre constitutionally free make kind argument like diverse society democratic courtesy political common sense suggest make arguments ways fellowcitizens engage really isnt difficult catholic churchs teaching public policy questions always proposed genuinely public way using common vocabulary grammar isnt peculiarly catholic theres nothing deeply personal private example ones position human life begins either know science dont catholic church firmly aligned serious modern science qbut doesnt moral argument violate rules american pluralism ano doesnt cant invoke pluralism ban rational moral arguments public life catholic politicians foolishly done recent weeks real pluralism means engaging others arguments civilly also means willingness arguments judged canons reason george weigel distinguished senior fellow ethics public policy center washington dc holds eppcs william e simon chair catholic studies | 531 |
<p>Republican lawmakers have seen the Trump disaster coming for a while now. They simply have no clue what to do about it.</p>
<p>A couple of months ago — before we learned that Donald Trump Jr. wanted to spend quality time with people he believed represented the Russian government, before the president publicly humiliated his attorney general and was abandoned by top business executives, before he claimed “some very fine people” were marching in Charlottesville, Va., alongside neo-Nazis and white supremacists — a Republican member of Congress I spoke with called the president a “child king,” a “self-pitying fool.”</p>
<p>Even then, the words that came to mind when some congressional Republicans described the president were “incompetent” and “unfit.” There were concerns about his emotional stability. “There’s now a realization this isn’t going to change,” one top Republican aide on Capitol Hill said. Yet there is the simultaneous realization, as a House member told me when talking about Republicans in their home districts, that “we’re never going to have a majority of people against him.”</p>
<p>Maybe, but for now this presents Republican members of Congress who are privately alarmed by Mr. Trump with a predicament. Regardless of what he does, a vast majority of his core supporters are sticking with him. A recent Monmouth University poll found that of the 41 percent of Americans who currently approve of the job he’s doing, 61 percent said they cannot see Mr. Trump doing anything that would make them disapprove of him. Mr. Trump was on to something when he said in January 2016, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.”</p>
<p>The political problem facing Republicans is that Mr. Trump’s presidency is a wreck. His agenda is dead in the water. A special counsel is overseeing an investigation of his campaign. The West Wing is dysfunctional. And President Trump is deeply unpopular with most Americans.</p>
<p>A new Washington Post-ABC News poll illustrates the dilemma Republican politicians face. It found that 28 percent of polled voters say they approved of Mr. Trump’s response to Charlottesville. But among Republican voters, the figure was 62 percent, while&#160; <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/28-approve-trumps-response-charlottesville-poll/story?id=49334079" type="external">72 percent</a>&#160;of conservative Republicans approved.</p>
<p>The more offensive Mr. Trump is to the rest of America, the more popular he becomes with his core supporters. One policy example: At a recent rally in Phoenix, the president said he was willing to shut down the government over the question of funding for a border wall, which most of his base favors but only about a third of all Americans want.</p>
<p>Much of this mess is of the Republican Party’s own making. Let’s not forget that Mr. Trump’s political rise began with his promulgation of the racist conspiracy theory that President Obama was not a natural-born American citizen. The Trump presidency is the result of years of destructive mental habits and moral decay. So there’s no easy solution for responsible Republicans. But there is a step they have to take.</p>
<p>They need to accept, finally, the reality — evident from the moment he declared his candidacy — that Mr. Trump is unfit to govern. He will prove unable to salvage his presidency. As the failures pile up, he’ll act in an even more erratic fashion.</p>
<p>The mental hurdle Republicans have to clear is that in important respects the interests of the Republican Party and those of Donald Trump no longer align. The party has to highlight ways in which it can separate itself from the president.</p>
<p>So far the response of many Republican leaders to Mr. Trump’s offenses has been silence or at most veiled, timid criticism. The effect is to rile up Trump supporters and Mr. Trump himself without rallying opposition to him. It’s the worst of all worlds.</p>
<p>What’s required now is a comprehensive, consistent case by Republican leaders at the state and national levels that signals their opposition to the moral ugliness and intellectual incoherence of Mr. Trump. Rather than standing by the president, they should consider themselves liberated and offer a constructive, humane and appealing alternative to him. They need to think in terms of a shadow government during the Trump era, with the elevation of alternative leaders on a range of matters.</p>
<p>This approach involves risk and may not work. It will certainly provoke an angry response from the Breitbart-alt-right-talk-radio part of the party. So be it. Republicans who don’t share Mr. Trump’s approach have to hope that his imploding presidency has created an opening to offer a profoundly different vision of America, one that is based on opportunity, openness, mobility and inclusion.</p>
<p>This requires a new intellectual infrastructure to address what may prove to be one of the largest economic disruptions in history. People in positions of influence need to make arguments on behalf of principles and ideas that have for too long gone undefended. They must appeal to moral idealism. And the party needs leaders who will fight with as much passionate intensity for their cause as Mr. Trump fights for his — which is simply himself. There’s no shortcut to forging a separate Republican identity during the Trump presidency. Half-measures and fainthearted opposition are certain to fail.</p>
<p>If Republicans need more encouragement to break with Mr. Trump, they might note that the president, who has no institutional or party loyalty, is positioning himself as a critic not just of Democrats but also of Republicans. During his rally in Arizona, he went out of his way to attack both of that state’s Republican senators, including one battling brain cancer. He followed that up with tweets attacking the House speaker, Paul D. Ryan, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, and other Republican lawmakers.</p>
<p>A confrontation is inevitable. The alternative is to continue to further tie the fate and the reputation of the Republican Party to a president who seems destined for epic failure and whose words stir the hearts of white supremacists.</p>
<p>We are well past the point where equivocations are defensible, and we’re nearly past the point where a moral reconstitution is possible. The damage Mr. Trump has inflicted on the Republican Party is already enormous. If the party doesn’t make a clean break with him, it will be generational.</p>
<p>Peter Wehner, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, served in the previous three Republican administrations and is a contributing opinion writer.</p> | false | 1 | republican lawmakers seen trump disaster coming simply clue couple months ago learned donald trump jr wanted spend quality time people believed represented russian government president publicly humiliated attorney general abandoned top business executives claimed fine people marching charlottesville va alongside neonazis white supremacists republican member congress spoke called president child king selfpitying fool even words came mind congressional republicans described president incompetent unfit concerns emotional stability theres realization isnt going change one top republican aide capitol hill said yet simultaneous realization house member told talking republicans home districts never going majority people maybe presents republican members congress privately alarmed mr trump predicament regardless vast majority core supporters sticking recent monmouth university poll found 41 percent americans currently approve job hes 61 percent said see mr trump anything would make disapprove mr trump something said january 2016 could stand middle fifth avenue shoot somebody wouldnt lose voters political problem facing republicans mr trumps presidency wreck agenda dead water special counsel overseeing investigation campaign west wing dysfunctional president trump deeply unpopular americans new washington postabc news poll illustrates dilemma republican politicians face found 28 percent polled voters say approved mr trumps response charlottesville among republican voters figure 62 percent while160 72 percent160of conservative republicans approved offensive mr trump rest america popular becomes core supporters one policy example recent rally phoenix president said willing shut government question funding border wall base favors third americans want much mess republican partys making lets forget mr trumps political rise began promulgation racist conspiracy theory president obama naturalborn american citizen trump presidency result years destructive mental habits moral decay theres easy solution responsible republicans step take need accept finally reality evident moment declared candidacy mr trump unfit govern prove unable salvage presidency failures pile hell act even erratic fashion mental hurdle republicans clear important respects interests republican party donald trump longer align party highlight ways separate president far response many republican leaders mr trumps offenses silence veiled timid criticism effect rile trump supporters mr trump without rallying opposition worst worlds whats required comprehensive consistent case republican leaders state national levels signals opposition moral ugliness intellectual incoherence mr trump rather standing president consider liberated offer constructive humane appealing alternative need think terms shadow government trump era elevation alternative leaders range matters approach involves risk may work certainly provoke angry response breitbartaltrighttalkradio part party republicans dont share mr trumps approach hope imploding presidency created opening offer profoundly different vision america one based opportunity openness mobility inclusion requires new intellectual infrastructure address may prove one largest economic disruptions history people positions influence need make arguments behalf principles ideas long gone undefended must appeal moral idealism party needs leaders fight much passionate intensity cause mr trump fights simply theres shortcut forging separate republican identity trump presidency halfmeasures fainthearted opposition certain fail republicans need encouragement break mr trump might note president institutional party loyalty positioning critic democrats also republicans rally arizona went way attack states republican senators including one battling brain cancer followed tweets attacking house speaker paul ryan senate majority leader mitch mcconnell republican lawmakers confrontation inevitable alternative continue tie fate reputation republican party president seems destined epic failure whose words stir hearts white supremacists well past point equivocations defensible nearly past point moral reconstitution possible damage mr trump inflicted republican party already enormous party doesnt make clean break generational peter wehner senior fellow ethics public policy center served previous three republican administrations contributing opinion writer | 565 |
<p>This year’s Oscar race is still as undecided as a swing state voter. On Wednesday, the Screen Actors Guild nominations failed to offer much clarity. Fox Searchlight’s <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/2018-sag-nominations-three-billboards-top-nominee-1202638969/" type="external">“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” led</a> with four nominations, more than any other film. However, other sure bets — such as “Shape of Water,” “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/dunkirk/" type="external">Dunkirk</a>,” and “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/the-post/" type="external">The Post</a>” — were left out of the best SAG ensemble category, usually a predicator of things to come at the Academy Awards.</p>
<p>On the TV side, the <a href="http://variety.com/t/sag-awards/" type="external">SAG Awards</a> has a spotty track record when it comes to recognizing new shows. Last year, the group embraced “Stranger Things” (and did so again). This year, it also bestowed plenty of love to “GLOW” and “Ozark,”&#160;two of the buzziest shows from Netflix. But in doing so, it snubbed critically acclaimed new offerings like Amazon’s “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” as well as Showtime’s “SMILF” — both of which picked up multiple <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/golden-globe-tv-nominations-analysis-smilf-the-sinner-will-and-grace-1202635761/" type="external">Golden Globe nominations</a>.</p>
<p>The 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards — the only major awards show that only honors actors — will be held on Jan. 21. Here are the biggest snubs and surprises.</p>
<p>SNUB: “ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/historical-drama-scores-oscars-dunkirk-mudbound-1202636139/" type="external">Dunkirk</a>”Some pundits had thought that Christopher Nolan’s war epic could be a frontrunner to win best picture at the Oscars. But the SAG nominations only gave the box office hit a single nomination for its stunt team. This is significant because the last best picture winner that didn’t get nominated for best SAG ensemble was 1995’s “Braveheart.” When last year’s “La La Land” got left out of the ensemble category that proved to be a clue that it would eventually lose the top Oscar to “Moonlight.”</p>
<p>SNUB: “ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/news/fox-golden-globes-disney-the-post-shape-of-water-1202636058/" type="external">The Post</a>” in all categoriesSteven Spielberg’s ode to journalism and the Washington Post’s publishing of the Pentagon Papers screened late for guild members, and it now looks like not enough members of the SAG nominating committee saw it. That would explain why the movie got left out of best ensemble, best actor for Tom Hanks, and best actress for Meryl Streep. Expect the movie to rebound with a lot of Oscar nominations, as Academy voters catch up with their screeners over the holidays.</p>
<p>SNUB: “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/the-shape-of-water/" type="external">The Shape of Water</a>” for best ensembleGuillermo Del Toro’s love story about a lonely woman and a monster picked up nominations for Sally Hawkins (best actress) and Richard Jenkins (best supporting actor). But after <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/awards/golden-globes-nominations-dunkirk-get-out-lady-bird-1202635644/" type="external">leading all movies with seven Golden Globe nominations</a> earlier this week, the film failed to snatch the all-important SAG ensemble nomination. That means, in all likelihood, the best picture Oscar will go to one of the following: “The Big Sick,” “Get Out,” “Lady Bird,” “Mubound,” or “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”</p>
<p>SNUB: Armie Hammer, “Call Me by Your Name”Sony Pictures Classics has been campaigning Hammer as best supporting actor for “Call Me by Your Name,” even though he shares the screen time as one of two lovers in Luca Guadagnino’s film. That may have hurt him with SAG voters, who are stricter when it comes to category fudging. (Then again, Steve Carell is basically the lead actor in “Battle of the Sexes,” and he got the slot in supporting actor instead.)</p>
<p>SNUB: <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/kevin-spacey-jeffrey-tambor-sag-awards-sexual-harassment-1202639002/" type="external">Jeffrey Tambor (“Transparent”) and Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”)</a>The series of sexual harassment allegations against both actors clearly had an impact on voting bodies — neither earned noms from either the HFPA or <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/glow-sag-awards-golden-globes-wga-nominations-1202639119/" type="external">SAG Awards</a>.</p>
<p>SNUB: “Will and Grace” cast shut out except for Sean HayesThe revival of “Will and Grace” has earned plenty of viewers, but despite its popularity on the awards circuit during its first incarnation, it’s not winning as much adulation from voters. Eric McCormack earned the cast’s sole Globe nom; Hayes earned the only SAG nom. And it didn’t make the cut for comedy ensemble.</p>
<p>SNUB: “Twin Peaks”David Lynch’s ambitious revival challenged viewers — and clearly voters as well, who ignored Kyle MacLachlan’s performance as several characters in the sprawling, challenging odyssey.</p>
<p>SNUB: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”Maybe it premiered too late for SAG voters. Maybe they couldn’t figure out how to watch Amazon. But Amy Sherman-Palladino’s latest offering about a ’50s-era housewife won acclaim from critics — but struck out with SAG. Amazon has already announced a programming strategy shifting away from niche series in favor of tentpole efforts, so the impact on the awards scene remains a question mark.</p>
<p>SNUB: Female auteur comedies like “SMILF” and Frankie Shaw; “Insecure” and Issa RaePerhaps it’s unfair that these two should share a snub, but these female-led auteur comedies inexplicably didn’t register with SAG voters. (That said: it took two seasons for “Master of None” to make the cut; perhaps voters are just catching up?)</p>
<p>SNUB: Carrie Coon, “The Leftovers” and “Fargo”Often said, but it bears repeating: Coon delivered two of the best performances of the year, period. Just watch the final episode of HBO’s “The Leftovers.”</p>
<p>SURPRISE: “Mudbound”Dee Rees’ sprawling drama about race and poverty in the post World War II South was the toast of last year’s Sundance Film Festival. After it sold to Netflix, many wondered if it could be the streaming service’s first best picture contender. But so far, outside of earning acclaim for best supporting actress Mary J. Blige, the movie has been under the radar with other awards groups. The SAG ensemble nod gives it a big boost.</p>
<p>SURPRISE: Daniel Kaluuya, “Get Out”After receiving a SAG best male actor nomination, over Jake Gyllenhaal (“Stronger”) and Daniel Day-Lewis (“The Phantom Thread”), the star of “Get Out” now seems on his way to his first Oscar nomination. Earlier this week, Kaluuya also received a Golden Globe nod for his work in Jordan Peele’s hit film.</p>
<p>SURPRISE: Judi Dench, “Victoria &amp; Abdul”Don’t ever underestimate a Dame. Dench snuck into the best female actor race for reprising her part as Queen Victoria. Let’s not forget that “Victoria &amp; Abdul” was a major hit for Focus Features, grossing more than $60 million worldwide. It’s a competitive year for this category at the Oscars, and Dench had largely been written off by pundits, but there’s a chance that she could be returning to the Academy Awards.</p>
<p>SURPRISE: Woody Harrelson, “Three Billboards”Most of the awards chatter around “Three Billboards” has been for Frances Mcdormand and Sam Rockwell. But the SAG nominating committee also recognized Harrelson’s work as an ailing police officer, giving the movie two nods in the best supporting actor race.</p>
<p>SURPRISE: Marc Maron (“GLOW”)“GLOW” was the surprise hit of the season — and SAG voters showered it with noms, from its ensemble to its leading lady Alison Brie (even its stunt team earned a nom). Maron earned his first nomination for his performance as the bitter director of the wrestling troupe.</p>
<p>SURPRISE: “Curb Your Enthusiasm” loveActors love actors, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that “Curb Your Enthusiasm” made the cut for best ensemble, which features a lineup of famous face. But while the Globes didn’t recognize the HBO comedy’s latest season, SAG voters did — recognizing not just the team, but also its creator and star Larry David (who’d been nominated before in the show’s earlier seasons).</p> | false | 1 | years oscar race still undecided swing state voter wednesday screen actors guild nominations failed offer much clarity fox searchlights three billboards outside ebbing missouri led four nominations film however sure bets shape water dunkirk post left best sag ensemble category usually predicator things come academy awards tv side sag awards spotty track record comes recognizing new shows last year group embraced stranger things year also bestowed plenty love glow ozark160two buzziest shows netflix snubbed critically acclaimed new offerings like amazons marvelous mrs maisel well showtimes smilf picked multiple golden globe nominations 24th screen actors guild awards major awards show honors actors held jan 21 biggest snubs surprises snub dunkirksome pundits thought christopher nolans war epic could frontrunner win best picture oscars sag nominations gave box office hit single nomination stunt team significant last best picture winner didnt get nominated best sag ensemble 1995s braveheart last years la la land got left ensemble category proved clue would eventually lose top oscar moonlight snub post categoriessteven spielbergs ode journalism washington posts publishing pentagon papers screened late guild members looks like enough members sag nominating committee saw would explain movie got left best ensemble best actor tom hanks best actress meryl streep expect movie rebound lot oscar nominations academy voters catch screeners holidays snub shape water best ensembleguillermo del toros love story lonely woman monster picked nominations sally hawkins best actress richard jenkins best supporting actor leading movies seven golden globe nominations earlier week film failed snatch allimportant sag ensemble nomination means likelihood 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challenging odyssey snub marvelous mrs maiselmaybe premiered late sag voters maybe couldnt figure watch amazon amy shermanpalladinos latest offering 50sera housewife acclaim critics struck sag amazon already announced programming strategy shifting away niche series favor tentpole efforts impact awards scene remains question mark snub female auteur comedies like smilf frankie shaw insecure issa raeperhaps unfair two share snub femaleled auteur comedies inexplicably didnt register sag voters said took two seasons master none make cut perhaps voters catching snub carrie coon leftovers fargooften said bears repeating coon delivered two best performances year period watch final episode hbos leftovers surprise mudbounddee rees sprawling drama race poverty post world war ii south toast last years sundance film festival sold netflix many wondered could streaming services first best picture contender far outside earning acclaim best supporting actress mary j blige movie radar awards groups sag ensemble nod gives big boost surprise daniel kaluuya get outafter receiving sag best male actor nomination jake gyllenhaal stronger daniel daylewis phantom thread star get seems way first oscar nomination earlier week kaluuya also received golden globe nod work jordan peeles hit film surprise judi dench victoria amp abduldont ever underestimate dame dench snuck best female actor race reprising part queen victoria lets forget victoria amp abdul major hit focus features grossing 60 million worldwide competitive year category oscars dench largely written pundits theres chance could returning academy awards surprise woody harrelson three billboardsmost awards chatter around three billboards frances mcdormand sam rockwell sag nominating committee also recognized harrelsons work ailing police officer giving movie two nods best supporting actor race surprise marc maron glowglow surprise hit season sag voters showered noms ensemble leading lady alison brie even stunt team earned nom maron earned first nomination performance bitter director wrestling troupe surprise curb enthusiasm loveactors love actors shouldnt come much surprise curb enthusiasm made cut best ensemble features lineup famous face globes didnt recognize hbo comedys latest season sag voters recognizing team also creator star larry david whod nominated shows earlier seasons | 725 |
<p>Fairness is one thing, but transfer payments always reduce real labor income: evidence from the U.S. and the U.K.</p>
<p>An international consensus is emerging on the problems of chronic unemployment and lagging real wages. It has won the backing of powerful politicians like Jacques Delors and President Clinton’s economic advisers. Unfortunately, this new consensus is contradicted by standard theory and by labor-market reality.</p>
<p>One expert (Adrian Wood) recently found general agreement on three main points. First, that the main cause of chronic unemployment is a fall in the quantity of labor demanded due to “labor market institutions that put a floor under unskilled wages.” Second, that “removing this floor would not solve the problem, just change its form (from European-style open unemployment into American-style working poverty or withdrawal into crime).” Third, that better education and training will help but will “only work slowly — over decades, not years” (Financial Times, 10 March 1994).</p>
<p>A Doleful Choice?</p>
<p>If this is the prevailing view, then it must be challenged. The first point is quite correct — and it reflects a remarkable change: until recently it was widely argued that unemployment benefits are an “automatic stabilizer” which increases the demand for labor. Nor can one doubt the third: education and training are fine things — but they were fine things back when such policies were fewer and unemployment was much lower.</p>
<p>It is the second point that makes no sense. How often we hear that we face a doleful choice between an “American” model of low benefits, low unemployment and low real wages, or a “European” model of high benefits, high unemployment and high real wages. But the facts show that both the faster rise of unemployment in Europe and the faster relative decline of take-home pay in America are due to expanded social benefits. Transfer payments may be defended for the sake of fairness, but in every case reduce real labor income.</p>
<p>Relative Price of Labor</p>
<p>In standard theory, unemployment is associated with a rise in the relative price of labor. At a higher price, firms hire fewer workers (reducing the quantity of labor demanded) while more people seek jobs (increasing the quantity supplied). In the 1930s and 1940s this was known as “Rueff’s Law,” because Jacques Rueff demonstrated, as early as 1925 for the U.K., that unemployment directly parallels changes in the relative price of labor.</p>
<p>But what, exactly, is the relative price of labor? Obviously it has to do with the level of labor compensation. But like all prices, wages have a meaning only in relation to other prices. A wage of $3 an hour isn’t much when a sandwich costs $3 — but it was a decent wage back when a sandwich sold for 25 cents. So the relative price of labor has to take both pay and prices into account.</p>
<p>But the cost of labor is also affected by labor’s productivity. If we could double the goods produced with an hour of labor, while holding wage rates and prices constant, it would effectively cut the cost of labor in half. But in a competitive market, all units of labor (and capital) are paid incomes equal to what the last unit adds to output. With doubled productivity, real wage rates normally double, leaving the relative price of labor unchanged.</p>
<p>Thus, to measure the relative price of labor, we need to adjust labor compensation for both prices and productivity. (This is sometimes called the “efficiency wage.”) In doing this calculation, we find that the relative price of labor is the same as labor’s share of net national output or income (see Appendix 1). This is a great convenience, since it means that we can measure labor’s relative price without actually knowing the average hourly wage rate, the number of hours worked, or the level of productivity — as long as we know total labor income and total national income.</p>
<p>But there is one more step: we must take into account all taxes and transfer payments affecting labor. This step is usually omitted from labor-cost calculations, to reduce their complexity. But taxes and benefits should be included, because they affect people’s behavior. Rather than just using gross labor compensation, we should subtract taxes on labor and add transfer payments to labor.</p>
<p>International Evidence for Rueff’s Law</p>
<p>I recently calculated labor’s share of national income in this way, back to 1929 for the United States, and back to 1960 for the United Kingdom. (An attempt to do the same for France has so far been defeated by poor data.) Exactly as theory and common sense predict, the relative price of labor is closely tied to the unemployment rate. Whenever labor’s share of income rises, unemployment goes up; whenever labor’s share of income falls, unemployment goes down.</p>
<p>In the U.S., for example, labor took more than 90% of national income at the depths of the Depression, and unemployment hit 25%. During the World War II boom, labor’s share of income hit an all-time low of 64% — corresponding to an all-time low in unemployment of 1%. Since the Second World War, there has been a steady uptrend in labor’s share of national income, and a parallel uptrend in the minimum unemployment rate. On average, each 1% rise in labor’s share of national income has been accompanied by about a 0.8% drop in employment. (See Graph 1.)</p>
<p>In the United Kingdom, the relationship is very similar, except that, until recently, labor’s share of income led unemployment by a year or two. Labor’s share remained below 69% in the 1960s, when unemployment was below 3%. After labor’s share rose to 76% in 1980, unemployment exceeded 12%. Subsequent swings in labor’s share were followed by commensurate swings in unemployment. On average, each 1% rise in labor’s share of national income was accompanied by about a 0.9% drop in employment. (See Graphs 2 and 3.)</p>
<p>Labor’s Share Up — Labor Income Down</p>
<p>Because there is a strict relation between employment and net national output or income, a rise in the relative price of labor must be associated not only with a rise in unemployment but also with a fall in real national income. In both the U.S. and the U.K., each 1 percentage-point rise in labor’s share of national income is associated with about a 2% decline in real national income — measured, for example, by the gap between potential and actual output or income (see Appendix 2). This means that when labor’s income share rises 1 percentage point, real labor income falls 1 percentage point. (See Graphs 4 and 5.)</p>
<p>Why does real labor income fall when labor’s share of income rises? We recall that all units of labor earn a wage based on what the last unit adds to output. For any given equipment, each extra labor unit has less equipment to work with, so adds less to output. Therefore labor must receive a lower “efficiency wage” — a smaller share of total income — as unemployment falls. But real national income and real labor income rise with employment and output, e.g., World War II. If real labor income did not rise as unemployment fell, it would mean that workers as a group offered to work an extra hour even though their real income would drop if they did. This is inherently implausible.</p>
<p>Labor’s share of income must stop falling at full employment since, if no more labor is forthcoming, labor’s contribution to extra output can’t decline any further. Similarly, labor’s income share rises with unemployment, because the last unit of labor hired has more capital to work with; but real labor income falls, because employment and national income are cut back, e.g., the Depression.</p>
<p>Solving The Benefit Puzzle</p>
<p>We can see the effect of government benefits by comparing labor’s share of income with the share received by employed workers. The difference is transfer payments to persons who are not employed — that is, income earned by the effort of employed workers but paid to persons who are either unemployed or outside the labor force. Such benefits represent, in effect, a purchase of labor services by the government.</p>
<p>The effect on unemployment cannot depend merely on the size of benefits. Transfer payments to the non-employed are much higher in the U.S. than in the U.K. — about $3100 vs. $2350 per capita in 1992, measured at purchasing power parity — yet unemployment is far lower. Moreover, such benefits expanded to almost exactly the same degree in both countries between 1960 and 1992– just over 11 percentage points of national income. But in the U.S., labor’s share of income rose less than 3 percentage points, while employed workers’ share fell more than 8 percentage points. In the U.K., labor’s share of income rose more than 6 percentage points, while employed workers’ share fell by 5 percentage points. The larger rise in the U.K. relative price of labor explains why unemployment rose more sharply in the U.K. than in the U.S. But what determines whether benefits raise labor’s share of income or reduce employed workers’ share?</p>
<p>Theory suggests that benefits to the unemployed create a wage floor, thereby raising labor’s share of income and unemployment. But this is not the case with benefits to persons outside the labor force. Since, for example, most workers cannot qualify for old-age benefits, such benefits do not create a wage floor and therefore are financed by reducing employed workers’ take-home pay. This reduces labor force participation and employment without increasing unemployment. (Benefits to employed workers are, in effect, paid by other employed workers, also reducing work effort but without affecting labor’s or employed workers’ shares of national income.)</p>
<p>A closer analysis of the U.S data confirms this. The rise in labor’s share of income is just equal to the rise of benefits to the unemployed — mostly welfare to the able-bodied — while the fall in take-home pay is equal to the rise of benefits to persons outside the labor force — mostly transfers to the aged or disabled. (For a detailed discussion, see “How Can Wages Fall While Unemployment Rises?” March 11, 1994 LBMC Report). I was unable to make a similar breakdown of U.K. benefits — perhaps some enterprising Brit will do so — but common sense suggests that benefits to the unemployed have expanded faster than benefits to persons outside the labor force.</p>
<p>No Tradeoff</p>
<p>Thus the new conventional wisdom is mistaken on two key points. First, it confuses labor’s share of income with real labor income. Benefit (or minimum-wage) laws which create an above-market wage floor do increase labor’s share of national income, but force a cutback in employment which unambiguously lowers real labor income. Second, the main difference between the United States and Europe is not the level but the kinds of social benefits. Since the 1960s, benefits to the unemployed have increased more sharply in Europe — increasing unemployment faster — while benefits to persons outside the labor force have increased more rapidly in the U.S. — causing a sharper decline in take-home pay as a share of national income.</p>
<p>The logic of labor-market policy is exactly the same in the U.S. and in Europe. The only difference is which policy change is more urgent. Trimming excessive unemployment or welfare benefits would reduce unemployment and necessarily raise real labor income. Cutting back benefits to persons outside the labor force would not affect unemployment, but would increase labor-force participation and reverse the decline of take-home pay as a share of national income. Only benefits conditioned on holding a job can offer a “living family wage” without raising unemployment or reducing employed workers’ share of income.</p>
<p>Appendix 1: Why Is the Relative Price of Labor the Same as Labor’s Share of Income?</p>
<p>We observe in the text that the relative price of labor is derived by dividing labor compensation (adjusted for all taxes and transfer payments affecting labor) by both product prices and labor productivity. Let W be labor compensation per hour, L the number of hours worked, P the index of product prices and Q net output. Then the “product wage” is W/P, and productivity (output per hour) is Q/L. So the relative price of labor is (W/P)/(Q/L) = WL/PQ. But WL is total labor compensation, and PQ is the value of net output.PQ (net of capital consumption and indirect taxes) is also equal to national income. Therefore the relative price of labor is the same as labor’s share of national income. As long as we know the aggregate values WL (labor compensation) and PQ (national income), we can measure the relative price of labor without actually knowing W, L, P or Q.</p>
<p>Appendix 2: A Note on the “National Income Gap”</p>
<p>For any given equipment and organization, there is a strict relation between employment and output, and therefore between employment and national income. Therefore a rise in unemployment must be associated with a decline in national output and income.</p>
<p>But national output and income can also change with equipment and organization, or with the labor force or education. We can isolate the effect of changes in unemployment by focusing on “the national income gap” — the difference between actual national income and potential national income at some specified unemployment rate. Both potential and actual output or income should move in parallel except for changes in unemployment.</p>
<p>This idea is usually expressed as the “GDP gap” — the difference between actual and potential gross domestic product. But for our purposes, we wish to focus on national income — the proceeds of GDP actually paid to either labor or capital.</p>
<p>For the United States we use the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of potential GDP, adjusted to a national income basis instead of GDP. CBO’s potential GDP is not based on zero unemployment, or even on a constant unemployment rate, but rather upon an unemployment rate which ranges slowly between 5% and 6%, based on CBO’s estimate of the unemployment rate at which inflation begins to accelerate. This explains why actual national income sometimes exceeds potential national income. Since we are interested in changes in the national income gap, rather than its absolute level, these anomalies do not greatly affect our results. The CBO output gap goes back to 1949, but we have reconstructed it back to 1929 using the same relationship (see Graph 6).</p>
<p>For the United Kingdom, a useful series for the output or income gap back to 1960 was not available, so we used the divergence of real national income per capita from the 1960-74 trend (chosen because the unemployment rate was fairly constant during that period). U.S. data show that such a measure behaves very much like the “national income gap.” Graph 7 shows U.K. real national income, labor income and take-home pay relative to this trend.</p>
<p>Appendix 3: Measuring Labor’s Share of Income for the U.K.</p>
<p>As explained in the text, labor’s share of national income equals total labor compensation, minus taxes on labor, plus transfer payments to labor. The calculation for the United States was described in “How Can Wages Fall While Unemployment Rises?” (March 11, 1994 LBMC Report, Appendix 1).</p>
<p>The figures for the U.K. come from OECD National Accounts, which differ slightly from the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts. For example, we must subtract indirect taxes net of business subsidies from the OECD measure of national income to approximate national income under the U.S. definition used in this study. These items are from “Main Aggregates,” as is gross labor compensation, which for the U.K. includes an estimate for the self-employed.</p>
<p>Net transfer payments are from “Accounts for General Government,” and include “other current transfers” except “transfers to the rest of the world” under “Disbursements,” less “imputed unfunded employee pension and welfare contributions” under “Receipts.” The item “other current transfers, except imputed” under “Receipts” refers to the poll tax, which is treated separately.</p>
<p>Payroll taxes are from “Accounts for General Government.” Direct personal taxes and fees come from “Accounts for Households.” Labor’s share of personal taxes is assumed to be proportional to labor’s share of national income as defined above. (This method agrees closely with estimates of personal taxes on labor for recent years from IMF Government Statistics Yearbooks.) The poll tax is attributed entirely to labor: 75% to employed workers and 25% to recipients of transfer payments, reflecting the share of the population which is either unemployed or older than working age.</p>
<p>Labor’s share of national income = (labor compensation – payroll taxes – poll tax – labor’s share of personal taxes + net transfer payments)/(national income – indirect taxes + business subsidies).</p>
<p>Employed workers’ income = labor income – net transfers + 25% of poll tax.</p> | false | 1 | fairness one thing transfer payments always reduce real labor income evidence us uk international consensus emerging problems chronic unemployment lagging real wages backing powerful politicians like jacques delors president clintons economic advisers unfortunately new consensus contradicted standard theory labormarket reality one expert adrian wood recently found general agreement three main points first main cause chronic unemployment fall quantity labor demanded due labor market institutions put floor unskilled wages second removing floor would solve problem change form europeanstyle open unemployment americanstyle working poverty withdrawal crime third better education training help work slowly decades years financial times 10 march 1994 doleful choice prevailing view must challenged first point quite correct reflects remarkable change recently widely argued unemployment benefits automatic stabilizer increases demand labor one doubt third education training fine things fine things back policies fewer unemployment much lower second point makes sense often hear face doleful choice american model low benefits low unemployment low real wages european model high benefits high unemployment high real wages facts show faster rise unemployment europe faster relative decline takehome pay america due expanded social benefits transfer payments may defended sake fairness every case reduce real labor income relative price labor standard theory unemployment associated rise relative price labor higher price firms hire fewer workers reducing quantity labor demanded people seek jobs increasing quantity supplied 1930s 1940s known rueffs law jacques rueff demonstrated early 1925 uk unemployment directly parallels changes relative price labor exactly relative price labor obviously level labor compensation like prices wages meaning relation prices wage 3 hour isnt much sandwich costs 3 decent wage back sandwich sold 25 cents relative price labor take pay prices account cost labor also affected labors productivity could double goods produced hour labor holding wage rates prices constant would effectively cut cost labor half competitive market units labor capital paid incomes equal last unit adds output doubled productivity real wage rates normally double leaving relative price labor unchanged thus measure relative price labor need adjust labor compensation prices productivity sometimes called efficiency wage calculation find relative price labor labors share net national output income see appendix 1 great convenience since means measure labors relative price without actually knowing average hourly wage rate number hours worked level productivity long know total labor income total national income one step must take account taxes transfer payments affecting labor step usually omitted laborcost calculations reduce complexity taxes benefits included affect peoples behavior rather using gross labor compensation subtract taxes labor add transfer payments labor international evidence rueffs law recently calculated labors share national income way back 1929 united states back 1960 united kingdom attempt france far defeated poor data exactly theory common sense predict relative price labor closely tied unemployment rate whenever labors share income rises unemployment goes whenever labors share income falls unemployment goes us example labor took 90 national income depths depression unemployment hit 25 world war ii boom labors share income hit alltime low 64 corresponding alltime low unemployment 1 since second world war steady uptrend labors share national income parallel uptrend minimum unemployment rate average 1 rise labors share national income accompanied 08 drop employment see graph 1 united kingdom relationship similar except recently labors share income led unemployment year two labors share remained 69 1960s unemployment 3 labors share rose 76 1980 unemployment exceeded 12 subsequent swings labors share followed commensurate swings unemployment average 1 rise labors share national income accompanied 09 drop employment see graphs 2 3 labors share labor income strict relation employment net national output income rise relative price labor must associated rise unemployment also fall real national income us uk 1 percentagepoint rise labors share national income associated 2 decline real national income measured example gap potential actual output income see appendix 2 means labors income share rises 1 percentage point real labor income falls 1 percentage point see graphs 4 5 real labor income fall labors share income rises recall units labor earn wage based last unit adds output given equipment extra labor unit less equipment work adds less output therefore labor must receive lower efficiency wage smaller share total income unemployment falls real national income real labor income rise employment output eg world war ii real labor income rise unemployment fell would mean workers group offered work extra hour even though real income would drop inherently implausible labors share income must stop falling full employment since labor forthcoming labors contribution extra output cant decline similarly labors income share rises unemployment last unit labor hired capital work real labor income falls employment national income cut back eg depression solving benefit puzzle see effect government benefits comparing labors share income share received employed workers difference transfer payments persons employed income earned effort employed workers paid persons either unemployed outside labor force benefits represent effect purchase labor services government effect unemployment depend merely size benefits transfer payments nonemployed much higher us uk 3100 vs 2350 per capita 1992 measured purchasing power parity yet unemployment far lower moreover benefits expanded almost exactly degree countries 1960 1992 11 percentage points national income us labors share income rose less 3 percentage points employed workers share fell 8 percentage points uk labors share income rose 6 percentage points employed workers share fell 5 percentage points larger rise uk relative price labor explains unemployment rose sharply uk us determines whether benefits raise labors share income reduce employed workers share theory suggests benefits unemployed create wage floor thereby raising labors share income unemployment case benefits persons outside labor force since example workers qualify oldage benefits benefits create wage floor therefore financed reducing employed workers takehome pay reduces labor force participation employment without increasing unemployment benefits employed workers effect paid employed workers also reducing work effort without affecting labors employed workers shares national income closer analysis us data confirms rise labors share income equal rise benefits unemployed mostly welfare ablebodied fall takehome pay equal rise benefits persons outside labor force mostly transfers aged disabled detailed discussion see wages fall unemployment rises march 11 1994 lbmc report unable make similar breakdown uk benefits perhaps enterprising brit common sense suggests benefits unemployed expanded faster benefits persons outside labor force tradeoff thus new conventional wisdom mistaken two key points first confuses labors share income real labor income benefit minimumwage laws create abovemarket wage floor increase labors share national income force cutback employment unambiguously lowers real labor income second main difference united states europe level kinds social benefits since 1960s benefits unemployed increased sharply europe increasing unemployment faster benefits persons outside labor force increased rapidly us causing sharper decline takehome pay share national income logic labormarket policy exactly us europe difference policy change urgent trimming excessive unemployment welfare benefits would reduce unemployment necessarily raise real labor income cutting back benefits persons outside labor force would affect unemployment would increase laborforce participation reverse decline takehome pay share national income benefits conditioned holding job offer living family wage without raising unemployment reducing employed workers share income appendix 1 relative price labor labors share income observe text relative price labor derived dividing labor compensation adjusted taxes transfer payments affecting labor product prices labor productivity let w labor compensation per hour l number hours worked p index product prices q net output product wage wp productivity output per hour ql relative price labor wpql wlpq wl total labor compensation pq value net outputpq net capital consumption indirect taxes also equal national income therefore relative price labor labors share national income long know aggregate values wl labor compensation pq national income measure relative price labor without actually knowing w l p q appendix 2 note national income gap given equipment organization strict relation employment output therefore employment national income therefore rise unemployment must associated decline national output income national output income also change equipment organization labor force education isolate effect changes unemployment focusing national income gap difference actual national income potential national income specified unemployment rate potential actual output income move parallel except changes unemployment idea usually expressed gdp gap difference actual potential gross domestic product purposes wish focus national income proceeds gdp actually paid either labor capital united states use congressional budget offices estimate potential gdp adjusted national income basis instead gdp cbos potential gdp based zero unemployment even constant unemployment rate rather upon unemployment rate ranges slowly 5 6 based cbos estimate unemployment rate inflation begins accelerate explains actual national income sometimes exceeds potential national income since interested changes national income gap rather absolute level anomalies greatly affect results cbo output gap goes back 1949 reconstructed back 1929 using relationship see graph 6 united kingdom useful series output income gap back 1960 available used divergence real national income per capita 196074 trend chosen unemployment rate fairly constant period us data show measure behaves much like national income gap graph 7 shows uk real national income labor income takehome pay relative trend appendix 3 measuring labors share income uk explained text labors share national income equals total labor compensation minus taxes labor plus transfer payments labor calculation united states described wages fall unemployment rises march 11 1994 lbmc report appendix 1 figures uk come oecd national accounts differ slightly us national income product accounts example must subtract indirect taxes net business subsidies oecd measure national income approximate national income us definition used study items main aggregates gross labor compensation uk includes estimate selfemployed net transfer payments accounts general government include current transfers except transfers rest world disbursements less imputed unfunded employee pension welfare contributions receipts item current transfers except imputed receipts refers poll tax treated separately payroll taxes accounts general government direct personal taxes fees come accounts households labors share personal taxes assumed proportional labors share national income defined method agrees closely estimates personal taxes labor recent years imf government statistics yearbooks poll tax attributed entirely labor 75 employed workers 25 recipients transfer payments reflecting share population either unemployed older working age labors share national income labor compensation payroll taxes poll tax labors share personal taxes net transfer paymentsnational income indirect taxes business subsidies employed workers income labor income net transfers 25 poll tax | 1,664 |
<p>NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (9-3) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (7-5)</p>
<p>GAME SNAPSHOT</p>
<p>KICKOFF: Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ET, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, TV: NBC, NFLN, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mike_Tirico/" type="external">Mike Tirico</a>, Cris Collinsworth, Heather Cox (field reporter.</p>
<p>SERIES HISTORY: 96th regular-season meeting. Falcons lead series, 50-45. Atlanta has won the last two meetings, including the last one, a 38-32 triumph in the Georgia Dome in the 2016 regular-season finale. The Falcons beat the Saints, 27-20, in an NFC wild-card playoff game in 1991, and the Saints beat the Falcons, 23-3, in 2006 when the Superdome reopened a year after <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Hurricane_Katrina/" type="external">Hurricane Katrina</a>. New Orleans is 16-8 since <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Sean_Payton/" type="external">Sean Payton</a> took over as head coach.</p>
<p>KEYS TO THE GAME: This is a big-league duel, as always, and each team is trying to establish itself as a legitimate playoff powerhouse down the stretch. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Atlanta-Falcons/" type="external">Atlanta Falcons</a> quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Matt_Ryan/" type="external">Matt Ryan</a> and New Orleans Saints quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Drew_Brees/" type="external">Drew Brees</a> have faced one other 17 times. Brees is 10-7 in those matchups. The Falcons beat the Saints twice last season. The Saints won twice in 2015 and the Falcons won twice in 2014.</p>
<p>It’s usually a high-scoring affair. Last season, the Falcons won 45-32 in New Orleans and 38-32 in Atlanta. “Drew is unbelievable,” Ryan said. “He’s been so consistent for the 10 years that I’ve been here.”</p>
<p>The Saints are now relying more on running backs <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mark_Ingram/" type="external">Mark Ingram</a> II and rookie Alvin Kamara. Ingram and Kamara, Kamara and Ingram. The one-two punch of the Saints’ running backs has been their biggest strength this season and they will look to utilize both in the running game and the passing game, assuming Ingram’s sore toe doesn’t sideline him. Don’t be surprised if the defense plays a lot of zone to avoid the big play and force the Falcons to be patient on offense.</p>
<p>However, Brees is still lethal. He has completed 291-of-407 passes for 3,298 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has a passer rating of 104.2.</p>
<p>The Falcons’ offense must get back on track in this game. They did not score a touchdown for the first time in 30 games against Minnesota and Ryan was held to 173 yards passing, his lowest total since throwing for 172 against Seattle in 2013. The Saints’ defense is led by defensive end Cameron Jordan, who has 10 sacks. Also, Sheldon Rankins, who plays next to Jordan, is having a fine season. Jordan and Rankins will go against Falcons right tackle Ryan Schraeder and right guard Wes Schweitzer.</p>
<p>MATCHUPS TO WATCH:</p>
<p>–Saints CBs vs. Falcons WRs. The Falcons have one of the most explosive receiving corps in the NFL and the Saints have been beaten up at cornerback. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Julio-Jones/" type="external">Julio Jones</a>, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mohamed-Sanu/" type="external">Mohamed Sanu</a> and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Taylor-Gabriel/" type="external">Taylor Gabriel</a> will test the corners, especially if top cover man <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Marshon-Lattimore/" type="external">Marshon Lattimore</a> is unable to return after a two-game absence due to an ankle injury.</p>
<p>–Saints WRs vs. Falcons DBs. Historically, Saints QB Drew Brees has had a lot of success against the Falcons’ secondary, but other than <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Michael_Thomas/" type="external">Michael Thomas</a>, the Saints’ receivers have not been consistently effective this season. Brees will have to have some success against the No. 7 pass defense if New Orleans is going to be balanced on offense.</p>
<p>–Saints LBs vs. Falcons RBs. Falcons RBs <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Devonta-Freeman/" type="external">Devonta Freeman</a> and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tevin-Coleman/" type="external">Tevin Coleman</a> have been dangerous dual threats, just like Mark Ingram II and Alvin Kamara, and New Orleans no longer has its fastest linebacker since Alex Anzalone went on injured reserve.</p>
<p>–Saints RB Alvin Kamara vs. Falcons LBs De’Vondre Campbell and Duke Riley. These linebackers play well in space, but Kamara is a tough target. Known nominally as a third-round pick, this sensational rookie rushed for 606 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 59 passes for 614 yards and four touchdowns. Campbell is third on the team in tackles with 74. Riley, who is faster, could get some action in order to play against the Saints’ screens.</p>
<p>PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Falcons guard Ben Garland. He lost the battle for the starting right guard spot to Wes Schweitzer in the exhibition season. He will make his first NFL start against the Saints and has played in 36 games on the offensive and defensive lines. A key to the Saints’ success will be whether they can disrupt Matt Ryan’s timing in the Falcons’ passing game. Defensive end Cameron Jordan has 10 sacks and seven passes defensed, and he is the Saints defender most capable of bothering Ryan. In addition to sacks and getting his hands on passes, Jordan can be effective by pressuring Ryan.</p>
<p>FAST FACTS: Saints QB Drew Brees has 6,127 career completions and surpassed <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Peyton_Manning/" type="external">Peyton Manning</a> (6,125) for 2nd most all-time. He aims for seventh consecutive game against Atlanta with at least 300 yards passing. RB Mark Ingram II leads NFL with 9 TDs rushing. RB Alvin Kamara is third rookie in NFL history with at least 600 yards rushing (606) and 600 yards receiving (614). He ranks 4th in NFL with 1,220 yards from scrimmage. DE Cameron Jordan is one of three in NFL with at least 10 sacks (10) and 50 tackles (52). Vonn Bell is only NFL safety with at least 60 tackles ((61) and three sacks (3.5) … Atlanta QB Matt Ryan has 1,970 yards passing (328.3 per game), 14 TDs and 1 INT for 115.4 rating in last six meetings with Saints. WR Julio Jones leads NFC with 1,063 yards receiving. LB <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Vic-Beasley/" type="external">Vic Beasley</a> Jr. had sack in last game vs. NO. LB <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Deion-Jones/" type="external">Deion Jones</a> has 15 tackles, 5 PD &amp; 90-yard INT-TD in 2 career games vs. NO. Has 36 tackles (9 per game) in past 4 vs. division. S <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Keanu-Neal/" type="external">Keanu Neal</a> had FF in last meeting. Jones (96) &amp; Neal (91) are 1 of 3 pairs of teammates in NFL with 90+ tackles each. Rookie DE Takkarist McKinley aims for 4th in row with sack. Tied for 1st among NFC rookies with 5 sacks.</p>
<p>PREDICTION: A classic flip-a-coin game, but the Falcons will further tighten things up heading down the home stretch.</p>
<p>OUR PICK: Falcons, 30-27</p>
<p>–Howard Balzer</p> | false | 1 | new orleans saints 93 atlanta falcons 75 game snapshot kickoff thursday 825 pm et mercedesbenz stadium tv nbc nfln mike tirico cris collinsworth heather cox field reporter series history 96th regularseason meeting falcons lead series 5045 atlanta last two meetings including last one 3832 triumph georgia dome 2016 regularseason finale falcons beat saints 2720 nfc wildcard playoff game 1991 saints beat falcons 233 2006 superdome reopened year hurricane katrina new orleans 168 since sean payton took head coach keys game bigleague duel always team trying establish legitimate playoff powerhouse stretch atlanta falcons quarterback matt ryan new orleans saints quarterback drew brees faced one 17 times brees 107 matchups falcons beat saints twice last season saints twice 2015 falcons twice 2014 usually highscoring affair last season falcons 4532 new orleans 3832 atlanta drew unbelievable ryan said hes consistent 10 years ive saints relying running backs mark ingram ii rookie alvin kamara ingram kamara kamara ingram onetwo punch saints running backs biggest strength season look utilize running game passing game assuming ingrams sore toe doesnt sideline dont surprised defense plays lot zone avoid big play force falcons patient offense however brees still lethal completed 291of407 passes 3298 yards 17 touchdowns five interceptions passer rating 1042 falcons offense must get back track game score touchdown first time 30 games minnesota ryan held 173 yards passing lowest total since throwing 172 seattle 2013 saints defense led defensive end cameron jordan 10 sacks also sheldon rankins plays next jordan fine season jordan rankins go falcons right tackle ryan schraeder right guard wes schweitzer matchups watch saints cbs vs falcons wrs falcons one explosive receiving corps nfl saints beaten cornerback julio jones mohamed sanu taylor gabriel test corners especially top cover man marshon lattimore unable return twogame absence due ankle injury saints wrs vs falcons dbs historically saints qb drew brees lot success falcons secondary michael thomas saints receivers consistently effective season brees success 7 pass defense new orleans going balanced offense saints lbs vs falcons rbs falcons rbs devonta freeman tevin coleman dangerous dual threats like mark ingram ii alvin kamara new orleans longer fastest linebacker since alex anzalone went injured reserve saints rb alvin kamara vs falcons lbs devondre campbell duke riley linebackers play well space kamara tough target known nominally thirdround pick sensational rookie rushed 606 yards seven touchdowns caught 59 passes 614 yards four touchdowns campbell third team tackles 74 riley faster could get action order play saints screens player spotlight falcons guard ben garland lost battle starting right guard spot wes schweitzer exhibition season make first nfl start saints played 36 games offensive defensive lines key saints success whether disrupt matt ryans timing falcons passing game defensive end cameron jordan 10 sacks seven passes defensed saints defender capable bothering ryan addition sacks getting hands passes jordan effective pressuring ryan fast facts saints qb drew brees 6127 career completions surpassed peyton manning 6125 2nd alltime aims seventh consecutive game atlanta least 300 yards passing rb mark ingram ii leads nfl 9 tds rushing rb alvin kamara third rookie nfl history least 600 yards rushing 606 600 yards receiving 614 ranks 4th nfl 1220 yards scrimmage de cameron jordan one three nfl least 10 sacks 10 50 tackles 52 vonn bell nfl safety least 60 tackles 61 three sacks 35 atlanta qb matt ryan 1970 yards passing 3283 per game 14 tds 1 int 1154 rating last six meetings saints wr julio jones leads nfc 1063 yards receiving lb vic beasley jr sack last game vs lb deion jones 15 tackles 5 pd amp 90yard inttd 2 career games vs 36 tackles 9 per game past 4 vs division keanu neal ff last meeting jones 96 amp neal 91 1 3 pairs teammates nfl 90 tackles rookie de takkarist mckinley aims 4th row sack tied 1st among nfc rookies 5 sacks prediction classic flipacoin game falcons tighten things heading home stretch pick falcons 3027 howard balzer | 653 |
<p>The Trump era will be unpredictable in many ways. But there’s one thing that we can reasonably count on. Moderation, an ancient virtue, will be viewed with contempt. After all, the most temperamentally immoderate major party nominee in American history ran for president and won because of it. Victory spawns imitation, and the Trump template is likely to influence our politics for some time to come.</p>
<p>Moderation, then, is out of step with the times, which are characterized by populist anger and widespread anxiety, by cross-partisan animosity and dogmatic certainty. Those with whom we have political disagreements are not only wrong; they are often judged to be evil and irredeemable.</p>
<p>In such a poisonous political culture, when moderation is precisely the treatment we need to cleanse America’s civic toxins, it invariably becomes synonymous with weakness, lack of conviction and timidity. For many, moderation is what the French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre called a “tender souls philosophy.”</p>
<p>This is quite a serious problem, as Aurelian Craiutu argues in his superb and timely new book, “Faces of Moderation: The Art of Balance in an Age of Extremes,” in which he profiles several prominent 20th-century thinkers, including Raymond Aron, Isaiah Berlin and Michael Oakeshott. Mr. Craiutu, a professor of political science at Indiana University, argues that the success of representative government and its institutions depends on moderation because these cannot properly function without compromise, which is the governing manifestation of moderation.</p>
<p>The case for political moderation requires untangling some misconceptions.</p>
<p>Moderation does not mean truth is always found equidistant between two extreme positions, nor does it mean that bold and at times even radical steps are not necessary to advance moral ends. Moderation takes into account what is needed at any given moment; it allows circumstances to determine action in the way that weather patterns dictate which route a ship will follow.</p>
<p>But there are general characteristics we associate with moderation, including prudence, the humility to recognize limits (including our own), the willingness to balance competing principles and an aversion to fanaticism. Moderation accepts the complexity of life in this world and distrusts utopian visions and simple solutions. The way to think about moderation is as a disposition, not as an ideology. Its antithesis is not conviction but intemperance.</p>
<p>Moderates “do not see the world in Manichaean terms that divide it into forces of good (or light) and agents of evil (or darkness),” according to Professor Craiutu. “They refuse the posture of prophets, champion sobriety in political thinking and action, and endorse an ethics of responsibility as opposed to an ethics of absolute ends.” This allows authentic moderates to remain open to facts that challenge their assumptions and makes them more likely to engage in debate free of invective. The survival of a functioning parliamentary system, Sir William Harcourt said, depends on “constant dining with the opposition.”</p>
<p>The charge that moderates lack courage is easily put to rest by people like the French journalist and philosopher Raymond Aron. He was a man of deep, reasoned convictions who possessed a sense of proportion. A nonconformist, Aron was fearless in taking on the leading intellectuals of his time, including his friend Sartre. (Parisian students in 1968 avowed that it was “better to be wrong with Sartre than right with Aron.”) Aron strongly defended liberal democracy when it was fashionable to denigrate it. Playing off the Marxist claim that religion was the opium of the masses, Aron argued that Marxism was the opium of the intellectuals.</p>
<p>For Aron, political moderation was a fighting creed. Allergic to ideological thinking, he conformed his views to evidence. He retained his intellectual and political independence throughout his life. Aron believed that history teaches us humility, modesty and the limits of our knowledge. He was also skilled at the art of dialogue, engaging those he disagreed with critically but civilly. “As the last great representative of a distinguished tradition of European liberalism,” Professor Craiutu writes, “Aron attempted to disintoxicate minds and calm fanaticism in dark times.” Aron put it this way: “Freedom flourishes in temperate zones; it does not survive the burning faith of prophets and crowds.”</p>
<p>The concern some of us have is that even before Mr. Trump set foot on the political stage, America was becoming a bit more like the Sahara or the Arctic Circle than a temperate zone; that moderation was passé in both parties and that no politician would defend it as a political virtue. Add to this an incoming president who appears to be “passion’s slave,” who has developed few if any habits of restraint and, if he governs as he campaigned, will summon forth and amplify the darkest impulses in our nation.</p>
<p>The business of a government, Oakeshott said, is “not to inflame passion and give it new objects to feed upon, but to inject into the activities of already too passionate men an ingredient of moderation.”</p>
<p>Mr. Trump deserves the chance to prove his critics wrong. If he doesn’t — if what he has shown himself to be is what he continues to be — then rather than injecting an ingredient of moderation into the activities of Americans, he will inflame their passions and give them new objects to feed upon.</p>
<p>Moderation is a difficult virtue for people to rally around, since by definition it doesn’t arouse fervor or zealous advocates. But in a time of spreading resentments and rage, when truth is increasingly the target of assault and dialogue is often viewed as betrayal, moderation isn’t simply a decorous democratic quality; it becomes an essential democratic virtue.</p>
<p>In this immoderate age, moderation must become America’s fighting faith.</p>
<p>Peter Wehner, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, served in the last three Republican administrations and is a contributing opinion writer.</p> | false | 1 | trump era unpredictable many ways theres one thing reasonably count moderation ancient virtue viewed contempt temperamentally immoderate major party nominee american history ran president victory spawns imitation trump template likely influence politics time come moderation step times characterized populist anger widespread anxiety crosspartisan animosity dogmatic certainty political disagreements wrong often judged evil irredeemable poisonous political culture moderation precisely treatment need cleanse americas civic toxins invariably becomes synonymous weakness lack conviction timidity many moderation french existentialist jeanpaul sartre called tender souls philosophy quite serious problem aurelian craiutu argues superb timely new book faces moderation art balance age extremes profiles several prominent 20thcentury thinkers including raymond aron isaiah berlin michael oakeshott mr craiutu professor political science indiana university argues success representative government institutions depends moderation properly function without compromise governing manifestation moderation case political moderation requires untangling misconceptions moderation mean truth always found equidistant two extreme positions mean bold times even radical steps necessary advance moral ends moderation takes account needed given moment allows circumstances determine action way weather patterns dictate route ship follow general characteristics associate moderation including prudence humility recognize limits including willingness balance competing principles aversion fanaticism moderation accepts complexity life world distrusts utopian visions simple solutions way think moderation disposition ideology antithesis conviction intemperance moderates see world manichaean terms divide forces good light agents evil darkness according professor craiutu refuse posture prophets champion sobriety political thinking action endorse ethics responsibility opposed ethics absolute ends allows authentic moderates remain open facts challenge assumptions makes likely engage debate free invective survival functioning parliamentary system sir william harcourt said depends constant dining opposition charge moderates lack courage easily put rest people like french journalist philosopher raymond aron man deep reasoned convictions possessed sense proportion nonconformist aron fearless taking leading intellectuals time including friend sartre parisian students 1968 avowed better wrong sartre right aron aron strongly defended liberal democracy fashionable denigrate playing marxist claim religion opium masses aron argued marxism opium intellectuals aron political moderation fighting creed allergic ideological thinking conformed views evidence retained intellectual political independence throughout life aron believed history teaches us humility modesty limits knowledge also skilled art dialogue engaging disagreed critically civilly last great representative distinguished tradition european liberalism professor craiutu writes aron attempted disintoxicate minds calm fanaticism dark times aron put way freedom flourishes temperate zones survive burning faith prophets crowds concern us even mr trump set foot political stage america becoming bit like sahara arctic circle temperate zone moderation passé parties politician would defend political virtue add incoming president appears passions slave developed habits restraint governs campaigned summon forth amplify darkest impulses nation business government oakeshott said inflame passion give new objects feed upon inject activities already passionate men ingredient moderation mr trump deserves chance prove critics wrong doesnt shown continues rather injecting ingredient moderation activities americans inflame passions give new objects feed upon moderation difficult virtue people rally around since definition doesnt arouse fervor zealous advocates time spreading resentments rage truth increasingly target assault dialogue often viewed betrayal moderation isnt simply decorous democratic quality becomes essential democratic virtue immoderate age moderation must become americas fighting faith peter wehner senior fellow ethics public policy center served last three republican administrations contributing opinion writer | 527 |
<p>EPPC Vice President Michael Cromartie, chairman of the United States Commission of International Religious Freedom,&#160;testified before the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam&#160;and the Congressional Human Rights Caucus on October 27, 2005.</p>
<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>A Strategic Opportunity: Linking Human Rights &amp; Bilateral Interests</p>
<p />
<p>Madame Chair and Members of the Caucus let me begin by thanking you for holding this hearing on a topic that is very important to improving U.S.-Vietnamese relations.&#160; It is an honor for me to be here.</p>
<p>This hearing is timely because the State Department is deciding currently whether or not to re-designate Vietnam as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).&#160; The Commission believes that Vietnam should remain a CPC this year and we have made this recommendation to both the Secretary of State and the President.&#160;</p>
<p>We have been encouraged by the Vietnam government’s promises over the past year to improve conditions for its ethnic and religious minorities, but we remain disappointed that promises have not yet been translated into positive change.&#160; Though there have been some releases of prominent religious prisoners, recent events suggest that repression of the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief continues.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>U.S.-Vietnamese relations are experiencing a period of growth, change, cooperation, and contention.&#160; While the two nations move forward on issues of trade and security, it will be progress on human rights, including religious freedom, which will define the scope and flexibility of future bilateral relations.</p>
<p>More than any other issue, differences over human rights and religious freedom have the potential to inhibit the forward momentum in our bilateral relationship.&#160; Relations can never fully develop until the government of Vietnam protects and promotes the fundamental human rights of all its citizens.&#160;</p>
<p>We were all encouraged by the historic visit of Prime Minister Pham Van Khai (PHAN VON KY) to the United States in June of this year, but it is crucial that the U.S. government continue to speak with one strong voice that economic and security interests should not precede human rights.&#160; We should continue to make clear that progress in all three areas is critical to developing stable trading relations, stable alliances, and stable regions.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Human Rights &amp; Freedom in Vietnam:&#160; The Current State of Affairs</p>
<p>Madame Chair, the government of Vietnam’s human rights record remains poor and freedoms of speech, assembly, association and religion continue to be significantly restricted.&#160; Though Vietnam is in some respects a less repressive society now than ten or fifteen years ago, we should not conclude that Vietnam’s economic openness has led directly to political openness or greater respect for human rights.&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Our deepening economic and commercial relationship with Vietnam may encourage economic reform and transparency–and it may draw Vietnam further into a rules-based international trading system–but the evidence suggests that it has not yet resulted in greater political freedom for Vietnamese citizens.&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Because our time is short, Madame Chair, let me now focus my remarks on the current state of affairs concerning protection for the freedom of religion and belief and to introduce some new information that bolsters the Commission’s contention that Vietnam should remain a CPC in 2006.&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Vietnam As Country of Particular Concern (CPC): Evidence that International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) Works</p>
<p>The Commission has followed events in Vietnam closely.&#160; Commissioners and staff have traveled to Vietnam and we have established contacts with religious leaders, scholars, and human rights activists inside and outside of Vietnam.&#160;</p>
<p>Over the past fifteen years, the government of Vietnam has slowly carved out a noticeable “zone of toleration” for government approved religious practice.&#160; However, at the same time, it has actively repressed, and targeted as subversive, religious activity it cannot control or that which resists government oversight.&#160; Targeted in particular are leaders of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), ethnic minority Christians in the Central Highlands and northwest provinces, “house-church” Protestants, and followers of religious minority groups such as the Hoa Hao (WA-HOW) and Cao Dai (COW-DIE).&#160; This repression has not abated in the last year.&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>In May of this year, the State Department announced that it had reached an “agreement” with Vietnam to avoid more stringent actions, including economic sanctions, for countries designated as a CPC.&#160; Though the agreement is secret, from public statements we understand that essentially, Vietnam has promised to implement its new laws concerning religious affairs and consider releasing prisoners of concern.&#160; In response, the U.S. promises to consider removing the CPC designation.&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>We should not downplay the significance of this agreement and the part played by Ambassador-At-Large for International Religious Freedom John Hanford.&#160; Ambassador Hanford should be commended for the time and effort he has invested in Vietnam.&#160; The agreement reached was the first such diplomatic agreement signed with a CPC country since the passage of IRFA in 1998.&#160; We should see this as evidence that both vigorous diplomatic action and the use of the CPC designation can produce results that might lead to future improvements in religious freedom in Vietnam.&#160; The agreement also illustrates that the IRFA legislation and the CPC designation can be flexible and useful diplomatic tool.&#160; The Commission has heard recently from Vietnamese officials that their government now understands that human rights, including religious freedom, are issues they have to address to improve bilateral relations.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Madame Chair, these are encouraging developments, but they have not yet been followed up with concerted action.&#160; The actions taken thus far to carry out the aforementioned agreement only signal promises of improvement and not actual measurable progress.&#160; Promises do not mean progress and they do not address the human rights violations that landed Vietnam on the CPC list in the first place.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Religious prisoners remain behind bars, churches remain closed, and restrictions on and harassment of all of Vietnam’s diverse religious communities continue—on which I’m sure the panelist that follow can offer specific information.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Don’t Lift the CPC Designation Without Concrete Results</p>
<p>Since announcement of the May 2005 religious freedom agreement, troubling reports about abuses and continued restrictions continue to surface.&#160;&#160; It is obvious to the Commission that the situation in Vietnam at the present time can be summed up as “repression as usual”—particularly concerning Vietnamese ethnic and religious minorities.&#160; Though promises of future improvement are encouraging, we should not reward Vietnam too quickly by lifting the CPC designation.&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Let me offer a few examples:&#160;</p>
<p>The events above happened in the Central Highlands, but forced renunciations also continue among the Hmong (MUNG) in Vietnam’s northwest provinces.&#160; Police and security forces continue to summon Hmong Christian villagers to “re-education” where they are told to give up their faith traditions, are harassed, beaten and sometimes forced to drink wine.</p>
<p>Madame Chair, the Commission has collected 21 of these police summons, most dated in May of 2005 from Dien Bien (DEEN-BEEN) Province in the Northwest Highlands.&#160; We have very specific and very recent evidence that forced renunciations of faith continue.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Restrictions on all religious groups continue, but pressure has recently has been the most acute on the Mennonites, Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, Ethnic Minority and “house church” Protestants, and the Hoa Hao (WA-HOW) Buddhists.&#160; On August 5, the public security police arrested twelve Hoa Hao Buddhists, including four monks.&#160; In protest, a Hoa Hao Buddhist monk and a follower committed self-immolation.&#160; It is my understanding that the monk later died.&#160; In addition, a Hoa Hao monk known as Nam Liem (NAHM LIAM) was arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison for “opposing public authorities.”&#160; Nam Liem was arrested for submitting testimony to the June 2005 hearing on Vietnam in the House International Relations Committee.&#160; Another Hoa Hao follower Bui Thien Hue, (BOWIE THEE-AN WAY) who also submitted testimony to the Committee Hearing has been harassed by security forces.&#160;</p>
<p>In addition, the Commission has also obtained a copy of a February 2005 Communist Party document—Plan 184—indicating that plans to rid the country of the “illegal Protestant religion” are still fully functioning in some places.&#160; Plan 184 is an update on a booklet, “Direction for Stopping Religion,” used by security forces in the 1990s.&#160; The new document was released in the same month that the Prime Minister’s “special instructions on Protestantism” and the new “decree” on religious affairs took effect, legal changes expected to have a positive effect.&#160; Plan 184 does not mention the new laws, but refers only to the Communist Party Central Committee’s resolution on religion of January 2003.&#160; It was at that Central Committee meeting where local cadres were urged to “stamp out” democracy, free speech, and religious freedom advocates, internet users, and missionaries who were determined to be undermining the Party’s authority.&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Plan 184 is a disturbing discovery and we hope that the Vietnamese government can immediately repudiate it and its contents.&#160; When the Vietnamese government issued the new instructions and decrees in February and March of 2005, the Commission viewed this as a positive step toward structural change.&#160; However, at the time, we suggested waiting for the law to be implemented fully before determining whether it was going to improve religious freedom conditions in Vietnam.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Though it is too soon to tell, the initial results are in, and Vietnam’s recent legal reforms regarding religious affairs are either being ignored by Vietnamese security forces or used as a basis for ongoing abuses of religious freedom.</p>
<p>Because we have not seen positive results from promised legal reforms, the Commission believes that it is too soon to lift the CPC designation.&#160;</p>
<p>Policy Recommendations:</p>
<p>We know that human rights remain a problem for U.S.-Vietnam relations.&#160;&#160; But the question that always arises is, what can we do about it?</p>
<p>The Commission’s 2005 Annual Report includes policy recommendations that we believe can improve U.S. human rights diplomacy for Vietnam.&#160; In general, the Commission recommends that U.S. diplomatic and assistance programs be expanded and re-prioritized to directly promote freedom of religion and related human rights in Vietnam.&#160; Non-humanitarian assistance programs have been declining in Vietnam, except for new HIV/AID funding and assistance programs to help Vietnam enter the WTO.&#160; We believe that new public diplomacy, economic development, and technical assistance programs should be targeted to address ongoing human rights problems.&#160;</p>
<p>We have made specific recommendations for congressional and Administration action in the areas of public diplomacy, economic development, education, good governance, and rule of law programs for Vietnam.</p>
<p>I have included a copy of the Commission’s recommendations as part of my testimony.</p>
<p>Conclusion:&#160;</p>
<p>If the government of Vietnam were to take further steps to honor its international commitments and improve its respect for human rights, U.S.-Vietnam relations would&#160; improve for the long term and serve as the basis for a strong and healthy relationship built on mutual interests, the rule of law, and the non-negotiable demand of human dignity.</p>
<p>Thank you Madame Chair and Members of the Caucus.&#160; I welcome your questions.&#160;</p>
<p>Commission Recommendations: Vietnam</p>
<p>Following the designation of Vietnam as a CPC, the Commission has recommended that the U.S. government should:</p>
<p>With regard to religious freedom conditions in Vietnam, in addition to recommending that Vietnam be designated a CPC, the Commission has recommended that the U.S. government should:</p>
<p>–establish a non-discriminatory legal framework for religious groups to engage in peaceful religious activities protected by international law without requiring groups to affiliate with officially registered religious organizations; for example:</p>
<p>–establish a legal framework that allows for religious groups to engage in humanitarian, medical, educational, and charitable work;</p>
<p>–amend the 2004 Ordinance On Religious Beliefs and Religious Organizations and Decree 22, and other domestic legislation that may restrict the exercise of religious freedom, so that they conform to international standards for protecting the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief.</p>
<p>–enforce the provisions in the Prime Minister’s “Instructions on Protestantism” that outlaw forced renunciations of faith and establish in the Vietnamese Criminal Code specific penalties for anyone who carries out such practices;</p>
<p>–repeal Decree 31/CP of the Vietnamese Criminal Code which empowers local Security Police to detain citizens for up to two years without trial, as this decree is routinely invoked to detain religious followers and members of non-recognized religious denominations;</p>
<p>–set up a national commission of religious groups, government officials, and independent, non-governmental observers to find equitable solutions on returning confiscated properties to religious groups;</p>
<p>–release or commute the sentences of all those imprisoned or detained on account of their peaceful manifestation of religion or belief; including, among others, UBCV Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang, Thich Quang Do and six UBCV leaders detained in the 2003 crackdown, members of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands and northwest provinces, and the six Mennonites arrested in July 2004, using the list compiled by the State Department pursuant to Section 108 of IRFA;</p>
<p>–re-open all of the churches, meeting points, and home worship sites closed during 2001 in the Central Highlands and northwest provinces;</p>
<p>–investigate and publicly report on the beating deaths of Hmong Protestant leaders Mua Bua Senh and Vang Seo Giao, and prosecute anyone found responsible for these deaths;</p>
<p>–halt the practice of diplomatic pressure, offering of bounties, or cross-border police incursions into Cambodia for the purpose of forcibly repatriating Montagnards; and,</p>
<p>–allow representatives of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNCHR), or some other appropriate international organization, unhindered access to the Central Highlands in order to monitor voluntarily repatriated Montagards consistent with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on January 25, 2005 between the UNHCR, Cambodia and Vietnam and provide unhindered access for diplomats, journalists, and non-governmental organizations to members of all religious communities in Vietnam, particularly those in the Central Highlands and the northwestern provinces; and</p>
<p>&#160;–expanding funding for additional Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) programming for Vietnam and to overcome the jamming of VOA and RFA broadcasts;</p>
<p>–targeting some of the Fulbright Program grants to individuals and scholars whose work promotes understanding of religious freedom and related human rights;</p>
<p>–requiring the Vietnam Educational Foundation, which offers scholarships to Vietnamese high school age students to attend college in the United States, to give preferences to youth from ethnic minority groups areas (Montagnard and Hmong), from minority religious communities (Cao Dai, Hoa Hao, Catholic, Protestant, Cham Islamic, and Kmer Buddhist), or former novice monks associated with the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam;</p>
<p>–providing grants to educational NGOs to bring Vietnamese high school students to the United States for one year of study;</p>
<p>–creating new exchange programs between the Vietnamese National Assembly and its staff and the U.S. Congress;</p>
<p>–working with interested nations and international donors to create a development fund for ethnic and religious minorities that targets business creation, micro-enterprise development loans, and grants to improve agricultural, educational, health, and technical training, a fund that would prioritize areas with both rural poverty and significant human rights problems;</p>
<p>–expanding existing rule of law programs to include regular exchanges between international experts on religion and law and appropriate representatives from the Vietnamese government, academia, and religious communities to discuss the impact of Vietnam’s laws and decrees on religious freedom and other human rights, to train public security forces on these issues, and to discuss ways to incorporate international standards of human rights in Vietnamese laws and regulations.</p>
<p>In addition, the U.S. Congress should appropriate additional money for the State Department’s Human Rights and Democracy Fund for new technical assistance and religious freedom programming.&#160; Funding should be commensurate to new and ongoing programs for Vietnamese workers, women, and rule of law training.</p> | false | 1 | eppc vice president michael cromartie chairman united states commission international religious freedom160testified congressional caucus vietnam160and congressional human rights caucus october 27 2005 strategic opportunity linking human rights amp bilateral interests madame chair members caucus let begin thanking holding hearing topic important improving usvietnamese relations160 honor hearing timely state department deciding currently whether redesignate vietnam country particular concern cpc160 commission believes vietnam remain cpc year made recommendation secretary state president160 encouraged vietnam governments promises past year improve conditions ethnic religious minorities remain disappointed promises yet translated positive change160 though releases prominent religious prisoners recent events suggest repression freedom thought conscience religion belief continues160160160160160160160160 usvietnamese relations experiencing period growth change cooperation contention160 two nations move forward issues trade security progress human rights including religious freedom define scope flexibility future bilateral relations issue differences human rights religious freedom potential inhibit forward momentum bilateral relationship160 relations never fully develop government vietnam protects promotes fundamental human rights citizens160 encouraged historic visit prime minister pham van khai phan von ky united states june year crucial us government continue speak one strong voice economic security interests precede human rights160 continue make clear progress three areas critical developing stable trading relations stable alliances stable regions160160160160160 human rights amp freedom vietnam160 current state affairs madame chair government vietnams human rights record remains poor freedoms speech assembly association religion continue significantly restricted160 though vietnam respects less repressive society ten fifteen years ago conclude vietnams economic openness led directly political openness greater respect human rights160160160 deepening economic commercial relationship vietnam may encourage economic reform transparencyand may draw vietnam rulesbased international trading systembut evidence suggests yet resulted greater political freedom vietnamese citizens160160160 time short madame chair let focus remarks current state affairs concerning protection freedom religion belief introduce new information bolsters commissions contention vietnam remain cpc 2006160160160 vietnam country particular concern cpc evidence international religious freedom act irfa works commission followed events vietnam closely160 commissioners staff traveled vietnam established contacts religious leaders scholars human rights activists inside outside vietnam160 past fifteen years government vietnam slowly carved noticeable zone toleration government approved religious practice160 however time actively repressed targeted subversive religious activity control resists government oversight160 targeted particular leaders unified buddhist church vietnam ubcv ethnic minority christians central highlands northwest provinces housechurch protestants followers religious minority groups hoa hao wahow cao dai cowdie160 repression abated last year160160160 may year state department announced reached agreement vietnam avoid stringent actions including economic sanctions countries designated cpc160 though agreement secret public statements understand essentially vietnam promised implement new laws concerning religious affairs consider releasing prisoners concern160 response us promises consider removing cpc designation160160160 downplay significance agreement part played ambassadoratlarge international religious freedom john hanford160 ambassador hanford commended time effort invested vietnam160 agreement reached first diplomatic agreement signed cpc country since passage irfa 1998160 see evidence vigorous diplomatic action use cpc designation produce results might lead future improvements religious freedom vietnam160 agreement also illustrates irfa legislation cpc designation flexible useful diplomatic tool160 commission heard recently vietnamese officials government understands human rights including religious freedom issues address improve bilateral relations160160160160 madame chair encouraging developments yet followed concerted action160 actions taken thus far carry aforementioned agreement signal promises improvement actual measurable progress160 promises mean progress address human rights violations landed vietnam cpc list first place160160 religious prisoners remain behind bars churches remain closed restrictions harassment vietnams diverse religious communities continueon im sure panelist follow offer specific information160160 dont lift cpc designation without concrete results since announcement may 2005 religious freedom agreement troubling reports abuses continued restrictions continue surface160160 obvious commission situation vietnam present time summed repression usualparticularly concerning vietnamese ethnic religious minorities160 though promises future improvement encouraging reward vietnam quickly lifting cpc designation160160160 let offer examples160 events happened central highlands forced renunciations also continue among hmong mung vietnams northwest provinces160 police security forces continue summon hmong christian villagers reeducation told give faith traditions harassed beaten sometimes forced drink wine madame chair commission collected 21 police summons dated may 2005 dien bien deenbeen province northwest highlands160 specific recent evidence forced renunciations faith continue160160160160160160160 restrictions religious groups continue pressure recently acute mennonites unified buddhist church vietnam ethnic minority house church protestants hoa hao wahow buddhists160 august 5 public security police arrested twelve hoa hao buddhists including four monks160 protest hoa hao buddhist monk follower committed selfimmolation160 understanding monk later died160 addition hoa hao monk known nam liem nahm liam arrested sentenced seven years prison opposing public authorities160 nam liem arrested submitting testimony june 2005 hearing vietnam house international relations committee160 another hoa hao follower bui thien hue bowie theean way also submitted testimony committee hearing harassed security forces160 addition commission also obtained copy february 2005 communist party documentplan 184indicating plans rid country illegal protestant religion still fully functioning places160 plan 184 update booklet direction stopping religion used security forces 1990s160 new document released month prime ministers special instructions protestantism new decree religious affairs took effect legal changes expected positive effect160 plan 184 mention new laws refers communist party central committees resolution religion january 2003160 central committee meeting local cadres urged stamp democracy free speech religious freedom advocates internet users missionaries determined undermining partys authority160 160160160160160160160 nonetheless plan 184 disturbing discovery hope vietnamese government immediately repudiate contents160 vietnamese government issued new instructions decrees february march 2005 commission viewed positive step toward structural change160 however time suggested waiting law implemented fully determining whether going improve religious freedom conditions vietnam160160 though soon tell initial results vietnams recent legal reforms regarding religious affairs either ignored vietnamese security forces used basis ongoing abuses religious freedom seen positive results promised legal reforms commission believes soon lift cpc designation160 policy recommendations know human rights remain problem usvietnam relations160160 question always arises commissions 2005 annual report includes policy recommendations believe improve us human rights diplomacy vietnam160 general commission recommends us diplomatic assistance programs expanded reprioritized directly promote freedom religion related human rights vietnam160 nonhumanitarian assistance programs declining vietnam except new hivaid funding assistance programs help vietnam enter wto160 believe new public diplomacy economic development technical assistance programs targeted address ongoing human rights problems160 made specific recommendations congressional administration action areas public diplomacy economic development education good governance rule law programs vietnam included copy commissions recommendations part testimony conclusion160 government vietnam take steps honor international commitments improve respect human rights usvietnam relations would160 improve long term serve basis strong healthy relationship built mutual interests rule law nonnegotiable demand human dignity thank madame chair members caucus160 welcome questions160 commission recommendations vietnam following designation vietnam cpc commission recommended us government regard religious freedom conditions vietnam addition recommending vietnam designated cpc commission recommended us government establish nondiscriminatory legal framework religious groups engage peaceful religious activities protected international law without requiring groups affiliate officially registered religious organizations example establish legal framework allows religious groups engage humanitarian medical educational charitable work amend 2004 ordinance religious beliefs religious organizations decree 22 domestic legislation may restrict exercise religious freedom conform international standards protecting freedom thought conscience religion belief enforce provisions prime ministers instructions protestantism outlaw forced renunciations faith establish vietnamese criminal code specific penalties anyone carries practices repeal decree 31cp vietnamese criminal code empowers local security police detain citizens two years without trial decree routinely invoked detain religious followers members nonrecognized religious denominations set national commission religious groups government officials independent nongovernmental observers find equitable solutions returning confiscated properties religious groups release commute sentences imprisoned detained account peaceful manifestation religion belief including among others ubcv patriarch thich huyen quang thich quang six ubcv leaders detained 2003 crackdown members ethnic minorities central highlands northwest provinces six mennonites arrested july 2004 using list compiled state department pursuant section 108 irfa reopen churches meeting points home worship sites closed 2001 central highlands northwest provinces investigate publicly report beating deaths hmong protestant leaders mua bua senh vang seo giao prosecute anyone found responsible deaths halt practice diplomatic pressure offering bounties crossborder police incursions cambodia purpose forcibly repatriating montagnards allow representatives un high commission refugees unchr appropriate international organization unhindered access central highlands order monitor voluntarily repatriated montagards consistent memorandum understanding mou signed january 25 2005 unhcr cambodia vietnam provide unhindered access diplomats journalists nongovernmental organizations members religious communities vietnam particularly central highlands northwestern provinces 160expanding funding additional voice america voa radio free asia rfa programming vietnam overcome jamming voa rfa broadcasts targeting fulbright program grants individuals scholars whose work promotes understanding religious freedom related human rights requiring vietnam educational foundation offers scholarships vietnamese high school age students attend college united states give preferences youth ethnic minority groups areas montagnard hmong minority religious communities cao dai hoa hao catholic protestant cham islamic kmer buddhist former novice monks associated unified buddhist church vietnam providing grants educational ngos bring vietnamese high school students united states one year study creating new exchange programs vietnamese national assembly staff us congress working interested nations international donors create development fund ethnic religious minorities targets business creation microenterprise development loans grants improve agricultural educational health technical training fund would prioritize areas rural poverty significant human rights problems expanding existing rule law programs include regular exchanges international experts religion law appropriate representatives vietnamese government academia religious communities discuss impact vietnams laws decrees religious freedom human rights train public security forces issues discuss ways incorporate international standards human rights vietnamese laws regulations addition us congress appropriate additional money state departments human rights democracy fund new technical assistance religious freedom programming160 funding commensurate new ongoing programs vietnamese workers women rule law training | 1,550 |
<p>CINCINNATI — Even as the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Cincinnati-Bengals/" type="external">Cincinnati Bengals</a> gathered their full roster for training camp here Thursday (July 27), offseason troubles loomed despite efforts to move past them.</p>
<p>Talented, but oft-troubled cornerback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Adam_Jones/" type="external">Adam Jones</a>, is suspended for the first week of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy when he reportedly spat in the face of a jailhouse nurse in January and his penalty was limited to two days served.</p>
<p>For Jones, 33, this was his seventh arrest and third off-field incident since joining the Bengals. And, regardless of his dynamic achievements on the field in the past, his timing may be bad. Second-year corner William Jackson III sat out last season with an injury, but is ready and eager to get a chance to start. Jones is giving him that chance.</p>
<p>At the other corner, Dre Kirkpatrick recovered from a hand fracture during the offseason and is expected to be 100 percent.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, former Oklahoma running back <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Joe-Mixon/" type="external">Joe Mixon</a> was rated with first-round talent, but fell to the Bengals in the second round because he was unable to outrun a domestic abuse incident in college. Regardless, Mixon shed 10 pounds since the Indianapolis Scouting Combine (which he prohibited from attending) and appears ready to challenge for a starting job immediately.</p>
<p>Incumbent running back <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jeremy-Hill/" type="external">Jeremy Hill</a> had two subpar seasons, but insists he’s motivated to return to his 2014 form when he rushed for more than 1,100 yards as a rookie.</p>
<p>Lack of a consistent running game was partly responsible for quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Andy_Dalton/" type="external">Andy Dalton</a> being sacked 41 times last season, And, with a revamped offensive line needing help, too, finding someone to step up in the backfield is a priority for Cincinnati during training camp.</p>
<p>THE FACTS:</p>
<p>TRAINING CAMP: <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Paul_Brown/" type="external">Paul Brown</a> Stadium; Cincinnati, OH</p>
<p>COACH: <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Marvin_Lewis/" type="external">Marvin Lewis</a></p>
<p>15th season as Bengals/NFL head coach</p>
<p>118-110-3 overall; 0-7 postseason</p>
<p>THE BREAKDOWN</p>
<p>2016 finish: 3rd AFC North (6-9-1)</p>
<p>STATISTICS</p>
<p>TOTAL OFFENSE: 356.9 (13th)</p>
<p>RUSHING: 110.6 (13th)</p>
<p>PASSING: 246.4 (15th)</p>
<p>TOTAL DEFENSE: 350.8 (17th)</p>
<p>RUSHING: 113.3 (21st)</p>
<p>PASSING: 237.5 (11th)</p>
<p>2017 PRESEASON SCHEDULE</p>
<p>All times Eastern</p>
<p>Aug. 11, TAMPA BAY (Fri), 7:30</p>
<p>Aug. 19, KANSAS CITY (Sat), 7:00</p>
<p>Aug. 27, at Washington, 4:30</p>
<p>Aug. 31, at Indianapolis (Thu), 7:00</p>
<p>UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS</p>
<p>QUARTERBACKS: Starter – Andy Dalton. Backups – AJ McCarron, Jeff Driskel.</p>
<p>Dalton had his best season despite a suspect line, inconsistent running game, and injuries to key veteran players. He passed for 4,206 yards and 18 TDs with just eight interceptions despite being sacked 41 times. Dalton also completed 64.7 percent of his passes to reach the 4,000-yard mark for the second time in his career. McCarron was the focus of trade rumors during the offseason but for now remains a Bengal.</p>
<p>RUNNING BACKS: Starter – Jeremy Hill. Backups – Joe Mixon, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Giovani-Bernard/" type="external">Giovani Bernard</a>, Cedric Peerman, Tra Carson, Stanley Williams.</p>
<p>Mixon was a controversial draft choice, but he has a legitimate shot to assume the starting role. Hill is coming off a couple subpar seasons and Bernard missed the final six games with an ACL tear. The Bengals need more production from the running game to take pressure off Dalton and a revamped offensive line.</p>
<p>TIGHT ENDS: Starter – <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tyler-Eifert/" type="external">Tyler Eifert</a>. Backups – C.J. Uzomah, Tyler Kroft, Ryan Hewitt, Mason Schreck.</p>
<p>Eifert underwent back surgery during the offseason and worked on the side during the spring. But, he’s expected to be ready for training camp. Kroft was impressive during spring workouts and is expected to compete for the backup role that mostly belonged to Uzomah last season. An ankle injury suffered in the Pro Bowl resulted in surgery and caused Eifert to miss the first four weeks. The back injury then delayed his return until the seventh game. Eifert had 29 catches for 394 yards and five touchdowns before the back issues resurfaced.</p>
<p>WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/AJ-Green/" type="external">A.J. Green</a>, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Brandon_LaFell/" type="external">Brandon LaFell</a>, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tyler-Boyd/" type="external">Tyler Boyd</a>. Backups – <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Ross/" type="external">John Ross</a>, Cody Core, Josh Malone, Alex Erickson, Jake Kumerow, Alonzo Russell, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chris_Brown/" type="external">Chris Brown</a>.</p>
<p>This group is deep and versatile with the addition of speedy rookie Ross and the tall, physical Malone. Green missed the final six games with a hamstring injury and fell 36 yards shy of reaching 1,000 yards for the sixth straight season, something only <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Randy_Moss/" type="external">Randy Moss</a> has done. But, the five-time Pro Bowler proved himself to be healthy during the spring. LaFell says he’s more comfortable going into his second season with the team.</p>
<p>OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LT Cedric Ogbuehi, RT Jake Fisher, C Russell Bodine, RG <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Andre_Smith/" type="external">Andre Smith</a>, LG Clint Boling. Backups – LT Landon Lechler, LG Trey Hopkins, C T.J, Johnson, RG Christian Westerman, LG Dustin Stanton, LG Cameron Lee, RG Alex Redmond, LG Kent Perkins.</p>
<p>This group is among the biggest questions heading into the 2017 season, especially after veteran left tackle Andre Whitworth left as a free agent after 12 seasons and leaving a significant leadership void in the locker room. Another veteran, guard <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Kevin-Zeitler/" type="external">Kevin Zeitler</a>, also is gone. Smith was brought back to play guard. Ogbuehi struggled most of last season, even briefly moving to left tackle where he said he was more comfortable. But, the results were the same. His weaknesses in pass protection were partly responsible for Dalton being sacked 41 times last season.</p>
<p>DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LDE <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Carlos-Dunlap/" type="external">Carlos Dunlap</a>, DT <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Geno-Atkins/" type="external">Geno Atkins</a>, RDE <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Michael_Johnson/" type="external">Michael Johnson</a>, LDT Pat Sims. Backups – DT Andrew Billings, DT DeShawn Williams, DE Jordan Willis, DT Marcus Hardison, DE Will Clarke, DE Wallace Gilberry, DT Brandon Thompson, DT Ryan Glasgow, DT David Dean, DE <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chris_Smith/" type="external">Chris Smith</a>.</p>
<p>Domata Peko left in free agency. Billings missed his entire rookie season due to injury, but appears to be full go for training camp. Dunlap had eight sacks and Atkins had nine, but the Bengals’ pass rush wasn’t as ferocious as in recent years. Willis was drafted in the third round out of Kansas State and is widely considered a steal for the Bengals.</p>
<p>LINEBACKERS: Starters – MLB Vincent Rey, SLB Marquis Flowers, WLB <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Vontaze-Burfict/" type="external">Vontaze Burfict</a>. Backups – MLB Kevin Minter, SLB <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Carl-Lawson/" type="external">Carl Lawson</a>, SLB P.J. Dawson, WLB Nick Vigil, SLB Bryson Albright, SLB Jordan Evans.</p>
<p>Veterans Rey Maualuga and Karlos Dansby left via free agency. Minter was signed to provide some experience and could assume Maualuga’s role in the middle. Vigil had a solid offseason. Burfict finished second on the team in tackles despite missing the first three games of the season due to suspension. He was in better shape this summer and the Bengals look for big things if he can avoid the extracurriculars.</p>
<p>DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters – LCB Dre Kirkpatrick, RCB Adam Jones, SS Shawn Williams, FS George Iloka. Backups – RCB Josh Shaw, RCB KeiVarae Russell, RCB Darqueze Dennard, SS Clayton Fejedelem, FS Derron Smith, CB William Jackson, RCB Brandon Wilson, LCB Tony McRae, LCB Bene Benwikere.</p>
<p>Kirkpatrick drew praise from the coaching staff for his improvement this season, but Jackson, the team’s top draft choice a year ago, is expected to recover after being injured late in training camp and will push for a starting role next year. Jones is among the team captains and emotional leaders, but his arrest just days after the conclusion of the regular season puts his future in doubt. Jones faced multiple charges for his conduct at a local hotel.</p>
<p>SPECIAL TEAMS: K Randy Bullock, P Kevin Huber, PR Adam Jones, KOR Alex Erickson, LS Clark Harris, K Jake Elliott, K Jon Brown.</p>
<p>The journeyman Bullock was signed when veteran <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mike_Nugent/" type="external">Mike Nugent</a> was released after missing six extra points. Head coach Marvin Lewis was pleased with Bullock’s production, but said there will be competition at kicker in training camp. Elliott was drafted out of the University of Memphis and was impressive during OTAs. Erickson led the NFL with 810 kickoff return yards including one 84-yarder.</p> | false | 1 | cincinnati even cincinnati bengals gathered full roster training camp thursday july 27 offseason troubles loomed despite efforts move past talented ofttroubled cornerback adam jones suspended first week season violating leagues personal conduct policy reportedly spat face jailhouse nurse january penalty limited two days served jones 33 seventh arrest third offfield incident since joining bengals regardless dynamic achievements field past timing may bad secondyear corner william jackson iii sat last season injury ready eager get chance start jones giving chance corner dre kirkpatrick recovered hand fracture offseason expected 100 percent meanwhile former oklahoma running back joe mixon rated firstround talent fell bengals second round unable outrun domestic abuse incident college regardless mixon shed 10 pounds since indianapolis scouting combine prohibited attending appears ready challenge starting job immediately incumbent running back jeremy hill two subpar seasons insists hes motivated return 2014 form rushed 1100 yards rookie lack consistent running game partly responsible quarterback andy dalton sacked 41 times last season revamped offensive line needing help finding someone step backfield priority cincinnati training camp facts training camp paul brown stadium cincinnati oh coach marvin lewis 15th season bengalsnfl head coach 1181103 overall 07 postseason breakdown 2016 finish 3rd afc north 691 statistics total offense 3569 13th rushing 1106 13th passing 2464 15th total defense 3508 17th rushing 1133 21st passing 2375 11th 2017 preseason schedule times eastern aug 11 tampa bay fri 730 aug 19 kansas city sat 700 aug 27 washington 430 aug 31 indianapolis thu 700 unitbyunit analysis quarterbacks starter andy dalton backups aj mccarron jeff driskel dalton best season despite suspect line inconsistent running game injuries key veteran players passed 4206 yards 18 tds eight interceptions despite sacked 41 times dalton also completed 647 percent passes reach 4000yard mark second time career mccarron focus trade rumors offseason remains bengal running backs starter jeremy hill backups joe mixon giovani bernard cedric peerman tra carson stanley williams mixon controversial draft choice legitimate shot assume starting role hill coming couple subpar seasons bernard missed final six games acl tear bengals need production running game take pressure dalton revamped offensive line tight ends starter tyler eifert backups cj uzomah tyler kroft ryan hewitt mason schreck eifert underwent back surgery offseason worked side spring hes expected ready training camp kroft impressive spring workouts expected compete backup role mostly belonged uzomah last season ankle injury suffered pro bowl resulted surgery caused eifert miss first four weeks back injury delayed return seventh game eifert 29 catches 394 yards five touchdowns back issues resurfaced wide receivers starters aj green brandon lafell tyler boyd backups john ross cody core josh malone alex erickson jake kumerow alonzo russell chris brown group deep versatile addition speedy rookie ross tall physical malone green missed final six games hamstring injury fell 36 yards shy reaching 1000 yards sixth straight season something randy moss done fivetime pro bowler proved healthy spring lafell says hes comfortable going second season team offensive linemen starters lt cedric ogbuehi rt jake fisher c russell bodine rg andre smith lg clint boling backups lt landon lechler lg trey hopkins c tj johnson rg christian westerman lg dustin stanton lg cameron lee rg alex redmond lg kent perkins group among biggest questions heading 2017 season especially veteran left tackle andre whitworth left free agent 12 seasons leaving significant leadership void locker room another veteran guard kevin zeitler also gone smith brought back play guard ogbuehi struggled last season even briefly moving left tackle said comfortable results weaknesses pass protection partly responsible dalton sacked 41 times last season defensive linemen starters lde carlos dunlap dt geno atkins rde michael johnson ldt pat sims backups dt andrew billings dt deshawn williams de jordan willis dt marcus hardison de clarke de wallace gilberry dt brandon thompson dt ryan glasgow dt david dean de chris smith domata peko left free agency billings missed entire rookie season due injury appears full go training camp dunlap eight sacks atkins nine bengals pass rush wasnt ferocious recent years willis drafted third round kansas state widely considered steal bengals linebackers starters mlb vincent rey slb marquis flowers wlb vontaze burfict backups mlb kevin minter slb carl lawson slb pj dawson wlb nick vigil slb bryson albright slb jordan evans veterans rey maualuga karlos dansby left via free agency minter signed provide experience could assume maualugas role middle vigil solid offseason burfict finished second team tackles despite missing first three games season due suspension better shape summer bengals look big things avoid extracurriculars defensive backs starters lcb dre kirkpatrick rcb adam jones ss shawn williams fs george iloka backups rcb josh shaw rcb keivarae russell rcb darqueze dennard ss clayton fejedelem fs derron smith cb william jackson rcb brandon wilson lcb tony mcrae lcb bene benwikere kirkpatrick drew praise coaching staff improvement season jackson teams top draft choice year ago expected recover injured late training camp push starting role next year jones among team captains emotional leaders arrest days conclusion regular season puts future doubt jones faced multiple charges conduct local hotel special teams k randy bullock p kevin huber pr adam jones kor alex erickson ls clark harris k jake elliott k jon brown journeyman bullock signed veteran mike nugent released missing six extra points head coach marvin lewis pleased bullocks production said competition kicker training camp elliott drafted university memphis impressive otas erickson led nfl 810 kickoff return yards including one 84yarder | 895 |
<p>The Emmy weekend Grand Prix got off to a busy start on Friday as industryites raced around the Westside to eat, drink, schmooze and be merry in advance of Sunday’s big show.</p>
<p>The weather cooperated with balmy temperatures just right for outdoor gatherings, and for the most part, so did the traffic and the valet lines. However, a regular sight outside of every event was a partygoer or two struggling to communicate with Uber and Lyft drivers.</p>
<p>UTA</p>
<p>The annual gathering at the Brentwood home of Jay Sures was the first stop of the night for many. By 7:45 p.m., Sures’ spacious backyard was packed with executives including ABC’s Ben Sherwood, Channing Dungey and Patrick Moran, NBC’s Bob Greenblatt, Jennifer Salke and Bruce Evans, AMC’s Josh Sapan and Charlie Collier, FX’s Nick Grad, Paramount’s Brian Robbins, Amazon’s Roy Price, Netflix’s Bela Bajaria, Discovery’s Rich Ross, National Geographic TV’s Courteney Monroe and Carolyn Bernstein, A+E Networks’ Nancy Dubuc and Fox 21 Television Studios’ Bert Salke.</p>
<p>David Madden began collecting congratulations on his new AMC/SundanceTV gig even before he descended the stairs into the party pit. Congrats were also in the air for Sures on his recent elevation to co-president of the agency. A generous array of tacos and margaritas fueled the night.</p>
<p>WME</p>
<p>The Chateau Marmont was overflowing with revelers who partied well past midnight, in keeping with the venue’s storied reputation. At one point the crowd was so dense a waiter was spotted climbing through a window to move between the indoor and outdoor space on the hotel’s second floor.</p>
<p>By the end of the night, the niceties were over and partygoers got down to the business of doping out Sunday’s winners. It became apparent that WME has the high-class problem of competing against itself in numerous key categories. “This Is Us” creator Dan Fogelman was among the many showrunners who made the rounds. He picked up plenty of backslaps and kudos for bringing broadcast TV back into the Emmy hunt this year with the NBC hit.</p>
<p>CAA</p>
<p>Bouchon was bustling with stars and small plates. Reese Witherspoon was definitely a belle of the ball, along with her “Big Little Lies” co-star Laura Dern. Helen Mirren, Kyra Sedgwick, Sarah Paulson, Viola Davis, Emmy Rossum, and Aubrey Plaza mingled in the crowd that moved from room to room enjoying the creative concoctions of Bouchon boss Thomas Keller.</p>
<p>Also spotted were J.J. Abrams, Jerry Bruckheimer, Ryan Murphy, Ava DuVernay, Seth MacFarlane, Alec Baldwin, Sam Esmail, NBCUniversal’s Bonnie Hammer, Seth Meyer, Colin Just, Geoffrey Rush, and Golden State politicos Anthony Villaraigosa and Barbara Boxer.</p>
<p>Variety/Women in Film</p>
<p>CBS’ Kelly Kahl, Showtime’s&#160;David Nevins, Hulu’s Mike Hopkins, and FX Networks’&#160;John Landgraf&#160;were among the executives who were on hand for Variety/Women in Film’s annual bash celebrating Emmy nominees at Gracias Madre. WIF board member&#160;Lake Bell, “The Handmaid’s Tale’s” Yvonne Strahovski, “Empire’s” Serayah McNeill and actors include&#160;Keegan-Michael Key, Sarah Hyland,&#160;and Zoe Lister-Jones took in the scene.</p>
<p>Notably, Emmy nominee Sterling K. Brown&#160;couldn’t walk a few feet without being stopped by another partygoer who wanted to say hi or wish him good luck and congratulations. He was spotted chatting with everyone from his on-screen wife Susan Kelechi Watson to Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union. But it was Emmy nominee Dolly Parton&#160;who drew the biggest crowd, literally forming a half circle around her to say hello and snap a photo.</p>
<p>Entertainment Weekly</p>
<p>Sunset Tower was a revolving door of TV stars.&#160;Inside the lively reception, “This Is Us” star Sterling K. Brown hugged friends and stopped for photos, and Terry Crews was spotted — what else? — breaking it down with his wife, Rebecca King-Crews, to tunes from DJ Michelle Pesce. “Scandal’s” Bellamy Young and “Black-ish’s” Tracee Ellis Ross embraced by the pool for a gathering of ABC stars, while Sophia Bush mingled nearby and “New Girl” star Max Greenfield waited at the bar for his drink.</p>
<p>The conversation was, of course, all about <a href="http://variety.com/t/emmys/" type="external">Emmys</a>. Yvette Nicole Brown told&#160;Variety that she’s rooting for Ross in particular on Sunday night, as well as her “Black-ish” co-star Anthony Anderson, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s” Tituss Burgess, and “Atlanta” mastermind Donald Glover, Brown’s former co-star on “Community.” “I adore him and I want only the best for him,” she gushed.</p>
<p>Gersh</p>
<p>Gersh honcho Leslie Siebert opened the doors of her Little Holmby home for a party to toast the agency’s many thesps in the Emmy hunt. “This Is Us’s” Mandy Moore, “Transparent’s” Jeffrey Tambor and “Mom’s” Allison Janney took their bows. Courtney B. Vance, Kate Walsh, Debra Messing&#160;Daymond John, and Elizabeth Olsen were among those on hand.</p>
<p>(Pictured: Laura Dern, David E. Kelley, Reese Witherspoon and Ava DuVernay at CAA)</p> | false | 1 | emmy weekend grand prix got busy start friday industryites raced around westside eat drink schmooze merry advance sundays big show weather cooperated balmy temperatures right outdoor gatherings part traffic valet lines however regular sight outside every event partygoer two struggling communicate uber lyft drivers uta annual gathering brentwood home jay sures first stop night many 745 pm sures spacious backyard packed executives including abcs ben sherwood channing dungey patrick moran nbcs bob greenblatt jennifer salke bruce evans amcs josh sapan charlie collier fxs nick grad paramounts brian robbins amazons roy price netflixs bela bajaria discoverys rich ross national geographic tvs courteney monroe carolyn bernstein ae networks nancy dubuc fox 21 television studios bert salke david madden began collecting congratulations new amcsundancetv gig even descended stairs party pit congrats also air sures recent elevation copresident agency generous array tacos margaritas fueled night wme chateau marmont overflowing revelers partied well past midnight keeping venues storied reputation one point crowd dense waiter spotted climbing window move indoor outdoor space hotels second floor end night niceties partygoers got business doping sundays winners became apparent wme highclass problem competing numerous key categories us creator dan fogelman among many showrunners made rounds picked plenty backslaps kudos bringing broadcast tv back emmy hunt year nbc hit caa bouchon bustling stars small plates reese witherspoon definitely belle ball along big little lies costar laura dern helen mirren kyra sedgwick sarah paulson viola davis emmy rossum aubrey plaza mingled crowd moved room room enjoying creative concoctions bouchon boss thomas keller also spotted jj abrams jerry bruckheimer ryan murphy ava duvernay seth macfarlane alec baldwin sam esmail nbcuniversals bonnie hammer seth meyer colin geoffrey rush golden state politicos anthony villaraigosa barbara boxer varietywomen film cbs kelly kahl showtimes160david nevins hulus mike hopkins fx networks160john landgraf160were among executives hand varietywomen films annual bash celebrating emmy nominees gracias madre wif board member160lake bell handmaids tales yvonne strahovski empires serayah mcneill actors include160keeganmichael key sarah hyland160and zoe listerjones took scene notably emmy nominee sterling k brown160couldnt walk feet without stopped another partygoer wanted say hi wish good luck congratulations spotted chatting everyone onscreen wife susan kelechi watson dwayne wade gabrielle union emmy nominee dolly parton160who drew biggest crowd literally forming half circle around say hello snap photo entertainment weekly sunset tower revolving door tv stars160inside lively reception us star sterling k brown hugged friends stopped photos terry crews spotted else breaking wife rebecca kingcrews tunes dj michelle pesce scandals bellamy young blackishs tracee ellis ross embraced pool gathering abc stars sophia bush mingled nearby new girl star max greenfield waited bar drink conversation course emmys yvette nicole brown told160variety shes rooting ross particular sunday night well blackish costar anthony anderson unbreakable kimmy schmidts tituss burgess atlanta mastermind donald glover browns former costar community adore want best gushed gersh gersh honcho leslie siebert opened doors little holmby home party toast agencys many thesps emmy hunt uss mandy moore transparents jeffrey tambor moms allison janney took bows courtney b vance kate walsh debra messing160daymond john elizabeth olsen among hand pictured laura dern david e kelley reese witherspoon ava duvernay caa | 515 |
<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned late Monday night, following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia. His departure upends Trump’s senior team after less than one month in office.</p>
<p>In a resignation letter, Flynn said he held numerous calls with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. during the transition and gave “incomplete information” about those discussions to Vice President Mike Pence. The vice president, apparently relying on information from Flynn, initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.</p>
<p>Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser. Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Trump on national security issues during the campaign.</p>
<p>The Justice Department warned the Trump administration weeks ago that contradictions between the public depictions and the actual details of the calls could leave Flynn in a compromised position, an administration official and two other people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press Monday night.</p>
<p>One person with knowledge of the situation said the Justice Department alerted the White House that there was a discrepancy between what officials were saying publicly about the contacts and the facts of what had occurred. Pence — apparently relying on information from Flynn — initially said sanctions were not discussed in the calls, though Flynn has now told White House officials that the topic may have come up.</p>
<p>A second official said the Justice Department was concerned Flynn could be in a compromised position as a result.</p>
<p>The White House has been aware of the Justice Department warnings for “weeks,” an administration official said, though it was unclear whether Trump and Pence had been alerted.</p>
<p>The people insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between the Justice Department, including former acting attorney general Sally Yates, and the Trump administration.</p>
<p>Flynn apologized to Pence last week, following a Washington Post report asserting that the national security adviser has indeed discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy.</p>
<p>White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump was consulting with Pence on Monday about his conversations with the national security adviser. Asked whether the president had been aware that Flynn might discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said, “No, absolutely not.”</p>
<p>Trump, who comments on a steady stream of issues on his Twitter feed, has been conspicuously silent about the matter since The Washington Post reported last week that Flynn had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy. A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.</p>
<p>Flynn’s discussions with the Russian raised questions about whether Flynn offered assurances about the incoming administration’s new approach. Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping citizens from conducting diplomacy.</p>
<p>Earlier Monday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Trump had “full confidence” in Flynn, though her assertions were not backed up by other senior Trump aides. Spicer would say only that Flynn was continuing to carry out “his daily functions.”</p>
<p>Flynn was spotted near the Oval Office just after 10 p.m. Monday. Amid the uncertainty over Flynn’s future, several of the president’s top advisers, including chief of staff Reince Priebus and counsel Don McGahn, ducked in and out of late-night meetings in the West Wing.</p>
<p>Several House Democrats called on Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, to launch an investigation into Flynn’s ties to Russia. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called for Flynn to be fired, saying he “cannot be trusted not to put Putin before America.”</p>
<p>Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said that if Pence were misled, “I can’t imagine he would have trust in Gen. Flynn going forward.” She said it would also be “troubling” if Flynn had been negotiating with a foreign government before taking office.</p>
<p>It’s illegal for private citizens to conduct U.S. diplomacy. Flynn’s conversations also raise questions about Trump’s friendly posture toward Russia after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Moscow hacked Democratic emails during the election.</p>
<p>The controversy comes as Trump and his top advisers seek to steady the White House after a rocky start. The president, who seeks input from a wide range of business associates, friends and colleagues, has been asking people their opinions on his senior team, including Spicer and Priebus.</p>
<p>Advisers have privately conceded that the White House spit out too many disparate messages in the first few weeks, though they also note that the president’s own tweets sometimes muddy the day’s plans before most of the White House staff has arrived for work.</p>
<p>Trump voiced support for Priebus Monday, saying the chief of staff was doing, “not a good job, a great job.” But he did not make a similar show of support for his national security adviser.</p>
<p>Flynn sat in the front row of Trump’s news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier Monday. The president did not receive a question about Flynn’s future from the two reporters who were called upon, and he ignored journalists’ shouted follow-up inquiries as he left the room.</p>
<p>Over the weekend, Trump told associates he was troubled by the situation, but did not say whether he planned to ask Flynn to step down, according to a person who spoke with him recently. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter during the campaign, but he is viewed skeptically by some in the administration’s national security circles, in part because of his ties to Russia.</p>
<p>In 2015, Flynn was paid to attend a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-backed television station, and sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event.</p>
<p>Flynn spoke with the vice president about the matter twice on Friday, according to an administration official. The official said Pence was relying on information from Flynn when he went on television and denied that sanctions were discussed with Kislyak.</p>
<p>The administration officials and those who spoke with the president recently were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on anonymity.</p>
<p>The controversy surrounding Flynn comes as the young administration grapples with a series of national security challenges, including North Korea’s reported ballistic missile launch. The president, who was joined at his Mar-a-Lago estate by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the weekend, voiced solidarity with Japan.</p>
<p>The White House is also dealing with fallout from the rocky rollout of Trump’s immigration executive order, which has been blocked by the courts. The order was intended to suspend the nation’s refugee program and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.</p> | false | 1 | washington president donald trumps embattled national security adviser michael flynn resigned late monday night following reports misled vice president mike pence officials contacts russia departure upends trumps senior team less one month office resignation letter flynn said held numerous calls russian ambassador us transition gave incomplete information discussions vice president mike pence vice president apparently relying information flynn initially said national security adviser discussed sanctions russian envoy though flynn later conceded issue may come trump named retired lt gen keith kellogg acting national security adviser kellogg previously appointed national security council chief staff advised trump national security issues campaign justice department warned trump administration weeks ago contradictions public depictions actual details calls could leave flynn compromised position administration official two people knowledge situation told associated press monday night one person knowledge situation said justice department alerted white house discrepancy officials saying publicly contacts facts occurred pence apparently relying information flynn initially said sanctions discussed calls though flynn told white house officials topic may come second official said justice department concerned flynn could compromised position result white house aware justice department warnings weeks administration official said though unclear whether trump pence alerted people insisted anonymity authorized discuss matter publicly washington post first report communication justice department including former acting attorney general sally yates trump administration flynn apologized pence last week following washington post report asserting national security adviser indeed discussed sanctions russian envoy white house spokesman sean spicer said trump consulting pence monday conversations national security adviser asked whether president aware flynn might discuss sanctions russian envoy spicer said absolutely trump comments steady stream issues twitter feed conspicuously silent matter since washington post reported last week flynn discussed sanctions russian envoy us official told associated press flynn frequent contact ambassador sergey kislyak day obama administration slapped sanctions russia electionrelated hacking well times transition flynns discussions russian raised questions whether flynn offered assurances incoming administrations new approach conversations would breach diplomatic protocol possibly violate logan act law aimed keeping citizens conducting diplomacy earlier monday white house counselor kellyanne conway said trump full confidence flynn though assertions backed senior trump aides spicer would say flynn continuing carry daily functions flynn spotted near oval office 10 pm monday amid uncertainty flynns future several presidents top advisers including chief staff reince priebus counsel mcgahn ducked latenight meetings west wing several house democrats called oversight committee chairman jason chaffetz rutah launch investigation flynns ties russia house democratic leader nancy pelosi called flynn fired saying trusted put putin america republican sen susan collins maine said pence misled cant imagine would trust gen flynn going forward said would also troubling flynn negotiating foreign government taking office illegal private citizens conduct us diplomacy flynns conversations also raise questions trumps friendly posture toward russia us intelligence agencies concluded moscow hacked democratic emails election controversy comes trump top advisers seek steady white house rocky start president seeks input wide range business associates friends colleagues asking people opinions senior team including spicer priebus advisers privately conceded white house spit many disparate messages first weeks though also note presidents tweets sometimes muddy days plans white house staff arrived work trump voiced support priebus monday saying chief staff good job great job make similar show support national security adviser flynn sat front row trumps news conference canadian prime minister justin trudeau earlier monday president receive question flynns future two reporters called upon ignored journalists shouted followup inquiries left room weekend trump told associates troubled situation say whether planned ask flynn step according person spoke recently flynn loyal trump supporter campaign viewed skeptically administrations national security circles part ties russia 2015 flynn paid attend gala dinner russia today kremlinbacked television station sat next russian president vladimir putin event flynn spoke vice president matter twice friday according administration official official said pence relying information flynn went television denied sanctions discussed kislyak administration officials spoke president recently authorized discuss matter publicly insisted anonymity controversy surrounding flynn comes young administration grapples series national security challenges including north koreas reported ballistic missile launch president joined maralago estate japanese prime minister shinzo abe weekend voiced solidarity japan white house also dealing fallout rocky rollout trumps immigration executive order blocked courts order intended suspend nations refugee program bar citizens seven muslimmajority countries entering united states | 704 |
<p />
<p>U.S. government documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and recently posted on the website of the George Washington University National Security Archive shed some additional light on talks with the Taliban prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, including with regard to the repeated Taliban offers to hand over Osama bin Laden, and the role of Pakistan before and after the attacks.[1]</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">&lt;img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-7234" style="margin: 5px;" title="osama_binladen" src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/osama_binladen-300x187.jpg" alt="Osama bin Laden" width="300" height="187" /&gt;</a>One of the recently released State Department documents, from March 2000, notes that a proposed “gas pipeline from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Multan, Pakistan figured prominently in discussions” about the mutual goal between the U.S. and regional players of stabilizing Afghanistan. Discussions on another proposed pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan had also been proposed that were “more advanced”, and the Pakistanis had gone to Tehran to meet with Iranian officials “to pursue these negotiations”. But neither “pipeline is likely to go forward in the mid-term”, the documented concluded.</p>
<p>A Pakistani official told the U.S. that “Pakistan ‘will always support the Taliban'”. This “policy cannot change, he continued; it would prompt rebellion across the Northwest Frontier Provinces, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and indeed on both sides of the Pashtun-dominated Pak-Afghan border.” But the Taliban were “‘looking for a way out’ of the problem with bin Laden”. The U.S. was urged to “find a way to compromise with the Taliban”, and possible “ways that the U.S. and the Taliban might use to break the impasse” were suggested, including “the possibility of a trial in a third (Muslim) country”, “U.S. assurances that bin Laden would not face the death penalty”, and “a U.S. outline of what the Taliban would gain from extradition of bin Laden”.[2]</p>
<p>It is already known that the U.S. had demanded in secret discussions with the Taliban that bin Laden be handed over for more than three years prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The talks continued “until just days before” the attacks, according to a Washington Post report the month following the attacks. But a compromise solution such as the above that would offer the Taliban a face-saving way out of the impasse was never seriously considered. Instead, “State Department officials refused to soften their demand that bin Laden face trial in the U.S. justice system.”</p>
<p>Officials described the U.S. decision to reject Taliban offers as a missed opportunity. Former CIA station chief Milt Bearden told the Post, “We never heard what they were trying to say…. We had no common language. Ours was, ‘Give up bin Laden.’ They were saying, ‘Do something to help us give him up.'” Bearden added, “I have no doubts they wanted to get rid of him. He was a pain in the neck,” but this “never clicked” with U.S. officials.</p>
<p>Michael Malinowski, a State Department official involved in the talks, acknowledged, “I would say, ‘Hey, give up bin Laden,’ and they would say, ‘No…. Show us the evidence'”, a request U.S. officials deemed unreasonable.[3]</p>
<p>According to the BBC, the Taliban later even warned the U.S. that bin Laden was going to launch an attack on American soil. Former Taliban foreign minister Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil said his warnings, issued because of concerns that the U.S. would react by waging war against Afghanistan, had been ignored. A U.S. official did not deny that such warnings were issued, but told BBC rather that it was dismissed because “We were hearing a lot of that kind of stuff”.[4]</p>
<p>Indeed, underscoring Muttawakil’s stated reasons for having delivered the threat warning to the U.S., a State Department document from June 2001 obtained by INTELWIRE.com[5] showed that the U.S. had warned the Taliban “that they will be held directly responsible for any loss of life that occurs from terrorist actions related to terrorists who have trained in Afghanistan or use Afghanistan as a base of planning operations.”[6] The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salam Zaeef responded that “the Taliban do not see Americans as their enemies and that there are no threats to Americans coming from the Taliban. Nontheless, said Zaeef, ‘We will do our best to follow up and stop’ any threat.” With regard to bin Laden, “Zaeef emphasized that the Taliban’s relationship with UBL [Usama/Osama bin Laden] and others is based not on enmity against the United States, but on ‘culture.'”[7]</p>
<p>Rejecting the Taliban offers to have bin Laden handed over, the U.S. instead pursued a policy of regime change well prior to the 9/11 attacks. Jane’s Information Group reported in March 2001 that “India is believed to have joined Russia, the USA and Iran in a concerted front against Afghanistan’s Taliban regime”, which included support for Afghanistan’s Northern Alliance, including “information and logistic support” from Washington.[8] Former Pakistani Foreign Secretary Niaz Naik told the BBC that he had been told by senior U.S. officials in July 2001 at a U.N.-sponsored summit in Berlin that military action would be taken against the Taliban by the middle of October. Preparations had already been coordinated with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. Naik also “said it was doubtful that Washington would drop its plan even if Bin Laden were to be surrendered immediately by the Taleban.”[9]</p>
<p>A newly released document dated August 30, 2001 shows that Pakistan was continuing to urge the U.S. “to maintain open channels to the Taliban.” Pakistani officials denied that their support for the Taliban included military assistance. When asked “why Pakistan supports the Taliban”, an official replied, “We don’t support but inter-act with the Taliban”. Pressed further on why Pakistan continued “to give the Taliban international diplomatic support and to press the USG [United States Government] to engage with the Taliban?” the Pakistanis “reiterated that the Taliban are the effective rulers of at least 90 percent of Afghanistan, that they enjoy significant popular support because they ended the banditry and anarchy that once bedeviled the country, and that the instant success of the opium poppy production ban underscored … the reality and effectiveness of Taliban authority.” If it wasn’t for “external support” for the Northern Alliance, it “would collapse in a matter of days.”[10]</p>
<p>Another newly disclosed document shows that two days after the 9/11 attacks Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was told “bluntly” that “There was no inclination in Washington to engage in a dialog with the Taliban.” The U.S. was already prepared for military action and “believed strongly that the Taliban are harboring the terrorists responsible for the September 11 attacks.” The U.S. was “fairly sure” that bin Laden “and his Al Qida network of terrorists” were guilty.[11]</p>
<p>The following day, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage issued an ultimatum to Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt. Gen. Mahmud Ahmed that Pakistan’s cooperation was expected “should the evidence strongly implicate Usama bin-Laden and the Al Qaida network in Afghanistan and should Afghanistan and the Taliban continue to harbor him and this network”.[12]</p>
<p>Mahmud conveyed the message to Taliban leader Mullah Omar, and reported back to Armitage that “the ‘response was not negative on all these points’.” The Taliban was to convene a grand council to discuss the U.S.’s terms. Mahmud said he had “framed the decision to Mullah Omar and the other Afghans as essentially choosing between one man and his safe haven versus the well-being of 25 million citizens of Afghanistan” and that they were “now engaged in ‘deep introspection’ about their decisions.”[13]</p>
<p>The BBC reported on the Pakistani talks with the Taliban, noting that the Taliban were “demanding proof of his involvement in the terror attacks on the US” before they would consider handing over Osama bin Laden, who issued a statement saying, “The US is pointing the finger at me but I categorically state that I have not done this”.[14] CNN similarly reported that the Taliban was “refusing to hand over bin Laden without proof or evidence that he was involved” in the 9/11 attacks. Ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef said “that deporting him without proof would amount to an ‘insult to Islam.'” But, he added, “We are ready to cooperate if we are shown evidence.” U.S. officials said evidence gathered linking bin Laden to other terrorist attacks were all the proof that was needed, but declined to provide evidence of his involvement in the 9/11 attacks.[15]</p>
<p />
<p /> | false | 1 | us government documents obtained freedom information act foia recently posted website george washington university national security archive shed additional light talks taliban prior terrorist attacks september 11 2001 including regard repeated taliban offers hand osama bin laden role pakistan attacks1 ltimg classalignleft sizemedium wpimage7234 stylemargin 5px titleosama_binladen srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201009osama_binladen300x187jpg altosama bin laden width300 height187 gtone recently released state department documents march 2000 notes proposed gas pipeline turkmenistan afghanistan multan pakistan figured prominently discussions mutual goal us regional players stabilizing afghanistan discussions another proposed pipeline iran india via pakistan also proposed advanced pakistanis gone tehran meet iranian officials pursue negotiations neither pipeline likely go forward midterm documented concluded pakistani official told us pakistan always support taliban policy change continued would prompt rebellion across northwest frontier provinces federally administered tribal areas indeed sides pashtundominated pakafghan border taliban looking way problem bin laden us urged find way compromise taliban possible ways us taliban might use break impasse suggested including possibility trial third muslim country us assurances bin laden would face death penalty us outline taliban would gain extradition bin laden2 already known us demanded secret discussions taliban bin laden handed three years prior terrorist attacks september 11 2001 talks continued days attacks according washington post report month following attacks compromise solution would offer taliban facesaving way impasse never seriously considered instead state department officials refused soften demand bin laden face trial us justice system officials described us decision reject taliban offers missed opportunity former cia station chief milt bearden told post never heard trying say common language give bin laden saying something help us give bearden added doubts wanted get rid pain neck never clicked us officials michael malinowski state department official involved talks acknowledged would say hey give bin laden would say show us evidence request us officials deemed unreasonable3 according bbc taliban later even warned us bin laden going launch attack american soil former taliban foreign minister wakil ahmad muttawakil said warnings issued concerns us would react waging war afghanistan ignored us official deny warnings issued told bbc rather dismissed hearing lot kind stuff4 indeed underscoring muttawakils stated reasons delivered threat warning us state department document june 2001 obtained intelwirecom5 showed us warned taliban held directly responsible loss life occurs terrorist actions related terrorists trained afghanistan use afghanistan base planning operations6 taliban ambassador pakistan abdul salam zaeef responded taliban see americans enemies threats americans coming taliban nontheless said zaeef best follow stop threat regard bin laden zaeef emphasized talibans relationship ubl usamaosama bin laden others based enmity united states culture7 rejecting taliban offers bin laden handed us instead pursued policy regime change well prior 911 attacks janes information group reported march 2001 india believed joined russia usa iran concerted front afghanistans taliban regime included support afghanistans northern alliance including information logistic support washington8 former pakistani foreign secretary niaz naik told bbc told senior us officials july 2001 unsponsored summit berlin military action would taken taliban middle october preparations already coordinated tajikistan uzbekistan russia naik also said doubtful washington would drop plan even bin laden surrendered immediately taleban9 newly released document dated august 30 2001 shows pakistan continuing urge us maintain open channels taliban pakistani officials denied support taliban included military assistance asked pakistan supports taliban official replied dont support interact taliban pressed pakistan continued give taliban international diplomatic support press usg united states government engage taliban pakistanis reiterated taliban effective rulers least 90 percent afghanistan enjoy significant popular support ended banditry anarchy bedeviled country instant success opium poppy production ban underscored reality effectiveness taliban authority wasnt external support northern alliance would collapse matter days10 another newly disclosed document shows two days 911 attacks pakistan president pervez musharraf told bluntly inclination washington engage dialog taliban us already prepared military action believed strongly taliban harboring terrorists responsible september 11 attacks us fairly sure bin laden al qida network terrorists guilty11 following day deputy secretary state richard armitage issued ultimatum pakistani interservices intelligence isi chief lt gen mahmud ahmed pakistans cooperation expected evidence strongly implicate usama binladen al qaida network afghanistan afghanistan taliban continue harbor network12 mahmud conveyed message taliban leader mullah omar reported back armitage response negative points taliban convene grand council discuss uss terms mahmud said framed decision mullah omar afghans essentially choosing one man safe versus wellbeing 25 million citizens afghanistan engaged deep introspection decisions13 bbc reported pakistani talks taliban noting taliban demanding proof involvement terror attacks us would consider handing osama bin laden issued statement saying us pointing finger categorically state done this14 cnn similarly reported taliban refusing hand bin laden without proof evidence involved 911 attacks ambassador abdul salam zaeef said deporting without proof would amount insult islam added ready cooperate shown evidence us officials said evidence gathered linking bin laden terrorist attacks proof needed declined provide evidence involvement 911 attacks15 | 791 |
<p>France is in the throes of a unique cultural moment — one that stretches way beyond the soul-searching debates over Islamist violence and Muslim integration, or arguments over its economic travails, fractious labor politics and troubling brain drain. This collective angst has crystallized as two of the country’s most prominent and controversial authors — Eric Zemmour and Michel Houellebecq — published blockbuster books warning of the creeping Islamization of France just as the Charlie Hebdo attacks shook the nation. Though both men foresee a France falling prey to militant Islam, there is more to their vision of the country’s past, and future, than meets the eye. Both offer a unique window into the French mind.</p>
<p>Mr. Zemmour is a member of that esteemed French tradition of intellectual firebrands who are public pugilists and encyclopedically cultured writers. Though his latest book, “Le Suicide Français,” has rocked the charts, it is really a previous work, the much denser history tome “Mélancolie Française,” that offers the best lens into his worldview.</p>
<p>Mr. Zemmour argues that the well-known French “melancholy” — the typically French feeling of gloom and decline — has its roots back in the early High Middle Ages. In his telling, as the Valois kings were building what would become the French nation into a prominent European power, jurists from the south — where the tradition of Latin legal scholarship had survived the Dark Ages — pined for a restoration of the Roman Empire. They saw the fledgling French monarchy as the tool to implement their beliefs. Joining the royal court, they laid the foundations of the modern nation-state by building Europe’s first technocratic, merit-based central government bureaucracy, a crucial innovation in feudal Europe. This enabled King Philip the Fair to crush nonstate powers like the Knights Templar, and even to push the pope to move the seat of the papacy to Avignon.</p>
<p>This vision of a new Roman Empire, Mr. Zemmour recounts, explains the French self-definition of identity as relating to language, culture and laws (as with ancient Rome), and not simply a question of shared ethnicity or territory, as with most European countries. Hence the relentlessly expansionist foreign policy of the French state up to <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/w/world_war_ii_/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" type="external">World War II</a>. Hence the self-aggrandizing French belief in the country’s vocation to greatness — and hence the French melancholy, since the state failed to achieve that grand goal.</p>
<p>The Industrial Revolution happened first in England, where economic power fueled the expansion of the British Empire. When Napoleon lost Russia, the death of the Grande Armée also meant the death of the French dream of uniting the West under French culture and laws. Until then, France had always been the foremost European power, helped by greater population and natural resources, although always frustrated in its designs for true hegemony, either by meddling Hapsburgs, English resistance, or alliances of rival Europeans fearing French might.</p>
<p>The trauma of the 25 years of total war that followed the French Revolution caused France’s birthrates to shrink and its power in the 19th century to wane. England ruled the seas, and Germany ruled the Continent. Two World Wars dealt the final blows to the French dream, the first leaving France too exhausted to build upon its victory, the second laying bare the nation’s spiritual exhaustion.</p>
<p>Today, the Anglosphere is the new Roman Empire, and the culture that is to the modern world as Latin was to the ancient is Anglo-Saxon, not French.</p>
<p>The French reassure themselves that they can be Athens to the Anglosphere’s Rome — a cultural and intellectual capital, if not a financial and political center. But even if this were true, or even possible, that was never the dream. Hence, the French melancholy.</p>
<p>Only within this context can Mr. Zemmour’s warnings about Islamization be understood. Islamization is such a danger, he warns, because the French melancholy has caused a loss of trust in France’s own identity, which is fatally weakened and liable to be replaced by confident Muslims who harbor no crushing self-doubt. France, he warns, has a long history of civil war.</p>
<p>Mr. Houellebecq’s analysis, on the other hand, is psychological, not historical. All his work is concerned with the anomie of postmodern existence, and the budding sense that postmodern liberation from laws sexual and economic has been a dismal failure. The existential angst that this failure arouses is compounded by the sense that there is no alternative. In his latest novel, “Soumission,” the Islamization of France is a device to explore this theme — the novel is not, in itself, an attack against Islam or a warning of Islamization.</p>
<p>In “Submission,” a near-future France slouches toward theocracy. French society is not browbeaten by militant Islam, but instead finds itself sighing with relief as it relinquishes its stressful libertinism for a lifestyle with reassuring rules. French secularism and the loss of the historic Catholic faith has left the French open to new, more robust metaphysical beliefs. Polygamy, especially, affords men marital and sexual fulfillment. <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/sharia_islamic_law/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" type="external">Shariah</a>-mandated social subsidies afford women security and liberation from the pressures of trying to combine career and family.</p>
<p>What are their diagnoses worth?</p>
<p>Mr. Zemmour is a polarizing figure because he is a provocateur. In this role he is often off-base, as when he claims the Vichy regime tried to save French Jewry from the Holocaust. But he sometimes finds real truth — and is always worth reading. He is right that there has been a French national project of West-leading greatness that dates back almost a millennium, and he is right that the failure of this project has created a very special kind of malaise that when married with a postmodern multiculturalism makes it harder for France to integrate its Muslim youth.</p>
<p>Mr. Houellebecq is a finer psychologist than Mr. Zemmour. It is hard to read tales of everyday Western youth dropping everything to join ISIS and not conclude that there is something to the idea that postmodern anomie and libertinism leave a secret part of us craving an all-embracing, confident, life-shaping creed.</p>
<p>In the end, what Mr. Zemmour and Mr. Houellebecq have in common is not a critique of Islam or immigration, which is really secondary to their concerns. Instead, what they have in common is that they point to real wounds in the French soul, wounds that too often go unmentioned — wounds for which they freely admit they have no cure.</p>
<p>Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a columnist for TheWeek.com</p> | false | 1 | france throes unique cultural moment one stretches way beyond soulsearching debates islamist violence muslim integration arguments economic travails fractious labor politics troubling brain drain collective angst crystallized two countrys prominent controversial authors eric zemmour michel houellebecq published blockbuster books warning creeping islamization france charlie hebdo attacks shook nation though men foresee france falling prey militant islam vision countrys past future meets eye offer unique window french mind mr zemmour member esteemed french tradition intellectual firebrands public pugilists encyclopedically cultured writers though latest book le suicide français rocked charts really previous work much denser history tome mélancolie française offers best lens worldview mr zemmour argues wellknown french melancholy typically french feeling gloom decline roots back early high middle ages telling valois kings building would become french nation prominent european power jurists south tradition latin legal scholarship survived dark ages pined restoration roman empire saw fledgling french monarchy tool implement beliefs joining royal court laid foundations modern nationstate building europes first technocratic meritbased central government bureaucracy crucial innovation feudal europe enabled king philip fair crush nonstate powers like knights templar even push pope move seat papacy avignon vision new roman empire mr zemmour recounts explains french selfdefinition identity relating language culture laws ancient rome simply question shared ethnicity territory european countries hence relentlessly expansionist foreign policy french state world war ii hence selfaggrandizing french belief countrys vocation greatness hence french melancholy since state failed achieve grand goal industrial revolution happened first england economic power fueled expansion british empire napoleon lost russia death grande armée also meant death french dream uniting west french culture laws france always foremost european power helped greater population natural resources although always frustrated designs true hegemony either meddling hapsburgs english resistance alliances rival europeans fearing french might trauma 25 years total war followed french revolution caused frances birthrates shrink power 19th century wane england ruled seas germany ruled continent two world wars dealt final blows french dream first leaving france exhausted build upon victory second laying bare nations spiritual exhaustion today anglosphere new roman empire culture modern world latin ancient anglosaxon french french reassure athens anglospheres rome cultural intellectual capital financial political center even true even possible never dream hence french melancholy within context mr zemmours warnings islamization understood islamization danger warns french melancholy caused loss trust frances identity fatally weakened liable replaced confident muslims harbor crushing selfdoubt france warns long history civil war mr houellebecqs analysis hand psychological historical work concerned anomie postmodern existence budding sense postmodern liberation laws sexual economic dismal failure existential angst failure arouses compounded sense alternative latest novel soumission islamization france device explore theme novel attack islam warning islamization submission nearfuture france slouches toward theocracy french society browbeaten militant islam instead finds sighing relief relinquishes stressful libertinism lifestyle reassuring rules french secularism loss historic catholic faith left french open new robust metaphysical beliefs polygamy especially affords men marital sexual fulfillment shariahmandated social subsidies afford women security liberation pressures trying combine career family diagnoses worth mr zemmour polarizing figure provocateur role often offbase claims vichy regime tried save french jewry holocaust sometimes finds real truth always worth reading right french national project westleading greatness dates back almost millennium right failure project created special kind malaise married postmodern multiculturalism makes harder france integrate muslim youth mr houellebecq finer psychologist mr zemmour hard read tales everyday western youth dropping everything join isis conclude something idea postmodern anomie libertinism leave secret part us craving allembracing confident lifeshaping creed end mr zemmour mr houellebecq common critique islam immigration really secondary concerns instead common point real wounds french soul wounds often go unmentioned wounds freely admit cure pascalemmanuel gobry fellow ethics public policy center columnist theweekcom | 607 |
<p>A global pressure campaign on North Korea propelled by sharp new U.N. sanctions received a welcome boost Sunday from China, the North’s economic lifeline, as Beijing called on the pariah nation to halt its missile and nuclear tests.</p>
<p>The Trump administration cautiously embraced China’s apparent newfound cooperation, while putting it on notice that the U.S. would be watching closely to ensure it didn’t ease up on Pyongyang if and when the world’s attention is diverted elsewhere. But there were no signs the U.S. would acquiesce to China’s call for a quick return to negotiations.</p>
<p>The diplomatic wrangling sought to build on the sweeping new North Korea sanctions passed by the U.N. Security Council a day earlier — the strongest in a generation, the U.S. said. As diplomats gathered in the Philippines for an annual regional meeting, President Donald Trump was cheering the move from afar. He touted the “very big financial impact” of the sanctions and noted optimistically that both China and Russia had joined in the unanimous vote.</p>
<p>“It was a good outcome,” U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in characteristically understated fashion as he met with South Korea’s top diplomat.</p>
<p>For the U.S., it was a long-awaited sign of progress for Trump’s strategy of trying to enlist Beijing’s help to squeeze Pyongyang diplomatically and economically. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, meeting with North Korea’s top diplomat during the gathering in Manila, urged the North to “maintain calm” despite the U.N. vote.</p>
<p>“Do not violate the U.N.’s decision or provoke international society’s goodwill by conducting missile launching or nuclear tests,” Wang said, in an unusually direct admonition.</p>
<p>Though Beijing repeated its call for the United States and North Korea to resume talks, the U.S. said that was still premature, and rejected yet again a Chinese call for the U.S. to freeze joint military exercises with South Korea in exchange for the North halting nuclear development. Pyongyang views the military exercises as rehearsals for an invasion.</p>
<p>The U.S. also warned it planned to rigorously monitor China’s compliance with the new penalties. Susan Thornton, the top U.S. diplomat for Asia, said Beijing had historically cooperated with sanctions after flagrant North Korean violations but then slipped back over time.</p>
<p>“We want to make sure China is continuing to implement fully the sanctions regime,” Thornton told reporters in Manila. “Not this kind of episodic back and forth that we’ve seen.”</p>
<p>Infusing the diplomatic gathering with dramatic intrigue was the presence of Ri Yong Ho, North Korea’s foreign minister, the odd man out at a meeting dominated by concerns about his nation’s nuclear proliferation. Indeed, the U.S. was floating a proposal to temporarily kick North Korea out of the 27-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, although other member nations are divided about that idea.</p>
<p>Would Tillerson trade pleasantries with his North Korean counterpart as they cross paths at the regional gathering, or potentially even sit for a meeting? It was a question driving the hallway chatter at the gathering, but the U.S. summarily shot down the prospect.</p>
<p>Though Tillerson has emphasized the Trump administration’s willingness to sit down with North Korea for negotiations, he’s said that won’t happen until the North agrees to abandon its nuclear aspirations. Even with new U.N. sanctions in place intended to drive Pyongyang back to the table, conditions still aren’t ripe for talks, U.S. diplomats said.</p>
<p>But Wang, the Chinese envoy, cast the North Korean foreign minister’s presence in Manila as a positive, enabling him to “hear the voices from other sides.” Speaking in Chinese, Wang said that Ri “also has the right to share his opinions.”</p>
<p>The North Korean envoy hasn’t spoken publicly since arriving in the Philippines. But a commentary in the ruling party’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper said Washington had disregarded the warning the North sent with its intercontinental ballistic missile tests and was pursuing “desperate efforts” in the form of stepped-up sanctions.</p>
<p>“Now the U.S. mainland is on the crossroads of life and death,” the commentary warned.</p>
<p>The new sanctions could cut off roughly one-third of North Korea’s estimated $3 billion in annual exports, ostensibly denying the nation of funds for its weapons programs. All countries are now banned from importing North Korean coal, iron, lead and seafood products, and from letting in more North Korean laborers whose remittances help fund Kim Jong Un’s regime.</p>
<p>The U.S. drafted the sanctions resolution and negotiated it with China following North Korea’s unprecedented test of an ICBM in July and a follow-up test weeks later. Those tests sharply escalated U.S. fears that Pyongyang is a key step closer to mastering the technology needed to strike American soil with a nuclear-tipped missile.</p>
<p>Yet despite deeming North Korea a top security threat, the young Trump administration has struggled to find a strategy that differs significantly from what the U.S. has tried in the past. Aside from calling for more sanctions, Trump’s approach has centered on enlisting China — the North’s biggest trading partner — and others to lessen ties to Pyongyang.</p>
<p>Trump’s initial optimism about China’s willingness to help gave way to public exasperation, with Trump saying Chinese President Xi Jinping had “tried” but that it “has not worked out.” Trump’s administration began floating potential plans to punish China for its trade practices in what was widely perceived as a reaction to China’s inaction on North Korea.</p>
<p>But in recent days, the two powers have started to paper over some of those differences. Beijing praised Tillerson for declaring the U.S. wasn’t seeking regime change in North Korea. Trump has held off, for now, on the trade actions. And China joined the 15-0 vote in the Security Council on Saturday on the new sanctions.</p>
<p>“Who has been carrying out the U.N. Security Council resolutions concerning North Korea? It is China,” Wang, the Chinese foreign minister, said Sunday. “Who bore the cost? It is also China.”</p> | false | 1 | global pressure campaign north korea propelled sharp new un sanctions received welcome boost sunday china norths economic lifeline beijing called pariah nation halt missile nuclear tests trump administration cautiously embraced chinas apparent newfound cooperation putting notice us would watching closely ensure didnt ease pyongyang worlds attention diverted elsewhere signs us would acquiesce chinas call quick return negotiations diplomatic wrangling sought build sweeping new north korea sanctions passed un security council day earlier strongest generation us said diplomats gathered philippines annual regional meeting president donald trump cheering move afar touted big financial impact sanctions noted optimistically china russia joined unanimous vote good outcome us secretary state rex tillerson said characteristically understated fashion met south koreas top diplomat us longawaited sign progress trumps strategy trying enlist beijings help squeeze pyongyang diplomatically economically chinese foreign minister wang yi meeting north koreas top diplomat gathering manila urged north maintain calm despite un vote violate uns decision provoke international societys goodwill conducting missile launching nuclear tests wang said unusually direct admonition though beijing repeated call united states north korea resume talks us said still premature rejected yet chinese call us freeze joint military exercises south korea exchange north halting nuclear development pyongyang views military exercises rehearsals invasion us also warned planned rigorously monitor chinas compliance new penalties susan thornton top us diplomat asia said beijing historically cooperated sanctions flagrant north korean violations slipped back time want make sure china continuing implement fully sanctions regime thornton told reporters manila kind episodic back forth weve seen infusing diplomatic gathering dramatic intrigue presence ri yong ho north koreas foreign minister odd man meeting dominated concerns nations nuclear proliferation indeed us floating proposal temporarily kick north korea 27member association southeast asian nations regional forum although member nations divided idea would tillerson trade pleasantries north korean counterpart cross paths regional gathering potentially even sit meeting question driving hallway chatter gathering us summarily shot prospect though tillerson emphasized trump administrations willingness sit north korea negotiations hes said wont happen north agrees abandon nuclear aspirations even new un sanctions place intended drive pyongyang back table conditions still arent ripe talks us diplomats said wang chinese envoy cast north korean foreign ministers presence manila positive enabling hear voices sides speaking chinese wang said ri also right share opinions north korean envoy hasnt spoken publicly since arriving philippines commentary ruling partys rodong sinmun newspaper said washington disregarded warning north sent intercontinental ballistic missile tests pursuing desperate efforts form steppedup sanctions us mainland crossroads life death commentary warned new sanctions could cut roughly onethird north koreas estimated 3 billion annual exports ostensibly denying nation funds weapons programs countries banned importing north korean coal iron lead seafood products letting north korean laborers whose remittances help fund kim jong uns regime us drafted sanctions resolution negotiated china following north koreas unprecedented test icbm july followup test weeks later tests sharply escalated us fears pyongyang key step closer mastering technology needed strike american soil nucleartipped missile yet despite deeming north korea top security threat young trump administration struggled find strategy differs significantly us tried past aside calling sanctions trumps approach centered enlisting china norths biggest trading partner others lessen ties pyongyang trumps initial optimism chinas willingness help gave way public exasperation trump saying chinese president xi jinping tried worked trumps administration began floating potential plans punish china trade practices widely perceived reaction chinas inaction north korea recent days two powers started paper differences beijing praised tillerson declaring us wasnt seeking regime change north korea trump held trade actions china joined 150 vote security council saturday new sanctions carrying un security council resolutions concerning north korea china wang chinese foreign minister said sunday bore cost also china | 608 |
<p>Something remarkable has happened over the past year: nothing.</p>
<p>Exactly one year ago today, the Supreme Court in Gonzales v. Carhart rejected a facial challenge to the constitutionality of the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Act of 2003. Confronting “documented medical disagreement whether the Act’s prohibition [on partial-birth abortion] would ever impose significant health risks on women,” the five-justice majority ruled that such disagreement about health risks in particular circumstances did not warrant invalidating the act in its entirety. Instead, the Court virtually invited practitioners of partial-birth abortion and their allies to bring so-called as-applied challenges that would carve out from the Act’s scope any circumstances in which partial-birth abortion might be shown to be necessary to preserve the mother’s health. (See my essay “ <a href="http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YTdlOWE5MDMyMTJlMzQ3MTJkNDIxMzBmZDQzYjdiOGY=" type="external">The Face-Off Over Partial-Birth Abortion</a>” for a fuller discussion of the distinction between facial and as-applied challenges.)</p>
<p>In dissent, Justice Ginsburg predicted that these as-applied challenges would “be mounted swiftly, to ward off serious, sometimes irremediable harm, to women whose health would be endangered by the [Act’s] prohibition.” According to Ginsburg, “the record already includes hundreds and hundreds of pages of testimony identifying ‘discrete and well-defined instances’ in which recourse to an intact D&amp;E [i.e., partial-birth abortion] would better protect the health of women with particular conditions.”</p>
<p>So how many as-applied challenges have been filed over the past year? Zero.</p>
<p>This fact is worth pondering, not only because the abortion industry had already compiled its best evidence of alleged health risks but also because it has long demonstrated its zeal to race to court on a moment’s notice. Why hasn’t it brought any as-applied challenges?</p>
<p>In a <a href="http://www.pewforum.org/2007/06/14/after-gonzales-v-carhart-the-future-of-abortion-jurisprudence/" type="external">debate</a> with me ten months ago, the Planned Parenthood attorney who presented oral argument in Gonzales v. Carhart offered successive makeshift explanations for the surprising inaction as of then. First, she contended that the as-applied challenges contemplated by the Court required that “a woman who has a serious medical need for an intact D&amp;E abortion … just wait until the exact moment of that need, when she may in fact be hemorrhaging, [when] she may be hospitalized due to a systemic infection … [and] then file a lawsuit in federal court and wait for relief.”</p>
<p>Nice sound bite, perhaps, but manifestly untrue. As I pointed out, the proper plaintiff in as-applied actions is the abortionist, not the mother, as the penalties under the Act apply to him, not her. It’s quite clear from the Court’s ruling (and Ginsburg assumes as much in her dissent) that an abortionist who reasonably expects to face circumstances in his practice that he thinks call for partial-birth abortion to preserve the mother’s health can challenge the Act’s application to those circumstances. Indeed, the Court notes that even the Department of Justice “has acknowledged that preenforcement, as-applied challenges to the Act can be maintained.” And even if it weren’t clear, that wouldn’t typically stop the pro-abortion litigation juggernaut from striving to establish the point.</p>
<p>The Planned Parenthood attorney then shifted to another explanation, as she asserted that the two injunctions that had been put in place “in the cases that went to the Supreme Court&#160;. . .&#160;have not yet been lifted by the lower court.” But that explanation made no sense either. By reversing the rulings below, the Supreme Court swept away the injunctions; no mopping-up by the lower courts was necessary.</p>
<p>So, given the supposed need to “ward off serious, sometimes irremediable harm” to pregnant women, why haven’t Planned Parenthood and its allies pursued any as-applied challenges over the course of the past year?</p>
<p>One hint to the answer may be provided by the abortion industry’s previous record of remarkable misstatements about partial-birth abortion. To cite two leading examples:</p>
<p>In 1995, as the barbaric facts of partial-birth abortion were first coming to light, Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups claimed that anesthesia given to the mother caused painless death of the baby before the partial-birth abortion was done — before, that is, the abortionist extracted the baby by her feet until all but her head had emerged, stabbed scissors into her head, sucked out her brains, collapsed her skull, and delivered her dead body. A Planned Parenthood abortionist even made that claim to the Senate Judiciary Committee. But two major societies of anesthesiologists firmly repudiated it.</p>
<p>Planned Parenthood and its allies also claimed in the mid-1990s that partial-birth abortion was “rare and performed primarily to save the lives or fertility of women bearing severely malformed babies” (in the New York Times‘s paraphrase of a typical claim). But in 1997 the New York Times <a href="" type="external">reported</a> that Ron Fitzsimmons, the executive director of the National Coalition of Abortion Providers, admitted that he had “lied through my teeth” in parroting that claim. In truth, “the procedure was common,” and “[i]n the vast majority of cases, the procedure is performed on a healthy mother with a healthy fetus that is 20 weeks or more along.” In Fitzsimmons’s words, “The abortion-rights folks know it, the anti-abortion folks know it, and so, probably, does everyone else.” Yet as late as 2003, Planned Parenthood was still claiming that partial-birth abortion was “used primarily in emergency abortions.” (And, even after the Court’s 2007 ruling, the lie lives on: for example, Supreme Court reporter Jeffrey Toobin repeated the falsehood both in a New Yorker <a href="http://bench.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NjYxOTFjMzVmZDM4MmRjYzVjZDc0MGUxYWRlNjkyMDc=" type="external">article</a> and in his <a href="http://bench.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NWZlOGYzMGVhOGVmMzVjYjY4NWIyNzIxMjhkZDkxMDc=" type="external">book</a> The Nine.)</p>
<p>Let me offer my own best guess why the abortion industry has brought no as-applied challenges over the past year: It realizes that it has no prospect of winning because its vaunted medical evidence is, and always has been, very feeble.</p>
<p>That was clearly the assessment of the judge who most carefully examined the evidence, federal district judge (and Clinton appointee) Richard Conway Casey. In his lengthy 2004 ruling in National Abortion Federation v. Ashcroft, Judge Casey concluded that the government’s expert witnesses “reasonably and effectively refuted Plaintiffs’ proffered bases for the opinion that [partial-birth abortion] has safety advantages over other second-trimester abortion procedures.” Casey stated that the government’s experts had demonstrated that some of the proffered reasons were “incoherent” and not “credible” and that others were “merely theoretical.” Providing examples of several meritless claims, Casey categorically stated: “In no case involving these or other maternal health conditions could Plaintiffs point to a specific patient or actual circumstance in which [partial-birth abortion] w as necessary to protect a woman’s health.” (Emphasis added.)</p>
<p>Judge Casey, however, read the Supreme Court’s 2000 ruling in Stenberg v. Carhart — which invalidated a state ban on partial-birth abortion — as barring a ban on partial-birth abortion unless “there exists a medical consensus that there is no circumstance in which any women could potentially benefit from it.” Even though he disparaged as “however hypothetical and unsubstantiated by scientific evidence” the claim that partial-birth abortion has “some safety advantages&#160;. . .&#160;for some women in some circumstances,” he concluded that the existence of a division of medical opinion on the matter required him to rule that the federal partial-birth abortion law was unconstitutional. (For a fuller discussion of Casey’s ruling, see this 2004 <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/coffin/coffin200408270832.asp" type="external">essay</a> by Shannen Coffin.)</p>
<p>After the Court’s ruling last year, however, the extreme standard that Judge Casey (plausibly but not necessarily correctly) discerned in Stenberg no longer applies. Instead, the usual standards of evidence do. In bringing an as-applied challenge, the abortion industry would have to show (in the Court’s words) that “in discrete and well-defined circumstances a particular condition has or is likely to occur in which the procedure prohibited by the Act must be used” to “protect the health of the woman.” It hasn’t dared even to try to do so.</p>
<p>Planned Parenthood and its allies continue to maintain that bans on partial-birth abortion threaten women’s health. Perhaps they will bring as-applied challenges to the federal partial-birth abortion ban one of these days. But their failure to have done so over the past year naturally invites suspicion that they are, to paraphrase their own Ron Fitzsimmons, just lying through their teeth once again.</p>
<p>— Edward Whelan is president of the <a href="" type="internal">Ethics and Public Policy Center</a> and is a regular contributor to NRO’s <a href="http://bench.nationalreview.com/" type="external">“Bench Memos” blog</a>.</p> | false | 1 | something remarkable happened past year nothing exactly one year ago today supreme court gonzales v carhart rejected facial challenge constitutionality federal partialbirth abortion act 2003 confronting documented medical disagreement whether acts prohibition partialbirth abortion would ever impose significant health risks women fivejustice majority ruled disagreement health risks particular circumstances warrant invalidating act entirety instead court virtually invited practitioners partialbirth abortion allies bring socalled asapplied challenges would carve acts scope circumstances partialbirth abortion might shown necessary preserve mothers health see essay faceoff partialbirth abortion fuller discussion distinction facial asapplied challenges dissent justice ginsburg predicted asapplied challenges would mounted swiftly ward serious sometimes irremediable harm women whose health would endangered acts prohibition according ginsburg record already includes hundreds hundreds pages testimony identifying discrete welldefined instances recourse intact dampe ie partialbirth abortion would better protect health women particular conditions many asapplied challenges filed past year zero fact worth pondering abortion industry already compiled best evidence alleged health risks also long demonstrated zeal race court moments notice hasnt brought asapplied challenges debate ten months ago planned parenthood attorney presented oral argument gonzales v carhart offered successive makeshift explanations surprising inaction first contended asapplied challenges contemplated court required woman serious medical need intact dampe abortion wait exact moment need may fact hemorrhaging may hospitalized due systemic infection file lawsuit federal court wait relief nice sound bite perhaps manifestly untrue pointed proper plaintiff asapplied actions abortionist mother penalties act apply quite clear courts ruling ginsburg assumes much dissent abortionist reasonably expects face circumstances practice thinks call partialbirth abortion preserve mothers health challenge acts application circumstances indeed court notes even department justice acknowledged preenforcement asapplied challenges act maintained even werent clear wouldnt typically stop proabortion litigation juggernaut striving establish point planned parenthood attorney shifted another explanation asserted two injunctions put place cases went supreme court160 160have yet lifted lower court explanation made sense either reversing rulings supreme court swept away injunctions moppingup lower courts necessary given supposed need ward serious sometimes irremediable harm pregnant women havent planned parenthood allies pursued asapplied challenges course past year one hint answer may provided abortion industrys previous record remarkable misstatements partialbirth abortion cite two leading examples 1995 barbaric facts partialbirth abortion first coming light planned parenthood proabortion groups claimed anesthesia given mother caused painless death baby partialbirth abortion done abortionist extracted baby feet head emerged stabbed scissors head sucked brains collapsed skull delivered dead body planned parenthood abortionist even made claim senate judiciary committee two major societies anesthesiologists firmly repudiated planned parenthood allies also claimed mid1990s partialbirth abortion rare performed primarily save lives fertility women bearing severely malformed babies new york timess paraphrase typical claim 1997 new york times reported ron fitzsimmons executive director national coalition abortion providers admitted lied teeth parroting claim truth procedure common vast majority cases procedure performed healthy mother healthy fetus 20 weeks along fitzsimmonss words abortionrights folks know antiabortion folks know probably everyone else yet late 2003 planned parenthood still claiming partialbirth abortion used primarily emergency abortions even courts 2007 ruling lie lives example supreme court reporter jeffrey toobin repeated falsehood new yorker article book nine let offer best guess abortion industry brought asapplied challenges past year realizes prospect winning vaunted medical evidence always feeble clearly assessment judge carefully examined evidence federal district judge clinton appointee richard conway casey lengthy 2004 ruling national abortion federation v ashcroft judge casey concluded governments expert witnesses reasonably effectively refuted plaintiffs proffered bases opinion partialbirth abortion safety advantages secondtrimester abortion procedures casey stated governments experts demonstrated proffered reasons incoherent credible others merely theoretical providing examples several meritless claims casey categorically stated case involving maternal health conditions could plaintiffs point specific patient actual circumstance partialbirth abortion w necessary protect womans health emphasis added judge casey however read supreme courts 2000 ruling stenberg v carhart invalidated state ban partialbirth abortion barring ban partialbirth abortion unless exists medical consensus circumstance women could potentially benefit even though disparaged however hypothetical unsubstantiated scientific evidence claim partialbirth abortion safety advantages160 160for women circumstances concluded existence division medical opinion matter required rule federal partialbirth abortion law unconstitutional fuller discussion caseys ruling see 2004 essay shannen coffin courts ruling last year however extreme standard judge casey plausibly necessarily correctly discerned stenberg longer applies instead usual standards evidence bringing asapplied challenge abortion industry would show courts words discrete welldefined circumstances particular condition likely occur procedure prohibited act must used protect health woman hasnt dared even try planned parenthood allies continue maintain bans partialbirth abortion threaten womens health perhaps bring asapplied challenges federal partialbirth abortion ban one days failure done past year naturally invites suspicion paraphrase ron fitzsimmons lying teeth edward whelan president ethics public policy center regular contributor nros bench memos blog | 773 |
<p>Not having spent much time in methadone clinics, I can’t say for sure whether or not it is at all common for them to provide entertainment for the heroin addicts they treat. But if they did, would the entertainer be likely to be a children’s TV “personality” whose heroes are Captain Kangaroo and Jesus and who sings to his own guitar accompaniment and the tune of “She’ll be comin’ round the mountain”, “We’re gonna get you off that smack, oh yes we are”? Possibly such a thing has happened, but if so, it does not change the fact that, on the face of it, the idea is absurd — really too absurd to be funny. That the hero of Death to Smoochy starts out in this way is testimony to the fact that the film’s director, Danny De Vito, and writer, Adam Resnick, have a penchant for mixing up the dark, sordid and violent side of life with the innocent, anodyne and sentimental for comic effect, but without the slightest concern for verisimilitude.</p>
<p>There is in any case only so much of this kind of comedy one can take, and it is not so much as will fill out the length of a feature film. Death to Smoochy has some great comic inventions in it, but few if any of them depend on this particular juxtaposition of the child-like with the “adult.” Making the producers of kiddies TV say the F-word and its no doubt humorous derivatives every time they open their mouths, or having them mixed up in crooked charities (with the implication that all charities are crooked) run by the mob, or showing their lives dominated by lust, hatred and revenge may be a cynic’s delight, but for those of us who have hitherto resisted the charms of the doglike view of the world it becomes very quickly tedious.</p>
<p>When, for example, Smoochy, a.k.a. Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton) reaches into his cookie pouch on air and pulls out a bit of gingerbread, put there by his bitter rival, Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) in the shape of a penis, any potential comic impact (not much, I think) is dissipated anyway by showing the adorable little moppets of Smoochy’s on-stage fan club sniggering at it in a knowing way. The cynic thus undermines his own attempts at humor. And if Mel Brooks can get humor out of Nazis, their presence here (as part of yet another attempt by Rainbow Randolph to discredit his successor) seems merely bizarre and tasteless. Why should they cooperate with Randolph, or cheer for Smoochy anyway. Is there a hitherto unsuspected connection between National Socialism and children’s TV?</p>
<p>Nor does the presence of the mob make any more sense. In fact, there are two mobs — a good (Irish) mob led by Pam Ferris and a bad mob (of indeterminate ethnicity) led by Harvey Fierstein, both of which happily operate outside the law and murder those who get in their way — but neither produces anything significant in the way of comedy. Or is their habit of murder and mayhem supposed to be funny. In any event, what is the point of all the skullduggery over a charity ice show featuring Smoochy — a rhinocerous modeled on Barney the Dinosaur — on skates, the proceeds of which Fierstein’s mob wants to skim? It is a plot too much when the film already has Rainbow Randolph’s revenge to deal with. Together the two plots so darken the film that it is easy to miss the genuinely funny bits of the movie, most of which have to do with Smoochy’s game attempts at political correctness and psychobabble for the children — for example, a song called “My step-dad isn’t mean, he’s just adjusting”?</p>
<p>And then there’s Robin Williams. After some years during which he has seemed to vie with Kevin Costner in playing wounded, sensitive types and to specialize in the Patch Adams sort of cheap uplift as a kind of atonement for his years of being wickedly funny, he has returned to something like his true form here. But — perhaps it is incident to his being Robin Williams — he stands out from the rest of the movie like a sore thumb. Though funny in himself as the embittered and vengeful kiddie-show host, ousted by a bribery scandal, whom Smoochy replaced, he just doesn’t fit with anything else in the picture, and his redemption at the end is just another of its absurdities.</p>
<p>If this movie had a place to go, it was with the character of Sheldon Mopes himself. When, in another of its gratuitous absurdities, he is presented with a revolver, he refuses it explaining that “When my brothers and I played cowboys and Indians,” he explains, “I was always the Chinese railway worker.” We can believe it. This is in character for him. His later assault on his crooked agent, Burke Bennett (Mr DeVito) is not. But neither side of his character is sufficiently explored. Jon Stewart’s Marion Frank Stokes is an unnecessary as well as an unconvincing villain and Smoochy’s love interest, Nora Wells (Catherine Keener) is so disagreeable that we can hardly care about her ostensible reformation, which seems in any case to come about as the result of characteristic lust, since she has spent her life as “a kind of kiddy host groupie.”</p>
<p>At one point she explains her initial hostility to Smoochy by saying that “I may have become a bit hardened over the years.” Now that she softens with the realization that Mopes really is the goody-goody he seems (why this should be attractive to her is another matter) she adds: “Listen, sincerity is an easy disguise in this business.” It’s a good idea, but neither she nor the movie ever manage to persuade us that they have any real regard for sincerity. They don’t even believe in its existence, except in the form of Nora’s own foul-mouthed cynicism. Mopes’s tofu-eating, juice drinking high-mindedness is not sincerity anyway (though it presumably is sincere). Its sentimentalism and preachy hygienic and dietary puritanism are simply the nearest thing Hollywood can imagine to goodness. Something that begins with such poverty of moral imagination inevitably issues in mere cynicism.</p> | false | 1 | spent much time methadone clinics cant say sure whether common provide entertainment heroin addicts treat would entertainer likely childrens tv personality whose heroes captain kangaroo jesus sings guitar accompaniment tune shell comin round mountain gon na get smack oh yes possibly thing happened change fact face idea absurd really absurd funny hero death smoochy starts way testimony fact films director danny de vito writer adam resnick penchant mixing dark sordid violent side life innocent anodyne sentimental comic effect without slightest concern verisimilitude case much kind comedy one take much fill length feature film death smoochy great comic inventions depend particular juxtaposition childlike adult making producers kiddies tv say fword doubt humorous derivatives every time open mouths mixed crooked charities implication charities crooked run mob showing lives dominated lust hatred revenge may cynics delight us hitherto resisted charms doglike view world becomes quickly tedious example smoochy aka sheldon mopes edward norton reaches cookie pouch air pulls bit gingerbread put bitter rival rainbow randolph robin williams shape penis potential comic impact much think dissipated anyway showing adorable little moppets smoochys onstage fan club sniggering knowing way cynic thus undermines attempts humor mel brooks get humor nazis presence part yet another attempt rainbow randolph discredit successor seems merely bizarre tasteless cooperate randolph cheer smoochy anyway hitherto unsuspected connection national socialism childrens tv presence mob make sense fact two mobs good irish mob led pam ferris bad mob indeterminate ethnicity led harvey fierstein happily operate outside law murder get way neither produces anything significant way comedy habit murder mayhem supposed funny event point skullduggery charity ice show featuring smoochy rhinocerous modeled barney dinosaur skates proceeds fiersteins mob wants skim plot much film already rainbow randolphs revenge deal together two plots darken film easy miss genuinely funny bits movie smoochys game attempts political correctness psychobabble children example song called stepdad isnt mean hes adjusting theres robin williams years seemed vie kevin costner playing wounded sensitive types specialize patch adams sort cheap uplift kind atonement years wickedly funny returned something like true form perhaps incident robin williams stands rest movie like sore thumb though funny embittered vengeful kiddieshow host ousted bribery scandal smoochy replaced doesnt fit anything else picture redemption end another absurdities movie place go character sheldon mopes another gratuitous absurdities presented revolver refuses explaining brothers played cowboys indians explains always chinese railway worker believe character later assault crooked agent burke bennett mr devito neither side character sufficiently explored jon stewarts marion frank stokes unnecessary well unconvincing villain smoochys love interest nora wells catherine keener disagreeable hardly care ostensible reformation seems case come result characteristic lust since spent life kind kiddy host groupie one point explains initial hostility smoochy saying may become bit hardened years softens realization mopes really goodygoody seems attractive another matter adds listen sincerity easy disguise business good idea neither movie ever manage persuade us real regard sincerity dont even believe existence except form noras foulmouthed cynicism mopess tofueating juice drinking highmindedness sincerity anyway though presumably sincere sentimentalism preachy hygienic dietary puritanism simply nearest thing hollywood imagine goodness something begins poverty moral imagination inevitably issues mere cynicism | 515 |
<p>Though the property in question remains available on the open market, word on the New York City celebrity real estate street is <a href="http://variety.com/t/keith-urban/" type="external">Keith Urban</a> surprised wife <a href="http://variety.com/t/nicole-kidman/" type="external">Nicole Kidman</a> with the purchase of an elegant townhouse mansion on a plum Upper East Side block listed with an elephantine $39 million price tag. So the unconfirmed story goes, as was first tattled by <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/keith-urban-million-dollar-gift-to-nicole-kidman-43080" type="external">Woman’s Day magazine</a>, Urban opted for the by-any-standard lavish gift so Kidman can “pursue her Broadway dream,” never mind, however, that Kidman and Urban already own a much smaller but still exceptionally expensive condo in lower Manhattan from whence she can launch her thespian dreams.</p>
<p>The 25-foot-wide Beaux-Arts residence was designed by architect Alexander Welch and completed in 1901 before it was purchased by prominent corporate attorney Francis Lynde Stetson, former law partner of president Grover Cleveland, and the elegantly proportioned residence, once occupied by Russian-French painter Marc Chagall and, much later, by Michael Jackson, last changed hands in 2001 when Moroccan-born American hedge fund billionaire <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/marc-lasry/" type="external">Marc Lasry</a> picked it up for $11 million. With seven bedrooms, eight full and two half bathrooms plus a staff suite squirreled down in the basement, the genteel six-story residence weighs in at a suburban mansion-sized 12,745-square-feet.</p>
<p>Numerous original architectural elements on the exterior include a bowed portico entrance with glass and wrought iron door flanked by carved columns and muscular limestone quoins set off against red bricks while inside modern creature comforts such as central air conditioning and an elevator are seamlessly integrated with preserved original features like a carved oak staircase, oak floorboards, ten wood burning fireplaces, scads of custom mill work and a plethora of stained and leaded glass windows.</p>
<p>A small entry vestibule opens to a huge foyer at the street level, behind which are a huge, eat-in kitchen and a family room that opens to a tiny terrace, while gargantuan living and entertaining spaces on the high-ceiled piano nobile include a ballroom-scaled living room with floor-to-ceiling multi-paned windows and a dining room with floor-to-ceiling bay window.</p>
<p>The master suite sprawls across the entire third floor and comprises a closet-lined sitting room with fireplace and bay window, a separate bedroom with fireplace and French doors to a private terrace, two bathrooms, one of them barely larger than a small walk-in closet, and a dressing corridor lined on both sides with built-in wardrobes. There are four ample en suite guest bedrooms on the fourth and fifth floors, all with fireplaces and two with small private sitting rooms, while the sixth floor provides two additional bedrooms, one with small private sitting room, plus a shared hall bathroom and a kitchenette. An exterior staircase located in a courtyard patio off the stair landing and one of the bedrooms on the sixth floor leads to a roof terrace that spans the back half of the house while the basement offers a discreet exterior entrance, a small gym, a media lounge and an en suite staff bedroom with just one window that looks into a dark air shaft.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly for a man of his financial firepower, Lasry maintains a heavy-duty property portfolio that includes a generously terraced duplex penthouse atop one of Central Park West’s most distinguished buildings that he picked up from in 2013 for $33 million. The two-unit penthouse has a <a href="http://variety.com/2012/dirt/real-estalker/steven-gottlieb-gives-it-another-go-828/" type="external">long and convoluted history</a> of illustrious previous owners who include Broadway producer Jerry Herman who sold to fashion icon Calvin Klein who, after a run-in with the board over a hot tub he illegally installed on the terrace, sold it to billionaire David Geffen who quickly flipped it to Planet Hollywood co-founder Keith Barish. Barish, who is famously rumored to have used a Jasper John painting as partial payment for the penthouse, bought a neighboring unit from actress Marsha Mason before he sold it back to Calvin Klein who never moved in and once again butted heads with the board before he sold it to music industry bigwig and social networking entrepreneur Steven Gottlieb who, in turn, sold it to Lasry.</p>
<p>As for the Australian Oscar winner, nominated this year for her supporting role in “Lion,” and the platinum-selling New Zealand-born country music star, their extensive property portfolio includes: a penthouse in Sydney, Australia as well as a 100-plus acre country spread outside of Sydney; a not-quite 4,000-square-foot contemporary in a remarkably celeb-packed Beverly Hills enclave they bought in 2008 for $4.75 million; a palatial mansion of more than 12,000-square-feet in a swanky gated development in Nashville, Tenn. they also scooped up in 2008 for <a href="https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/article/20401853/headline-homes-nashvilles-top-10-sales-march-2008" type="external">$3.47 million</a>; and the briefly aforementioned duplex condo in lower Manhattan’s West Chelsea they snagged in 2010 for a smidgen more than <a href="http://variety.com/2010/dirt/news/keith-and-kidman-get-a-new-krib-in-manhattan-1201230620/" type="external">$9.673 million</a> and features a super-snazzy car elevator that lifts autos up from the street to a private garage on the floor on which the owners’ apartment is located.</p>
<p>Listing photos: <a href="http://www.modlingroup.com/" type="external">Modlin Group</a></p> | false | 1 | though property question remains available open market word new york city celebrity real estate street keith urban surprised wife nicole kidman purchase elegant townhouse mansion plum upper east side block listed elephantine 39 million price tag unconfirmed story goes first tattled womans day magazine urban opted byanystandard lavish gift kidman pursue broadway dream never mind however kidman urban already much smaller still exceptionally expensive condo lower manhattan whence launch thespian dreams 25footwide beauxarts residence designed architect alexander welch completed 1901 purchased prominent corporate attorney francis lynde stetson former law partner president grover cleveland elegantly proportioned residence occupied russianfrench painter marc chagall much later michael jackson last changed hands 2001 moroccanborn american hedge fund billionaire marc lasry picked 11 million seven bedrooms eight full two half bathrooms plus staff suite squirreled basement genteel sixstory residence weighs suburban mansionsized 12745squarefeet numerous original architectural elements exterior include bowed portico entrance glass wrought iron door flanked carved columns muscular limestone quoins set red bricks inside modern creature comforts central air conditioning elevator seamlessly integrated preserved original features like carved oak staircase oak floorboards ten wood burning fireplaces scads custom mill work plethora stained leaded glass windows small entry vestibule opens huge foyer street level behind huge eatin kitchen family room opens tiny terrace gargantuan living entertaining spaces highceiled piano nobile include ballroomscaled living room floortoceiling multipaned windows dining room floortoceiling bay window master suite sprawls across entire third floor comprises closetlined sitting room fireplace bay window separate bedroom fireplace french doors private terrace two bathrooms one barely larger small walkin closet dressing corridor lined sides builtin wardrobes four ample en suite guest bedrooms fourth fifth floors fireplaces two small private sitting rooms sixth floor provides two additional bedrooms one small private sitting room plus shared hall bathroom kitchenette exterior staircase located courtyard patio stair landing one bedrooms sixth floor leads roof terrace spans back half house basement offers discreet exterior entrance small gym media lounge en suite staff bedroom one window looks dark air shaft unsurprisingly man financial firepower lasry maintains heavyduty property portfolio includes generously terraced duplex penthouse atop one central park wests distinguished buildings picked 2013 33 million twounit penthouse long convoluted history illustrious previous owners include broadway producer jerry herman sold fashion icon calvin klein runin board hot tub illegally installed terrace sold billionaire david geffen quickly flipped planet hollywood cofounder keith barish barish famously rumored used jasper john painting partial payment penthouse bought neighboring unit actress marsha mason sold back calvin klein never moved butted heads board sold music industry bigwig social networking entrepreneur steven gottlieb turn sold lasry australian oscar winner nominated year supporting role lion platinumselling new zealandborn country music star extensive property portfolio includes penthouse sydney australia well 100plus acre country spread outside sydney notquite 4000squarefoot contemporary remarkably celebpacked beverly hills enclave bought 2008 475 million palatial mansion 12000squarefeet swanky gated development nashville tenn also scooped 2008 347 million briefly aforementioned duplex condo lower manhattans west chelsea snagged 2010 smidgen 9673 million features supersnazzy car elevator lifts autos street private garage floor owners apartment located listing photos modlin group | 512 |
<p>It turns out the new economy is human after all. All signals on the horizon suggest that the American economy is heading for a serious slowdown, perhaps even a downturn. The stock prices of blue-chip technology companies, like Amazon.com and Cisco, have shrunk to fractions of their former size. The venture capital floodgates have closed. And no one really believes any more that giving away “content,” building “viewer share,” and selling “banner ads” is a real business model, or that untrained, inexperienced, 22-year olds can manage multi-million dollar companies. The euphoria-and the madness-is over. For now.</p>
<p>But if the business models are not yet clear, the new powers unleashed by the information revolution are very real indeed. Most important of all is the convergence of information technology and bio-technology, made clear last month with the announcement that the Human Genome Project and Celera Genomics Corp. had both finished maps of man’s complete genetic make-up. As J. Craig Venter has said on numerous occasions, this scientific accomplishment would not have been possible without the new computing power.</p>
<p>But its significance-for capitalism, for American democracy, for human beings-far transcends the euphoria of the first, information-based new economy. The second new economy-the economy of genes-will change us forever. And it means, inevitably, that the meaning of capitalism will be changed forever.</p>
<p>COME THE REVOLUTION</p>
<p>Already, the past decade has forced us to reconsider the relationship between politics and capitalism in light of the end of the Cold War, the final eclipse of economic communism, and the rise of the New Democrats. The most common refrain of the last few years has been, “We are all capitalists now.” Indeed, there is great truth in this. The Woodstock generation that once stood on cars to protest the capitalist machine now buys SUVs with the dividends from their stock portfolios. The Democratic Party, once the party of Robert Reich, centralized industrial policy, and 70 percent income-tax rates, is now the party of Alan Greenspan worshippers, $900 billion tax cuts, and empowerment zones.</p>
<p>Gen X leaders of college groups like the Feminist Alliance Against Patriarchy and People for the Equal Treatment of Animals now graduate to jobs at McKinsey Consulting and Morgan Stanley or found technology companies with their computer science professors. The universities themselves, long derided by conservatives as the last bastions of true Marxism in the Western world, have become mini-techno-parks with in-house venture capital funds and for-profit incubators.</p>
<p>Clearly, conservatives have won an important economic battle-the victory of markets over central economic planning, of enterprising individuals over the ideology of the commune. But a series of moral questions remain that all conservatives-and all Americans-must soberly confront and that ultimately will shape American society in the decades ahead: Is the spirit of the new capitalism a conservative spirit? Have the highest ideals of postwar American conservatism triumphed or only the economic skeleton of those ideals? Is conservatism about virtue or personal freedom-and what happens when these two competing ideals come into conflict? Is conservatism about preserving institutions and traditions that have long shaped men’s souls or about technological progress and creative destruction? And if those formerly on the economic and cultural Left are really capitalists today, how did that happen? Have they changed capitalism or did capitalism change them?</p>
<p>Throughout the Cold War, American conservatism held together economic libertarians and the religiously orthodox, who were united in spirit by the shared enemy of soul-deadening collectivism and utopianism both at home and abroad. But in the post-Cold War world-and with the rise of the bio-tech capitalists, who may be the most utopian spirits now among us-the old union is on shaky ground and the old assumptions must be reconsidered.</p>
<p>The predominant conservative dogma, that if the market produces something it is good, needs a fundamental rethinking in an age when the World Wrestling Federation, the producers of Ritalin and Prozac, and (coming soon) companies that offer genetic engineering or human cloning all trade on the stock market. Judging the desirability of these “products” requires a frame of reference, a wisdom, and a set of principles that capitalism itself cannot provide.</p>
<p>Moreover, the old radicals who once protested the “technological machine” at Berkeley and elsewhere in the name of “liberation” now profess that technology is the greatest liberator of all; it is the thing that can make life anxiety- and alienation-free-two things that, far more than economic planning, are the great idols of the Left both past and present. Of course, the dark consequences of this communist-liberationist fantasy are by now quite clear: coercion, poverty, and mass murder by the state of its own people. Or as Irving Kristol put it, “A political fantasy incarnated into a reign of terror, a historical nightmare from which humanity has now awakened.”</p>
<p>And so, while the evils are utopianism are still fresh in our minds, conservatives must remain vigilant of their own utopian tendencies-especially the tendency to worship capitalism and man-made progress more than these things ought to be worshipped, to make capitalists gods beyond rebuke.</p>
<p>Strangely enough, large segments of the Left and the Right have started to sound like one another in their new utopianism, even if they began from vastly different places and still think of themselves as vastly different souls. George Gilder, the techno-capitalist guru extraordinaire, has begun to sound shockingly like Karl Marx. “The new age of intelligent machine . . . will enhance and empower humanity. . . . It will relieve man of much of his most onerous and unsatisfying work. It will enlarge his freedom.” “We can escape our absorption in the trivialities of subsistence.” We can achieve the “transcendence of human self-alienation.”</p>
<p>The first two are Gilder, the last one Marx, but the sentiments are identical: Where the old human beings lived in “alienation” due to physical suffering, psychological hardship, and mundane chores, the new human beings are now free to dedicate themselves, in fine health and without inhibitions, to the creative satisfactions of the “spirit.” All of life’s problems can be solved by human effort-by the progressive engine of history-and man can live in this realm a fully satisfying life. By vastly different roads, Marx and Gilder reach this fundamentally similar conclusion.</p>
<p>CAPITALISM’S BETTER ANGELS</p>
<p>One can only guess what Adam Smith, the great intellectual patriarch of modern capitalism, would have thought of Gilder’s messianic capitalist enthusiasm. I suspect he would have found it odd, even mad. Smith’s economic insight was built on his understanding of human limitation and of the possibility that man’s self-interest would turn men against each other. The idea of capitalism was meant to civilize that self-interest and channel it toward shared prosperity, some measure of human freedom, and social stability. Smith’s ambition for man was steady and middling, built on his observation of man’s desire to better his material condition. He expected the character and ambitions of neither beasts nor angels-but something in between, what he called “enlightened self-interest.”</p>
<p>Of course, Smith also believed that capitalism itself could make men more virtuous, though to a limited degree. A look at the Gen X capitalists demonstrates this fact: This generation is more self-reliant, creative, realistic, and economically responsible than their anti-capitalist predecessors. But these real though limited virtues, in the end, are not enough to preserve a free society-at least not in a form that we would find recognizable or desirable.</p>
<p>Take the entrepreneur who uses his self-reliance, creativity, and economic ambition to develop and sell Prozac-a drug that, now wildly over-used, works precisely by numbing the self-reliance, ambition, and responsibility of its users in favor of medicalized relief from the challenges of existence. This Prozac-peddling entrepreneur is destroying the very idea of entrepreneurship, which begins with self-awareness, the exact thing Prozac destroys. He uses his very real virtues to undermine the virtues of others. He uses his entrepreneurship to shut down the moral habits of entrepreneurship in others. He is, ultimately, a cannibal.</p>
<p>Shocking as it is (or should be), this sort of cannibalism lies at the heart of the new genetics-built as it is on the manipulation, manufacture, and commodification of our own species, usually in the form of research on aborted human embryos, to serve our own misguided, utopian, narcissistic ends. In the end, this cannibalism and the contradiction it entails cannot be sustained, at least not in a form that leaves men both free and virtuous, that leaves us men, not monsters.</p>
<p>The philosopher Martin Heidegger once said that capitalism and communism are just predicates of the subject technology, mere footnotes that are more alike in their materialist assumptions and their ultimate consequences than they are rival spirits. If conservatives want to prove him wrong-if they want to show that capitalism can cohere with a truly religious and moral life while communism cannot-they must be willing to look beyond capitalism to the first principles of what makes a life good and a society just. They must even be willing to criticize capitalism-and capitalists-when the “goods” they sell and the promises they make are corrupting, false, or undesirable. This is why conservatives can only give two cheers for capitalism, not three. And why for the grandest ambitions of the bio-tech revolution-and the evil, utopianism, and hubris they are built on-they should give no cheers at all.</p>
<p>Source Notes Copyright: 2001 Doublethink</p> | false | 1 | turns new economy human signals horizon suggest american economy heading serious slowdown perhaps even downturn stock prices bluechip technology companies like amazoncom cisco shrunk fractions former size venture capital floodgates closed one really believes giving away content building viewer share selling banner ads real business model untrained inexperienced 22year olds manage multimillion dollar companies euphoriaand madnessis business models yet clear new powers unleashed information revolution real indeed important convergence information technology biotechnology made clear last month announcement human genome project celera genomics corp finished maps mans complete genetic makeup j craig venter said numerous occasions scientific accomplishment would possible without new computing power significancefor capitalism american democracy human beingsfar transcends euphoria first informationbased new economy second new economythe economy geneswill change us forever means inevitably meaning capitalism changed forever come revolution already past decade forced us reconsider relationship politics capitalism light end cold war final eclipse economic communism rise new democrats common refrain last years capitalists indeed great truth woodstock generation stood cars protest capitalist machine buys suvs dividends stock portfolios democratic party party robert reich centralized industrial policy 70 percent incometax rates party alan greenspan worshippers 900 billion tax cuts empowerment zones gen x leaders college groups like feminist alliance patriarchy people equal treatment animals graduate jobs mckinsey consulting morgan stanley found technology companies computer science professors universities long derided conservatives last bastions true marxism western world become minitechnoparks inhouse venture capital funds forprofit incubators clearly conservatives important economic battlethe victory markets central economic planning enterprising individuals ideology commune series moral questions remain conservativesand americansmust soberly confront ultimately shape american society decades ahead spirit new capitalism conservative spirit highest ideals postwar american conservatism triumphed economic skeleton ideals conservatism virtue personal freedomand happens two competing ideals come conflict conservatism preserving institutions traditions long shaped mens souls technological progress creative destruction formerly economic cultural left really capitalists today happen changed capitalism capitalism change throughout cold war american conservatism held together economic libertarians religiously orthodox united spirit shared enemy souldeadening collectivism utopianism home abroad postcold war worldand rise biotech capitalists may utopian spirits among usthe old union shaky ground old assumptions must reconsidered predominant conservative dogma market produces something good needs fundamental rethinking age world wrestling federation producers ritalin prozac coming soon companies offer genetic engineering human cloning trade stock market judging desirability products requires frame reference wisdom set principles capitalism provide moreover old radicals protested technological machine berkeley elsewhere name liberation profess technology greatest liberator thing make life anxiety alienationfreetwo things far economic planning great idols left past present course dark consequences communistliberationist fantasy quite clear coercion poverty mass murder state people irving kristol put political fantasy incarnated reign terror historical nightmare humanity awakened evils utopianism still fresh minds conservatives must remain vigilant utopian tendenciesespecially tendency worship capitalism manmade progress things ought worshipped make capitalists gods beyond rebuke strangely enough large segments left right started sound like one another new utopianism even began vastly different places still think vastly different souls george gilder technocapitalist guru extraordinaire begun sound shockingly like karl marx new age intelligent machine enhance empower humanity relieve man much onerous unsatisfying work enlarge freedom escape absorption trivialities subsistence achieve transcendence human selfalienation first two gilder last one marx sentiments identical old human beings lived alienation due physical suffering psychological hardship mundane chores new human beings free dedicate fine health without inhibitions creative satisfactions spirit lifes problems solved human effortby progressive engine historyand man live realm fully satisfying life vastly different roads marx gilder reach fundamentally similar conclusion capitalisms better angels one guess adam smith great intellectual patriarch modern capitalism would thought gilders messianic capitalist enthusiasm suspect would found odd even mad smiths economic insight built understanding human limitation possibility mans selfinterest would turn men idea capitalism meant civilize selfinterest channel toward shared prosperity measure human freedom social stability smiths ambition man steady middling built observation mans desire better material condition expected character ambitions neither beasts angelsbut something called enlightened selfinterest course smith also believed capitalism could make men virtuous though limited degree look gen x capitalists demonstrates fact generation selfreliant creative realistic economically responsible anticapitalist predecessors real though limited virtues end enough preserve free societyat least form would find recognizable desirable take entrepreneur uses selfreliance creativity economic ambition develop sell prozaca drug wildly overused works precisely numbing selfreliance ambition responsibility users favor medicalized relief challenges existence prozacpeddling entrepreneur destroying idea entrepreneurship begins selfawareness exact thing prozac destroys uses real virtues undermine virtues others uses entrepreneurship shut moral habits entrepreneurship others ultimately cannibal shocking sort cannibalism lies heart new geneticsbuilt manipulation manufacture commodification species usually form research aborted human embryos serve misguided utopian narcissistic ends end cannibalism contradiction entails sustained least form leaves men free virtuous leaves us men monsters philosopher martin heidegger said capitalism communism predicates subject technology mere footnotes alike materialist assumptions ultimate consequences rival spirits conservatives want prove wrongif want show capitalism cohere truly religious moral life communism cannotthey must willing look beyond capitalism first principles makes life good society must even willing criticize capitalismand capitalistswhen goods sell promises make corrupting false undesirable conservatives give two cheers capitalism three grandest ambitions biotech revolutionand evil utopianism hubris built onthey give cheers source notes copyright 2001 doublethink | 859 |
<p>To the question of why anyone would want to rewrite King Lear so as to make Goneril and Regan the heroines and poor old Lear and (to a lesser extent) Cordelia the villains, there can only be one answer: in order to make a revolutionary statement. Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres, now translated to the silver screen by Laura Jones (writer) and Jocelyn Moorehouse (director) is therefore not just about a “dysfunctional” family in Iowa whose patriarch’s sexual abuse of his two eldest daughters comes out after he passes his farm — the farm he inherited from his father and grandfather — on to the next generation. Instead it is a statement of radical feminism. Thus ever, say Ms Smiley and her adaptors, the “patriarchy.”</p>
<p>I put that word in quotation marks because I don’t believe that any such thing exists. “Patriarchy” is the feminist word for social reality — just as “capitalism” is the socialist word for economic reality. Both coinages serve the same political purpose: to suggest, falsely, that there is an alternative reality which is lacking only the political will to install in place, to the permanent benefit of human kind. In fact there is not. Reality, as intuition if not philosophy might have warned us, is reality. What ghastly human consequences have followed from socialism’s attempts to replace it our century bears abundant witness, but we are only beginning to see the results of the politicization of family life. And, if these results turn out to be less spectacularly horrible, they may in the long run prove to be even more socially debilitating.</p>
<p>As in every revolution, however, the first task is to capture the culture, and we should make no mistake about the fact that Ms Smiley’s novel and the film that has now been made from it have this object in view. That is the point of taking on and altering in outrageously anachronistic fashion one of the great monuments of Dead White Male culture. The same thing is going on in universities all over America every day. And once the revolutionary cadres have done the things necessary to undermine those cultural assumptions necessary to sustain the social fabric, there will be space for two, three many GI Janes to finish the job and persuade even ordinary people, even people who might be supposed to possess a modicum of common sense, that the world is not what it is but what the feminists would like it to be.</p>
<p>Daddy/Larry Cook (Jason Robards) proposes to divide the farm into three with a portion for each of his three daughters, Ginny (Jessica Lange), Rose (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Caroline (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Ginny and Rose are married and live with their husbands on the farm, which the menfolk help the old man to work. Caroline is the only one who has moved away. She is a lawyer in Des Moines. “She thought as a lawyer, not as a daughter,” Ginny’s voiceover tells us after she voices her doubts about Daddy’s arrangements and is instantly disowned by the old man. This is only the first of many implausibilities in the script. The utter strangeness of Lear’s disowning Cordelia because of her refusal insincerely to gush with love like her two sisters has made a weird sort of sense to audiences for 300 years; the attempted naturalism of Larry’s cutting off of Caroline because she attempts to point out that his legal and tax arrangements may not be as much to his own benefit as he imagines is completely senseless. “You have doubts, you’re out, my girl.” Huh?</p>
<p>Larry’s expectation of a little of the respect due to an aged parent from his daughters is seen to be completely illegitimate. First, he is a drunk; second, he is a drunk driver, arrested and hospitalized; third, he has been given all his life to irrational rages and has not a leg to stand on when he starts calling his eldest daughter a “dried up whore bitch” and insisting that she and her sister “can’t give me orders” when they try to stop him from driving drunk. And so out into the storm with him. The fact that Harold (Pat Hingle) in the Gloucester role, and the respectable churchgoers of the community think that the girls have mistreated their poor old dad is only an indication of the extent to which respectable churchgoing society is self-deluded by the myths of patriarchy.</p>
<p>From all that we see of Rose, who is also recovering from a bout of breast cancer (a shot of her radical mastectomy is another political statement), it is completely unbelievable that she could have gone for 20 years and upwards without mentioning this to her older sister, but let that go. She is the one with vivid memories of the abuse, and she tries to get her older sister to remember the times “when he went into your room at night. . .It must have been OK, because he said it was, and he was the rule-maker.” At first Ginny denies it, says she has no memory of it, but before long it all comes back to her with sickening forcefulness.</p>
<p>In view of this main strand of plot material, there hardly seems any point to the vestige of the Gloucester sub-plot which remains from King Lear. But I suppose all is grist for the feminist mill. The Gloucester-figure, Harold, has a prodigal son, Jess (Colin Firth), who is trying to get his hands on the old man’s farm and who has his hands on both of Larry’s elder daughters. Ginny is screwing him because her husband, Ty (Keith Carradine) is weak and boring and only interested in his hogs, and Rose is screwing him because her husband, Pete (Kevin Anderson) is a triple threat: a drunk, a wife-beater and insensitive to her crisis of self-esteem in the wake of her mastectomy. He “told me when I came back from the hospital that he’d prefer me to keep my nightgown on.”</p>
<p>Jess, of course, makes her feel like a woman again. But, lest even one man come off with any credit (it is of course no discredit to him in the author’s eyes that he is screwing other men’s wives), he is two-timing her with her sister. Jess fades from the scene, Pete is killed and Ginny leaves Ty to become a waitress and “independent.” She and her sister agree, in the film’s closing passage, that they “want all of this to stop with our generation” so, says Goneril’s voiceover, that Rose’s “girls have something that Rose and I never had: hope.”</p>
<p>Unlike Shakespeare’s tragedy, which was meant to inspire not hope but pity and fear, A Thousand Acres is straightforward political propaganda that takes the form of a direct assault on one of the monuments of Western civilization. But what hope for the rest of us, we might reflect, poor upholders of the discredited “patriarchy” as we are, when there is so little protest against this act of cultural vandalism?</p> | false | 1 | question anyone would want rewrite king lear make goneril regan heroines poor old lear lesser extent cordelia villains one answer order make revolutionary statement jane smileys thousand acres translated silver screen laura jones writer jocelyn moorehouse director therefore dysfunctional family iowa whose patriarchs sexual abuse two eldest daughters comes passes farm farm inherited father grandfather next generation instead statement radical feminism thus ever say ms smiley adaptors patriarchy put word quotation marks dont believe thing exists patriarchy feminist word social reality capitalism socialist word economic reality coinages serve political purpose suggest falsely alternative reality lacking political install place permanent benefit human kind fact reality intuition philosophy might warned us reality ghastly human consequences followed socialisms attempts replace century bears abundant witness beginning see results politicization family life results turn less spectacularly horrible may long run prove even socially debilitating every revolution however first task capture culture make mistake fact ms smileys novel film made object view point taking altering outrageously anachronistic fashion one great monuments dead white male culture thing going universities america every day revolutionary cadres done things necessary undermine cultural assumptions necessary sustain social fabric space two three many gi janes finish job persuade even ordinary people even people might supposed possess modicum common sense world feminists would like daddylarry cook jason robards proposes divide farm three portion three daughters ginny jessica lange rose michelle pfeiffer caroline jennifer jason leigh ginny rose married live husbands farm menfolk help old man work caroline one moved away lawyer des moines thought lawyer daughter ginnys voiceover tells us voices doubts daddys arrangements instantly disowned old man first many implausibilities script utter strangeness lears disowning cordelia refusal insincerely gush love like two sisters made weird sort sense audiences 300 years attempted naturalism larrys cutting caroline attempts point legal tax arrangements may much benefit imagines completely senseless doubts youre girl huh larrys expectation little respect due aged parent daughters seen completely illegitimate first drunk second drunk driver arrested hospitalized third given life irrational rages leg stand starts calling eldest daughter dried whore bitch insisting sister cant give orders try stop driving drunk storm fact harold pat hingle gloucester role respectable churchgoers community think girls mistreated poor old dad indication extent respectable churchgoing society selfdeluded myths patriarchy see rose also recovering bout breast cancer shot radical mastectomy another political statement completely unbelievable could gone 20 years upwards without mentioning older sister let go one vivid memories abuse tries get older sister remember times went room night must ok said rulemaker first ginny denies says memory long comes back sickening forcefulness view main strand plot material hardly seems point vestige gloucester subplot remains king lear suppose grist feminist mill gloucesterfigure harold prodigal son jess colin firth trying get hands old mans farm hands larrys elder daughters ginny screwing husband ty keith carradine weak boring interested hogs rose screwing husband pete kevin anderson triple threat drunk wifebeater insensitive crisis selfesteem wake mastectomy told came back hospital hed prefer keep nightgown jess course makes feel like woman lest even one man come credit course discredit authors eyes screwing mens wives twotiming sister jess fades scene pete killed ginny leaves ty become waitress independent sister agree films closing passage want stop generation says gonerils voiceover roses girls something rose never hope unlike shakespeares tragedy meant inspire hope pity fear thousand acres straightforward political propaganda takes form direct assault one monuments western civilization hope rest us might reflect poor upholders discredited patriarchy little protest act cultural vandalism | 578 |
<p>BARCELONA— Animation features “Sultana’s Dream,” “ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/global/carole-wilkinson-dragonkeeper-set-china-spain-animated-feature-1202391629/" type="external">Dragonkeeper</a>” and “ <a href="http://variety.com/2016/film/festivals/annecy-psiconautas-alberto-vazquez-pedro-rivero-1201794253/" type="external">Unicorn Wars</a>” and TV shows such as “The Infinite Hero” and “The Tribe” are among 121 works being pitched at Segovia’s 9th 3D Wire Animation, Video Games and New Media fest-mart&#160;which kicked off Oct. 2 All project projects from Portugal and <a href="http://variety.com/tag/spain/" type="external">Spain</a>.</p>
<p>“Sultana” marks the animation feature debut of <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/global/spain-women-who-are-rising-film-talent-1202437827/" type="external">Isabel Herguera</a>, a toon/live-action hybrid feature inspired by a classic feminist tale by Bengali social activist Begum Rokeya published in 1905. Formerly Lleida animation fest Animac director Herguera was selected this year as a talent to track by Variety. Feature is produced by <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/global/sky-launching-ott-spain-1202508252/" type="external">Spain</a>’s El Gato Verde, Abano, Uniko Portugal, the U.K.’s Sparkle Animation and Italy’s Stemo Productions.</p>
<p>Basque Country’s Uniko and Galicia’s Abano are also involved in the production of “Unicorn Wars,” co-produced by Oscar Animated Short Winner Nicolas Schmerkin (“Logorama”) at France’s Autour de Minuit and Schmuby Productions, two of Europe’s most&#160;committed companies when it comes to discovering new talent. “Wars” is to be directed by Alberto Vázquez, co-director of the Gkids-acquired ”Birdboy: The Forgotten Children.”</p>
<p>Produced by Spain’s Dragoia Media, Movistar + , Atresmedia Cine and China Film Animation–part of the China Film Group–, “Dragonkeeper” is a CGI family film based on the first of a six-book series by Carole Wilkinson. It is directed by Annecy Jury Award winner Ignacio Ferreras (“Wrinkles”).</p>
<p>3D Wire’s 2017 edition includes 13 features, 16 animated series, 48 video-games, 9 apps and 11 VR projects. A selection will be pitched to audiences and the rest just to industry players. In addition, 3D Wire will screen completed films such as Julio Soto’s “Deep” and Enrique Gato and David Alonso’s “Tadeo Jones 2: el Secreto del Rey Midas.”</p>
<p>“We’re also&#160;keeping our eye on other windows and formats. This is a trend, and I am not talking about Netflix and other platforms,” event director José Luís Farias told Variety.</p>
<p>Animation is progressively found on mobiles and apps snapchats, while advertising is massively&#160;using animation in very brief formats, like animation GIFs.</p>
<p>Farias added that 3D Wire animation submissions received are becoming more&#160;solid propositions in terms of creativity and financing. In a noteworthy development, co-productions are also increasing. ”From Portugal –a country with a bigger support for animation development than Spain– we’ve detected a shift from art-driven projects to other ones with a bolder industry aspiration,” Farias observed.</p>
<p>Colombia figures as 3D Wire guest country this year with a substantial delegation attending this year.</p>
<p>“We want to become an animation bridge between the world and Latin America. Spain has a privileged position to do that,” Farias said. Tenerife’s animation lab Bridging the Gap –towards which 3D Wire contributes as supporting entity– is another Spanish event aiming to build links with Latin American talent. Its third edition was held in July.</p>
<p>“The Infinite Hero” – presented at Bridging the Gap– is a series directed by Christian Villacañas and Francesc Xavier Manuel featuring a cross media ad videogame project following souls that reincarnating in different warriors’ bodies.</p>
<p>Produced by Portugal’s Sardinha em lata and actor Luis Tosar’s Galician production outfit Zircozine, Nuno Beato’s series “The Tribe” addresses the clash of civilizations clash with humor.</p>
<p>Movistar + and Spanish pubcaster RTVE will grant awards for best short, video-game, app and VR&#160; video-game project. In line with the online push by the Segovia event, a new award –Gran Premio Átomo– will be granted to an online animation show by the fest and network Átomo – a Spanish-language animation YouTube channel from Fred Seibert’s Frederator Networks. This year this award will go to “Super Science Friends,” which has garnered awards collector at the Toronto Animation Arts Festival Intl., TO WebFest and New York Science Fiction Film. “Friends’” creators have chosen the Segovia to announce new projects.</p>
<p>Animation execs attending 3D Wire include Miguel del Rosario (Animation Council of the Philippines &amp; Toon City Animation) and&#160; Michelle Nardone, director of the undergraduate course in animation and CG Arts at Denmark-based animation training center The Animation Workshop, in Viborg, Alos present: James Curran, at London’s Animation and Design company SlimJim Studios), Shamik Majumdar, Disney Channels EMEA’s animation and live action Content Creative director, and Michael Liebe, founder of Berlin’s tech and game events company Booster Space,</p>
<p>José Corral’s “Family Tale,” Diego Porral’s “Millenials and How to Identify Them” and “Routine” by SAM are some of the shorts to be presented at the fest-mart. “Tale” is produced by Aquí y Allí Films, the Madrid-based outfit behind Spaniard Antonio Méndez Esparza’s Cannes 2012 Critics Week winner “Aquí y Allá” and “Life and Nothing More,” which recently saw its European premiere at last month’s San Sebastian Film Festival.</p>
<p>The 9th edition of 3D Wire event runs Oct. 2-8</p>
<p>9th 3D WIRE, OCT. 2-8</p>
<p>FEATURES</p>
<p>“Another Day of Life,” Raúl de la Fuente, Damian Nenow, Spain, Poland, Germany, Belgium</p>
<p>“Awakening Beauty,” Manuel H. Martín, Spain</p>
<p>“Buñuel in The Labyrinth of the Turtles,” Salvador Simó, Spain, Holland</p>
<p>“Deep,” Julio Soto, Spain</p>
<p>“Dom Fradique,” Zepe, Portugal</p>
<p>“Dragonkeeper,” Ignacio Ferreras, Spain, China</p>
<p>“Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas,” Carlos Fernández de Vigo, Spain</p>
<p>“My Grandfather Used to Say He Saw Demons,” Nuno Beato, Portugal</p>
<p>“Sultana’s Dream,” Isabel Herguera, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy</p>
<p>“Tadeo Jones 2, and the Secret of King Midas,” Enrique Gato and David Alonso, Spain</p>
<p>“The Impossible Journey,” Abraham López, Spain</p>
<p>“The Steam Engines of Oz,” Sean P. O’Reilly, Spain, Canada</p>
<p>“Unicorn Wars,” Alberto Vázquez, Spain, France</p>
<p>TV SERIES</p>
<p>“Alice’s Diary,” Diogo Viegas, Portugal</p>
<p>“Bento,” SalBa Combé, Spain</p>
<p>“Bradley &amp; Bee,” Sarah Ball and Mercedes Marro,&#160; Spain, Scotland</p>
<p>“Clito,” Pol López, Spain</p>
<p>“Dr. Bocanegra,” Manuel J. García, Spain</p>
<p>“Emmy &amp; Gooroo,” Leno Miao and Mercedes Marro, Spain, China</p>
<p>“Metal Family,” Rodrigo Mesonero and Salva Rubio, Spain</p>
<p>“Mr. Passenger,” Zepe, Portugal</p>
<p>“Party Killer,” Edorta Corpas, Spain</p>
<p>“Pigballoons,” Juan Luis Garrido, Spain</p>
<p>“Sara Rocks!,” David Fernández-Marcote, Spain</p>
<p>“The Colorics,” Alex Cervantes, Spain</p>
<p>“The Infinite Hero,” Christian Villacañas and Francesc Xavier Manuel, Spain</p>
<p>“The Inner Life, Pablo Muñoz, Spain</p>
<p>“The Tribe,” Nuno Beato, Spain, Portugal</p>
<p>“The Turdinians,” Albert Rodríguez, Spain</p> | false | 1 | barcelona animation features sultanas dream dragonkeeper unicorn wars tv shows infinite hero tribe among 121 works pitched segovias 9th 3d wire animation video games new media festmart160which kicked oct 2 project projects portugal spain sultana marks animation feature debut isabel herguera toonliveaction hybrid feature inspired classic feminist tale bengali social activist begum rokeya published 1905 formerly lleida animation fest animac director herguera selected year talent track variety feature produced spains el gato verde abano uniko portugal uks sparkle animation italys stemo productions basque countrys uniko galicias abano also involved production unicorn wars coproduced oscar animated short winner nicolas schmerkin logorama frances autour de minuit schmuby productions two europes most160committed companies comes discovering new talent wars directed alberto vázquez codirector gkidsacquired birdboy forgotten children produced spains dragoia media movistar atresmedia cine china film animationpart china film group dragonkeeper cgi family film based first sixbook series carole wilkinson directed annecy jury award winner ignacio ferreras wrinkles 3d wires 2017 edition includes 13 features 16 animated series 48 videogames 9 apps 11 vr projects selection pitched audiences rest industry players addition 3d wire screen completed films julio sotos deep enrique gato david alonsos tadeo jones 2 el secreto del rey midas also160keeping eye windows formats trend talking netflix platforms event director josé luís farias told variety animation progressively found mobiles apps snapchats advertising massively160using animation brief formats like animation gifs farias added 3d wire animation submissions received becoming more160solid propositions terms creativity financing noteworthy development coproductions also increasing portugal country bigger support animation development spain weve detected shift artdriven projects ones bolder industry aspiration farias observed colombia figures 3d wire guest country year substantial delegation attending year want become animation bridge world latin america spain privileged position farias said tenerifes animation lab bridging gap towards 3d wire contributes supporting entity another spanish event aiming build links latin american talent third edition held july infinite hero presented bridging gap series directed christian villacañas francesc xavier manuel featuring cross media ad videogame project following souls reincarnating different warriors bodies produced portugals sardinha em lata actor luis tosars galician production outfit zircozine nuno beatos series tribe addresses clash civilizations clash humor movistar spanish pubcaster rtve grant awards best short videogame app vr160 videogame project line online push segovia event new award gran premio Átomo granted online animation show fest network Átomo spanishlanguage animation youtube channel fred seiberts frederator networks year award go super science friends garnered awards collector toronto animation arts festival intl webfest new york science fiction film friends creators chosen segovia announce new projects animation execs attending 3d wire include miguel del rosario animation council philippines amp toon city animation and160 michelle nardone director undergraduate course animation cg arts denmarkbased animation training center animation workshop viborg alos present james curran londons animation design company slimjim studios shamik majumdar disney channels emeas animation live action content creative director michael liebe founder berlins tech game events company booster space josé corrals family tale diego porrals millenials identify routine sam shorts presented festmart tale produced aquí allí films madridbased outfit behind spaniard antonio méndez esparzas cannes 2012 critics week winner aquí allá life nothing recently saw european premiere last months san sebastian film festival 9th edition 3d wire event runs oct 28 9th 3d wire oct 28 features another day life raúl de la fuente damian nenow spain poland germany belgium awakening beauty manuel h martín spain buñuel labyrinth turtles salvador simó spain holland deep julio soto spain dom fradique zepe portugal dragonkeeper ignacio ferreras spain china memoirs man pajamas carlos fernández de vigo spain grandfather used say saw demons nuno beato portugal sultanas dream isabel herguera spain france portugal italy tadeo jones 2 secret king midas enrique gato david alonso spain impossible journey abraham lópez spain steam engines oz sean p oreilly spain canada unicorn wars alberto vázquez spain france tv series alices diary diogo viegas portugal bento salba combé spain bradley amp bee sarah ball mercedes marro160 spain scotland clito pol lópez spain dr bocanegra manuel j garcía spain emmy amp gooroo leno miao mercedes marro spain china metal family rodrigo mesonero salva rubio spain mr passenger zepe portugal party killer edorta corpas spain pigballoons juan luis garrido spain sara rocks david fernándezmarcote spain colorics alex cervantes spain infinite hero christian villacañas francesc xavier manuel spain inner life pablo muñoz spain tribe nuno beato spain portugal turdinians albert rodríguez spain | 725 |
<p>TAMPA, Fla. — The <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/New_England_Patriots/" type="external">New England Patriots</a> appear vulnerable after a 2-2 start, which includes a historically bad run of defense through the first four games.</p>
<p>But don’t tell that to the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers/" type="external">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a>.</p>
<p>Heading into Thursday night’s game against the Patriots at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs (2-1) are giving full respect to the defending Super Bowl champions.</p>
<p>“I would expect those (defensive) issues would all be taken care of by Thursday night,” Bucs coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Dirk-Koetter/" type="external">Dirk Koetter</a> said. “They’ve got fantastic cover guys. What’s tough about them is they’re an amoeba defense. They can play any personnel group. They’ve always been able to adjust. They can switch at halftime. They’ve always been a difficult team to prepare for.”</p>
<p>Through four games, though, including Sunday’s 33-30 home defeat against the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Carolina_Panthers/" type="external">Carolina Panthers</a>, the Patriots are off to their worst defensive start under coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Bill_Belichick/" type="external">Bill Belichick</a>. They have allowed 128 points and 1,827 total yards, an average of 32 points and 456.8 yards per game.</p>
<p>According to STATS, since the 1970 NFL merger, it’s the most points allowed in the first four games by a team that had the best scoring defense in the previous season.</p>
<p>“Collectively, we’ve got to do a lot better,” Belichick said. “We’ve got to coach better. The players have to execute better.”</p>
<p>Said Patriots safety Duron Harmon: “Obviously, what we’re doing is not good enough. In my five years here, we’ve prided ourselves on being a smart and tough football team, especially defensively. We’re just not doing it. … Like I said, obviously, it’s not enough.”</p>
<p>Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower said it’s mostly about the small details.</p>
<p>“The big plays and all that stuff, obviously, it’s easy for guys to see that,” Hightower said. “But it’s the small things that happen … getting that little bit of extra pressure on the quarterback, that extra knock on the center on the quick jam at the line of scrimmage.</p>
<p>“All the little things matter right now. Don’t take things for granted, you know? Appreciate every little thing and be knowledgeable of each small detail.”</p>
<p>Buccaneers quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jameis-Winston/" type="external">Jameis Winston</a> said he expects to get New England’s best shot.</p>
<p>“We’ve got to be real with ourselves and know this is a week-to-week league,” Winston said. “Teams are going to come back with a better plan. They’re not going to just allow teams to get yards on them. They have a great coach, a great quarterback, a great defense.”</p>
<p>The Patriots defense might be the focal point, but New England quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tom_Brady/" type="external">Tom Brady</a> also has Winston’s attention.</p>
<p>Growing up in Bessemer, Ala., Winston said he studied great quarterbacks. In a young Winston’s eyes, Brady separated himself from the pack.</p>
<p>Winston said he’s looking forward to meeting Brady for the first time.</p>
<p>“Getting a chance to witness greatness in front of us, Tom Brady coming into town, that gets you pumped up, definitely,” Winston said. “I’m thinking, what am I going to say to him when I see him and meet him?'”</p>
<p>Winston said Brady’s ability to protect the football and take advantage of opportunities has been “impeccable.”</p>
<p>Brady is off to another huge individual start with a 66.5 completion percentage, 10 touchdowns, no interceptions and 1,399 yards in four games. With a victory on Thursday night, Brady (185-54) will tie <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Brett_Favre/" type="external">Brett Favre</a> (186-112) and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Peyton_Manning/" type="external">Peyton Manning</a> (186-79) for the most regular-season wins in NFL history.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Belichick said Koetter has done “arguably as good as any coach has done with any quarterback in the first two years of a career,” pointing out Winston’s 4,000-yard passing seasons to start his NFL tenure.</p>
<p>Winston came up big in Sunday’s 25-23 home win against the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/New_York_Giants/" type="external">New York Giants</a>, going 5-for-5 on the final drive that led to <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Nick_Folk/" type="external">Nick Folk</a>‘s game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired.</p>
<p>Overall, Winston was 22-for-38 with 332 yards and three touchdowns against the Giants.</p>
<p>But Winston said he needs to do a better job of targeting wide receiver <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/DeSean_Jackson/" type="external">DeSean Jackson</a>, a free-agent acquisition who has struggled to get opportunities. Jackson has just nine receptions in three games.</p>
<p>“I just have to get on track with him and I have to play better in all respect(s),” Winston said. “He has been open. It’s obvious I have to get him the ball. He’s going to make this team better.</p>
<p>“He’s a big-time player who makes big-time plays at big-time moments. He’s more happy winning than anything else.”</p>
<p>The Bucs dialed up a winning effort against the Giants, despite playing without two starting linebackers, Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David. Neither player practiced on Monday or Tuesday, making it unlikely they would play against New England. If that’s the case, rookie Kendell Beckwith again will start at middle linebacker and call the defensive signals.</p>
<p>Offensively, Tampa Bay running back <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Doug_Martin/" type="external">Doug Martin</a> returns after a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs (he sat out the final week of 2016). Koetter wouldn’t speculate how much Martin will be used.</p>
<p>But in the three games without Martin, who had a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his previous five years, the Bucs averaged just 84.7 yards on the ground (26th in the NFL).</p> | false | 1 | tampa fla new england patriots appear vulnerable 22 start includes historically bad run defense first four games dont tell tampa bay buccaneers heading thursday nights game patriots raymond james stadium bucs 21 giving full respect defending super bowl champions would expect defensive issues would taken care thursday night bucs coach dirk koetter said theyve got fantastic cover guys whats tough theyre amoeba defense play personnel group theyve always able adjust switch halftime theyve always difficult team prepare four games though including sundays 3330 home defeat carolina panthers patriots worst defensive start coach bill belichick allowed 128 points 1827 total yards average 32 points 4568 yards per game according stats since 1970 nfl merger points allowed first four games team best scoring defense previous season collectively weve got lot better belichick said weve got coach better players execute better said patriots safety duron harmon obviously good enough five years weve prided smart tough football team especially defensively like said obviously enough patriots linebacker donta hightower said mostly small details big plays stuff obviously easy guys see hightower said small things happen getting little bit extra pressure quarterback extra knock center quick jam line scrimmage little things matter right dont take things granted know appreciate every little thing knowledgeable small detail buccaneers quarterback jameis winston said expects get new englands best shot weve got real know weektoweek league winston said teams going come back better plan theyre going allow teams get yards great coach great quarterback great defense patriots defense might focal point new england quarterback tom brady also winstons attention growing bessemer ala winston said studied great quarterbacks young winstons eyes brady separated pack winston said hes looking forward meeting brady first time getting chance witness greatness front us tom brady coming town gets pumped definitely winston said im thinking going say see meet winston said bradys ability protect football take advantage opportunities impeccable brady another huge individual start 665 completion percentage 10 touchdowns interceptions 1399 yards four games victory thursday night brady 18554 tie brett favre 186112 peyton manning 18679 regularseason wins nfl history meanwhile belichick said koetter done arguably good coach done quarterback first two years career pointing winstons 4000yard passing seasons start nfl tenure winston came big sundays 2523 home win new york giants going 5for5 final drive led nick folks gamewinning 34yard field goal time expired overall winston 22for38 332 yards three touchdowns giants winston said needs better job targeting wide receiver desean jackson freeagent acquisition struggled get opportunities jackson nine receptions three games get track play better respects winston said open obvious get ball hes going make team better hes bigtime player makes bigtime plays bigtime moments hes happy winning anything else bucs dialed winning effort giants despite playing without two starting linebackers kwon alexander lavonte david neither player practiced monday tuesday making unlikely would play new england thats case rookie kendell beckwith start middle linebacker call defensive signals offensively tampa bay running back doug martin returns fourgame suspension violating nfls policy performanceenhancing drugs sat final week 2016 koetter wouldnt speculate much martin used three games without martin pair 1000yard rushing seasons previous five years bucs averaged 847 yards ground 26th nfl | 526 |
<p>After months of internal debate, the House passed a <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3762/text" type="external">budget-reconciliation bill</a> last Friday taking aim at Obamacare, but it is far from assured that the bill, or even an amended version of it, will ever emerge from the Senate.</p>
<p>Budget-reconciliation bills are powerful legislative vehicles because they cannot be filibustered in the Senate (it takes 60 votes to invoke cloture and close off debate on most bills). That means, in theory at least, that the Republican majority in the Senate should be able to pass a reconciliation bill and send it to the president for signature or veto without needing any Democratic support.</p>
<p>Successful passage of the House reconciliation bill, or something similar to it, might not be possible in the Senate, though, because, while there are 54 Republicans in the upper chamber, three of them — Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Mike Lee — already have announced that they oppose the House bill. The three dissenters argue that it does not go far enough toward repealing all of Obamacare’s provisions. Their position matches that of Heritage Action, which opposed passage of the bill in the House.</p>
<p>Other Republican senators might also oppose the House bill because, in addition to repealing some Obamacare provisions, it&#160;eliminates federal funding of Planned Parenthood for one year (Senators Susan Collins and Mark Kirk voted against defunding Planned Parenthood in September). If Cruz, Rubio, and Lee all vote no on reconciliation, the remaining 51 Republicans will have to vote yes to get the bill passed (unless there is a defection from the Democrats, which is unlikely).</p>
<p>The House-passed bill is flawed, but it is motivated by a tactical approach to Obamacare that makes sense in the current political environment. The same cannot be said for the preferred course of the three senators who have already announced their opposition to the House bill. They believe that Republicans in Congress should vote on a reconciliation bill that fully repeals Obamacare (or something that comes very close to full repeal), or they should do nothing. Their plan would lead either to a legislative and political dead end or, worse, a minor political fiasco.</p>
<p>The House-passed bill targets for repeal Obamacare’s individual and employer mandates, as well as&#160;other Obamacare elements: the medical-device tax, the 40 percent excise tax on “high-cost” employer-sponsored insurance (the so-called Cadillac tax), the open-ended $10 billion fund for “public health” efforts, and a provision allowing automatic enrollment of workers in job-based coverage. It’s not hard to see the strategy here. Republican leaders put together a bill targeting for repeal some of the law’s least popular, and therefore most vulnerable, provisions. Attacking the individual mandate is also a direct assault on the core of Obamacare; without it, many of the law’s other provisions become unstable and thus also vulnerable to repeal and replacement. The House bill sets up a fight over Obamacare in a way that is highly favorable to Republicans.</p>
<p>But the bill is not perfect. House leaders made a big mistake by including in it a proposal to repeal the Cadillac tax. The tax is poorly designed and was sold on false premises by the administration. But its effect is similar to what might come from an idea many Republicans have long favored: an upper limit on the tax preference for employer-paid insurance premiums. Today, employers can pay premiums on behalf of workers without limit. This has encouraged overly expansive insurance, at the expense of taxable cash compensation. Placing an upper limit on tax-preferred employer premiums would inject much-needed cost discipline into employer plans. An upper limit is an important feature of several replacement plans sponsored by Republicans — including plans introduced in Congress by <a href="http://tomprice.house.gov/sites/tomprice.house.gov/files/Section%20by%20Section%20of%20HR%202300%20Empowering%20Patients%20First%20Act%202015.pdf" type="external">Representative Tom Price</a> and by <a href="http://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/files/114/20150205-PCARE-Act-Plan.pdf" type="external">Senators Burr and Hatch, and Representative Upton</a>, and by <a href="https://jeb2016.com/health-care-plan/?lang=en" type="external">Jeb Bush</a> in the presidential campaign. It does not make sense for the GOP to target the Cadillac tax for repeal when the party will probably try to impose a cap on tax-preferred employer premiums in its replacement plan. It would be far better to take this issue on when the time is right to more comprehensively repeal and replace Obamacare.</p>
<p>Senators Cruz, Rubio, and Lee have a different complaint. They say the GOP has promised full repeal of Obamacare and is now delivering repeal of just a few provisions. This will supposedly outrage the base, because they will see it as the first step toward backing away from the goal of full repeal. The three senators also argue that Republicans in Congress could honor their repeal commitment by using reconciliation to pass a full-repeal bill, or something close to it, and send it to the president for a veto. That would supposedly set up the debate over the law in a way that is favorable to the GOP in the 2016 election.</p>
<p>There are some major flaws in this line of reasoning.</p>
<p>For starters, the GOP’s official position on Obamacare is “repeal and replace,” not “repeal.” Obamacare is unpopular because of its many flaws, but most Americans were not thrilled with the pre-Obamacare status quo, either. It is not possible now, and never will be possible in the future, to actually repeal Obamacare without replacing it at the same time. If Congress sent a full repeal to the president without attaching to it a sensible replacement plan, Obamacare’s defenders would easily attack the bill as a GOP effort to send everyone back to the old, flawed system that allowed discrimination against the sick. When push comes to shove, even the most conservative Republicans in Congress will not want to vote for repeal of Obamacare without putting in place a better approach to making insurance more secure and affordable.</p>
<p>Cruz, Rubio, and Lee would probably respond to this argument by noting that Republican House and Senate members have already voted several times for legislation that would repeal Obamacare without replacing it with something else. So what’s the problem with doing it once more?</p>
<p>First, it is one thing to vote, as an expression of general political sentiment, on a bill that everyone involved understands is going nowhere. It is another thing altogether to pass legislation that will make it to the president and become law if approved. The scrutiny will be higher, and the president’s ability to frame the argument also will be much enhanced because of press attention. In that context, a vote to repeal Obamacare while offering nothing by way of an alternative is going to be viewed by much of the electorate as an evasion of political responsibility. It will not play well.</p>
<p>But even if it were a good idea to send a repeal-only bill to the president, it is not possible, for practical and political reasons, to do so through the budget-reconciliation process without also including a replacement plan.</p>
<p>Full repeal could take one of two forms. The easiest route would be a one-sentence bill that simply repeals the entirety of Obamacare. Everything would get wiped away in one, all-inclusive repeal sentence. Even though much of Obamacare has budgetary effects, and thus could rightfully be targeted in a reconciliation measure, there are a lot of non-budgetary regulations in the law, too. For instance, there is the requirement that private insurance plans cover dependents up to age 26. Senate rules limit what can be included in a reconciliation bill to provisions that are primarily budgetary in nature; it is highly unlikely that a one-sentence bill repealing all of Obamacare would be seen as meeting that requirement. An attempt to bring it up is therefore likely to fail.</p>
<p>The other option for advancing full repeal in reconciliation is to write a longer repeal proposal with a large number of individual repeal provisions. Theoretically, lawmakers could write a bill that has a repeal provision for every section of Obamacare. Alternatively, a bill could target individual titles or subtitles. Either way, these more narrowly focused repeal provisions would probably be deemed appropriate for reconciliation because they would more precisely target the spending provisions of Obamacare.</p>
<p>The problem with this approach, however, is that it would leave Republicans in a vulnerable position politically. Republicans would be supporting repeal provisions that target Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion, expanded drug coverage for seniors under Medicare, and premium and cost-sharing subsidies in the exchanges for low-income families. Each of the provisions to target spending could themselves be targeted for removal from the reconciliation bill by Senate Democrats during floor debate.</p>
<p>Senate Republicans should stand firm in such a debate and oppose all this spending, especially if they also offer a credible alternative approach. But in a debate on a reconciliation bill that is all repeal and no replace, it would be impossible to hold the caucus together against a determined Democratic assault. The many Republican senators from states that have expanded Medicaid (Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, to name a few) would be in a very difficult position. In all likelihood, a Democratic amendment to save the Medicaid expansion would pass in the Senate, with a number of Republicans providing the margin of victory. That would be a political disaster. The same could also be true for some of the other major spending provisions in the law.</p>
<p>The more sensible tactical plan is the one the House settled on. Their intention was to pass something that put Obamacare’s advocates on the defensive. The bill they passed could be improved in the Senate by dropping the proposal to repeal the Cadillac tax and putting in its place other repeal provisions, such as terminating the $10 billion Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation or ending the restrictions on health savings accounts. This kind of repeal bill would have little chance of becoming law, but it would make it clear that the president and his supporters are so determined to protect what they passed in 2010 that they will defend even the parts of Obamacare that garner near-unanimous opposition among voters.</p>
<p>Republicans would be in a far better position today if they&#160;had agreed among themselves on a credible Obamacare-replacement plan. If they had done that, they could have advanced a very substantial repeal-and-replacement bill this year using the reconciliation process. That would certainly have put the Obama administration in a defensive posture, too. But it has been clear for years now that the GOP is not going to rally around a consensus replacement plan without strong presidential leadership. So the next best approach is the one the House set in motion. Instead of opposing it, Senate Republicans should improve it and pass it.</p>
<p>— James C. Capretta is a <a href="" type="internal">senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center</a> and a <a href="http://www.aei.org/scholar/james-c-capretta/" type="external">visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute</a>.</p> | false | 1 | months internal debate house passed budgetreconciliation bill last friday taking aim obamacare far assured bill even amended version ever emerge senate budgetreconciliation bills powerful legislative vehicles filibustered senate takes 60 votes invoke cloture close debate bills means theory least republican majority senate able pass reconciliation bill send president signature veto without needing democratic support successful passage house reconciliation bill something similar might possible senate though 54 republicans upper chamber three senators ted cruz marco rubio mike lee already announced oppose house bill three dissenters argue go far enough toward repealing obamacares provisions position matches heritage action opposed passage bill house republican senators might also oppose house bill addition repealing obamacare provisions it160eliminates federal funding planned parenthood one year senators susan collins mark kirk voted defunding planned parenthood september cruz rubio lee vote reconciliation remaining 51 republicans vote yes get bill passed unless defection democrats unlikely housepassed bill flawed motivated tactical approach obamacare makes sense current political environment said preferred course three senators already announced opposition house bill believe republicans congress vote reconciliation bill fully repeals obamacare something comes close full repeal nothing plan would lead either legislative political dead end worse minor political fiasco housepassed bill targets repeal obamacares individual employer mandates well as160other obamacare elements medicaldevice tax 40 percent excise tax highcost employersponsored insurance socalled cadillac tax openended 10 billion fund public health efforts provision allowing automatic enrollment workers jobbased coverage hard see strategy republican leaders put together bill targeting repeal laws least popular therefore vulnerable provisions attacking individual mandate also direct assault core obamacare without many laws provisions become unstable thus also vulnerable repeal replacement house bill sets fight obamacare way highly favorable republicans bill perfect house leaders made big mistake including proposal repeal cadillac tax tax poorly designed sold false premises administration effect similar might come idea many republicans long favored upper limit tax preference employerpaid insurance premiums today employers pay premiums behalf workers without limit encouraged overly expansive insurance expense taxable cash compensation placing upper limit taxpreferred employer premiums would inject muchneeded cost discipline employer plans upper limit important feature several replacement plans sponsored republicans including plans introduced congress representative tom price senators burr hatch representative upton jeb bush presidential campaign make sense gop target cadillac tax repeal party probably try impose cap taxpreferred employer premiums replacement plan would far better take issue time right comprehensively repeal replace obamacare senators cruz rubio lee different complaint say gop promised full repeal obamacare delivering repeal provisions supposedly outrage base see first step toward backing away goal full repeal three senators also argue republicans congress could honor repeal commitment using reconciliation pass fullrepeal bill something close send president veto would supposedly set debate law way favorable gop 2016 election major flaws line reasoning starters gops official position obamacare repeal replace repeal obamacare unpopular many flaws americans thrilled preobamacare status quo either possible never possible future actually repeal obamacare without replacing time congress sent full repeal president without attaching sensible replacement plan obamacares defenders would easily attack bill gop effort send everyone back old flawed system allowed discrimination sick push comes shove even conservative republicans congress want vote repeal obamacare without putting place better approach making insurance secure affordable cruz rubio lee would probably respond argument noting republican house senate members already voted several times legislation would repeal obamacare without replacing something else whats problem first one thing vote expression general political sentiment bill everyone involved understands going nowhere another thing altogether pass legislation make president become law approved scrutiny higher presidents ability frame argument also much enhanced press attention context vote repeal obamacare offering nothing way alternative going viewed much electorate evasion political responsibility play well even good idea send repealonly bill president possible practical political reasons budgetreconciliation process without also including replacement plan full repeal could take one two forms easiest route would onesentence bill simply repeals entirety obamacare everything would get wiped away one allinclusive repeal sentence even though much obamacare budgetary effects thus could rightfully targeted reconciliation measure lot nonbudgetary regulations law instance requirement private insurance plans cover dependents age 26 senate rules limit included reconciliation bill provisions primarily budgetary nature highly unlikely onesentence bill repealing obamacare would seen meeting requirement attempt bring therefore likely fail option advancing full repeal reconciliation write longer repeal proposal large number individual repeal provisions theoretically lawmakers could write bill repeal provision every section obamacare alternatively bill could target individual titles subtitles either way narrowly focused repeal provisions would probably deemed appropriate reconciliation would precisely target spending provisions obamacare problem approach however would leave republicans vulnerable position politically republicans would supporting repeal provisions target obamacares medicaid expansion expanded drug coverage seniors medicare premium costsharing subsidies exchanges lowincome families provisions target spending could targeted removal reconciliation bill senate democrats floor debate senate republicans stand firm debate oppose spending especially also offer credible alternative approach debate reconciliation bill repeal replace would impossible hold caucus together determined democratic assault many republican senators states expanded medicaid iowa indiana illinois ohio pennsylvania name would difficult position likelihood democratic amendment save medicaid expansion would pass senate number republicans providing margin victory would political disaster could also true major spending provisions law sensible tactical plan one house settled intention pass something put obamacares advocates defensive bill passed could improved senate dropping proposal repeal cadillac tax putting place repeal provisions terminating 10 billion center medicare medicaid innovation ending restrictions health savings accounts kind repeal bill would little chance becoming law would make clear president supporters determined protect passed 2010 defend even parts obamacare garner nearunanimous opposition among voters republicans would far better position today they160had agreed among credible obamacarereplacement plan done could advanced substantial repealandreplacement bill year using reconciliation process would certainly put obama administration defensive posture clear years gop going rally around consensus replacement plan without strong presidential leadership next best approach one house set motion instead opposing senate republicans improve pass james c capretta senior fellow ethics public policy center visiting fellow american enterprise institute | 988 |
<p>A firestorm of speculative commentary has been ignited by reports that JPMorgan Chase has ceased to accept cash for payments on credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, lines of credit and so on. Not to defend any bank actions, but it is not difficult to imagine the confused look of a teller when you show up with a bundle of cash and instructions on how to apply the cash toward a loan payment.</p>
<p>Of course it would beg the question, where did you get the cash? Did you steal it? Is it unreported income? Did you print it yourself? Or are you just trying to make a point? Point being: A ban on cash has begun.</p>
<p>It has long been argued that cash is a relic. It’s dangerous to carry large amounts; counterfeiting is still a threat; cash enables a myriad of illegal transactions especially when it comes to drugs and gang violence; and, to the extent one can earn cash and bypass tax laws — that hurts everyone. Besides, the digital alternative is so much more convenient and efficient. Scan your wallet over the Starbuck’s payment device or transfer money to your college kid with two clicks of a mouse.</p>
<p>These are the arguments in favor of eliminating cash. As you see, they are compelling. Nonetheless, the dollar bills in your pocket are supposed to be legal tender for all debts public and private. Instead, a shift in sentiment is relegating the role of cash to a tool used by criminals to somehow defraud the system.</p>
<p>How ironic, as it was cash that once replaced gold and silver coins under the auspices that cash was as good as gold, and in fact backed by gold and silver. This is how far we have come in the evolution of money. Ben Bernanke once responded to the question, “is gold money?” with the simple answer of “No.”</p>
<p>The reality is this: There is already so little cash in circulation as compared to the digital transactions taking place at every level of the economy and in the financial system that eliminating cash won’t matter one bit or byte. This will be illustrated further into this report. Nonetheless, it appears we are now near a time when cash won’t be money either. But why?</p>
<p>Indeed some point to practical reasons for its elimination as previously mentioned. Others claim an insidious plot by the banks to control all your money (for many reasons) and cash just gets in the way. Government is interested in making sure all taxes are collected and when it comes to actions that may threaten national security, monitoring the digital footprint of suspicious transactions is a priority. While still others point to an end-times scenario where you cannot buy or sell without using a numbered account. So go ahead, pick your reason and know the end of cash is coming. Now it’s your turn to get educated and see if there’s an opportunity that may change how you invest or protect your assets.</p>
<p>The Global War on Cash Reaches DEFCON 2</p>
<p>The war against cash has gone global. At midnight on November 8, 2016, the government of India announced a ban on 500 and 1,000 rupee notes. Each represents the equivalent of about $6 and $12 respectively. The ban was imposed in an effort to stomp out the cash economy where cash transactions go unreported and untaxed.</p>
<p>Subsequently, there was a run on gold. Reports came in that Indian citizens were willing to pay in excess of $2,000 (USD) for an ounce of gold which was more than a 50 percent premium over the current price.</p>
<p>On November 24, 2016, an International Business Times report stated that U.S. Citibank’s Australian branches were going cashless along with about 900 of Sweden’s 1,600 branches. ATMs are also disappearing from the banking landscape.</p>
<p>And, as reported by ZeroHedge . . .</p>
<p>“France has banned any transaction over €1,000 Euros from using physical cash. Spain has banned transactions over €2,500. Uruguay has banned transactions over $5,000.</p>
<p>Outside of these countries Canada, Norway, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Mexico and other nations are currently either proposing or rolling out programs that will ban cash from certain transactions if not completely.”</p>
<p>In the U.S., the war against cash is perhaps more covert. Yes, domestic banks are restricting the use of cash to make loan payments, prohibiting the storage of cash in certain safety deposit boxes and the withdrawal of cash from bank accounts is becoming more difficult. Just try to give a cashier $100 for a $25 purchase and see how many stores don’t have change.</p>
<p>A first step toward banning cash in America is the proposed elimination of the $100 bill. As I write, a number of economists are calling for exactly this. Former Secretary of Treasury Larry Summers is a prominent voice in the argument to eliminate the $100 bill. Harvard Professor Ken Rogoff is another strong advocate.</p>
<p>The next step took place just days ago as the world’s elites gathered in Davos, Switzerland for the Davos Economic Forum. Here, the cry from elites went out for the elimination of cash in the United States.</p>
<p>Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize winning Professor from Columbia University, reportedly made this statement during the forum. “I believe very strongly that countries like the United States could and should move to a digital currency.”</p>
<p>In a CNBC interview from Davos, PayPal CEO, Daniel Schulman, also called for the elimination of cash citing the fact that processing cash to include checks, was costly and wasteful. He said, digital transactions are “cheaper because they are not subject to fees that often come with cashing checks or transferring money in person.”</p>
<p>Are There Other Signs That Cash Is Becoming Endangered?</p>
<p>Now shocking evidence that this process may have already begun has just been uncovered. On September 29, 2016, the Monetary Base, as reported by usdebtclock.org was counting backwards.</p>
<p>The Monetary Base is defined as . . .</p>
<p>“The total amount of currency that is either circulated in the hands of the public or in the commercial bank deposits held in the Central Bank’s reserves.”</p>
<p>On September 29, 2016, the total of these reserves shown to exist were $3.802 trillion dollars. At the same time, the M2 Money Supply, consisting of . . .</p>
<p>M1 (includes physical currency) plus savings deposits, small denomination time deposits, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) and Keogh balances at depository institutions, and balances in retail money market mutual funds</p>
<p>. . . was $13.016 trillion dollars. Now let’s do a little time travel into the future of our money supply. According to the USdebtclock.org, by 2021 the supply of currency is now projected to fall by 8 percent to $3.518 trillion. (This number is still falling now and in the future) Given a projected 8 percent rise in GDP during the same period, a falling supply of cash is contrary to the trend.</p>
<p>Most astonishing however, is the projected 30 percent rise of M2 to $16.777 trillion. The rise of digital money appears to be correlated to the declining supply of currency. This trend will continue as technology dictates cultural shifts that drive digital transactions and eliminate the need for cash.</p>
<p>At the same time real cash disappears and the supply of digital cash grows our national debt increases at a rate of $2.2 billion per week, U.S. total debt (including unfunded liabilities) grows at a rate of more than $16 billion per day, while currency and credit derivatives currently exceed $500 trillion. Who says you need cash to run a growing economy?</p>
<p>In this context, cash is already gone. You can hardly blame cash for the tremendous bubbles that have been blown up in our financial system. In fact you could make the case that digital money has enabled the expansion of the biggest debt bubbles in history.</p>
<p>The minimal amount of cash circulating in our multi-trillion dollar system could be compared to a bag of quarters circulating in Disney World. The vast majority of payments are electronic. What remains are merely tattered remnants of a flourishing society. As these last remnants of cash finally disappear, so too will our protection against wealth destruction.</p>
<p>Alan Greenspan once wrote:</p>
<p>“In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation. There is no safe store of value. If there were, the government would have to make its holding illegal, as was done in the case of gold. If everyone decided, for example, to convert all his bank deposits to silver or copper or any other good, and thereafter declined to accept checks as payment for goods, bank deposits would lose their purchasing power and government-created bank credit would be worthless as a claim on goods. The financial policy of the welfare state requires that there be no way for the owners of wealth to protect themselves.”</p>
<p>Perhaps no truer words were ever written. Alan Greenspan wrote them in 1966, a time when cash was still backed by gold. Since then, and as a consequence of cash losing its gold backing in 1971, inflation has robbed the dollar of 87 percent of its purchasing power. If this is the consequence of a financial system no longer backed by gold, what now are the consequences of a financial system where there is no cash? Think about it.</p>
<p>If you are one who has stashed cash in the mattress or behind a loose brick, imagine the pain if it is one day announced that we have a new currency or no currency. Or, what if one day, we learn the world has a new reserve currency. The dollar would plummet in value (it’s already in a decline) and you would be left holding a pile of currency relegated to the role of fireplace kindling. Imagine a mound of 20 dollar bills laying right next to the pile of wood that you could not buy with the cash you now use to start your fire.</p>
<p>Why would you want to store something whose value can disappear or be reduced in a blink of an eye? Why would you ascribe any value to something the government can print, at a whim, by the trillions? And, if you use cash to buy bonds, the returns you get basically scream that your dollar is going to be worth less when this bond matures than it is today.</p>
<p>The Last Defense Against Total Wealth Destruction</p>
<p>Now that we have settled on the inevitability, that the end of cash is approaching, what do we do about it? I say let them do away with cash! Take advantage of the fact that the end of the dollar bill is coming. How? It’s simple! Don’t bet on physical currency.</p>
<p>While the Dollar is High, Diversify Dollars into REAL ASSETS!</p>
<p>Identify assets that can never be worth zero. Warren Buffett owns railroads, Goldman Sachs tried to stockpile aluminum, JPMorgan is stockpiling silver, oil barons are buying up oil rigs, farmland sales are booming, Chinese citizens are stashing gold and billionaires are buying collectible art and tons of physical gold and silver.</p>
<p>If you think the end of the dollar is coming, Don’t Stash Cash! Don’t whine when the banker tells you he doesn’t accept bills anymore. Instead, go with it. Own something real like physical gold or silver, just like smart money is doing all over the world!</p>
<p>David M. Engstrom has been researching and writing about the gold and silver markets for 33 years. As the author of more than 1,000 special reports, Engstrom predicted the stock market crisis of 2001-2002 and the bursting of the housing bubble in 2008. He says something big is coming again. Follow him here at Newsmax for his insights into the future of gold and silver and the role they will play when the next crisis strikes. To read more of his reports —&#160; <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/Insiders/DavidMEngstrom/id-440/" type="external">Click Here Now</a>.</p> | false | 1 | firestorm speculative commentary ignited reports jpmorgan chase ceased accept cash payments credit cards mortgages auto loans lines credit defend bank actions difficult imagine confused look teller show bundle cash instructions apply cash toward loan payment course would beg question get cash steal unreported income print trying make point point ban cash begun long argued cash relic dangerous carry large amounts counterfeiting still threat cash enables myriad illegal transactions especially comes drugs gang violence extent one earn cash bypass tax laws hurts everyone besides digital alternative much convenient efficient scan wallet starbucks payment device transfer money college kid two clicks mouse arguments favor eliminating cash see compelling nonetheless dollar bills pocket supposed legal tender debts public private instead shift sentiment relegating role cash tool used criminals somehow defraud system ironic cash replaced gold silver coins auspices cash good gold fact backed gold silver far come evolution money ben bernanke responded question gold money simple answer reality already little cash circulation compared digital transactions taking place every level economy financial system eliminating cash wont matter one bit byte illustrated report nonetheless appears near time cash wont money either indeed point practical reasons elimination previously mentioned others claim insidious plot banks control money many reasons cash gets way government interested making sure taxes collected comes actions may threaten national security monitoring digital footprint suspicious transactions priority still others point endtimes scenario buy sell without using numbered account go ahead pick reason know end cash coming turn get educated see theres opportunity may change invest protect assets global war cash reaches defcon 2 war cash gone global midnight november 8 2016 government india announced ban 500 1000 rupee notes represents equivalent 6 12 respectively ban imposed effort stomp cash economy cash transactions go unreported untaxed subsequently run gold reports came indian citizens willing pay excess 2000 usd ounce gold 50 percent premium current price november 24 2016 international business times report stated us citibanks australian branches going cashless along 900 swedens 1600 branches atms also disappearing banking landscape reported zerohedge france banned transaction 1000 euros using physical cash spain banned transactions 2500 uruguay banned transactions 5000 outside countries canada norway denmark australia new zealand ireland mexico nations currently either proposing rolling programs ban cash certain transactions completely us war cash perhaps covert yes domestic banks restricting use cash make loan payments prohibiting storage cash certain safety deposit boxes withdrawal cash bank accounts becoming difficult try give cashier 100 25 purchase see many stores dont change first step toward banning cash america proposed elimination 100 bill write number economists calling exactly former secretary treasury larry summers prominent voice argument eliminate 100 bill harvard professor ken rogoff another strong advocate next step took place days ago worlds elites gathered davos switzerland davos economic forum cry elites went elimination cash united states joseph stiglitz nobel prize winning professor columbia university reportedly made statement forum believe strongly countries like united states could move digital currency cnbc interview davos paypal ceo daniel schulman also called elimination cash citing fact processing cash include checks costly wasteful said digital transactions cheaper subject fees often come cashing checks transferring money person signs cash becoming endangered shocking evidence process may already begun uncovered september 29 2016 monetary base reported usdebtclockorg counting backwards monetary base defined total amount currency either circulated hands public commercial bank deposits held central banks reserves september 29 2016 total reserves shown exist 3802 trillion dollars time m2 money supply consisting m1 includes physical currency plus savings deposits small denomination time deposits individual retirement accounts ira keogh balances depository institutions balances retail money market mutual funds 13016 trillion dollars lets little time travel future money supply according usdebtclockorg 2021 supply currency projected fall 8 percent 3518 trillion number still falling future given projected 8 percent rise gdp period falling supply cash contrary trend astonishing however projected 30 percent rise m2 16777 trillion rise digital money appears correlated declining supply currency trend continue technology dictates cultural shifts drive digital transactions eliminate need cash time real cash disappears supply digital cash grows national debt increases rate 22 billion per week us total debt including unfunded liabilities grows rate 16 billion per day currency credit derivatives currently exceed 500 trillion says need cash run growing economy context cash already gone hardly blame cash tremendous bubbles blown financial system fact could make case digital money enabled expansion biggest debt bubbles history minimal amount cash circulating multitrillion dollar system could compared bag quarters circulating disney world vast majority payments electronic remains merely tattered remnants flourishing society last remnants cash finally disappear protection wealth destruction alan greenspan wrote absence gold standard way protect savings confiscation inflation safe store value government would make holding illegal done case gold everyone decided example convert bank deposits silver copper good thereafter declined accept checks payment goods bank deposits would lose purchasing power governmentcreated bank credit would worthless claim goods financial policy welfare state requires way owners wealth protect perhaps truer words ever written alan greenspan wrote 1966 time cash still backed gold since consequence cash losing gold backing 1971 inflation robbed dollar 87 percent purchasing power consequence financial system longer backed gold consequences financial system cash think one stashed cash mattress behind loose brick imagine pain one day announced new currency currency one day learn world new reserve currency dollar would plummet value already decline would left holding pile currency relegated role fireplace kindling imagine mound 20 dollar bills laying right next pile wood could buy cash use start fire would want store something whose value disappear reduced blink eye would ascribe value something government print whim trillions use cash buy bonds returns get basically scream dollar going worth less bond matures today last defense total wealth destruction settled inevitability end cash approaching say let away cash take advantage fact end dollar bill coming simple dont bet physical currency dollar high diversify dollars real assets identify assets never worth zero warren buffett owns railroads goldman sachs tried stockpile aluminum jpmorgan stockpiling silver oil barons buying oil rigs farmland sales booming chinese citizens stashing gold billionaires buying collectible art tons physical gold silver think end dollar coming dont stash cash dont whine banker tells doesnt accept bills anymore instead go something real like physical gold silver like smart money world david engstrom researching writing gold silver markets 33 years author 1000 special reports engstrom predicted stock market crisis 20012002 bursting housing bubble 2008 says something big coming follow newsmax insights future gold silver role play next crisis strikes read reports 160 click | 1,081 |
<p>Two months after the president handily won a second term and the Democrats increased their numbers in both the House and Senate, GOP congressional leaders were in no position to negotiate a good “fiscal cliff” resolution. So it’s not at all surprising that what emerged from the Biden-McConnell negotiations has satisfied almost no one, and certainly not many conservatives.</p>
<p>That being said, the January 1 tax deal needs to be put into proper perspective. The media are fixated on what is being called an Obama victory: He forced the GOP into retreat on the top income-tax rate. Yes, that was certainly a win for the president, something that was all but inevitable after November 6. But, despite what the president (and his apologists in the media) say, the top individual income-tax rate is not the sum and substance of the Bush-era tax policy. The benefits of the tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 went overwhelmingly to the American middle class, not high-income households, as the tables summarizing the deal from the <a href="https://www.jct.gov/publications.html?func=startdown&amp;id=4497" type="external">Joint Tax Committee</a>&#160;and the <a href="" type="external">Congressional Budget Office</a>&#160;have made clear. Compared with what would have happened if the Bush-era tax schedule had been allowed to expire entirely, the deal is a net $3.6 trillion ten-year tax cut.</p>
<p>This is no small matter. For a dozen years, most Democrats resisted these tax cuts. Indeed, most Democrats voted against them (see <a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&amp;session=1&amp;vote=00170" type="external">here</a>&#160;and <a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&amp;session=1&amp;vote=00196" type="external">here</a>). They wanted more revenue to pay for the expansive government they have been building for half a century. But now, with this agreement, Democrats have signed onto a permanent lowering of the tax burden for the vast majority of American households. And it’s hard to imagine a realistic scenario emerging any time soon that would allow Democrats to reverse course and impose higher income taxes on these households.</p>
<p>Part of the problem for Democrats is that the Bush-era tax cuts are far more meaningful for most moderate-income families than anything ever done by the Obama administration. <a href="http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/numbers/displayatab.cfm?Docid=3751&amp;DocTypeID=1" type="external">According to the Tax Policy Center</a>, the Bush-era rates reduced the tax burden on households with incomes between $50,000 and $75,000 per year by $1,400 annually. For households with incomes between $75,000 and $100,000, the tax cut is worth about $2,250 each year. The president and his party fancy themselves the great protectors of the American middle class; certainly their campaign rhetoric in 2012 reflected this grandiose self-image. The irony is that, to put money where their mouths are, they were forced to become champions of George W. Bush’s tax policy. Rich, indeed.</p>
<p>The main criticism, and an accurate one, of the fiscal-cliff agreement is that it secured a tax hike for the president that was not paired with any spending restraint whatsoever. The bill includes spending increases (an extension of unemployment compensation and another one-year undoing of the scheduled cut in Medicare physician fees), but not nearly enough cuts to offset them. Nothing has been done to address the real problem in the nation’s finances: the ballooning costs of entitlement programs.</p>
<p>Some conservatives have taken heart in the fact that the agreement did not raise the debt limit, setting the stage for a more successful budgetary confrontation in another 60 days or so, when federal borrowing is expected to bump up against the current statutory ceiling. The argument is that raising the debt limit is so unpopular with the public that Republicans will have substantial leverage to extract meaningful spending cuts from the president. Unfortunately, this is more wishful thinking than a sound assessment of the political landscape.</p>
<p>The problem begins with the threat itself. It is perfectly appropriate to use the occasion of a debt-limit debate to force as much serious action as possible on deficit reduction. But that’s not the same thing as being willing to resist a debt-limit increase to the point of risking substantial economic turmoil. There’s no sense of proportion in such tactics, and voters would rightly blame the GOP for the chaos that would result if the U.S. Treasury ran short of the funds necessary to service existing debt and pay for the federal spending that has already been approved. The truth is that the federal government will be borrowing trillions of dollars for the foreseeable future under any budget plan, including <a href="http://budget.house.gov/uploadedfiles/pathtoprosperity2013.pdf" type="external">the budget passed by House Republicans in 2012</a>. The debt limit is going up, one way or another. The only question is how the debt limit is raised and whether it is coupled with any meaningful narrowing of future deficits. The GOP needs to position itself as the party of responsible governance and fiscal discipline. That can be done, but not with absolutist declarations that are bound to fail.</p>
<p>The second problem has to do with the kind of spending restraint that’s really needed at this point. To get the nation’s fiscal house in order, Congress and the president must agree to far-reaching reform of the major entitlement programs–namely, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. That means, among other things, moving toward a premium-support model in Medicare, block grants for Medicaid, and reductions in Social Security benefits for future retirees with high incomes and substantial private assets. Does anyone believe the GOP can force the president and Senate Democrats to accept these kinds of reforms in a debt-limit showdown two months from now? It’s not possible, and therefore shouldn’t be tried. If it is tried, it will result in another retreat by the GOP that will further weaken the party’s position.</p>
<p>Moreover, if the GOP makes the debt-limit fight a showdown over fundamental entitlement reform, the president will successfully put on the agenda another round of tax hikes in “grand bargain” fashion.</p>
<p>The media will of course play along and echo the argument that, if entitlement cuts are on the table, it’s only “fair” that the rich pay more too–again. The danger is that the GOP, by escalating the stakes, could find itself in another retreat on taxes, which would be truly disastrous for the party.</p>
<p>A better course for the year ahead begins with the realization that the party’s top priority is to resist at all costs any further tax increases. That’s far more important than, during the debt-limit debate, drawing lines in the sand that will quite predictably be crossed. The president got his tax hike on the rich in the fiscal-cliff deal. The GOP must make it absolutely clear that that’s it. No more tax hikes. Period.</p>
<p>Regarding the debt limit, Republicans must take a practical approach. That starts by declaring in clear terms that the party will support debt-limit increases to ensure that bills are paid and outstanding debt is serviced. If that means passing a series of small increases in the debt limit, so be it. That’s far better than staging a showdown Republicans will lose.</p>
<p>At the same time, the GOP needs to articulate real entitlement reforms, advance them in the legislative process, and stand behind them for the next two years. That should mean, for one, <a href="http://www.economics21.org/commentary/medicare-reform-after-election" type="external">advancing reforms to Medicare</a>&#160;that fall short of premium support but nonetheless represent real progress toward advancing consumer incentives in the program. On Medicaid, the GOP could work with the nation’s 30 Republican governors to push for reforms that give the federal government more budgetary predictability and the states far more control over the program.</p>
<p>Will these be readily accepted by the administration? No. But they are sound and defensible reforms that would address the undeniable problem of growing entitlement spending. And they would demonstrate that the GOP is capable of practical and serious governance.</p>
<p>It is possible that the deal that was struck last week will be the last major piece of budgetary legislation passed during the Obama era. It’s hard to see serious tax reform advancing at this point, and certainly the kind of entitlement reforms that are commensurate with the size of the problem won’t be enacted. If that is indeed the case, then history will not look kindly on the Obama presidency. Future generations of Americans will live less prosperously because of the massive debt and deficits of these years. And President Obama will rightly shoulder most of the blame for this colossal failure of leadership.</p>
<p>James C. Capretta is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.</p> | false | 1 | two months president handily second term democrats increased numbers house senate gop congressional leaders position negotiate good fiscal cliff resolution surprising emerged bidenmcconnell negotiations satisfied almost one certainly many conservatives said january 1 tax deal needs put proper perspective media fixated called obama victory forced gop retreat top incometax rate yes certainly win president something inevitable november 6 despite president apologists media say top individual incometax rate sum substance bushera tax policy benefits tax cuts enacted 2001 2003 went overwhelmingly american middle class highincome households tables summarizing deal joint tax committee160and congressional budget office160have made clear compared would happened bushera tax schedule allowed expire entirely deal net 36 trillion tenyear tax cut small matter dozen years democrats resisted tax cuts indeed democrats voted see here160and wanted revenue pay expansive government building half century agreement democrats signed onto permanent lowering tax burden vast majority american households hard imagine realistic scenario emerging time soon would allow democrats reverse course impose higher income taxes households part problem democrats bushera tax cuts far meaningful moderateincome families anything ever done obama administration according tax policy center bushera rates reduced tax burden households incomes 50000 75000 per year 1400 annually households incomes 75000 100000 tax cut worth 2250 year president party fancy great protectors american middle class certainly campaign rhetoric 2012 reflected grandiose selfimage irony put money mouths forced become champions george w bushs tax policy rich indeed main criticism accurate one fiscalcliff agreement secured tax hike president paired spending restraint whatsoever bill includes spending increases extension unemployment compensation another oneyear undoing scheduled cut medicare physician fees nearly enough cuts offset nothing done address real problem nations finances ballooning costs entitlement programs conservatives taken heart fact agreement raise debt limit setting stage successful budgetary confrontation another 60 days federal borrowing expected bump current statutory ceiling argument raising debt limit unpopular public republicans substantial leverage extract meaningful spending cuts president unfortunately wishful thinking sound assessment political landscape problem begins threat perfectly appropriate use occasion debtlimit debate force much serious action possible deficit reduction thats thing willing resist debtlimit increase point risking substantial economic turmoil theres sense proportion tactics voters would rightly blame gop chaos would result us treasury ran short funds necessary service existing debt pay federal spending already approved truth federal government borrowing trillions dollars foreseeable future budget plan including budget passed house republicans 2012 debt limit going one way another question debt limit raised whether coupled meaningful narrowing future deficits gop needs position party responsible governance fiscal discipline done absolutist declarations bound fail second problem kind spending restraint thats really needed point get nations fiscal house order congress president must agree farreaching reform major entitlement programsnamely social security medicare medicaid means among things moving toward premiumsupport model medicare block grants medicaid reductions social security benefits future retirees high incomes substantial private assets anyone believe gop force president senate democrats accept kinds reforms debtlimit showdown two months possible therefore shouldnt tried tried result another retreat gop weaken partys position moreover gop makes debtlimit fight showdown fundamental entitlement reform president successfully put agenda another round tax hikes grand bargain fashion media course play along echo argument entitlement cuts table fair rich pay tooagain danger gop escalating stakes could find another retreat taxes would truly disastrous party better course year ahead begins realization partys top priority resist costs tax increases thats far important debtlimit debate drawing lines sand quite predictably crossed president got tax hike rich fiscalcliff deal gop must make absolutely clear thats tax hikes period regarding debt limit republicans must take practical approach starts declaring clear terms party support debtlimit increases ensure bills paid outstanding debt serviced means passing series small increases debt limit thats far better staging showdown republicans lose time gop needs articulate real entitlement reforms advance legislative process stand behind next two years mean one advancing reforms medicare160that fall short premium support nonetheless represent real progress toward advancing consumer incentives program medicaid gop could work nations 30 republican governors push reforms give federal government budgetary predictability states far control program readily accepted administration sound defensible reforms would address undeniable problem growing entitlement spending would demonstrate gop capable practical serious governance possible deal struck last week last major piece budgetary legislation passed obama era hard see serious tax reform advancing point certainly kind entitlement reforms commensurate size problem wont enacted indeed case history look kindly obama presidency future generations americans live less prosperously massive debt deficits years president obama rightly shoulder blame colossal failure leadership james c capretta fellow ethics public policy center visiting scholar american enterprise institute | 754 |
<p>Somalia has been gripped by a perpetual cycle of drought, famine, and violence for decades, but 2017 could mark a tipping point in the nation’s fortunes, as the twin threats of climate change and an Islamist insurgency threaten an impending cataclysm.</p>
<p>At the start of 2017, Somalia required $1.5 billion to reach 5.5 million people at risk of famine. The total number of people in Somalia in need of humanitarian assistance rose by 500,000 between 2016 and 2017, from 6.2 million to 6.7 million, according to figures from the <a href="https://reliefweb.int/topics/fighting-famine-nigeria-somalia-south-sudan-and-yemen" type="external">Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit</a>.</p>
<p>At present, 3.2 million people face&#160;“Crisis and Emergency”&#160;levels of food insecurity as a result of drought, internal displacement through conflict, and a sustained bombing campaign by Al-Shabaab militants. On a global scale, one in every 110 people is currently displaced by violence, famine, or persecution, the&#160; <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/321278-famine-in-south-sudan-a-turning-point-in-global-food" type="external">worst such displacement</a>&#160;in human history, including both World Wars.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/398799-global-famine-crisis-interview-wfp/" type="external">READ MORE:&#160;Conflict pushes 20mn to brink of starvation: RT primer on global famine, interview with WFP (VIDEO)</a></p>
<p>In addition, Somalia is also facing its worst outbreak of cholera in five years as a direct result of the forced movement of people and a subsequent lack of adequate hygiene and water facilities.</p>
<p>So far in 2017, there have been 38,000 cases and approximately 683 deaths from cholera. Somalia is also facing a measles outbreak which has affected over 7,000 people this year, 65 percent of whom are under the age of five.</p>
<p>These figures were expected to be compounded by the rainy season and projected flooding in several regions of the country. However, thus far, the rains have&#160; <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/east-africa-seasonal-monitor-october-20-2017" type="external">underperformed</a>, compared with neighbors Ethiopia and Sudan, who have both experienced flooding.</p>
<p>One million people have already fled to neighboring Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and even Yemen, which is facing its own famine crisis,&#160; <a href="https://www.oxfam.org/en/countries/somalia" type="external">Oxfam</a>&#160;reports.</p>
<p>Persistent and recurring cycles of violence have prevented Somalia from establishing and maintaining any kind of coherent and functioning transport, agricultural, and sanitation infrastructure.</p>
<p>Al-Shabaab militants have carried out <a href="https://storymaps.esri.com/stories/terrorist-attacks/?year=2017" type="external">71 attacks</a> that have claimed the lives of 784 people so far in 2017. The deadliest twin attacks took place on October 14 and claimed over 300 lives marking the worst terrorist bomb attack in Somali history.</p>
<p>[embedded content]</p>
<p>For context, there were a total of 395 IED attacks in Somalia throughout 2016 which killed 723 and wounded over 1,100, which marked a 110 percent increase from 2015. While the number of attacks decreased, the overall intensity of the explosives used and the destructive consequences greatly increased, further destabilizing an already precarious security situation and exacerbating the country’s multiple humanitarian crises. &#160;</p>
<p>Somalia never really stabilized for any great period of time following the unification of Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland in to form the Somali Republic on July 1, 1960. Immediately after the assassination of former President Shermarke on October 15, 1969, Mohamed Siad Barre led a military coup which seized power. Siad Barre was viewed as a dictator by many and ruled with an iron fist while declaring Somalia a “Scientific Socialist” state.</p>
<p>“When I came to Mogadishu…[t]here was one road built by the Italians. If you try to force me to stand down, I will leave the city as I found it. I came to power with a gun; only the gun can make me go,” Siad Barre said, as quoted by Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi in his book, “ <a href="https://books.google.ie/books/about/Culture_and_Customs_of_Somalia.html?id=2Nu918tYMB8C&amp;redir_esc=y" type="external">Culture and customs of Somalia</a>.”</p>
<p>Barre ruled Somalia from 1969 to 1991 but was overthrown and exiled by militias. The power vacuum left by the collapse of the military junta shortly thereafter has led to an ongoing system of tribalism, with North Somalia, or Somaliland, cutting ties with the South and the Puntland region following suit.</p>
<p>The fractured clan politics within the country, combined with a dearth of natural resources, led to increased competition for power and resources, allowing Islamist extremists to take hold as just another faction vying for control.</p>
<p>“Clans form the bedrock of Somali society and identity, but political exploitation of their rivalries has blocked every attempt at peace since Somalia collapsed into war in 1991,” Reuters reported in 2011.</p>
<p>Since 1991, Somalia has experienced at least seven periods of famine resulting from droughts. Concurrently, Somalia has been in a state of civil war between rival factions, clans, and insurgents since the collapse of the Siad Biare government in January 1991.</p>
<p>[embedded content]</p>
<p>Apart from Somalia’s two main rainy seasons – ‘Gu’ from April to June and ‘Deyr’ from October to the end of November – the country experiences relatively little precipitation. When these rainy seasons fail, as is the case so far in 2017, both agriculture and pastoral industries collapse as inflation precludes the vast majority of the population from buying food.</p>
<p>Already this year, the ‘Gu’ rains failed to meet expectations, leading to a low harvest in one of the main bread baskets in the country’s south, the vast majority of which is under the control of Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab.</p>
<p>“Because of the increase in food prices, [the famine] has been a boon for al-Shabaab’s recruitment campaign because when you don’t have purchasing power to buy the food, you will be encouraged to be recruited because then you will be saved, and you can use that salary or you could be given food,”&#160; <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700168592/UN-Famine-helps-militants-new-refugee-camp-opens.html" type="external">Bruno Geddo</a>&#160;of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Somalia said of the 2011 famine that killed an estimated 260,000 people. Little has changed in the interim.</p>
<p>As persistent drought and governmental failure compound the suffering of the people, ordinary citizens are forced to either flee or cooperate with the Islamist extremists in order to survive. Al-Shabaab, acutely aware of the predicament facing the general population, provides its own infrastructure programs in order to boost recruitment and increase its hold over the southern and eastern spheres of influence.</p>
<p>In addition, in 2011, Al-Shabaab expelled foreign NGOs from its territory.</p>
<p>“We want our people to be free of NGOs and foreign hands. We want them to depend on each other and to stand free of outsiders,” Sheikh Abu Abdullah, the al-Shabab governor of Lower Shabelle province, told <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/03/somali-farmers-benefit-from-al-shabab-reforms-201431053038814400.html" type="external">Al Jazeera</a> previously.</p>
<p>Given the extent of global conflict and displacement, the situation in Somalia is likely to remain extremely precarious for years to come.</p> | false | 1 | somalia gripped perpetual cycle drought famine violence decades 2017 could mark tipping point nations fortunes twin threats climate change islamist insurgency threaten impending cataclysm start 2017 somalia required 15 billion reach 55 million people risk famine total number people somalia need humanitarian assistance rose 500000 2016 2017 62 million 67 million according figures food security nutrition analysis unit present 32 million people face160crisis emergency160levels food insecurity result drought internal displacement conflict sustained bombing campaign alshabaab militants global scale one every 110 people currently displaced violence famine persecution the160 worst displacement160in human history including world wars read more160conflict pushes 20mn brink starvation rt primer global famine interview wfp video addition somalia also facing worst outbreak cholera five years direct result forced movement people subsequent lack adequate hygiene water facilities far 2017 38000 cases approximately 683 deaths cholera somalia also facing measles outbreak affected 7000 people year 65 percent age five figures expected compounded rainy season projected flooding several regions country however thus far rains have160 underperformed compared neighbors ethiopia sudan experienced flooding one million people already fled neighboring kenya ethiopia uganda even yemen facing famine crisis160 oxfam160reports persistent recurring cycles violence prevented somalia establishing maintaining kind coherent functioning transport agricultural sanitation infrastructure alshabaab militants carried 71 attacks claimed lives 784 people far 2017 deadliest twin attacks took place october 14 claimed 300 lives marking worst terrorist bomb attack somali history embedded content context total 395 ied attacks somalia throughout 2016 killed 723 wounded 1100 marked 110 percent increase 2015 number attacks decreased overall intensity explosives used destructive consequences greatly increased destabilizing already precarious security situation exacerbating countrys multiple humanitarian crises 160 somalia never really stabilized great period time following unification italian somaliland british somaliland form somali republic july 1 1960 immediately assassination former president shermarke october 15 1969 mohamed siad barre led military coup seized power siad barre viewed dictator many ruled iron fist declaring somalia scientific socialist state came mogadishuthere one road built italians try force stand leave city found came power gun gun make go siad barre said quoted mohamed diriye abdullahi book culture customs somalia barre ruled somalia 1969 1991 overthrown exiled militias power vacuum left collapse military junta shortly thereafter led ongoing system tribalism north somalia somaliland cutting ties south puntland region following suit fractured clan politics within country combined dearth natural resources led increased competition power resources allowing islamist extremists take hold another faction vying control clans form bedrock somali society identity political exploitation rivalries blocked every attempt peace since somalia collapsed war 1991 reuters reported 2011 since 1991 somalia experienced least seven periods famine resulting droughts concurrently somalia state civil war rival factions clans insurgents since collapse siad biare government january 1991 embedded content apart somalias two main rainy seasons gu april june deyr october end november country experiences relatively little precipitation rainy seasons fail case far 2017 agriculture pastoral industries collapse inflation precludes vast majority population buying food already year gu rains failed meet expectations leading low harvest one main bread baskets countrys south vast majority control islamist militant group alshabaab increase food prices famine boon alshabaabs recruitment campaign dont purchasing power buy food encouraged recruited saved use salary could given food160 bruno geddo160of un high commissioner refugees somalia said 2011 famine killed estimated 260000 people little changed interim persistent drought governmental failure compound suffering people ordinary citizens forced either flee cooperate islamist extremists order survive alshabaab acutely aware predicament facing general population provides infrastructure programs order boost recruitment increase hold southern eastern spheres influence addition 2011 alshabaab expelled foreign ngos territory want people free ngos foreign hands want depend stand free outsiders sheikh abu abdullah alshabab governor lower shabelle province told al jazeera previously given extent global conflict displacement situation somalia likely remain extremely precarious years come | 624 |
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<p>Ever since the beginning of the financial crisis and Quantitative Easing, the question has been before us:&#160; How can the Federal Reserve maintain zero interest rates for banks and negative real interest rates for savers and bond holders when the US government is adding $1.5 trillion to the national debt every year via its budget deficits?&#160; Not long ago, the Fed announced that it was going to continue this policy for another 2 or 3 years. Indeed, the Fed is locked into the policy. Without the artificially low interest rates, the debt service on the national debt would be so large that it would raise questions about the US Treasury’s credit rating and the viability of the dollar, and the trillions of dollars in Interest Rate Swaps and other derivatives would come unglued.</p>
<p>In other words, financial deregulation leading to Wall Street’s gambles, the US government’s decision to bail out the banks and to keep them afloat, and the Federal Reserve’s zero interest rate policy have put the economic future of the US and its currency in an untenable and dangerous position.&#160; It will not be possible to continue to flood the bond markets with $1.5 trillion in new issues each year when the interest rate on the bonds is less than the rate of inflation. Everyone who purchases a Treasury bond is purchasing a depreciating asset. Moreover, the capital risk of investing in Treasuries is very high. The low interest rate means that the price paid for the bond is very high. A rise in interest rates, which must come sooner or later, will collapse the price of the bonds and inflict capital losses on bond holders, both domestic and foreign.</p>
<p>The question is: when is sooner or later?&#160; The purpose of this article is to examine that question.</p>
<p>Let us begin by answering the question: how has such an untenable policy managed to last this long?</p>
<p>A number of factors are contributing to the stability of the dollar and the bond market. A very important factor is the situation in Europe.&#160; There are real problems there as well, and the financial press keeps our focus on Greece, Europe, and the euro. Will Greece exit the European Union or be kicked out?&#160; Will the sovereign debt problem spread to Spain, Italy, and essentially everywhere except for Germany and the Netherlands?</p>
<p>Will it be the end of the EU and the euro?&#160; These are all very dramatic questions that keep focus off the American situation, which is probably even worse.</p>
<p>The Treasury bond market is also helped by the fear individual investors have of the equity market, which has been turned into a gambling casino by high-frequency trading.</p>
<p>High-frequency trading is electronic trading based on mathematical models that make the decisions. Investment firms compete on the basis of speed, capturing gains on a fraction of a penny, and perhaps holding positions for only a few seconds.&#160; These are not long-term investors. Content with their daily earnings, they close out all positions at the end of each day.</p>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_frequency_trading" type="external">High-frequency trades</a> now account for 70-80% of all equity trades. The result is major heartburn for traditional investors, who are leaving the equity market. They end up in Treasuries, because they are unsure of the solvency of banks who pay next to nothing for deposits, whereas 10-year Treasuries will pay about 2% nominal, which means, using the official Consumer Price Index, that they are losing 1% of their capital each year.&#160; Using <a href="http://shadowstats.com/" type="external">John Williams’</a> correct measure of inflation, they are losing far more.&#160; Still, the loss is about 2 percentage points less than being in a bank, and unlike banks, the Treasury can have the Federal Reserve print the money to pay off its bonds.&#160; Therefore, bond investment at least returns the nominal amount of the investment, even if its real value is much lower.</p>
<p>The presstitute financial media tells us that flight from European sovereign debt, from the doomed euro, and from the continuing real estate disaster into US Treasuries provides funding for Washington’s $1.5 trillion annual deficits. Investors influenced by the financial press might be responding in this way.&#160; Another explanation for the stability of the Fed’s untenable policy is collusion between Washington, the Fed, and Wall Street. We will be looking at this as we progress.</p>
<p>Unlike Japan, whose national debt is the largest of all, Americans do not own their own public debt.&#160; Much of US debt is owned abroad, especially by China, Japan, and OPEC, the oil exporting countries. This places the US economy in foreign hands.&#160; If China, for example, were to find itself unduly provoked by Washington, China could dump up to $2 trillion in US dollar-dominated assets on world markets. All sorts of prices would collapse, and the Fed would have to rapidly create the money to buy up the Chinese dumping of dollar-denominated financial instruments.</p>
<p>The dollars printed to purchase the dumped Chinese holdings of US dollar assets would expand the supply of dollars in currency markets and drive down the dollar exchange rate. The Fed, lacking foreign currencies with which to buy up the dollars would have to appeal for currency swaps to sovereign debt troubled Europe for euros, to Russia, surrounded by the US missile system, for rubles, to Japan, a country over its head in American commitment, for yen, in order to buy up the dollars with euros, rubles, and yen.</p>
<p>These currency swaps would be on the books, unredeemable and&#160;making additional use of such swaps problematical.&#160; In other words, even if the US government can pressure its allies and puppets to swap their harder currencies for a depreciating US currency, it would not be a repeatable process.&#160; The components of the American Empire don’t want to be in dollars any more than do the BRICS.</p>
<p>However, for China, for example, to dump its dollar holdings all at once would be costly as the value of the dollar-denominated assets would decline as they dumped them. Unless China is faced with US military attack and needs to defang the aggressor, China as a rational economic actor would prefer to slowly exit the US dollar.&#160; Neither do Japan, Europe, nor OPEC wish to destroy their own accumulated wealth from America’s trade deficits by dumping dollars, but the indications are that they all wish to exit their dollar holdings.</p>
<p>Unlike the US financial press, the foreigners who hold dollar assets look at the annual US budget and trade deficits, look at the sinking US economy, look at Wall Street’s uncovered gambling bets, look at the war plans of the delusional hegemon and conclude: “I’ve got to carefully get out of this.”</p>
<p>US banks also have a strong interest in preserving the status quo. They are holders of US Treasuries and potentially even larger holders. They can borrow from the Federal Reserve at zero interest rates and purchase 10-year Treasuries at 2%, thus earning a nominal profit of 2% to offset derivative losses. The banks can borrow dollars from the Fed for free and leverage them in derivative transactions. As Nomi Prins puts it, the US banks don’t want to trade against themselves and their free source of funding by selling their bond holdings.&#160; Moreover, in the event of foreign flight from dollars, the Fed could boost the foreign demand for dollars by requiring foreign banks that want to operate in the US to increase their reserve amounts, which are dollar based.</p>
<p>I could go on, but I believe this is enough to show that even actors in the process who could terminate it have themselves a big stake in not rocking the boat and prefer to quietly and slowly sneak out of dollars before the crisis hits.&#160; This is not possible indefinitely as the process of gradual withdrawal from the dollar would result in continuous small declines in dollar values that would end in a rush to exit, but Americans are not the only delusional people.</p>
<p>The very process of slowly getting out can bring the American house down. The BRICS—Brazil, the largest economy in South America; Russia, the nuclear armed and&#160; energy independent economy on which Western Europe (Washington’s NATO puppets) are dependent for energy; India, nuclear armed and one of Asia’s two rising giants; and China, nuclear armed, Washington’s largest creditor (except for the Fed), supplier of America’s manufactured and advanced technology products, and the new bogyman for the military-security complex’s next profitable cold war, and South Africa, the largest economy in Africa—are in the process of forming a new bank. The new bank will permit the five large economies to conduct their trade without use of the US dollar.</p>
<p>In addition, Japan, an American puppet state since WWII, is on the verge of entering into an agreement with China in which the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan will be directly exchanged.&#160; The trade between the two Asian countries would be conducted in their own currencies without the use of the US dollar. This reduces the cost of foreign trade between the two countries, because it eliminates payments for foreign exchange commissions to convert from yen and yuan into dollars and back into yen and yuan.</p>
<p>Moreover, this official explanation for the new direct relationship avoiding the US dollar is simply diplomacy speaking.&#160;The Japanese are hoping, like the Chinese, to get out of the practice of accumulating ever more dollars by having to park their trade surpluses in US Treasuries. The Japanese US puppet government hopes that the Washington hegemon does not require the Japanese government to nix the deal with China.</p>
<p>Now we have arrived at the nitty and gritty.&#160; The small percentage of Americans who are aware and informed are puzzled why the banksters have escaped with their financial crimes without prosecution. The answer might be that the banks “too big to fail” are adjuncts of Washington and the Federal Reserve in maintaining the stability of the dollar and Treasury bond markets in the face of an untenable Fed policy.</p>
<p />
<p /> | false | 1 | ever since beginning financial crisis quantitative easing question us160 federal reserve maintain zero interest rates banks negative real interest rates savers bond holders us government adding 15 trillion national debt every year via budget deficits160 long ago fed announced going continue policy another 2 3 years indeed fed locked policy without artificially low interest rates debt service national debt would large would raise questions us treasurys credit rating viability dollar trillions dollars interest rate swaps derivatives would come unglued words financial deregulation leading wall streets gambles us governments decision bail banks keep afloat federal reserves zero interest rate policy put economic future us currency untenable dangerous position160 possible continue flood bond markets 15 trillion new issues year interest rate bonds less rate inflation everyone purchases treasury bond purchasing depreciating asset moreover capital risk investing treasuries high low interest rate means price paid bond high rise interest rates must come sooner later collapse price bonds inflict capital losses bond holders domestic foreign question sooner later160 purpose article examine question let us begin answering question untenable policy managed last long number factors contributing stability dollar bond market important factor situation europe160 real problems well financial press keeps focus greece europe euro greece exit european union kicked out160 sovereign debt problem spread spain italy essentially everywhere except germany netherlands end eu euro160 dramatic questions keep focus american situation probably even worse treasury bond market also helped fear individual investors equity market turned gambling casino highfrequency trading highfrequency trading electronic trading based mathematical models make decisions investment firms compete basis speed capturing gains fraction penny perhaps holding positions seconds160 longterm investors content daily earnings close positions end day highfrequency trades account 7080 equity trades result major heartburn traditional investors leaving equity market end treasuries unsure solvency banks pay next nothing deposits whereas 10year treasuries pay 2 nominal means using official consumer price index losing 1 capital year160 using john williams correct measure inflation losing far more160 still loss 2 percentage points less bank unlike banks treasury federal reserve print money pay bonds160 therefore bond investment least returns nominal amount investment even real value much lower presstitute financial media tells us flight european sovereign debt doomed euro continuing real estate disaster us treasuries provides funding washingtons 15 trillion annual deficits investors influenced financial press might responding way160 another explanation stability feds untenable policy collusion washington fed wall street looking progress unlike japan whose national debt largest americans public debt160 much us debt owned abroad especially china japan opec oil exporting countries places us economy foreign hands160 china example find unduly provoked washington china could dump 2 trillion us dollardominated assets world markets sorts prices would collapse fed would rapidly create money buy chinese dumping dollardenominated financial instruments dollars printed purchase dumped chinese holdings us dollar assets would expand supply dollars currency markets drive dollar exchange rate fed lacking foreign currencies buy dollars would appeal currency swaps sovereign debt troubled europe euros russia surrounded us missile system rubles japan country head american commitment yen order buy dollars euros rubles yen currency swaps would books unredeemable and160making additional use swaps problematical160 words even us government pressure allies puppets swap harder currencies depreciating us currency would repeatable process160 components american empire dont want dollars brics however china example dump dollar holdings would costly value dollardenominated assets would decline dumped unless china faced us military attack needs defang aggressor china rational economic actor would prefer slowly exit us dollar160 neither japan europe opec wish destroy accumulated wealth americas trade deficits dumping dollars indications wish exit dollar holdings unlike us financial press foreigners hold dollar assets look annual us budget trade deficits look sinking us economy look wall streets uncovered gambling bets look war plans delusional hegemon conclude ive got carefully get us banks also strong interest preserving status quo holders us treasuries potentially even larger holders borrow federal reserve zero interest rates purchase 10year treasuries 2 thus earning nominal profit 2 offset derivative losses banks borrow dollars fed free leverage derivative transactions nomi prins puts us banks dont want trade free source funding selling bond holdings160 moreover event foreign flight dollars fed could boost foreign demand dollars requiring foreign banks want operate us increase reserve amounts dollar based could go believe enough show even actors process could terminate big stake rocking boat prefer quietly slowly sneak dollars crisis hits160 possible indefinitely process gradual withdrawal dollar would result continuous small declines dollar values would end rush exit americans delusional people process slowly getting bring american house bricsbrazil largest economy south america russia nuclear armed and160 energy independent economy western europe washingtons nato puppets dependent energy india nuclear armed one asias two rising giants china nuclear armed washingtons largest creditor except fed supplier americas manufactured advanced technology products new bogyman militarysecurity complexs next profitable cold war south africa largest economy africaare process forming new bank new bank permit five large economies conduct trade without use us dollar addition japan american puppet state since wwii verge entering agreement china japanese yen chinese yuan directly exchanged160 trade two asian countries would conducted currencies without use us dollar reduces cost foreign trade two countries eliminates payments foreign exchange commissions convert yen yuan dollars back yen yuan moreover official explanation new direct relationship avoiding us dollar simply diplomacy speaking160the japanese hoping like chinese get practice accumulating ever dollars park trade surpluses us treasuries japanese us puppet government hopes washington hegemon require japanese government nix deal china arrived nitty gritty160 small percentage americans aware informed puzzled banksters escaped financial crimes without prosecution answer might banks big fail adjuncts washington federal reserve maintaining stability dollar treasury bond markets face untenable fed policy | 935 |
<p>GREEN BAY, Wis. — For all practical purposes, the Green Bay Packers’ season is over. And it now seems like a mere formality that Aaron Rodgers will be shut down as well.</p>
<p>Rodgers, who suffered a broken right collarbone on Oct. 15, returned to game action exactly nine weeks after the injury. Rodgers wasn’t his normal self, throwing three interceptions in a game for the first time since 2009.</p>
<p>Now, the Packers need to decide whether to expose Rodgers to additional hits this season or shut him down and let him fully heal for 2018. In theory, the decision seems like a no-brainer, although Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was non-committal Monday night.</p>
<p>“Aaron Rodgers is sore, rightfully so,” McCarthy said. “He was hit too many times, took two big hits. So we’re working through that. So we’ll see what (Tuesday) brings.”</p>
<p>No one in Green Bay’s camp envisioned what Sunday brought against Carolina.</p>
<p>Most of Packer Nation believed Rodgers would trade his No. 12 for an ‘S’ and the Packers’ version of Superman would guide his team to three straight wins and eventually a ninth straight postseason berth.</p>
<p>Turns out the Packers couldn’t be saved, and certainly not with Rodgers far from his best.</p>
<p>Rodgers couldn’t throw the deep ball with his normal zest. His accuracy wasn’t as razor sharp as usual.</p>
<p>And for the first time since Week 9, 2009, Rodgers threw three interceptions. That was a major reason Green Bay lost the turnover battle 4-0 and fell to host Carolina.</p>
<p>“Well, it’s not the fairy tale that we were hoping,” Rodgers said after the game. “As I lay in that surgery bed eight weeks ago thinking about this moment, obviously, I saw it going a little differently.</p>
<p>“But I’m proud of our guys for the way they played the last few weeks. Today, disappointed. I didn’t play very well. Obviously, I hold myself to a high standard. I expected to play well. It’s a good defense, but I made too many mistakes.”</p>
<p>Rodgers finished 26 of 45 for 290 yards, three touchdowns and those three critical interceptions. Rodgers’ passer rating of 71.5 was well below his career average of 104.1.</p>
<p>“I thought Aaron did a lot of good things,” McCarthy said. “I thought he competed just like he always does. Obviously, when you look at the stat line, I’m stating the obvious. It’s hard to overcome being minus-4 (turnovers) in the game. But I thought Aaron did a lot of good things.”</p>
<p>Carolina blitzed Rodgers early and often, and the two-time MVP couldn’t handle the heat. Rodgers completed just 4 of 12 passes against the blitz, threw two interceptions and had a passer rating of 5.9.</p>
<p>Shockingly, Rodgers carried the ball six times for 43 yards — the second-most rushing yards on the team. Rodgers even called his own number on a fourth-and-1 and ripped off a 7-yard run.</p>
<p>“(Rodgers) looked great,” wide receiver Randall Cobb said. “We missed on a few. We had opportunities where we didn’t connect. Some of those plays we wish we would have had back both ways, from a receiver’s standpoint and a quarterback’s standpoint, but that’s the flow of the game and that’s how it goes sometimes. You just try to make the plays whenever you have those opportunities.”</p>
<p>Those opportunities figure to be over, though, for 2017. With the Packers’ playoff hopes almost dead, there seems little reason for Rodgers to take the field again this season.</p>
<p>Instead, the extra rest would give his collarbone — which still isn’t 100 percent — additional time to heal. If Rodgers would play and reinjure the same collarbone, his offseason would be spent rehabbing instead of preparing for 2018.</p>
<p>Rodgers was asked if the smart play would be to shut it down for 2017.</p>
<p>“Well, I don’t know about that,” he said. “I’m going to see how I feel (Monday). Like I said, I’m a little sore. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow and make a decision at that point.”</p>
<p>In all likelihood, the decision was made Sunday — when Green Bay’s Superman wasn’t all that super.</p>
<p>–Early in the third quarter, Colin Jones — a safety for the Panthers — intercepted an Aaron Rodgers pass. During the runback, Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis — the NFL’s Man of the Year in 2014 — came from Adams’ blind side and delivered a helmet-to-helmet blow.</p>
<p>Adams suffered a concussion and didn’t return. On Monday, Davis was suspended for two games.</p>
<p>Davis apologized afterward, but the Packers weren’t exactly buying it.</p>
<p>“I’ll never understand it,” Adams tweeted on Monday. “Game is already dangerous enough and we got Pro Bowl players out here head hunting and saying they “didn’t mean to harm me.”</p>
<p>Adams also suffered a concussion in Week 4 after a brutal hit from Chicago’s Danny Trevathan. And head coach Mike McCarthy was particularly agitated about the latest hit when addressing it Monday night.</p>
<p>“There’s no place in this game for those types of hits,” McCarthy said. “That’s been made loud and clear. That hit was totally unnecessary. So as far as any type of rule changes, what they want to add, that’s obviously for future discussion.</p>
<p>“The player has been suspended. So whatever you think about that, but Davante was in a position that he shouldn’t have been hit like that, and that was clear. So, I like (Panthers head coach) Ron Rivera. I’ve always respected the play style of his football team, but that hit was a dirty hit.”</p>
<p>NOTES: K Mason Crosby executed a perfect onside kick with 2:43 left that was recovered by Packers safety Marwin Evans. Crosby’s kick took one large bounce, then died and slid through the arms of Panthers do-everything rookie Christian McCaffrey. … RG Jahri Evans has been a solid pickup in free agency for Green Bay. But the 34-year-old Evans, now in his 12th NFL season, wouldn’t commit to playing in 2018. “I don’t know,” Evans said. “I’ll have to evaluate that after the season.”</p>
<p>REPORT CARD VS. PANTHERS</p>
<p>–PASSING OFFENSE: D — QB Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes in his return from a broken collarbone. But he also threw three interceptions for the first time since 2009.</p>
<p>–RUSHING OFFENSE: C — Green Bay actually ran for 120 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry. But pass-happy head coach Mike McCarthy called just 14 running plays all day.</p>
<p>–PASS DEFENSE: F — Carolina quarterback Cam Newton threw four touchdown passes and had a 128.0 passer rating.</p>
<p>–RUSH DEFENSE: D-minus — Carolina ran for 151 yards and averaged 4.0 yards per carry.</p>
<p>–SPECIAL TEAMS: B-minus — Packers punter Justin Vogel continued his impressive rookie season, knocking both of his punts inside the 20-yard line.</p>
<p>–COACHING: F — McCarthy arguably has had his poorest coaching season in his 12 years in Green Bay, and this was no different. The Packers had developed a solid running game with Rodgers sidelined, but McCarthy abandoned it against the Panthers. McCarthy called pass plays a whopping 78.5 percent of the time, an astronomical number considering it was Rodgers’ first game back from injury. The move, of course, blew up when Rodgers didn’t play close to his MVP form.</p> | false | 1 | green bay wis practical purposes green bay packers season seems like mere formality aaron rodgers shut well rodgers suffered broken right collarbone oct 15 returned game action exactly nine weeks injury rodgers wasnt normal self throwing three interceptions game first time since 2009 packers need decide whether expose rodgers additional hits season shut let fully heal 2018 theory decision seems like nobrainer although packers head coach mike mccarthy noncommittal monday night aaron rodgers sore rightfully mccarthy said hit many times took two big hits working well see tuesday brings one green bays camp envisioned sunday brought carolina packer nation believed rodgers would trade 12 packers version superman would guide team three straight wins eventually ninth straight postseason berth turns packers couldnt saved certainly rodgers far best rodgers couldnt throw deep ball normal zest accuracy wasnt razor sharp usual first time since week 9 2009 rodgers threw three interceptions major reason green bay lost turnover battle 40 fell host carolina well fairy tale hoping rodgers said game lay surgery bed eight weeks ago thinking moment obviously saw going little differently im proud guys way played last weeks today disappointed didnt play well obviously hold high standard expected play well good defense made many mistakes rodgers finished 26 45 290 yards three touchdowns three critical interceptions rodgers passer rating 715 well career average 1041 thought aaron lot good things mccarthy said thought competed like always obviously look stat line im stating obvious hard overcome minus4 turnovers game thought aaron lot good things carolina blitzed rodgers early often twotime mvp couldnt handle heat rodgers completed 4 12 passes blitz threw two interceptions passer rating 59 shockingly rodgers carried ball six times 43 yards secondmost rushing yards team rodgers even called number fourthand1 ripped 7yard run rodgers looked great wide receiver randall cobb said missed opportunities didnt connect plays wish would back ways receivers standpoint quarterbacks standpoint thats flow game thats goes sometimes try make plays whenever opportunities opportunities figure though 2017 packers playoff hopes almost dead seems little reason rodgers take field season instead extra rest would give collarbone still isnt 100 percent additional time heal rodgers would play reinjure collarbone offseason would spent rehabbing instead preparing 2018 rodgers asked smart play would shut 2017 well dont know said im going see feel monday like said im little sore well see feel tomorrow make decision point likelihood decision made sunday green bays superman wasnt super early third quarter colin jones safety panthers intercepted aaron rodgers pass runback carolina linebacker thomas davis nfls man year 2014 came adams blind side delivered helmettohelmet blow adams suffered concussion didnt return monday davis suspended two games davis apologized afterward packers werent exactly buying ill never understand adams tweeted monday game already dangerous enough got pro bowl players head hunting saying didnt mean harm adams also suffered concussion week 4 brutal hit chicagos danny trevathan head coach mike mccarthy particularly agitated latest hit addressing monday night theres place game types hits mccarthy said thats made loud clear hit totally unnecessary far type rule changes want add thats obviously future discussion player suspended whatever think davante position shouldnt hit like clear like panthers head coach ron rivera ive always respected play style football team hit dirty hit notes k mason crosby executed perfect onside kick 243 left recovered packers safety marwin evans crosbys kick took one large bounce died slid arms panthers doeverything rookie christian mccaffrey rg jahri evans solid pickup free agency green bay 34yearold evans 12th nfl season wouldnt commit playing 2018 dont know evans said ill evaluate season report card vs panthers passing offense qb aaron rodgers threw three touchdown passes return broken collarbone also threw three interceptions first time since 2009 rushing offense c green bay actually ran 120 yards averaged 63 yards per carry passhappy head coach mike mccarthy called 14 running plays day pass defense f carolina quarterback cam newton threw four touchdown passes 1280 passer rating rush defense dminus carolina ran 151 yards averaged 40 yards per carry special teams bminus packers punter justin vogel continued impressive rookie season knocking punts inside 20yard line coaching f mccarthy arguably poorest coaching season 12 years green bay different packers developed solid running game rodgers sidelined mccarthy abandoned panthers mccarthy called pass plays whopping 785 percent time astronomical number considering rodgers first game back injury move course blew rodgers didnt play close mvp form | 729 |
<p>Almost 14 years ago, the inaugural issue of&#160;Policy Review&#160;under newly appointed editor Tod&#160;Lindberg&#160;ran an&#160; <a href="http://www.hoover.org/publications/policy-review/article/6494" type="external">essay</a>&#160;of mine called “Why Ritalin Rules.” It observed that American children were taking psychotropic drugs at (then-) record rates; that some doctors and other experts believed methylphenidate (the generic name for Ritalin) was being over-prescribed; that the disorder for which it and related stimulants were given — Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder — included a uniquely protean symptoms checklist; and that the line between science and advocacy was hard to find in the bustling pediatric zone of the psychotropic universe.</p>
<p>Alongside praise, the piece also drew flak — lots of it. Brickbats crossed the political aisle. From left to right, some readers hated it. At the time, that reaction seemed surprising. After all, unlike many pieces penned in those days about children and psychiatric drugs, “Why Ritalin Rules” rounded up some ten years’ worth of medical and other specialized literature. It wasn’t written to inflame, but to try and understand a potent and obvious development. Regardless, the conclusion drawn from all the emotional static was that the moment to have a reasonable conversation hadn’t yet arrived.</p>
<p>That was then. What a difference a decade-plus and millions more prescriptions can make.</p>
<p>Sunday, on the front and center of page one of the&#160;New York Times, author Alan Schwarz thoroughly if inadvertently ratifies the argument of “Why Ritalin Rules” in a long and absorbing&#160; <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/health/the-selling-of-attention-deficit-disorder.html" type="external">story</a>&#160;called “The Selling of Attention Deficit Disorder: The Number of Diagnoses Soared Amid a 20-Year Drug Marketing Campaign.”</p>
<p>A few highlights from his report: Prescriptions for stimulant drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall have more than quadrupled in the past ten years. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, “ADHD is now the second most frequent long-term diagnosis in children, narrowly trailing asthma.” Citing the same CDC, a psychologist and professor emeritus at Duke University named Dr. Keith Conners — for 50 years a leader in the effort to medicate children exhibiting the symptoms of ADHD — is emblematic of the specialists now having second thoughts. The rising rate of diagnosis, he recently told an assembly of fellow experts, is “a national disaster of dangerous proportions.”</p>
<p>Apparently, these are now legitimate subjects for discussion. In fact much of what Schwarz relays, like Dr. Conner’s quote, is more alarming than anything in my earlier&#160;Policy Review&#160;piece. The&#160;Times&#160;story also does something else done first in “Why Ritalin Rules”: It administers a standard “Could you have ADHD?” quiz to a number of subjects. Just as uncanny, it reaches the same results that appeared in my more limited experiment back in 1999. Some half of those canvassed by such a quiz, in 1999 and today, appeared likely to have ADD/ADHD, i.e., they would probably qualify for stimulant drugs.</p>
<p>“The Selling of Attention Deficit Disorder” isn’t the only revisionist or probing look at psychotropic drugs since the explosion of the 1990s. In 2001, a&#160; <a href="http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,140562,00.html" type="external">cover story</a>&#160;in&#160;Time&#160;magazine by Nancy Gibbs on “The Age of Ritalin” emphasized the social complexity of the medications. Other essays here and there have mapped related human ground. There’s also the fact that “prescription drug abuse continues to be the nation’s fastest growing drug problem,” as a 2013 report from the Drug Enforcement Administration&#160; <a href="http://www.justice.gov/dea/resource-center/DIR-017-13%20NDTA%20Summary%20final.pdf" type="external">puts it</a>; about 1 million out of 6 million “nonmedical users,” it’s estimated (somehow) in that document, are users of stimulants. And the moral hazard assumed by college kids and others who sell their own pills to people who end up in emergency rooms has barely been touched.</p>
<p>All of which raises a question that might finally get a fair hearing now: Given these and other questions related to the prescription explosion, why do psychotropics still rule?</p>
<p>Some people who study drugs make the commonsensical point that every age has its chemical remedies of choice. And so one answer might be that just as Valium was the it-pill for mothers and doctors in an era when many women were at home with plenty of kids while their husbands were away working, so do today’s pediatric medications seem to help a different group of women: those who aren’t home all day, who are working outside the home, and who often don’t have husbands. A study in the&#160;Canadian Medical Association Journal, for instance,&#160; <a href="http://www.cmaj.ca/content/176/12/1711.full" type="external">found</a>&#160;that divorce essentially doubles the likelihood that a given child will be prescribed stimulants.</p>
<p>And yet — to sound a note often missing that also demands a listen here — divorced and never-married households aren’t the only ones choking for air. Even moms who&#160;aren’t&#160;single are making similar frantic rounds: mother and wife and breadwinner, housekeeper and laundress, chef and volunteer, and the rest. They, too, have smaller margins for domestic error than they did before. So many women perceive, and frequently report.</p>
<p>Forget the debate about having it all. The ideological idol of “equality” has trickled down to mean that many women are expected to be&#160;doing&#160;it all. They’re feeling it. And the drug companies feel their pain. Consider this note from the&#160;Times&#160;piece: When federal guidelines changed in the late 1990s such that direct marketing became possible, writes Schwarz, “pharmaceutical companies began targeting perhaps the most impressionable consumers of all: parents, especially mothers.”</p>
<p>The widest lens on the pediatric psychotropic explosion may be this: It’s in part another consequence of the rotten deal that many women, single&#160;and&#160;married, have gotten out of the sexual revolution. Not all of them, obviously enough, but many. In ways that aren’t widely acknowledged yet, and someday will be, the “family changes” of the post-revolutionary world have stretched certain members of humanity to the breaking point — starting with, but not limited to, some children.</p>
<p>Thus, school under the new family regimen becomes longer than ever before (before- and after-care programs have exploded in tandem with stimulant use). Districts overburdened by their role as parent substitutes respond by reining in whatever they can (recess and exercise hours have been cut back in tandem with stimulant use). Legislatures all over consider shortening or abolishing summer vacation — because in an age without family backup, “vacation” is just an annual headache of more child-care bills.</p>
<p>And so goes the continuing and mostly unseen squeeze on childhood. Today’s kids are now institutionalized for more hours than their parents were, with less time to jump and run and move muscles and bones than their parents had. Many are also without fathers, as everyone knows. Is it any wonder that the advertising wizards have come up with the message that at least&#160;something&#160;will help Mommy out: taking your medicine?</p>
<p>“Better test scores at school, more chores done at home, an independence I try to encourage, a smile I can always count on,” as one ad reported in the&#160;Times&#160;had one Mommy say. In another ad for another drug, the caption ran, “There’s a great kid in there.” The child pictured was taking off his mask. Wearing a monster suit.</p>
<p>It’s not the whole story. But it’s not okay.</p>
<p>Many people thank God and their doctors for what performance-enhancing drugs have done for their own children and families. No one doubts it. But what’s gone missing from the discussion is this underlying reality: In an age when families from high to low are imploding, the pressure on&#160;everyone&#160;to toe the line is enormous — especially kids. The family that once protected children in all kinds of ways, including by adopting a more forgiving and less institutional standard for their behavior, is now weakened and defensive as never before. It leaves a vacuum that only institutions can fill — and they do, sometimes aided by drugs to help kids behave according to institutional demands. This aspect of the gravitational pull toward the psychotropic universe deserves to be part of the conversation, too, and mostly hasn’t been.</p>
<p>As Dr. Lawrence Diller — who was already voicing heretical thoughts about the stimulant explosion back when I quoted from his book&#160; <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/redirect/amazon.p?j=0553379062" type="external">Running on Ritalin</a>&#160;in 1999 — now tells the&#160;Times, in a striking metaphor: “Pharma pushed as far as they could, but you can’t just blame the virus. You have to have a susceptible host for the epidemic to take hold. There’s something they know about us that they utilize and exploit.”</p>
<p>Exactly. And what Pharma knows better than most is that the happy talk about how kids today are doing fine, thank you very much, is a story we tell ourselves to avoid the obvious. Some of their moms aren’t all right, either, another fact that doesn’t get nearly the attention it should. And some of those fathers are suffering from the fallout too, whether self-inflicted or not. In the ashes of the sexual revolution, someone has found a gold mine.</p> | false | 1 | almost 14 years ago inaugural issue of160policy review160under newly appointed editor tod160lindberg160ran an160 essay160of mine called ritalin rules observed american children taking psychotropic drugs record rates doctors experts believed methylphenidate generic name ritalin overprescribed disorder related stimulants given attention deficit disorderattention deficit hyperactivity disorder included uniquely protean symptoms checklist line science advocacy hard find bustling pediatric zone psychotropic universe alongside praise piece also drew flak lots brickbats crossed political aisle left right readers hated time reaction seemed surprising unlike many pieces penned days children psychiatric drugs ritalin rules rounded ten years worth medical specialized literature wasnt written inflame try understand potent obvious development regardless conclusion drawn emotional static moment reasonable conversation hadnt yet arrived difference decadeplus millions prescriptions make sunday front center page one the160new york times author alan schwarz thoroughly inadvertently ratifies argument ritalin rules long absorbing160 story160called selling attention deficit disorder number diagnoses soared amid 20year drug marketing campaign highlights report prescriptions stimulant drugs ritalin adderall quadrupled past ten years according data centers disease control adhd second frequent longterm diagnosis children narrowly trailing asthma citing cdc psychologist professor emeritus duke university named dr keith conners 50 years leader effort medicate children exhibiting symptoms adhd emblematic specialists second thoughts rising rate diagnosis recently told assembly fellow experts national disaster dangerous proportions apparently legitimate subjects discussion fact much schwarz relays like dr conners quote alarming anything earlier160policy review160piece the160times160story also something else done first ritalin rules administers standard could adhd quiz number subjects uncanny reaches results appeared limited experiment back 1999 half canvassed quiz 1999 today appeared likely addadhd ie would probably qualify stimulant drugs selling attention deficit disorder isnt revisionist probing look psychotropic drugs since explosion 1990s 2001 a160 cover story160in160time160magazine nancy gibbs age ritalin emphasized social complexity medications essays mapped related human ground theres also fact prescription drug abuse continues nations fastest growing drug problem 2013 report drug enforcement administration160 puts 1 million 6 million nonmedical users estimated somehow document users stimulants moral hazard assumed college kids others sell pills people end emergency rooms barely touched raises question might finally get fair hearing given questions related prescription explosion psychotropics still rule people study drugs make commonsensical point every age chemical remedies choice one answer might valium itpill mothers doctors era many women home plenty kids husbands away working todays pediatric medications seem help different group women arent home day working outside home often dont husbands study the160canadian medical association journal instance160 found160that divorce essentially doubles likelihood given child prescribed stimulants yet sound note often missing also demands listen divorced nevermarried households arent ones choking air even moms who160arent160single making similar frantic rounds mother wife breadwinner housekeeper laundress chef volunteer rest smaller margins domestic error many women perceive frequently report forget debate ideological idol equality trickled mean many women expected be160doing160it theyre feeling drug companies feel pain consider note the160times160piece federal guidelines changed late 1990s direct marketing became possible writes schwarz pharmaceutical companies began targeting perhaps impressionable consumers parents especially mothers widest lens pediatric psychotropic explosion may part another consequence rotten deal many women single160and160married gotten sexual revolution obviously enough many ways arent widely acknowledged yet someday family changes postrevolutionary world stretched certain members humanity breaking point starting limited children thus school new family regimen becomes longer ever aftercare programs exploded tandem stimulant use districts overburdened role parent substitutes respond reining whatever recess exercise hours cut back tandem stimulant use legislatures consider shortening abolishing summer vacation age without family backup vacation annual headache childcare bills goes continuing mostly unseen squeeze childhood todays kids institutionalized hours parents less time jump run move muscles bones parents many also without fathers everyone knows wonder advertising wizards come message least160something160will help mommy taking medicine better test scores school chores done home independence try encourage smile always count one ad reported the160times160had one mommy say another ad another drug caption ran theres great kid child pictured taking mask wearing monster suit whole story okay many people thank god doctors performanceenhancing drugs done children families one doubts whats gone missing discussion underlying reality age families high low imploding pressure on160everyone160to toe line enormous especially kids family protected children kinds ways including adopting forgiving less institutional standard behavior weakened defensive never leaves vacuum institutions fill sometimes aided drugs help kids behave according institutional demands aspect gravitational pull toward psychotropic universe deserves part conversation mostly hasnt dr lawrence diller already voicing heretical thoughts stimulant explosion back quoted book160 running ritalin160in 1999 tells the160times striking metaphor pharma pushed far could cant blame virus susceptible host epidemic take hold theres something know us utilize exploit exactly pharma knows better happy talk kids today fine thank much story tell avoid obvious moms arent right either another fact doesnt get nearly attention fathers suffering fallout whether selfinflicted ashes sexual revolution someone found gold mine | 793 |
<p>Tyranny approaches slowly, and always on several fronts</p>
<p>Tyranny seldom arrives in a country rapidly and fully grown. Military coups against freely elected governments—like the one supported by U.S. Democrats and Republicans in Egypt—are frequent in history but seldom bring permanent changes for the better in government. They are often simply preludes to sporadic violence and ultimately civil war.</p>
<p>In America, our Founders, and especially General Washington, did all they could to ensure the military remained subordinate to political leaders. To this day, their work has been successful, although one wonders what our service personnel are thinking after sixty years of being sent to war by presidents of both parties who are eager to spend their lives but have no intention of winning.</p>
<p>One must especially wonder what goes on in the minds of our soldiers, Marines, diplomats, and intelligence officers now that they cannot be certain that future presidents and their cabinet officers will make even minimal efforts to protect them while deployed overseas. Perhaps more than the abject defeats Bush and Obama pinned on the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq, America’s defense establishment writ large must wonder what comes next after Obama, Brennan, Biden, and Hillary “The Butcheress of Benghazi” Clinton sat on their arrogant butts and refused to send additional security to Libya until official Washington had the opportunity to watch Americans die on a live video feed, and then see Congress’s bipartisan refusal to name and bring to trial those responsible for what looks very much like negligent homicide.</p>
<p>But because the U.S. military in the ranks is a disciplined, obedient, and fiercely loyal organization, and because it is led largely by time-serving generals who resolutely refuse to resign and speak out about the unconscionable waste of young lives that occur when presidents routinely go into wars they do not intend to win, the threat of tyranny-via-coup in America is—for now—quite negligible.</p>
<p>Tyranny in America, however, is coming in small steps for which both parties are responsible, but for which the Democrats—because of their dominant historical traits: slavery, secession, segregation, and socialism—are best qualified and most focused on installing. Let’s look at small parts of two much bigger national-government programs—tax collection and foreign aid.</p>
<p>If current Obama-administration leaks turn out to be true, the FBI is going to conclude—without any significant investigation into the issue—that the attack of Obama’s IRS on American conservatives and the 1st Amendment did not amount to criminality. If that decision to made, you can count it as another deliberate step along the path toward the tyranny Obama and his party want to establish. Does anyone in their right mind really believe that “rogue bureaucrats” at the IRS launched a definitively unconstitutional attack on conservatives, their organizations, and the Constitution without the initiative and sanction for that illegal offensive coming directly from the White House? Find such a person, and you have found an idiot, a Democrat, a Progressive, or a non-Tea Party Republican. (NB: This last sentence may be redundant after the word idiot.)</p>
<p>And then there are the new regulations that add not to the IRS’s efficient collection of taxes, but to its power to control and limit Americans’ political organizations, speech, and actions—regulations than can be used by Obama or any future president to paralyze or persecute his political opposition. Since neither party has moved to eliminate these regulations, there appears to be no choice for Americans but to regard IRS officers as the White House’s political operatives and thus the clear enemies of most Americans and their liberties. Indeed, individuals willing to work for the current IRS can only be considered enemies of the Constitution and as a kind of political police who slither about like slugs snooping for any person who dares oppose and work politically to defeat the incumbent government.</p>
<p>With tar-and-feathering sadly out of vogue, what can be done by citizens to deal with this sort of tyranny? One possible solution would be for the Congress to summon enough courage to make all IRS officials—men and women—wear distinctive uniforms so citizens can identify their enemies and stay as far away from them as possible. I would suggest as appropriate a very shiny black uniform with bright yellow facings around pockets, seams, collars, and cuffs. The shiny black would denote the depravity of any American citizen who joins a service that has been redesigned to destroy the 1st Amendment and to take the earnings of working people and give it to the Democratic base, the 50-percent of Americans who pay no taxes. The yellow facings would testify to the fact that only cowardly bullies would persecute their fellow citizens because they are safely backed and protected by unconstitutional laws enforced by Obama’s Gauleiters at DOJ and FBI.</p>
<p>A mandate for uniforms is unlikely, however, as neither Democrats nor most Republicans want citizens to have a fair chance to beat the tax-sucking tyranny they are installing. Therefore, the average citizen must take action on his own and ostracize IRS officials from all possible social, religious, and organizational venues. Keep them off of school boards, PTAs, Protestant vestries, local government institutions, Catholic church councils, scouting organizations, theater groups, little leagues, animal-rescue groups, etc. And if you cannot do this, either stay away from groups that have current or former IRS officials as members or be a silent Sam in their presence, as well as in the presence of their children, who, to please Il Duce—sorry, I meant to write “the president”—IRS officials will task to do their listening and report back on what you think and say. Bill Clinton almost killed the concept of shame in America, but perhaps the much-needed shaming of IRS officials might revive the concept and make it useful until that happy day when tar-and-feathering again becomes mainstream.</p>
<p>And then there is foreign aid. Let’s take a look at Syria. Everyone in the United States and around the world seems to know that America is broke, with the exception of the elected members of both U.S. political parties. Notwithstanding the country’s apparently inexorable death-by-debt, these oblivious nabobs will spend whatever it takes to make themselves believe they are good people because they give the taxes of hardworking Americans to venal and incompetent foreigners.</p>
<p>Last week the media reported that Washington had pledged $380 million dollars to help Syrians who are displaced as a result of the war they wanted, started, and are waging against their own government. Now, there are clearly Syrians who need a burger and a blanket, but by what possible interpretation of the Constitution can it be legal to for Washington to steal money from Americans—that is, tax them—and then use it, not to improve their lot or better the country’s defense, but to dole out to foreigners inconvenienced by the war they started?</p>
<p>Foreign refugees of all kinds, in all places, and at all times deserve help, but that help must be provided out of the goodness of&#160; peoples’ hearts; hearts that are moved to act by the once far-more-common human trait known as charity—and charity is not remotely the job of the U.S. government. Let Obama fork over his book royalties and the money he no longer spends on cocaine; let Kerry pony-up part of his wife’s ketchup capital; let McCain donate some of his wife’s money; let Pope Francis divest himself of his Church’s priceless art works and luxurious castles; and let everyone else donate—or not—as they see fit. But do not spend the taxes of Americans on foreigners whose plight is self-inflicted rather than on the dire needs of their own country and fellow citizens.</p>
<p>If the denizens of official Washington have a surplus $380 million they can frivolously give to foreigners, that money clearly should never have been collected by the lamentably corrupt IRS in the first place. If such a surplus exists, it ideally should be returned to the taxpayer. If it must be spent, it should be used to reduce malnutrition among American children and to help maimed U.S. military veterans. In the latter case, care for these young men and women is increasingly defaulting to private sector and non-profit voluntary organizations because the Veterans’ Administration is both callous and incompetent, and because ever more tax money is needed for Obama’s rapidly expanding food-stamp program which funds slackers, illegal aliens, and those deserving-to-starve individuals who tell the press they are just too weary, depressed, and sad to continue looking for work. After all, the Democratic Party’s core supporters—not legless young Marines—must come first.</p>
<p>And if $380 million seems like pocket change to anyone, perhaps a light might be focused on South Sudan, where our elected representatives and Il Duce—sorry, I mean President Obama—have poured more than $1.3 billion since 2011, according to the Congressional Research Service. Why South Sudan? Well because a U.S.-led intervention there, featuring an Israeli-like land theft, furthered the Barack Obama/Hillary Clinton/Susan Rice civilizational war on Islam. They, their European buddies, and their UN hit-man simply stole 40-percent of Muslim Sudan’s territory and 75-percent of its oil resources and gave it to a few venal tribes that hate each other—witness today’s astounding levels of graft and deepening inter-tribal war there. These Sudanese beneficiaries of IRS collection have proven their inability to govern, while demonstrating an unlimited talent for corruption and murder.</p>
<p>Not coincidentally, South Sudan is another favorite cause of Hollywood’s ever-expanding community of foreign policy geniuses and so Obama’s lavish dispensing of U.S. tax dollars on a country and people utterly unimportant to the United States, and demonstrably unfit for self-government, earns the Democrats increased contributions from Hollywood’s leaders, those creatures whose only demonstrable talent is to teach America’s pre-teens—via movies, video games, and other media—the sheer fun of killing people for sport.</p>
<p>Tyranny comes, in essence, through the actions of a national leader who does what he wants to do, because he wants to do it, no matter what the letter and spirit of the laws say.&#160; For example, an American tyrant could use his tax-collection system not only as a revenue gatherer, but as a tool for persecuting and silencing his political opponents. An American tyrant could also—with his willing bipartisan lackies in the government’s other branches—extract exorbitant taxes from citizens and then give them to foreigners, an action that clearly tells hungry American kids and crippled soldiers and Marines that, to quote an old and dear friend, they have few votes and so “can go piss up a rope.”</p>
<p>The English republican writer John Milton argued that tyranny usually arrives and entrenches itself not with murders and treason, but rather stealthily and gradually. Today we Americans are watching the truth of John Milton’s words unfold.</p> | false | 1 | tyranny approaches slowly always several fronts tyranny seldom arrives country rapidly fully grown military coups freely elected governmentslike one supported us democrats republicans egyptare frequent history seldom bring permanent changes better government often simply preludes sporadic violence ultimately civil war america founders especially general washington could ensure military remained subordinate political leaders day work successful although one wonders service personnel thinking sixty years sent war presidents parties eager spend lives intention winning one must especially wonder goes minds soldiers marines diplomats intelligence officers certain future presidents cabinet officers make even minimal efforts protect deployed overseas perhaps abject defeats bush obama pinned us military afghanistan iraq americas defense establishment writ large must wonder comes next obama brennan biden hillary butcheress benghazi clinton sat arrogant butts refused send additional security libya official washington opportunity watch americans die live video feed see congresss bipartisan refusal name bring trial responsible looks much like negligent homicide us military ranks disciplined obedient fiercely loyal organization led largely timeserving generals resolutely refuse resign speak unconscionable waste young lives occur presidents routinely go wars intend win threat tyrannyviacoup america isfor nowquite negligible tyranny america however coming small steps parties responsible democratsbecause dominant historical traits slavery secession segregation socialismare best qualified focused installing lets look small parts two much bigger nationalgovernment programstax collection foreign aid current obamaadministration leaks turn true fbi going concludewithout significant investigation issuethat attack obamas irs american conservatives 1st amendment amount criminality decision made count another deliberate step along path toward tyranny obama party want establish anyone right mind really believe rogue bureaucrats irs launched definitively unconstitutional attack conservatives organizations constitution without initiative sanction illegal offensive coming directly white house find person found idiot democrat progressive nontea party republican nb last sentence may redundant word idiot new regulations add irss efficient collection taxes power control limit americans political organizations speech actionsregulations used obama future president paralyze persecute political opposition since neither party moved eliminate regulations appears choice americans regard irs officers white houses political operatives thus clear enemies americans liberties indeed individuals willing work current irs considered enemies constitution kind political police slither like slugs snooping person dares oppose work politically defeat incumbent government tarandfeathering sadly vogue done citizens deal sort tyranny one possible solution would congress summon enough courage make irs officialsmen womenwear distinctive uniforms citizens identify enemies stay far away possible would suggest appropriate shiny black uniform bright yellow facings around pockets seams collars cuffs shiny black would denote depravity american citizen joins service redesigned destroy 1st amendment take earnings working people give democratic base 50percent americans pay taxes yellow facings would testify fact cowardly bullies would persecute fellow citizens safely backed protected unconstitutional laws enforced obamas gauleiters doj fbi mandate uniforms unlikely however neither democrats republicans want citizens fair chance beat taxsucking tyranny installing therefore average citizen must take action ostracize irs officials possible social religious organizational venues keep school boards ptas protestant vestries local government institutions catholic church councils scouting organizations theater groups little leagues animalrescue groups etc either stay away groups current former irs officials members silent sam presence well presence children please il ducesorry meant write presidentirs officials task listening report back think say bill clinton almost killed concept shame america perhaps muchneeded shaming irs officials might revive concept make useful happy day tarandfeathering becomes mainstream foreign aid lets take look syria everyone united states around world seems know america broke exception elected members us political parties notwithstanding countrys apparently inexorable deathbydebt oblivious nabobs spend whatever takes make believe good people give taxes hardworking americans venal incompetent foreigners last week media reported washington pledged 380 million dollars help syrians displaced result war wanted started waging government clearly syrians need burger blanket possible interpretation constitution legal washington steal money americansthat tax themand use improve lot better countrys defense dole foreigners inconvenienced war started foreign refugees kinds places times deserve help help must provided goodness of160 peoples hearts hearts moved act farmorecommon human trait known charityand charity remotely job us government let obama fork book royalties money longer spends cocaine let kerry ponyup part wifes ketchup capital let mccain donate wifes money let pope francis divest churchs priceless art works luxurious castles let everyone else donateor notas see fit spend taxes americans foreigners whose plight selfinflicted rather dire needs country fellow citizens denizens official washington surplus 380 million frivolously give foreigners money clearly never collected lamentably corrupt irs first place surplus exists ideally returned taxpayer must spent used reduce malnutrition among american children help maimed us military veterans latter case care young men women increasingly defaulting private sector nonprofit voluntary organizations veterans administration callous incompetent ever tax money needed obamas rapidly expanding foodstamp program funds slackers illegal aliens deservingtostarve individuals tell press weary depressed sad continue looking work democratic partys core supportersnot legless young marinesmust come first 380 million seems like pocket change anyone perhaps light might focused south sudan elected representatives il ducesorry mean president obamahave poured 13 billion since 2011 according congressional research service south sudan well usled intervention featuring israelilike land theft furthered barack obamahillary clintonsusan rice civilizational war islam european buddies un hitman simply stole 40percent muslim sudans territory 75percent oil resources gave venal tribes hate otherwitness todays astounding levels graft deepening intertribal war sudanese beneficiaries irs collection proven inability govern demonstrating unlimited talent corruption murder coincidentally south sudan another favorite cause hollywoods everexpanding community foreign policy geniuses obamas lavish dispensing us tax dollars country people utterly unimportant united states demonstrably unfit selfgovernment earns democrats increased contributions hollywoods leaders creatures whose demonstrable talent teach americas preteensvia movies video games mediathe sheer fun killing people sport tyranny comes essence actions national leader wants wants matter letter spirit laws say160 example american tyrant could use taxcollection system revenue gatherer tool persecuting silencing political opponents american tyrant could alsowith willing bipartisan lackies governments branchesextract exorbitant taxes citizens give foreigners action clearly tells hungry american kids crippled soldiers marines quote old dear friend votes go piss rope english republican writer john milton argued tyranny usually arrives entrenches murders treason rather stealthily gradually today americans watching truth john miltons words unfold | 1,008 |
<p>Saudi Arabia, China and Vietnam have been appointed to the United Nations Council on Human Rights. All three countries forbid free speech and harshly punish criticism of the regime. None respects religious freedom or freedom of conscience. None has a transparent system of law, and – to put it mildly – none has an immigration problem. So what does this tell us about the idea of human rights?</p>
<p>During the 17th&#160;century England was torn apart by civil war. This war came to an end in the ‘ <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/glorious_revolution_01.shtml" type="external">Glorious Revolution</a>’ of 1688, when James II was expelled from the country and William of Orange welcomed in his stead. At one level this represented the popular desire for a Protestant rather than a Roman Catholic dynasty on the throne. At another level it meant the final victory of a centuries-long struggle for a form of government that would see individual freedom rather than collective submission as its goal.</p>
<p>Henceforth individuals were to enjoy freedoms that protected them, their property and their way of life from arbitrary invasion, be it from their neighbours or from the officers of the crown. Such was affirmed next year in the 1689&#160; <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/WillandMarSess2/1/2/introduction" type="external">Bill of Rights</a>, which guaranteed freedom from arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, the protection of free speech in Parliament, and the abolition of the Royal prerogative to appoint judges or to act as judge. The overall effect was to make the monarch as much subject to the law as the ordinary citizen.</p>
<p>The Bill of Rights was regarded, at the time, as reaffirming the ancient liberties of the English people, embodied in the centuries-long jurisdiction of the common-law courts. It was a weapon in the hand of the individual, against all those who sought to control him, whatever their power and whatever the interests that they represented. The philosopher&#160; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke" type="external">John Locke</a>, in his&#160;Second Treatise on Civil Government, published in the following year, put the point rather differently: human beings, he argued, have natural rights, and these cannot legitimately be taken away or qualified. The right to proceed about one’s business without threat to life, limb and property was, he regarded, sanctified by the English law because sanctified by Reason, and therefore by God.</p>
<p>It was no easy matter to define what these ‘natural rights’ amount to, and when Locke’s arguments were taken up in the&#160; <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/" type="external">American Declaration of Independence</a>, and subsequently in the Constitutional ‘ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights" type="external">Bill of Rights</a>’, rather more provisions were included than would have occurred to a philosopher writing at the end of the English civil war.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the basic thought remained the same, and was at the root of all those claims for ‘human rights’ that carried conviction in the wake of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment" type="external">Enlightenment</a>. There are rights that we do not obtain from the government but which belong to us as human beings, rather than as citizens. These rights are&#160;freedoms. They guarantee that we can take charge of what most concerns us, express our opinions freely, and proceed about our business without threat from those in power.</p>
<p>There is another of putting this point: human rights protect the&#160;sovereignty of individuals&#160;against whoever might wish to enslave, silence or confine them.</p>
<p>Subsequent philosophers justified human rights by other arguments than those used by Locke – Kant argued one way, Hegel another, John Stuart Mill another. But the shared assumption was that rights are liberties. They are there to protect the individual against oppression, and especially oppression wielded by the clergy, the sovereign or the state. Their existence is fundamental to anything that we could call government by consent, and they capture the essence of the political process as we, in the West, have since conceived it – namely as a device for protecting the individual against the group. True,&#160; <a href="http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Bentham-Project/who" type="external">Jeremy Bentham&#160;</a>dismissed the idea of natural rights as ‘ <a href="http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&amp;aid=3372504" type="external">nonsense upon stilts</a>’. But we can perhaps agree with what he meant, which is that, however rights are defined, it needs a government to enforce them.</p>
<p>When&#160; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Roosevelt" type="external">Eleanor Roosevelt</a>&#160;and her advisers framed the United Nations <a href="http://http//www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/history.shtml" type="external">&#160;Universal Declaration of Human Rights</a>&#160;in 1945, they were seeking an impartial standpoint from which the various regimes and legal systems could be judged. The UN Declaration was to lay down a universal standard, which would be acceptable to everyone since it was founded in human nature alone. And the Declaration begins with a list of freedoms, in the manner of its predecessors, emphasizing that rights are limits to the power of the state and guarantees offered to each of us that we can be both governed and free.</p>
<p>By article 22, however, the emphasis has changed from&#160;freedoms&#160;to&#160;claims, and among the rights supposedly guaranteed by the Charter are radical claims against the State – claims that can be satisfied only by positive action from government. Here is article 22:</p>
<p />
<p>Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.</p>
<p>Contained within this right is an unspecified list of other rights called ‘economic, social and cultural’, which are held to be indispensable not for freedom but for ‘dignity’ and the ‘free development of personality’. Whatever this means in practice, it is quite clear that such alleged ‘rights’ can be guaranteed not by limiting the power of the state but by increasing it, and also by empowering the state to take as much of the property of its citizens as would be necessary to guarantee the ‘dignity’ of those who need a slice of it. The agenda has shifted from liberalism to socialism, without any indication of why or how.</p>
<p>Maybe this would not in itself be harmful. But subsequent uses of the concept must surely lead us to wonder where it is leading us. Take the European Convention of Human Rights, which was also adopted after the Second World War. This too begins from the traditional freedoms. And this too quickly wanders off into the realm of wish fulfillment. It is now applied by an activist court (the European Court of Human Rights) which aims to upset any piece of legislation that might have got up the nose of its far from impartial, and in any case highly politicized, judges. For example, the ‘right to a family life’ declared by the European Convention has been used&#160; <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8829277/Foreign-criminals-win-family-life-cases.html" type="external">to prevent the deportation</a>&#160;of a convicted (and dangerous) criminals; the right to the traditional life style of one’s ethnic community, declared by the ECHR, has been used to&#160; <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/philipjohnston/7972484/Settled-travellers-should-live-by-our-rules.html" type="external">install a park of mobile homes</a>&#160;in defiance of planning law, so destroying property values all around; the right to non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation has been used to force an old-fashioned Christian couple who live by taking in lodgers to&#160; <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10478260/Christian-BandB-owners-attack-new-orthodoxy-of-political-correctness.html" type="external">close down their business</a>. Bankers have even claimed their outrageous&#160; <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/08/bank-bonus-human-rights_n_4061735.html" type="external">bonuses as a human right</a>.</p>
<p>All those claims can of course be argued. No doubt there are reasons in favor as well as reasons against. But they all suggest that the human rights idea has been cast loose from its philosophical moorings, and that it can be applied by lawyers and legislators to turn any grievance into an enforceable claim without reference to the wider issues of public interest. (Rights, remember, belong toindividuals, and can therefore be wielded against the state, regardless of the interests that conflict with them.) The concept that was introduced in order to guarantee individual freedom is now being used to constrain it. In the name of human rights activist courts are enforcing orthodoxies that could never be imposed on us by an elected legislature.</p>
<p>But that brings me back to the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Saudis have already complained that Norway violates the human rights of Muslims by permitting ‘hate speech’ against them – in other words by refraining from silencing open criticism of the Koran. This from a country in which Christians are forced to conceal their faith, in which apostates are whipped or executed, in which women are maintained in a state of domestic subjection, and in which those brave enough to criticize either the regime or its fanatical clergy are either dead or in jail. The Saudis are calling for all criticism of religion and the Prophet Muhammad to be made illegal in Norway. And to illustrate their impartiality they accuse Norway of ‘increasing cases of domestic violence, rape crimes and inequality in riches’ – failing to mention that a disproportionate numbers of those ‘rape crimes’ have been committed by immigrant Muslims.</p>
<p>The freedoms granted to the Muslim faith in Norway are not granted to any faith other than Sunni Islam in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, it seems, Muslims have a ‘human right’ to be protected from the criticisms which their religion naturally invites. Clearly, whatever human rights are about, in the mind of the Saudi government, it is not the freedom of the individual. The doctrine of human rights, which was introduced to guarantee our freedom, is now being used to remove it. Religious fanatics and Leftist utopians have combined to subvert the only weapon that has until now been effective against them: the only weapon that could be used by the dissenting individual, but not by those who wished to silence him.</p>
<p>What is the solution? More philosophy or less? An attempt to return to the root idea of rights as freedoms, or a rejection of the whole idea as a costly mistake? Take your pick.</p> | false | 1 | saudi arabia china vietnam appointed united nations council human rights three countries forbid free speech harshly punish criticism regime none respects religious freedom freedom conscience none transparent system law put mildly none immigration problem tell us idea human rights 17th160century england torn apart civil war war came end glorious revolution 1688 james ii expelled country william orange welcomed stead one level represented popular desire protestant rather roman catholic dynasty throne another level meant final victory centurieslong struggle form government would see individual freedom rather collective submission goal henceforth individuals enjoy freedoms protected property way life arbitrary invasion neighbours officers crown affirmed next year 1689160 bill rights guaranteed freedom arbitrary arrest imprisonment protection free speech parliament abolition royal prerogative appoint judges act judge overall effect make monarch much subject law ordinary citizen bill rights regarded time reaffirming ancient liberties english people embodied centurieslong jurisdiction commonlaw courts weapon hand individual sought control whatever power whatever interests represented philosopher160 john locke his160second treatise civil government published following year put point rather differently human beings argued natural rights legitimately taken away qualified right proceed ones business without threat life limb property regarded sanctified english law sanctified reason therefore god easy matter define natural rights amount lockes arguments taken the160 american declaration independence subsequently constitutional bill rights rather provisions included would occurred philosopher writing end english civil war nevertheless basic thought remained root claims human rights carried conviction wake enlightenment rights obtain government belong us human beings rather citizens rights are160freedoms guarantee take charge concerns us express opinions freely proceed business without threat power another putting point human rights protect the160sovereignty individuals160against whoever might wish enslave silence confine subsequent philosophers justified human rights arguments used locke kant argued one way hegel another john stuart mill another shared assumption rights liberties protect individual oppression especially oppression wielded clergy sovereign state existence fundamental anything could call government consent capture essence political process west since conceived namely device protecting individual group true160 jeremy bentham160dismissed idea natural rights nonsense upon stilts perhaps agree meant however rights defined needs government enforce when160 eleanor roosevelt160and advisers framed united nations 160universal declaration human rights160in 1945 seeking impartial standpoint various regimes legal systems could judged un declaration lay universal standard would acceptable everyone since founded human nature alone declaration begins list freedoms manner predecessors emphasizing rights limits power state guarantees offered us governed free article 22 however emphasis changed from160freedoms160to160claims among rights supposedly guaranteed charter radical claims state claims satisfied positive action government article 22 everyone member society right social security entitled realization national effort international cooperation accordance organization resources state economic social cultural rights indispensable dignity free development personality contained within right unspecified list rights called economic social cultural held indispensable freedom dignity free development personality whatever means practice quite clear alleged rights guaranteed limiting power state increasing also empowering state take much property citizens would necessary guarantee dignity need slice agenda shifted liberalism socialism without indication maybe would harmful subsequent uses concept must surely lead us wonder leading us take european convention human rights also adopted second world war begins traditional freedoms quickly wanders realm wish fulfillment applied activist court european court human rights aims upset piece legislation might got nose far impartial case highly politicized judges example right family life declared european convention used160 prevent deportation160of convicted dangerous criminals right traditional life style ones ethnic community declared echr used to160 install park mobile homes160in defiance planning law destroying property values around right nondiscrimination grounds sexual orientation used force oldfashioned christian couple live taking lodgers to160 close business bankers even claimed outrageous160 bonuses human right claims course argued doubt reasons favor well reasons suggest human rights idea cast loose philosophical moorings applied lawyers legislators turn grievance enforceable claim without reference wider issues public interest rights remember belong toindividuals therefore wielded state regardless interests conflict concept introduced order guarantee individual freedom used constrain name human rights activist courts enforcing orthodoxies could never imposed us elected legislature brings back united nations human rights council saudis already complained norway violates human rights muslims permitting hate speech words refraining silencing open criticism koran country christians forced conceal faith apostates whipped executed women maintained state domestic subjection brave enough criticize either regime fanatical clergy either dead jail saudis calling criticism religion prophet muhammad made illegal norway illustrate impartiality accuse norway increasing cases domestic violence rape crimes inequality riches failing mention disproportionate numbers rape crimes committed immigrant muslims freedoms granted muslim faith norway granted faith sunni islam saudi arabia nevertheless seems muslims human right protected criticisms religion naturally invites clearly whatever human rights mind saudi government freedom individual doctrine human rights introduced guarantee freedom used remove religious fanatics leftist utopians combined subvert weapon effective weapon could used dissenting individual wished silence solution philosophy less attempt return root idea rights freedoms rejection whole idea costly mistake take pick | 800 |
<p />
<p>Dahiyeh, BEIRUT - This observer's neighbors seemed to believe, as most of us did, especially over the past year, that the war in Syria would in one form or another spill into our neighborhood, Dahiyeh, the Hezbollah stronghold in south Beirut near the Shatila and Burj el Barajeh Palestinian refugee camps.</p>
<p>And now it has, with a vengeance.</p>
<p>As this observer left his flat Tuesday morning and walked toward his motorbike on Abbas Mousawi Street en route to Shatila Palestinian Camp for a 10:30 a.m.&#160;appointment, at precisely 10:15 a.m. there was a tremendously loud&#160;blast. It seemed to shake our massive 12 story apartment building, which had been rebuilt by the WAAD (?promise?) Hezbollah construction enterprise, from the mountain of rubble it was turned into in July of 2006, leveled as most in the neighborhood were, by American weapons in the service of the Zionist regime still occupying Palestine.</p>
<p>Contrary to media reports, the blast was not on my street, Abass Mousawi, behind Bahman Hospital, but rather down a side street one block over and two east toward the Hezbollah media office near&#160;the Hezbollah sponsored Islamic Cooperation Center in the area of Bir al-Abed. The explosion occurred close to the Coop supermarket and Salah Ghandour Square.</p>
<p>Jumping on my motorbike, I was one of the first to arrive on the scene face to face with an inferno that initially seemed to engulf ten or so cars in a parking lot surrounded by eight or nine Waad built high-rise apartment buildings, being a few of the more than 250 residential buildings in our neighborhood leveled during the 33 day July 2006 war.</p>
<p>Finally, it seemed like an eternity, two fire trucks arrived and made their way thru the rapidly expanding chaos as nearby residential buildings with windows blown out started to empty of their inhabitants amidst fears that another blast may be triggered.&#160;&#160;A few men joined this observer in pulling the very long hoses close to the inferno as medics arrived and searched for injured.&#160;&#160;At press time, 38 neighbors were treated, including several children, at nearby Bahman Hospital,&#160;and others rushed to Rasoul al-Alham hospital and Cardiac Care Center, ten minutes away on airport road.</p>
<p>I observed a six feet by six feet, around eight foot deep crater at the blast site.&#160;As I watched the Red Crescent and Hezbollah emergency services staff care for the injured and the many who were traumatized, the crowd quickly grew to a few thousand, with fear, shock, and anger spreading.&#160;&#160;Many elderly slumped against walls and curbs dazed while neighbor helped neighbor, especially the young to cope with the effects of&#160;the blast which shattered windows and caused serious damage to several nearby residential buildings, including cracks in their walls.&#160;There was much panic and shouting, with crying turning to anger and with people caring for the elderly and children with apartment building entrances set up as emergency treatment areas and neighbors helping neighboring reassure one another.</p>
<p>The Hezbollah neighborhood of Dahiyeh has been for years considered the safest residential area of Beirut due to strong Hezbollah security measures that over the past year have been intensified, including the use of packs of explosive sniffing dogs moving up and across the streets and alleys, usually around three in the morning, which I have noticed since I often work during the night when its cooler and more quiet, and hearing a barking dog is very rare around here.&#160;&#160;More scrutiny-security cameras have been placed on utility poles and on rooftops, with security personnel frequently stopping and questioning new arrivals or visitors to the area and at time residents told not to go to their roofs.</p>
<p>Yet, as Syria's President Bashar Assad noted several months ago, despite intensive security measures taken in Damascus, it is still very difficult to prevent car bombings.</p>
<p>The speculation has already started concerning who committed this act of terrorism,&#160;one day before the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Whoever is was, cause the carnage&#160;by booby trapping a 1998&#160;Renault Rapid.&#160;No one has yet claimed credit and likely will not.&#160;&#160;Hezbollah's International Relations official&#160;Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar told al-Manar that the blast was carried out by the supporters of the so-called American-Israeli project. "There are clear Israeli fingerprints," Ammar said as he inspected the damage.</p>
<p>The Bir&#160;al-Abed bombing , not far from the 1985 CIA bombing&#160;&#160;ordered by William Casey that targeted Sayed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, in which 80 citizens were murdered and more than 200 wounded,&#160;&#160;&#160;is&#160;&#160;interpreted by some of the residents in my building (two families so far telling me they will move)&#160;&#160;as simply a message for Hezbollah to leave Syria.&#160;&#160;Because if it was a typical&#160;&#160;al Qaeda operation aiming at maximum civilian deaths, detonating the blast a&#160;&#160;few hundred yards in any direction would have left many more victims, according to a Hezbollah bomb specialist.</p>
<p>This observer counted 15 destroyed vehicles and more than 20 damaged.&#160;&#160;A fierce fire erupted among some of the vehicles, sending thick black smoke billowing high into the sky.&#160;I also saw gentlemen who I assumed was the parking lot attendant badly wounded.&#160;&#160;Another wounded man near him seemed also to be in serious condition.</p>
<p>Reuters has reported five were killed, but Hezbollah is denying this report. I met the Hezbollah media director on the scene, and his job was to get the facts straight before the Party of God made any announcements.</p>
<p>For many in my neighborhood, a major concern is that Syria's troubles will reopen the wounds of Lebanon's long civil war, but this time with the Sunni community, which by and large supports the Syrian opposition, being pitted against Hezbollah, the powerful Shite led resistance organization which supports Syria President Bashar Assad.</p>
<p>A reliable Hezbollah source has just advised this observer that 53 have been wounded, but so far no confirmed fatalities. This is the second time this year that the Hezbollah stronghold has come under attack following threats of retaliation by Syrian rebels.</p>
<p>The concierge of my building reported that as of 4 p.m. Beirut time on July 9, two suspects have been arrested following the blast.</p> | false | 1 | dahiyeh beirut observers neighbors seemed believe us especially past year war syria would one form another spill neighborhood dahiyeh hezbollah stronghold south beirut near shatila burj el barajeh palestinian refugee camps vengeance observer left flat tuesday morning walked toward motorbike abbas mousawi street en route shatila palestinian camp 1030 am160appointment precisely 1015 tremendously loud160blast seemed shake massive 12 story apartment building rebuilt waad promise hezbollah construction enterprise mountain rubble turned july 2006 leveled neighborhood american weapons service zionist regime still occupying palestine contrary media reports blast street abass mousawi behind bahman hospital rather side street one block two east toward hezbollah media office near160the hezbollah sponsored islamic cooperation center area bir alabed explosion occurred close coop supermarket salah ghandour square jumping motorbike one first arrive scene face face inferno initially seemed engulf ten cars parking lot surrounded eight nine waad built highrise apartment buildings 250 residential buildings neighborhood leveled 33 day july 2006 war finally seemed like eternity two fire trucks arrived made way thru rapidly expanding chaos nearby residential buildings windows blown started empty inhabitants amidst fears another blast may triggered160160a men joined observer pulling long hoses close inferno medics arrived searched injured160160at press time 38 neighbors treated including several children nearby bahman hospital160and others rushed rasoul alalham hospital cardiac care center ten minutes away airport road observed six feet six feet around eight foot deep crater blast site160as watched red crescent hezbollah emergency services staff care injured many traumatized crowd quickly grew thousand fear shock anger spreading160160many elderly slumped walls curbs dazed neighbor helped neighbor especially young cope effects of160the blast shattered windows caused serious damage several nearby residential buildings including cracks walls160there much panic shouting crying turning anger people caring elderly children apartment building entrances set emergency treatment areas neighbors helping neighboring reassure one another hezbollah neighborhood dahiyeh years considered safest residential area beirut due strong hezbollah security measures past year intensified including use packs explosive sniffing dogs moving across streets alleys usually around three morning noticed since often work night cooler quiet hearing barking dog rare around here160160more scrutinysecurity cameras placed utility poles rooftops security personnel frequently stopping questioning new arrivals visitors area time residents told go roofs yet syrias president bashar assad noted several months ago despite intensive security measures taken damascus still difficult prevent car bombings speculation already started concerning committed act terrorism160one day start holy month ramadan whoever cause carnage160by booby trapping 1998160renault rapid160no one yet claimed credit likely not160160hezbollahs international relations official160hezbollah mp ali ammar told almanar blast carried supporters socalled americanisraeli project clear israeli fingerprints ammar said inspected damage bir160alabed bombing far 1985 cia bombing160160ordered william casey targeted sayed mohammad hussein fadlallah 80 citizens murdered 200 wounded160160160is160160interpreted residents building two families far telling move160160as simply message hezbollah leave syria160160because typical160160al qaeda operation aiming maximum civilian deaths detonating blast a160160few hundred yards direction would left many victims according hezbollah bomb specialist observer counted 15 destroyed vehicles 20 damaged160160a fierce fire erupted among vehicles sending thick black smoke billowing high sky160i also saw gentlemen assumed parking lot attendant badly wounded160160another wounded man near seemed also serious condition reuters reported five killed hezbollah denying report met hezbollah media director scene job get facts straight party god made announcements many neighborhood major concern syrias troubles reopen wounds lebanons long civil war time sunni community large supports syrian opposition pitted hezbollah powerful shite led resistance organization supports syria president bashar assad reliable hezbollah source advised observer 53 wounded far confirmed fatalities second time year hezbollah stronghold come attack following threats retaliation syrian rebels concierge building reported 4 pm beirut time july 9 two suspects arrested following blast | 601 |
<p><a href="http://variety.com/t/megyn-kelly/" type="external">Megyn Kelly</a> is best known as <a href="http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/megyn-kelly-fox-news-star-anchor-republicans-hillary-clinton-1201524340/" type="external">the hard-edged news anchor who wasn’t afraid to push back</a> on conservative orthodoxy at <a href="http://variety.com/t/fox-news-channel/" type="external">Fox News Channel</a>. Her new employer, NBC Universal, is trying to trot out a softer side.</p>
<p>As NBC prepares to launch a new morning show led by the much-scrutinized Kelly, it has unleashed a promotional salvo that speaks less about her news chops and instead tries to unveil other facets of her personality. One recent promo shows Kelly shaking hands with people in a supermarket and at a baseball stadium, and suggests her program, “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/megyn-kelly-today/" type="external">Megyn Kelly Today</a>,” is “not about us versus them. It’s about us for everyone.” She’s sharing space on an NBCU billboard in Times Square that depicts her offering up a hot cup of coffee. In a video posted on her new show’s Twitter feed, she reveals a fondness for “Overboard,” the 1987 comedy featuring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.</p>
<p><a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/nbc-megyn-kelly-today-dateline-1201951582/" type="external">NBC is placing a big bet on Kelly</a>, whose national profile has broadened thanks to a rise at Fox News, a public tangle with President Donald Trump early in the election cycle and her recent move to NBC.&#160; NBCU is said to be paying her around $17 million a year. To form a bond with morning-show viewers, however, NBC will have to burnish “the kind of things that aren’t noticeable enough to estrange her existing fans, but will make a newer potential audience go ‘Huh. Who knew she was like that?’” says Rachel Weingarten, a brand strategist.</p>
<p>The new program, whose light-blue logo combines Kelly’s name with part of the “rainbow” that is part of the markings of NBC’s “Today” franchise, is slated to launch on Monday. But branding experts suggested the task of turning up the lighter aspects of Kelly’s personality won’t end after the first broadcast.</p>
<p>“She’s more of a hard-edged newsperson than a chit-chattering tell-me-about-your-book” type, says Allen Adamson of Brand Simple Consulting. NBC faces a task similar to the one CBS grappled with when it hired Katie Couric, long known for her convivial morning-show personality and tried to use it to shake up the format of the more serious “CBS Evening News” between 2006 and 2011, says Jeffrey McCall, a professor of media studies at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. “Kelly is known as the smart and aggressive news interviewer and now she is going to be trying to appeal to a different kind of audience in a calmer, more featurish setting,” he says.</p>
<p><a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/megyn-kelly-morning-news-kelly-ripa-ryan-seacrest-1202404971/" type="external">Kelly will be going toe-to-toe with “Live,”</a> the syndicated powerhouse that Disney/ABC Television Group has enhanced by adding Ryan Seacrest&#160;as Kelly Ripa’s co-host. &#160;Kelly’s program will be considered part of the overall “Today” franchise – it’s sandwiched between two hours featuring Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie and a 10 a.m. show led by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb – and is <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/megyn-kelly-today-show-tv-advertising-nbc-1202499790/" type="external">using that to assuage marketers</a> who might fret over supporting an unproven entry in the schedule. The launch comes after a mixed performance on a Sunday-night newsmagazine that raised some hackles, thanks to an interview with controversial web provocateur Alex Jones.</p>
<p>NBC hasn’t overplayed expectations for its new efforts involving Kelly. “There are very few news organizations adding programs right now. We have a complete reset of the 9 a.m. hour coming with Megyn, and a new offering on Sunday night at 7 p.m.,” <a href="http://variety.com/t/nbc-news/" type="external">NBC News</a> Chairman Andrew Lack told NBC affiliates at a meeting in May. “It’s not going to be perfect on Day One, and we’re not going to be in first place on Day Two – but I’d rather be holding our cards than anyone else’s.”</p>
<p>The company has made the launch of her program a promotional priority in recent weeks. <a href="http://variety.com/t/nbcuniversal/" type="external">NBCUniversal</a> has aired promos during “Sunday Night Football”; “NBC Nightly News”; and “America’s Got Talent.” The show is being touted in bottom-of-the-screen “snipes” during various programs. In addition to Times Square, Kelly is also being featured on a billboard out on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles and on signs at NBCU’s theme parks.</p>
<p>In recent weeks, Kelly has also followed a broadcast-network tradition of pressing the flesh at various network affiliates. It’s a time-honored practice taken up by most TV personalities taking on a big job, whether they be late-night comedians or daytime talk leaders, because the stations can do a lot to connect local viewers to a national program. Pictures on social-media pages for the new Kelly program show her hosting a coffee mug at Orlando’s WESH, meeting staffers at KXAS in Fort Worth, and visiting WRAL in Raleigh. She also found time to take in a Durham Bulls game.</p>
<p>And she’s making the rounds of entertainment-focused talk shows. She appeared on Ellen DeGeneres’ syndicated program on Tuesday, outfitted in a Sumo-wrestler fat suit. “This does not feel like an Edward R. Murrow moment,” she told the host, who put her through a talk-show obstacle course, including cooking tips, exercise, dancing and shaking the hands of audience members. On Thursday night, she’s scheduled to visit Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show.</p>
<p>Kelly’s transformation will likely continue, and after her program debuts, more of it will be in the public eye. Weingarten, the brand strategist, expects her to embrace a wardrobe with softer edges and less bold designs, and wonders if focus groups could be employed as her program gets off the ground. “As she hopes to evolve,” she said, “the way we see her is changed.”</p> | false | 1 | megyn kelly best known hardedged news anchor wasnt afraid push back conservative orthodoxy fox news channel new employer nbc universal trying trot softer side nbc prepares launch new morning show led muchscrutinized kelly unleashed promotional salvo speaks less news chops instead tries unveil facets personality one recent promo shows kelly shaking hands people supermarket baseball stadium suggests program megyn kelly today us versus us everyone shes sharing space nbcu billboard times square depicts offering hot cup coffee video posted new shows twitter feed reveals fondness overboard 1987 comedy featuring kurt russell goldie hawn nbc placing big bet kelly whose national profile broadened thanks rise fox news public tangle president donald trump early election cycle recent move nbc160 nbcu said paying around 17 million year form bond morningshow viewers however nbc burnish kind things arent noticeable enough estrange existing fans make newer potential audience go huh knew like says rachel weingarten brand strategist new program whose lightblue logo combines kellys name part rainbow part markings nbcs today franchise slated launch monday branding experts suggested task turning lighter aspects kellys personality wont end first broadcast shes hardedged newsperson chitchattering tellmeaboutyourbook type says allen adamson brand simple consulting nbc faces task similar one cbs grappled hired katie couric long known convivial morningshow personality tried use shake format serious cbs evening news 2006 2011 says jeffrey mccall professor media studies depauw university greencastle indiana kelly known smart aggressive news interviewer going trying appeal different kind audience calmer featurish setting says kelly going toetotoe live syndicated powerhouse disneyabc television group enhanced adding ryan seacrest160as kelly ripas cohost 160kellys program considered part overall today franchise sandwiched two hours featuring matt lauer savannah guthrie 10 show led kathie lee gifford hoda kotb using assuage marketers might fret supporting unproven entry schedule launch comes mixed performance sundaynight newsmagazine raised hackles thanks interview controversial web provocateur alex jones nbc hasnt overplayed expectations new efforts involving kelly news organizations adding programs right complete reset 9 hour coming megyn new offering sunday night 7 pm nbc news chairman andrew lack told nbc affiliates meeting may going perfect day one going first place day two id rather holding cards anyone elses company made launch program promotional priority recent weeks nbcuniversal aired promos sunday night football nbc nightly news americas got talent show touted bottomofthescreen snipes various programs addition times square kelly also featured billboard sunset boulevard los angeles signs nbcus theme parks recent weeks kelly also followed broadcastnetwork tradition pressing flesh various network affiliates timehonored practice taken tv personalities taking big job whether latenight comedians daytime talk leaders stations lot connect local viewers national program pictures socialmedia pages new kelly program show hosting coffee mug orlandos wesh meeting staffers kxas fort worth visiting wral raleigh also found time take durham bulls game shes making rounds entertainmentfocused talk shows appeared ellen degeneres syndicated program tuesday outfitted sumowrestler fat suit feel like edward r murrow moment told host put talkshow obstacle course including cooking tips exercise dancing shaking hands audience members thursday night shes scheduled visit jimmy fallons tonight show kellys transformation likely continue program debuts public eye weingarten brand strategist expects embrace wardrobe softer edges less bold designs wonders focus groups could employed program gets ground hopes evolve said way see changed | 539 |
<p>If Turkey continues to use its alliance with the US to ostensibly combat ISIS as a pretext for a war on the Kurds, it won't be surprising.</p>
<p>Turkey’s so-called war on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has already made headlines. What many of these articles lack, however, is perspective on Turkey’s alleged U-turn from the context of that country’s foreign policy for the past 13 years.</p>
<p>Turkish foreign policy under the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has always had a strong domestic focus, which Carol Migdalovitz calls a “ <a href="http://turkishpolicy.com/pdf/vol_9-no_4-migdalovitz.pdf" type="external">domestically-driven foreign policy.”</a>&#160; In the early 2000s Turkey’s unprecedented reforms toward EU accession aimed at securing the party against military interference. Similarly, Turkey’s support of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Syria was determined by the AKP’s ideological ties with Islamist parties, which actively fought secular regimes.</p>
<p>It was not until international pressure mounted that Turkey officially designated ISIL a terrorist group in 2013, but the reality on the ground was quite different. For instance, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/21/us-mideast-crisis-turkey-arms-idUSKBN0O61L220150521" type="external">Turkey shipped weapons to Syrian Islamists</a> under the guise of fighting the Assad regime. Ankara long denied the coalition fighting ISIL access to its air bases because those powers did not envisage fighting the Assad regime.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/what-turkey-could-lose-and-gain-from-a-military-operation-in-syria" type="external">In June 2015, Turkey started advocating an incursion into Syria</a>. The reason was not, of course, the ISIL threat. The Syrian Kurdish military units (YPG), which had been fighting ISIL, took control of nearly half the Syrian-Turkish border. This YPG victory signaled a double threat for Turkey, as it could lay the foundations of Kurdish statehood on Turkish borders and empower Turkish Kurds in their demands from the Turkish government.</p>
<p>Against this backdrop, <a href="http://english.yenisafak.com/news/us-and-turkey-discuss-cooperation-on-combating-against-isil-2181706" type="external">the US sent a high profile delegation</a> to negotiate united operations against ISIL on July 7 The US response was conditioned on its uneasiness with Turkish plans to attack Syrian Kurdish units—local US allies in the fight against ISIL. The negotiations were still ongoing when, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/21/world/europe/suruc-turkey-syria-explosion.html" type="external">On July 20, the ISIL terrorist attack in Suruc</a> took the lives of 32 people and wounded more than 100. The attack was directed against Turkish Kurds headed toward the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane. Two days later, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) a Kurdish terrorist organization, killed two Turkish policemen, faulting the Turkish state for collaborating with ISIL.</p>
<p>There is no question that these terrorist attacks facilitated an agreement between the US and Turkey. On July 22, the <a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/obama-turkeys-erdogan-agree-to-stem-flow-of-foreign-fighters-white-house.aspx?pageID=238&amp;nID=85800&amp;NewsCatID=510" type="external">US-Turkey deal was concluded by Presidents Obama and Erdogan</a>. The <a href="http://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-212_-24-july-2015_-press-statement-concerning-turkey_us-understanding-on-countering-deash.en.mfa" type="external">press release</a> issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated the main points of this deal, which entailed Turkey opening its bases for the anti-ISIL coalition and joining said coalition. The deal also aims at “permanently ensuring and bolstering the safety of the inhabitants who now live in areas under DEASH (ISIL) control.”</p>
<p>In a hastily-published <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/confronting-the-twin-menace-to-turkeys-south/2015/07/30/d7c54bda-3638-11e5-9739-170df8af8eb9_story.html" type="external">article</a> in The Washington Post, Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey’s prime minister, conveyed the threats posed to Turkey. From ISIL, to the Assad regime, to the PKK, he painted a picture of a Turkey under siege from all sides. The reality of Turkey’s actions, however, show other priorities. From 23rd to 26th July alone, <a href="http://time.com/3980085/these-5-stats-explain-turkeys-war-on-isis-and-the-kurds/" type="external">Turkey’s attacks targeted nearly 400 PKK bases and only 3 of ISIL.</a></p>
<p>Thus, the deal between the US and Turkey is further complicated in light of the parties’ differing priorities and the numerous shifting variables on each side.</p>
<p>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has always had his say on foreign policy. <a href="" type="internal">His personal whims have already spoiled Turkey’s relations with Armenia, Egypt, Serbia</a>—contrary to the initiatives employed by Turkish diplomacy. In this case, stakes for Erdogan are higher than ever before. A crafty politician who has used the reconciliation process with the Kurds as a means of securing his power from election to election, he has faced the harsh realty of a potent pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in the period since the 7th June election. That party gained nealry 80 seats in parliament, depriving the AKP of its absolute majority and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/turkeys-erdogan-may-see-ambitions-checked-by-parliamentary-election/2015/06/07/d76db05a-0cf3-11e5-9726-49d6fa26a8c6_story.html" type="external">challenging Erdogan’s ambitions of establishing a presidential republic</a>.</p>
<p>Erdogan used the recent PKK attack on Turkish policy as a pretext for launching an all-out war on the PKK. He has endeavored to tarnish the HDP’s, depicting it as an outlet for terrorism. These claims have won him increasing support among nationalists. ISIL, on the other hand, appears to be the last of his problems. <a href="http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_ak-partys-u-turn-on-isil-from-how-can-a-muslim-do-this-to-another-muslim-to-isil-is-a-terrorist-organization_395144.html" type="external">For some time, he refrained from calling them terrorists</a>, claiming instead that real Muslims shall not kill other Muslims. Only in his 2014 UN speech was Erdogan forced to admit that ISIL is in fact a terrorist organization. In short, for Erdogan it’s about securing his hold on power.</p>
<p>The Turkish military and diplomatic establishment is the other stakeholder in this US-Turkey deal. The <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/turkey-considering-sending-troops-syria-fight-syrian-kurds-isis-report-1987157" type="external">Turkish establishment is concerned about Syrian Kurds’ gains and the possible repercussions for Turkey</a>. Thus, by making an incursion into Syria, Turkey will set up a buffer zone that is clear free of Syrian Kurds as well as the Assad regime, further hindering Kurdish consolidation and facilitating the operations of the Assad opposition.</p>
<p>For the third stakeholder, the US, access to Turkish bases is a tangible success. This will significantly improve the effectiveness of aerial operations. But there are still many stumbling blocks in the US-Turkey deal, and these will soon surface.</p>
<p>The details about the cleared zone between Turkey and Syria are still unclear. It is obvious Turkey opened its bases in exchange for this long-advocated “safe zone.” <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/07/turkey-syria-safe-zones-150725084632373.html" type="external">Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu has said the zone must be created naturally.</a> Turkish sources have given <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33698659" type="external">some information regarding the geographical details of the zone</a>, while senior administration officials in the US have made it clear that <a href="http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-07-28/u-s-shoots-down-idea-of-syria-safe-zone" type="external">there are no U.S. plans for a safe zone</a>, a no-fly zone, an air-exclusionary zone, a humanitarian buffer zone, or any other protected zone of any kind.</p>
<p>There are additional <a href="http://syrianobserver.com/EN/News/29625/Turkish_Officials_Detail_Terms_Safe_Zone_in_Northern_Syria" type="external">contentious issues, including the “moderate” forces</a>, whom the US and Turkey will help. Turkey is adamantly opposed to any assistance for Syrian Kurds, who have thus far been the only real force fighting ISIL. Ankara will likely advocate for local Turkmen forces and the Ahrar ash-Sham movement.</p>
<p>The paradox is that Turkey’s participation in the anti-ISIL coalition will probably be limited to airstrikes, and its “moderate” allies are still fragile, whereas Syrian Kurds are the only ground forces that have displayed vigor and ability in fighting ISIL. US diplomats will have a challenging time solving this dilemma.</p>
<p>In short, the outcome of this complex situation will depend on many variables: Erdogan’s war on Turkish Kurds; Turkey’s actions toward halting Syrian Kurdish gains; excluding Syrian Kurds from any US support; gaining US backing for a no-fly zone; dragging the US into a war against Assad; the US’s ability to include the YPG in these operations; avoiding direct clashes with the Assad regime; bringing Turkey into a real war on ISIL; and of course securing the consent of Moscow and Tehran—the patrons of the Assad regime.</p>
<p>If the US is able to get Turkey to truly join the fight against ISIS, it would be an exceptional success for the Obama Administration, given that Turkey has previously avoided military operations in Afghanistan and Libya because they targeted fellow Muslims. If Turkey skips the real war and develops a new modus operandi with ISIS, however, no one will raise an eyebrow.</p> | false | 1 | turkey continues use alliance us ostensibly combat isis pretext war kurds wont surprising turkeys socalled war islamic state iraq levant isil already made headlines many articles lack however perspective turkeys alleged uturn context countrys foreign policy past 13 years turkish foreign policy justice development party akp always strong domestic focus carol migdalovitz calls domesticallydriven foreign policy160 early 2000s turkeys unprecedented reforms toward eu accession aimed securing party military interference similarly turkeys support muslim brotherhood egypt syria determined akps ideological ties islamist parties actively fought secular regimes international pressure mounted turkey officially designated isil terrorist group 2013 reality ground quite different instance turkey shipped weapons syrian islamists guise fighting assad regime ankara long denied coalition fighting isil access air bases powers envisage fighting assad regime june 2015 turkey started advocating incursion syria reason course isil threat syrian kurdish military units ypg fighting isil took control nearly half syrianturkish border ypg victory signaled double threat turkey could lay foundations kurdish statehood turkish borders empower turkish kurds demands turkish government backdrop us sent high profile delegation negotiate united operations isil july 7 us response conditioned uneasiness turkish plans attack syrian kurdish unitslocal us allies fight isil negotiations still ongoing july 20 isil terrorist attack suruc took lives 32 people wounded 100 attack directed turkish kurds headed toward syrian kurdish town kobane two days later kurdistan workers party pkk kurdish terrorist organization killed two turkish policemen faulting turkish state collaborating isil question terrorist attacks facilitated agreement us turkey july 22 usturkey deal concluded presidents obama erdogan press release issued turkish foreign ministry stated main points deal entailed turkey opening bases antiisil coalition joining said coalition deal also aims permanently ensuring bolstering safety inhabitants live areas deash isil control hastilypublished article washington post ahmet davutoglu turkeys prime minister conveyed threats posed turkey isil assad regime pkk painted picture turkey siege sides reality turkeys actions however show priorities 23rd 26th july alone turkeys attacks targeted nearly 400 pkk bases 3 isil thus deal us turkey complicated light parties differing priorities numerous shifting variables side turkish president recep tayyip erdogan always say foreign policy personal whims already spoiled turkeys relations armenia egypt serbiacontrary initiatives employed turkish diplomacy case stakes erdogan higher ever crafty politician used reconciliation process kurds means securing power election election faced harsh realty potent prokurdish peoples democratic party hdp period since 7th june election party gained nealry 80 seats parliament depriving akp absolute majority challenging erdogans ambitions establishing presidential republic erdogan used recent pkk attack turkish policy pretext launching allout war pkk endeavored tarnish hdps depicting outlet terrorism claims increasing support among nationalists isil hand appears last problems time refrained calling terrorists claiming instead real muslims shall kill muslims 2014 un speech erdogan forced admit isil fact terrorist organization short erdogan securing hold power turkish military diplomatic establishment stakeholder usturkey deal turkish establishment concerned syrian kurds gains possible repercussions turkey thus making incursion syria turkey set buffer zone clear free syrian kurds well assad regime hindering kurdish consolidation facilitating operations assad opposition third stakeholder us access turkish bases tangible success significantly improve effectiveness aerial operations still many stumbling blocks usturkey deal soon surface details cleared zone turkey syria still unclear obvious turkey opened bases exchange longadvocated safe zone turkish foreign minister cavusoglu said zone must created naturally turkish sources given information regarding geographical details zone senior administration officials us made clear us plans safe zone nofly zone airexclusionary zone humanitarian buffer zone protected zone kind additional contentious issues including moderate forces us turkey help turkey adamantly opposed assistance syrian kurds thus far real force fighting isil ankara likely advocate local turkmen forces ahrar ashsham movement paradox turkeys participation antiisil coalition probably limited airstrikes moderate allies still fragile whereas syrian kurds ground forces displayed vigor ability fighting isil us diplomats challenging time solving dilemma short outcome complex situation depend many variables erdogans war turkish kurds turkeys actions toward halting syrian kurdish gains excluding syrian kurds us support gaining us backing nofly zone dragging us war assad uss ability include ypg operations avoiding direct clashes assad regime bringing turkey real war isil course securing consent moscow tehranthe patrons assad regime us able get turkey truly join fight isis would exceptional success obama administration given turkey previously avoided military operations afghanistan libya targeted fellow muslims turkey skips real war develops new modus operandi isis however one raise eyebrow | 721 |
<p>Tough Regulations and Terrible Advice Abound</p>
<p>The benefit of being around the ex-pat community in any country is, ostensibly, that we all have to overcome the same hurdles such as visas and work permits. When you are confronted with a problem, you probably aren’t the first person to have faced it. And you can get good advice from people who have already overcome the same problems as you.</p>
<p>Often, however, the advice you get is downright stupid. It makes you wonder how these people survived over here, or somewhere else for that matter.</p>
<p>Recently, I received email from a guy who was planning to go to Cambodia and put an ad in the paper advertising himself as a bodyguard. This incredibly stupid suggestion was given to him by his friend who had been living in Phnom Penh for years and years, and should have known better. First off, if you don’t speak Khmer, how could you possibly understand or work for your Khmer employer? Next, foreigners are not allowed to carry or possess weapons in Cambodia. So, how could you protect your principle? Another point is the role of the bodyguard. In Cambodia, nearly all bodyguards are licensed police officers. Their role is to work as leg-breaking thugs, enforcers for their bosses. Or, if they are high ranking police, they are there to keep the other cops off your back and to make sure the pay-offs make into the right hands.</p>
<p>Once again, a foreigner couldn’t do any of this, particularly one who doesn’t speak Khmer or know anything about Cambodia. If a foreigner moved to Cambodia, and hung-out a shingle, advertising himself as a bodyguard, he would probably be dead or in jail in a week.</p>
<p>That was one of the worst pieces of advice I had ever heard of. When I shot down this guy’s dream of being the first foreign bodyguard in Cambodia, he wrote back saying he would apply for a job in a hotel. And this was, once again, on the recommendation of his other friend who had been in Cambodia for five years.</p>
<p>Hotel jobs in Cambodia pay $120 a month. And the odds of them hiring a foreigner are less than zero.</p>
<p>I don’t know where this terribly misinformed advice comes from, but it is not limited to Cambodia. It goes all over Southeast Asia. This week, I was involved in two really stupid pieces of advice, related to banking in Vietnam.</p>
<p>When you have a bank account in Vietnam you can’t just deposit money or receive money from anywhere. You have to basically register your employer with the bank, tell the bank who you are working for, and give them a copy of the employment contract so they know where the money is coming from. Most companies include bank account forms in the stack of paperwork you fill out when you start working for them.</p>
<p>Mail is not terribly safe in Vietnam, so banks ask you to come in and collect your ATM card and other important information. When I went in to get my ATM card, I asked if it could be used internationally. And, of course, it couldn’t. So, I had to fill out more papers, so I could receive a separate card for travel. After years of living in Asia, I learned you always have to ask about the international card.</p>
<p>There was a young American couple also picking up their ATM cards, so I went over to warn them. “If you want to be able to use your card outside of Vietnam, you have to get a separate card,” I said.</p>
<p>The guy gave me a dirty look and smarted off.&#160; “We looked into that card, and they charge 6% for withdrawals outside of Vietnam. We don’t need it.”</p>
<p>I backed off, none of my business. I’m a New Yorker and I don’t want to get involved.&#160; But, let’s analyze this logic for a minute. Nearly everyone who works in Vietnam, or in Asia in general, is here because they want to see the world. And, on average, they will travel to another country at least twice per year. If you don’t have an international ATM card, it means before your holiday, you have to calculate the exact amount of money you need for your trip. Then you need to go buy that quantity of dollars on the black market, at a crap rate, and then fly with all of your cash to your vacation country. Then you have to buy vacation country currency, and pay commissions. Then, during your entire holiday, you have to keep this amount of cash under your pillow.</p>
<p>Isn’t this sounding like a fun vacation? I love going to dinner and leaving $2,500 of cash in my room or on a blanket on the beach. In fact, I don’t even see how this strategy could lead to disaster.</p>
<p>And, without the international ATM card, if your money gets lost, stolen, or you just over-spend, you have no way of drawing on your account in Vietnam.</p>
<p>Finally, when you fly back to Vietnam, you have to convert your leftover holiday money back into dollars or Vietnam Dong, and pay commissions.</p>
<p>Yes, this strategy is much better than just paying 6% to draw the money out while you are in a foreign country.</p>
<p>After fourteen years of living outside of the US, I have obviously learned nothing. This young couple, on their first overseas stint clearly knew something I didn’t.</p>
<p>Along the same theme of not being able to deposit cash in a Vietnam bank account, a lot of people come to Vietnam and get a full time job, with a contract and a bank account and possibly a work-permit. But then they get a part time job, which pays cash, and pays about 30% more than a regular job. For most people, they just use the cash as pocket money and it allows them to leave most of their salary in the bank. But, I have known people who wound up with three part time jobs, which paid so well they quit their full time job.</p>
<p>At the end of the first month, they are faced with the problem of what to do with a couple of thousand dollars in cash. If they aren’t complete degenerate drinkers, they save a thousand dollars or more per month. By the end of the year, they could have twelve or more thousand dollars worth of cash, in Vietnam Dong.</p>
<p>Now what can they do? They have a crate full of Vietnam Dong which they can’t convert to dollars and which they can’t deposit in a bank. The answers that most people came up with were to buy a safe for their room, to store the money. Then change it on the black market over a period of weeks. But this didn’t seem very safe to me. It wouldn’t seem advisable to let anyone know, or even suspect that you have tens of thousands of dollars worth of cash in your room. And if you keep going to the same places to change it, someone might notice.</p>
<p>I was discussing this situation with a teacher who had been in Vietnam for years and believed he was giving me advice, to help me out.</p>
<p>“Suitcase it to Singapore,” he said. But he said it with a conspiratory, James Bond air. Like he was speaking from his years of experience as an international man of mystery.</p>
<p>“You mean they will convert Vietnam Dong to US dollars in Singapore?” I asked.</p>
<p>“Well, no…I don’t think so,” he said, suddenly less sure of himself than he was before I asked a single follow-up question. “I think you have to convert the dollars first on the black market in Vietnam.”</p>
<p>OK, so you still had to change on the black market. So, that part of the problem remained the same. But apparently this guy did know something I didn’t. You could deposit the money in Singapore. That sounded better than keeping a year of savings in your room. But you still had to pay money for a flight to Singapore and possibly a hotel stay and all of that. But if it helped you keep your money safe, I guess it was worth it.</p>
<p>Since most people don’t have a Singapore bank account, I asked, “Are you saying that you can open a bank account in Singapore without a work permit?”</p>
<p>“I’m not sure about that either,” he said, looking for a door.</p>
<p>“So, which part of the problem did your suggestion actually solve?” I asked.</p>
<p>“I’m probably not the right person to talk to about this,” he answered, no longer sounding like James Bond.</p>
<p>“I strongly agree with you,” I answered.</p>
<p>Back in Brooklyn, my uncle used to tell me, “Opinions are like butt-holes. Everyone has one, and they all stink.”</p> | false | 1 | tough regulations terrible advice abound benefit around expat community country ostensibly overcome hurdles visas work permits confronted problem probably arent first person faced get good advice people already overcome problems often however advice get downright stupid makes wonder people survived somewhere else matter recently received email guy planning go cambodia put ad paper advertising bodyguard incredibly stupid suggestion given friend living phnom penh years years known better first dont speak khmer could possibly understand work khmer employer next foreigners allowed carry possess weapons cambodia could protect principle another point role bodyguard cambodia nearly bodyguards licensed police officers role work legbreaking thugs enforcers bosses high ranking police keep cops back make sure payoffs make right hands foreigner couldnt particularly one doesnt speak khmer know anything cambodia foreigner moved cambodia hungout shingle advertising bodyguard would probably dead jail week one worst pieces advice ever heard shot guys dream first foreign bodyguard cambodia wrote back saying would apply job hotel recommendation friend cambodia five years hotel jobs cambodia pay 120 month odds hiring foreigner less zero dont know terribly misinformed advice comes limited cambodia goes southeast asia week involved two really stupid pieces advice related banking vietnam bank account vietnam cant deposit money receive money anywhere basically register employer bank tell bank working give copy employment contract know money coming companies include bank account forms stack paperwork fill start working mail terribly safe vietnam banks ask come collect atm card important information went get atm card asked could used internationally course couldnt fill papers could receive separate card travel years living asia learned always ask international card young american couple also picking atm cards went warn want able use card outside vietnam get separate card said guy gave dirty look smarted off160 looked card charge 6 withdrawals outside vietnam dont need backed none business im new yorker dont want get involved160 lets analyze logic minute nearly everyone works vietnam asia general want see world average travel another country least twice per year dont international atm card means holiday calculate exact amount money need trip need go buy quantity dollars black market crap rate fly cash vacation country buy vacation country currency pay commissions entire holiday keep amount cash pillow isnt sounding like fun vacation love going dinner leaving 2500 cash room blanket beach fact dont even see strategy could lead disaster without international atm card money gets lost stolen overspend way drawing account vietnam finally fly back vietnam convert leftover holiday money back dollars vietnam dong pay commissions yes strategy much better paying 6 draw money foreign country fourteen years living outside us obviously learned nothing young couple first overseas stint clearly knew something didnt along theme able deposit cash vietnam bank account lot people come vietnam get full time job contract bank account possibly workpermit get part time job pays cash pays 30 regular job people use cash pocket money allows leave salary bank known people wound three part time jobs paid well quit full time job end first month faced problem couple thousand dollars cash arent complete degenerate drinkers save thousand dollars per month end year could twelve thousand dollars worth cash vietnam dong crate full vietnam dong cant convert dollars cant deposit bank answers people came buy safe room store money change black market period weeks didnt seem safe wouldnt seem advisable let anyone know even suspect tens thousands dollars worth cash room keep going places change someone might notice discussing situation teacher vietnam years believed giving advice help suitcase singapore said said conspiratory james bond air like speaking years experience international man mystery mean convert vietnam dong us dollars singapore asked well noi dont think said suddenly less sure asked single followup question think convert dollars first black market vietnam ok still change black market part problem remained apparently guy know something didnt could deposit money singapore sounded better keeping year savings room still pay money flight singapore possibly hotel stay helped keep money safe guess worth since people dont singapore bank account asked saying open bank account singapore without work permit im sure either said looking door part problem suggestion actually solve asked im probably right person talk answered longer sounding like james bond strongly agree answered back brooklyn uncle used tell opinions like buttholes everyone one stink | 710 |
<p>Sept. 24 (UPI) — Current players, a coach, a hall of famer and a billionaire team owner all participated in a national anthem protest before the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jacksonville-Jaguars/" type="external">Jacksonville Jaguars</a> and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Baltimore-Ravens/" type="external">Baltimore Ravens</a> game in London.</p>
<p>The protest took place Sunday morning at Wembley Stadium.</p>
<p>The owner taking part was billionaire Jacksonville Jaguars boss Shahid Kahn. Ravens coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Harbaugh/" type="external">John Harbaugh</a> and Hall of Famer <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ray_Lewis/" type="external">Ray Lewis</a> also took part.</p>
<p>Similar protests are expected throughout Sunday’s full slate of games following several statements from President <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Donald_Trump/" type="external">Donald Trump</a> regarding NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem.</p>
<p>“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a [expletive] off the field right now, out, he’s fired. He’s fired,'” Trump said at a rally Friday in Huntsville, Ala. “You know, some owner is going to do that. He’s going to say, ‘That guy that disrespects our flag, he’s fired.’ And that owner, they don’t know it [but] they’ll be the most popular person in this country.”</p>
<p>On Saturday many NFL owners and players and commissioner <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Roger_Goodell/" type="external">Roger Goodell</a> offered <a href="https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NFL/2017/09/23/Commissioner-Roger-Goodell-fires-back-calls-President-Trumps-comments-divisive/8761506188493/" type="external">statements in opposition</a> to the comments from the President.</p>
<p>More owner statements came on Sunday, including more from Kahn after he decided to stand on the sideline, locking arms with his players.</p>
<p>“It was a privilege to stand on the sidelines with the Jacksonville Jaguars today for the playing of the U.S. national anthem at Wembley Stadium,” Kahn said in a statement. “I met with our team captains prior to the game to express my support for them, all NFL players and the league following the divisive and contentious remarks made by President Trump, and was honored to be arm in arm with them, their teammates and our coaches during our anthem.”</p>
<p>“Our team and the National Football League reflects our nation, with diversity coming in many forms – race, faith, our views and our goals. We have a lot of work to do, and we can do it, but the comments by the President make it harder. That’s why it was important for us, and personally for me, to show the world that even if we may differ at times, we can and should be united in the effort to become better as people and a nation.”</p>
<p>Kahn contributed $1 million to <a href="http://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/286/201704180300150286/201704180300150286.pdf" type="external">President Trump’s inaugural committee</a>. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/New-York-Jets/" type="external">New York Jets</a> owner <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Woody_Johnson/" type="external">Woody Johnson</a>, Patriots owner <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Robert_Kraft/" type="external">Robert Kraft</a>, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Washington-Redskins/" type="external">Washington Redskins</a> owner <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Dan_Snyder/" type="external">Dan Snyder</a>, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Houston-Texans/" type="external">Houston Texans</a> owner <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Bob_McNair/" type="external">Bob McNair</a>, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/los-angeles-rams/" type="external">Los Angeles Rams</a> owner Stan Kroenke, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers/" type="external">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> owner Edward Glazer also contributed to Trump’s inauguration.</p>
<p>President Trump composed more tweets on Sunday about the NFL and its players.</p>
<p>“If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag &amp; Country, you will see change take place fast,” Trump tweeted. “Fire or suspend!</p>
<p>“… <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/911911385176723457" type="external">NFL attendance and ratings</a> are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S.,” Trump wrote.</p>
<p>Kraft, McNair and Kroenke also made statements in response to President Trump’s comments on Sunday.</p>
<p>“I am deeply disappointed by the tone of the comments made by the President on Friday,” Kraft said in his statement. “I am proud to be associated with so many players who make such tremendous contributions in positively impacting our communities. Their efforts, both on and off the field, help bring people together and make our community stronger. There is no greater unifier in this country than sports, and unfortunately, nothing more divisive than politics. I think our political leaders could learn a lot from the lessons of teamwork and the importance of working together toward a common goal. Our players are intelligent, thoughtful and care deeply about our community and I support their right to peacefully affect social change and raise awareness in a manner that they feel is most impactful.”</p>
<p>While many players are expected to participate in protests Sunday all around the league, the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Pittsburgh_Steelers/" type="external">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> will stay in the locker room for the national anthem before their game against the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chicago_Bears/" type="external">Chicago Bears</a>. Steelers coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mike_Tomlin/" type="external">Mike Tomlin</a> told CBS Sunday</p>
<p>“We’re not participating in the anthem today,” <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/911972264744124416" type="external">Tomlin told CBS</a>. “Not to be disrespectful to the anthem, to remove ourselves from the circumstance. People shouldn’t have to choose. If a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn’t be forced to choose sides. If a guy feels the need to do something, he shouldn’t be separated from his teammate who chooses not to. So we’re not participating today. That’s our decision. We’re gonna be 100 percent. We came here to play a <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Walker/" type="external">football</a> game. That’s our intentions, and we’re gonna play and play to win.”</p>
<p>Former <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/San-Francisco-49ers/" type="external">San Francisco 49ers</a> quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Colin_Kaepernick/" type="external">Colin Kaepernick</a> began the national anthem protests during the 2016 preseason. He sat on the 49ers’ bench on Aug. 26 before a game against the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Green_Bay_Packers/" type="external">Green Bay Packers</a>.</p>
<p>The quarterback explained that his protests were based on police brutality and racial inequality. He opted out of the final year of his contract with the team this offseason and remains a free agent.</p>
<p>Kaepernick was awarded the Week 1 NFL Player’s Association Community MVP Award on Sept. 15. He has donated $900,000 of the $1 million he pledged to give to organizations working in oppressed communities.”</p> | false | 1 | sept 24 upi current players coach hall famer billionaire team owner participated national anthem protest jacksonville jaguars baltimore ravens game london protest took place sunday morning wembley stadium owner taking part billionaire jacksonville jaguars boss shahid kahn ravens coach john harbaugh hall famer ray lewis also took part similar protests expected throughout sundays full slate games following several statements president donald trump regarding nfl players taking knee national anthem wouldnt love see one nfl owners somebody disrespects flag say get son expletive field right hes fired hes fired trump said rally friday huntsville ala know owner going hes going say guy disrespects flag hes fired owner dont know theyll popular person country saturday many nfl owners players commissioner roger goodell offered statements opposition comments president owner statements came sunday including kahn decided stand sideline locking arms players privilege stand sidelines jacksonville jaguars today playing us national anthem wembley stadium kahn said statement met team captains prior game express support nfl players league following divisive contentious remarks made president trump honored arm arm teammates coaches anthem team national football league reflects nation diversity coming many forms race faith views goals lot work comments president make harder thats important us personally show world even may differ times united effort become better people nation kahn contributed 1 million president trumps inaugural committee new york jets owner woody johnson patriots owner robert kraft washington redskins owner dan snyder houston texans owner bob mcnair los angeles rams owner stan kroenke tampa bay buccaneers owner edward glazer also contributed trumps inauguration president trump composed tweets sunday nfl players nfl fans refuse go games players stop disrespecting flag amp country see change take place fast trump tweeted fire suspend nfl attendance ratings way boring games yes many stay away love country league back us trump wrote kraft mcnair kroenke also made statements response president trumps comments sunday deeply disappointed tone comments made president friday kraft said statement proud associated many players make tremendous contributions positively impacting communities efforts field help bring people together make community stronger greater unifier country sports unfortunately nothing divisive politics think political leaders could learn lot lessons teamwork importance working together toward common goal players intelligent thoughtful care deeply community support right peacefully affect social change raise awareness manner feel impactful many players expected participate protests sunday around league pittsburgh steelers stay locker room national anthem game chicago bears steelers coach mike tomlin told cbs sunday participating anthem today tomlin told cbs disrespectful anthem remove circumstance people shouldnt choose guy wants go normal business participate anthem shouldnt forced choose sides guy feels need something shouldnt separated teammate chooses participating today thats decision gon na 100 percent came play football game thats intentions gon na play play win former san francisco 49ers quarterback colin kaepernick began national anthem protests 2016 preseason sat 49ers bench aug 26 game green bay packers quarterback explained protests based police brutality racial inequality opted final year contract team offseason remains free agent kaepernick awarded week 1 nfl players association community mvp award sept 15 donated 900000 1 million pledged give organizations working oppressed communities | 515 |
<p>Unlike its big brother, gold, physical silver is coveted for both investment purposes and industrial usage. Right now, <a href="https://www.hardassetsalliance.com/resources-and-tools/charts/silver-price/usd/oz" type="external">silver prices</a> are in a bit of a slump—in other words, it’s the perfect time to load up on this precious metal while it’s down. Here are some good reasons why silver should be on every investor’s radar.</p>
<p>Reason #1: Silver Is Being Used Up in China’s Solar Boom.</p>
<p>By far the largest application of <a href="https://www.hardassetsalliance.com/education/should-you-buy-silver-bullion-or-gold-a-comparison-for-investors#.WX9eGzPMzBI" type="external">industrial silver</a> today is in solar panels—and Chinese demand for solar energy is <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601093/china-is-on-an-epic-solar-power-binge/" type="external">skyrocketing</a>. In its 13th Five-Year Plan, Beijing aims to triple its solar capacity by 2020 in order to combat air pollution and to comply with the Paris Climate Accord.</p>
<p>Amazingly, China is already investing more in clean-energy developments than the European Union:</p>
<p />
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.e3g.org/library/china-accelerates-while-europe-deliberates-on-the-clean-energy-transition" type="external">e3g.org</a></p>
<p>Last month, China revealed a newly built <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2017/07/25/china-just-built-250-acre-solar-farm-shaped-giant-panda/#3378020c4685" type="external">250-acre solar farm</a> shaped like a panda—the first of 100 such solar plants planned for the Asian region in the coming years. Displaying typical Chinese efficiency, the solar farm in Datong was proposed in May 2016 and became operational only 14 months later. Over the next 25 years, it will provide the same power as burning one million tons of coal.</p>
<p>No wonder last year was the strongest so far for solar-related <a href="http://www.hardassetsalliance.com/go/v34mrz/HAA" type="external">silver demand</a>. Leading analysts believe that this trend will continue a while longer—even though Tesla’s SolarCity is getting ready to replace silver with the much cheaper copper in its PV panels.</p>
<p>Specialist consultancy Metals Focus said it expected 2017 silver demand from the solar sector to ease only slightly compared to last year, remaining the second highest on record.</p>
<p>And the supply is finite. The chart below shows official global silver reserves, that is, the <a href="https://www.hardassetsalliance.com/blog/want-to-buy-silver-coins-heres-the-ultimate-guide-for-investors#.WX9ehTPMzBI" type="external">amount of silver</a> that is considered to be recoverable from mines—which is only 571,000 tonnes.</p>
<p />
<p>Source: <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4044219-enough-silver-power-world-even-solar-power-efficiency-quadruple" type="external">Statista</a></p>
<p>Reason #2: The US Stock Bubble Is Getting Ready to Burst.</p>
<p>How many screaming superlatives can a market take before it collapses? We will probably find out soon.</p>
<p>It seems that US equities are hitting new record highs every day, but the writing is most certainly on the wall. By mid-July, the Case-Shiller P/E Ratio hovered above 30 (the 100-year median is around 16). That is reminiscent of the height of the dot-com bubble and the weeks leading up to the 1929 stock market crash.</p>
<p>One yardstick of the growing insanity is the money-burning tech companies whose shares keep going up no matter what.</p>
<p>Take Netflix (NFLX), for example, which casually announced in an April letter to shareholders that it expects a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-cash-burn-will-continue-2017-4" type="external">negative free cash flow</a> (FCF) of $2 billion this year, up from “only” $1.7 billion in 2016.</p>
<p>Last October, the company said it would have to raise another $800 million in debt (adding to the over $2.2 billion it already had), all in the name of adding quality content, aka movies and TV shows, to the site.</p>
<p>It’s no secret in investment circles that Netflix doesn’t really make money, a negligible fact that hasn’t kept the stock from skyrocketing.</p>
<p>In its mid-July Q2 earnings report, the company proudly reported that it had <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/17/netflix-earnings-q2-2017.html" type="external">added 5.2 million new subscribers</a> in the last quarter, crushing Wall Street estimates and propelling the stock upward by more than 10%.</p>
<p>Never mind that Q2 free cash flow was minus $608 million, a year-over-year increase in losses of $354 million. Investors gobbled up the “good news” and sent shares soaring to new heights of over $188 in July.</p>
<p>We see a similar picture with social-media giants like Twitter and Snapchat, which are virtual money pits.</p>
<p>Of course, there is no way that this can go on. And as stocks are being caught out in the rain, gold and silver will get their day in the sun, as has historically been the case.</p>
<p>Reason #3: European Banks Are Still in Big Trouble.</p>
<p>The ongoing debt crisis in the EU has recently been dwarfed by the global outcry revolving around the much-despised Trump administration and its draconic trade policies. However, while Europe’s woes may be forgotten for the moment, they have been anything but resolved.</p>
<p>In June, the UK Telegraph <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/06/26/italys-17bn-bank-crisis-fruit-unworkable-eu-policies/" type="external">commented</a> that “Italy’s long-simmering banking crisis has erupted again. The emergency plan to wind down two Venetian lenders at a cost of up to €17bn is a fiasco of the first order.” This, the article continues, could push Italian debt to 133% of GDP.</p>
<p>Research by Italian investment bank Mediobanca found that 114 of Italy’s 500 banks have “Texas Ratios” of over 100% (non-performing loans divided by tangible book value plus reserves; a TR of over 100% is considered critical).</p>
<p>24 of the endangered banks reportedly have ratios of over 200%, among them some of Italy’s biggest banks, like Monte dei Paschi di Siena with a TR of 269%, and Veneto Banca with a TR of 239%.</p>
<p>But the problem extends to the entire European Union. According to a <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-banks-regulations-idUSKBN16M23T?il=0" type="external">Reuters article</a>, “the total stock of non-performing loans (NPL) in the EU is estimated at over €1 trillion, or 5.4% of total loans, a ratio three times higher than in other major regions of the world.”</p>
<p>Clearly, this is a level that is unsustainable in the long run. And if you don’t believe that Italy’s problems could have a major impact on US investors, remember how the US subprime mortgage crash and subsequent financial crisis affected the entire world.</p>
<p>In today’s interconnected global economy, any severe financial crisis in one part of the world can cause tidal waves in another. And when that happens, gold and <a href="https://www.hardassetsalliance.com/blog/is-silver-a-good-investment-heres-what-you-need-to-know#.WX9f8TPMzBI" type="external">silver</a> are the ultimate safe-haven assets.</p>
<p>Reason #4: The Risk of Military Conflict Continues to Escalate.</p>
<p>Tensions between the US and North Korea continue to escalate as Kim Jong-Un has now <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/25/politics/north-korea-threatens-nuclear-strike-us/index.html" type="external">threatened a nuclear strike</a> against the United States.</p>
<p>This direct threat came after CIA Director Mike Pompeo said that the US needs to find a way to separate North Korea from the system: “The North Korean people I’m sure are lovely people and would love to see [Kim Jong-Un] go.”</p>
<p>In response, the North Korean Foreign Ministry stated, “Should the US dare to show us even the slightest sign of attempt to remove our supreme leadership, we will strike a merciless blow at the heart of the US with our powerful nuclear hammer, honed and hardened over time.”</p>
<p>By some estimates, Pyongyang could have a nuclear-capable ICBM as early as next year.</p>
<p>And North Korea is not the US government’s only worry. President Trump vehemently <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/war-between-us-iran-nuclear-deal-global-consequences-experts-643140" type="external">opposes</a> the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a treaty signed by the US, Iran, and five other countries in 2015. However, to renege on that agreement and to stop Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons, says retired Army General Paul Eaton, “would require regime change, which requires full-scale invasion, which is not tenable.”</p>
<p>Iran, Eaton warns, would be a much more dangerous enemy than Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. A large-scale attack on Iran would likely involve the US’s NATO allies as well as Israel… and if Russia were to come to Iran’s aid, we might have World War III on our hands.</p>
<p>It doesn’t have to come to war, though, for <a href="https://www.hardassetsalliance.com/resources-and-tools/charts" type="external">precious metals prices</a> to rise. The threats and growing tensions are enough to drive more investors to the safety of gold and silver—yet another reason to get some bullion now.</p>
<p>Reason #5: Silver Is Again Becoming Real Money.</p>
<p>Gold and silver are making a return as sound money.</p>
<p>Article 1, Section 10, of the US Constitution demands that “No State shall… make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts.” And more and more states are putting precious metals back on the books.</p>
<p>Six US states have put precious metals back onto their radar, and the seventh just followed suit: as of August 9, Arizona will acknowledge gold and <a href="https://www.hardassetsalliance.com/blog/where-to-buy-silver-a-go-to-guide-with-pros-and-cons#.WX9gZTPMzBI" type="external">silver as legal tender</a>. Four other states are on the road to accepting bullion as currency—also, Utah and Texas plan to set up bullion depositories to help private investors keep their gold investments secure.</p>
<p>Here’s a map of US states with current or pending legislation to accept precious metals as legal tender:</p>
<p />
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.capitalgoldgroup.com/state-legal-tender/" type="external">Capital Gold Group</a></p>
<p>As a consequence of this legal change, if you live in one of the participating states and your gold and silver appreciates in price, there will be no state capital gains taxes since currency isn’t subject to taxation.</p>
<p>Historically, <a href="https://www.hardassetsalliance.com/resources-and-tools/charts" type="external">precious metals prices</a> rise in the fall months, so right now is a good time to add some physical gold at lower prices to your portfolio. But before you buy, make sure to do your homework first.</p> | false | 1 | unlike big brother gold physical silver coveted investment purposes industrial usage right silver prices bit slumpin words perfect time load precious metal good reasons silver every investors radar reason 1 silver used chinas solar boom far largest application industrial silver today solar panelsand chinese demand solar energy skyrocketing 13th fiveyear plan beijing aims triple solar capacity 2020 order combat air pollution comply paris climate accord amazingly china already investing cleanenergy developments european union source e3gorg last month china revealed newly built 250acre solar farm shaped like pandathe first 100 solar plants planned asian region coming years displaying typical chinese efficiency solar farm datong proposed may 2016 became operational 14 months later next 25 years provide power burning one million tons coal wonder last year strongest far solarrelated silver demand leading analysts believe trend continue longereven though teslas solarcity getting ready replace silver much cheaper copper pv panels specialist consultancy metals focus said expected 2017 silver demand solar sector ease slightly compared last year remaining second highest record supply finite chart shows official global silver reserves amount silver considered recoverable mineswhich 571000 tonnes source statista reason 2 us stock bubble getting ready burst many screaming superlatives market take collapses probably find soon seems us equities hitting new record highs every day writing certainly wall midjuly caseshiller pe ratio hovered 30 100year median around 16 reminiscent height dotcom bubble weeks leading 1929 stock market crash one yardstick growing insanity moneyburning tech companies whose shares keep going matter take netflix nflx example casually announced april letter shareholders expects negative free cash flow fcf 2 billion year 17 billion 2016 last october company said would raise another 800 million debt adding 22 billion already name adding quality content aka movies tv shows site secret investment circles netflix doesnt really make money negligible fact hasnt kept stock skyrocketing midjuly q2 earnings report company proudly reported added 52 million new subscribers last quarter crushing wall street estimates propelling stock upward 10 never mind q2 free cash flow minus 608 million yearoveryear increase losses 354 million investors gobbled good news sent shares soaring new heights 188 july see similar picture socialmedia giants like twitter snapchat virtual money pits course way go stocks caught rain gold silver get day sun historically case reason 3 european banks still big trouble ongoing debt crisis eu recently dwarfed global outcry revolving around muchdespised trump administration draconic trade policies however europes woes may forgotten moment anything resolved june uk telegraph commented italys longsimmering banking crisis erupted emergency plan wind two venetian lenders cost 17bn fiasco first order article continues could push italian debt 133 gdp research italian investment bank mediobanca found 114 italys 500 banks texas ratios 100 nonperforming loans divided tangible book value plus reserves tr 100 considered critical 24 endangered banks reportedly ratios 200 among italys biggest banks like monte dei paschi di siena tr 269 veneto banca tr 239 problem extends entire european union according reuters article total stock nonperforming loans npl eu estimated 1 trillion 54 total loans ratio three times higher major regions world clearly level unsustainable long run dont believe italys problems could major impact us investors remember us subprime mortgage crash subsequent financial crisis affected entire world todays interconnected global economy severe financial crisis one part world cause tidal waves another happens gold silver ultimate safehaven assets reason 4 risk military conflict continues escalate tensions us north korea continue escalate kim jongun threatened nuclear strike united states direct threat came cia director mike pompeo said us needs find way separate north korea system north korean people im sure lovely people would love see kim jongun go response north korean foreign ministry stated us dare show us even slightest sign attempt remove supreme leadership strike merciless blow heart us powerful nuclear hammer honed hardened time estimates pyongyang could nuclearcapable icbm early next year north korea us governments worry president trump vehemently opposes joint comprehensive plan action jcpoa treaty signed us iran five countries 2015 however renege agreement stop iran pursuing nuclear weapons says retired army general paul eaton would require regime change requires fullscale invasion tenable iran eaton warns would much dangerous enemy saddam husseins iraq largescale attack iran would likely involve uss nato allies well israel russia come irans aid might world war iii hands doesnt come war though precious metals prices rise threats growing tensions enough drive investors safety gold silveryet another reason get bullion reason 5 silver becoming real money gold silver making return sound money article 1 section 10 us constitution demands state shall make thing gold silver coin tender payment debts states putting precious metals back books six us states put precious metals back onto radar seventh followed suit august 9 arizona acknowledge gold silver legal tender four states road accepting bullion currencyalso utah texas plan set bullion depositories help private investors keep gold investments secure heres map us states current pending legislation accept precious metals legal tender source capital gold group consequence legal change live one participating states gold silver appreciates price state capital gains taxes since currency isnt subject taxation historically precious metals prices rise fall months right good time add physical gold lower prices portfolio buy make sure homework first | 862 |
<p />
<p>In his important article in the New York Times, March 17, 2012, James Risen summarized the consensus of the intelligence community as concluding that Iran abandoned its program to develop nuclear weapons in 2003, and that no persuasive evidence exists that it has departed from this decision. It might have been expected that such news based on the best evidence that billions spent to get the most reliable possible assessments of such sensitive security issues would produce a huge sigh of relief in Washington, but, on the contrary, it has been totally ignored, including by the highest officers in the government. The president has not even bothered to acknowledge this electrifying conclusion that should have put the brakes on what appears to be a slide toward a disastrous regional war. We must ask ‘why’ such a prudent and positive course of action has not been adopted, or at least explored, given that the American debate proceeds on the basis of the exact opposite assumption—as if Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons is a virtual certainty.&#160; This contrary finding that it is a high probability that Iran gave up its quest of nuclear weapons almost a decade ago is quite startling. Listening to the Republican presidential candidates, or even to President Obama, makes it still seem as if Iran is without doubt hell bent on having nuclear weapons at the earliest possible time. With such a misleading approach, the only question that seems worth asking is whether to rely on diplomacy backed by harsh sanctions to achieve the desired goal, or an early attack to stop Iran from crossing the nuclear threshold.</p>
<p>It seems perverse that this public debate on policy toward Iran should be framed in such a belligerent and seemingly wrongheaded manner. After all, the United States was stampeded into a disastrous war against Iraq nine years ago on the basis of deceptive reports about its supposed stockpile of weapons of mass destruction, trumped up exile allegations, and media hype. I would have assumed that these bad memories would make Washington very cautious about drifting toward war with Iran, a far more dangerous enemy than Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. It would seem that at present the politicians are distrustful of reassuring intelligence reports and completely willing to go along with the intelligence community when it counsels war as ‘a slam dunk.’</p>
<p>Reinforcing this skepticism about Iran’s nuclear intentions is a realistic assessment of the risk posed in the unlikely event that the intelligence community’s consensus is wrong, and Iran after all succeeds in acquiring nuclear weapons. As former heads of Mossad and others have pointed out, the existential threat to Israel even then would still be extremely low. It would be obvious that Iran’s few bombs could never be used against Israel or elsewhere without producing an annihilating response. There is no evidence that Iran has any disposition to commit national suicide.</p>
<p>There is a further troubling aspect of how this issue is being addressed. Even in the Risen article it is presumed that if the evidence existed that Iran possesses a nuclear weapons program, a military attack would be a permissible option. Such a presumption is based on the irrelevance of international law to a national decision to attack a sovereign state, and a silent endorsement of ‘aggressive war’ that had been criminalized back in 1945 as the principal conclusion of the Nuremberg Judgment.</p>
<p>This dubious thinking has gone unchallenged in the media, in government pronouncements, and even in diplomatic posturing. We need to recall that at the end of World War II when the UN was established, states agreed in the UN Charter to give up their military option except in clear instances of self-defense. To some extent over the years, this prohibition has been eroded, but in the setting of Iran policy, it has been all but abandoned without even the pressure of extenuating circumstances.</p>
<p>Of course, it would be unfortunate if Iran acquires nuclear weapons given the instability of the region, and the general dangers associated with their spread. But no international law argument or precedent is available to justify attacking a sovereign state because it goes nuclear. After all, Israel became a stealth nuclear weapons state decades ago without a whimper of opposition from the West, and the same goes for India, Pakistan, and even North Korea’s acquisition of weapons produced only a muted response that soon dropped from sight.</p>
<p>There are better policy options that are worth exploring, which uphold international law and have a good chance of leading to regional stability. The most obvious option is containment that worked for decades against an expansionist Soviet Union with a gigantic arsenal of nuclear weapons. A second option would be to establish a nuclear weapons free zone for the Middle East, an idea that has been around for years, and enjoys the endorsement of most governments in the region, including Iran. Israel might seem to have the most to lose by a nuclear free zone in the Middle East because it alone currently possesses nuclear weapons, but Israel would benefit immensely by the reduction in regional tensions and probable economic and diplomatic side benefits, particularly if accompanied by a more constructive approach to resolving the conflict with the Palestinian people. The most ambitious option, given political credibility by President Obama in his Prague speech of 2009 expressing a commitment to a world without nuclear weapons, would be to table a proposal for complete nuclear disarmament on a step-by-step basis. Each of these approaches seem far preferable to what is now planned, are prudent, accord with common sense, show respect for international law, a passion for the peaceful resolution of conflict, and at minimum deserve to be widely discussed and appraised.</p>
<p>As it is there is no legal foundation in the Nonproliferation Treaty or elsewhere for the present reliance on threat diplomacy in dealing with Iran. These threats violate Article 2(4) of the UN Charter that wisely prohibits not only uses of force but also threats to use force. Iran diplomacy presents an odd case, as political real politik and international law clearly point away from the military option, and yet the winds of war are blowing ever harder. Perhaps even at this eleventh hour our political leaders can awake to realize anew that respect for international law provides the only practical foundation for a rational and sustainable foreign policy in the 21st century.</p> | false | 1 | important article new york times march 17 2012 james risen summarized consensus intelligence community concluding iran abandoned program develop nuclear weapons 2003 persuasive evidence exists departed decision might expected news based best evidence billions spent get reliable possible assessments sensitive security issues would produce huge sigh relief washington contrary totally ignored including highest officers government president even bothered acknowledge electrifying conclusion put brakes appears slide toward disastrous regional war must ask prudent positive course action adopted least explored given american debate proceeds basis exact opposite assumptionas irans quest nuclear weapons virtual certainty160 contrary finding high probability iran gave quest nuclear weapons almost decade ago quite startling listening republican presidential candidates even president obama makes still seem iran without doubt hell bent nuclear weapons earliest possible time misleading approach question seems worth asking whether rely diplomacy backed harsh sanctions achieve desired goal early attack stop iran crossing nuclear threshold seems perverse public debate policy toward iran framed belligerent seemingly wrongheaded manner united states stampeded disastrous war iraq nine years ago basis deceptive reports supposed stockpile weapons mass destruction trumped exile allegations media hype would assumed bad memories would make washington cautious drifting toward war iran far dangerous enemy saddam husseins iraq would seem present politicians distrustful reassuring intelligence reports completely willing go along intelligence community counsels war slam dunk reinforcing skepticism irans nuclear intentions realistic assessment risk posed unlikely event intelligence communitys consensus wrong iran succeeds acquiring nuclear weapons former heads mossad others pointed existential threat israel even would still extremely low would obvious irans bombs could never used israel elsewhere without producing annihilating response evidence iran disposition commit national suicide troubling aspect issue addressed even risen article presumed evidence existed iran possesses nuclear weapons program military attack would permissible option presumption based irrelevance international law national decision attack sovereign state silent endorsement aggressive war criminalized back 1945 principal conclusion nuremberg judgment dubious thinking gone unchallenged media government pronouncements even diplomatic posturing need recall end world war ii un established states agreed un charter give military option except clear instances selfdefense extent years prohibition eroded setting iran policy abandoned without even pressure extenuating circumstances course would unfortunate iran acquires nuclear weapons given instability region general dangers associated spread international law argument precedent available justify attacking sovereign state goes nuclear israel became stealth nuclear weapons state decades ago without whimper opposition west goes india pakistan even north koreas acquisition weapons produced muted response soon dropped sight better policy options worth exploring uphold international law good chance leading regional stability obvious option containment worked decades expansionist soviet union gigantic arsenal nuclear weapons second option would establish nuclear weapons free zone middle east idea around years enjoys endorsement governments region including iran israel might seem lose nuclear free zone middle east alone currently possesses nuclear weapons israel would benefit immensely reduction regional tensions probable economic diplomatic side benefits particularly accompanied constructive approach resolving conflict palestinian people ambitious option given political credibility president obama prague speech 2009 expressing commitment world without nuclear weapons would table proposal complete nuclear disarmament stepbystep basis approaches seem far preferable planned prudent accord common sense show respect international law passion peaceful resolution conflict minimum deserve widely discussed appraised legal foundation nonproliferation treaty elsewhere present reliance threat diplomacy dealing iran threats violate article 24 un charter wisely prohibits uses force also threats use force iran diplomacy presents odd case political real politik international law clearly point away military option yet winds war blowing ever harder perhaps even eleventh hour political leaders awake realize anew respect international law provides practical foundation rational sustainable foreign policy 21st century | 595 |
<p>In announcing his decision to nominate Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, President Obama hailed Kagan's supposed choice of the Citizens United campaign-finance case as “her very first case to argue before the Court” as solicitor general: “I think it says a great deal about her commitment to protect our fundamental rights, because in a democracy, powerful interests must not be allowed to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens.”</p>
<p>Like his State of the Union demagoguery about the Citizens United ruling, Obama's spin suffers from a few flaws that render it, as Justice Alito might say, “not true.” First, Citizens United only happened to be Kagan's first oral argument, because she chose not to argue any cases last spring and because the Supreme Court teed up the big case for a special session last September. Second, Kagan's job as SG calls for her to defend the constitutionality of federal laws, irrespective of her legal assessment of or “commitment” to them. Third, Kagan, in arguing the case, abandoned precedent holding that corporate speech could be restricted because of its distorting — or drowning-out — effects, and she thus paved the way for the Court to overrule that precedent. Indeed, Kagan had criticized that very precedent in a 1996 law-review article.</p>
<p>Obama's broader populist makeover of Kagan is equally implausible. Dean of Harvard Law School before she became SG, Kagan was educated at Princeton, Oxford, and Harvard and combined a career in legal academia with stints as a Democratic insider in D.C. That's just the mix of access and influence that would explain why Goldman Sachs would pay her a $10,000 annual stipend to lend her name to one of its advisory committees. But it's hardly the ideal background for appreciating how the law affects (as Obama put it) the “lives of ordinary people.”</p>
<p>My point is not to object to Kagan's elite credentials, much less to endorse Obama's populist rhetoric about the Supreme Court, but rather to highlight the curious chasm between that rhetoric and the reality of the Kagan pick. One explanation for that chasm might be that Obama's outlook is so shaped by the progressive academic milieu that he sees “ordinary people” — the sort of folks who “cling to guns or religion” — as a species whose real interests are best understood by experts. Or Obama may just be eager to seize any appealing rhetoric that can substitute for his lawless — and politically unpopular — “empathy” standard for Supreme Court justices.</p>
<p>It's important to recall that Obama's empathy standard was not some casual aside. Obama — who, as we are so often reminded, taught constitutional law for years at the University of Chicago Law School — elaborated that standard in the carefully prepared Senate floor statement that he delivered in 2005 to explain why he was voting against the confirmation of John Roberts to be chief justice. As Obama put it, the “truly difficult” cases — which would appear to be the cases in which traditional interpretation doesn't yield the results that Obama wants — “can only be determined on the basis of one's deepest values, one's core concerns, one's broader perspectives on how the world works, and the depth and breadth of one's empathy.” In those cases, “the critical ingredient is supplied by what is in the judge's heart.” Therefore, the empathy standard provides Obama his essential measure of a Supreme Court nominee.</p>
<p>Obama repeated his empathy standard as he campaigned for president. He stopped voicing it after many of his judicial nominees, including his first Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, saw no sensible political choice other than to repudiate it emphatically. But as he pursues such projects as his sweeping transmogrification of the American health-care system, it's clear that he wants justices who will ignore constitutional limits that stand in his way and who will, at the same time, invent new constitutional rights, on matters such as same-sex marriage, that permanently impose the agenda of the Left.</p>
<p>What most distinguishes Kagan from the other candidates Obama reportedly interviewed — Diane Wood, Merrick Garland, and Sidney Thomas, all three of whom have been federal appellate judges for more than a decade — is her utter lack of judicial experience. Indeed, Kagan may have less experience that bears on the work of a justice than any entering justice in the last five decades or more. Beyond zero judicial experience, she has only a few years of real-world legal experience. She had never argued in any court before becoming solicitor general last year.* And during her entire career in academia, she has written only a handful of scholarly articles.</p>
<p>Equally striking, and a cause of concern to many on the left, is how guarded Kagan has generally been about expressing her political and legal views over the last couple of decades. Tom Goldstein, a hyperconnected D.C. lawyer and blogger who is so close to Kagan that she invited him to offer the formal motion for her admission to the Supreme Court bar last year, says that he doesn't “know anyone who has had a conversation with her in which she expressed a personal conviction on a question of constitutional law in the past decade.” One liberal law professor who reviewed her academic writings summarized them as “cautious academic exercises in the sort of banal on-the-other-handing whose prime virtue is that it's unlikely to offend anyone in a position of power.”</p>
<p>Kagan wasn't always so reticent. In a revealing piece that she wrote for Princeton's student newspaper days after President Reagan's election in 1980, she described her despair at the takeover of the Senate by Republican “avengers of 'innocent life' and the B-1 bomber,” and especially at Alfonse D'Amato's defeat of Liz Holtzman, for whom Kagan had campaigned so hard in the New York Senate race. Her “gut response” on Election Night had been an “emotion-packed conclusion that the world had gone mad, that liberalism was dead and that there was no longer any place for the ideals we held or the beliefs we espoused.” Much as she tried to reason her way out of her despair, she still had to “wonder how all this could possibly have happened and where on earth I'll be able to get a job next year.”</p>
<p>In her senior thesis on the history of the socialist movement in New York City, Kagan found it puzzling — something that “cries out for explanation” — that Americans “are more likely to speak of . . . capitalism's glories than of socialism's greatness.” She lamented the story of the “strange death of socialism in New York City” as “a sad but also a chastening one for those who, more than half a century after socialism's decline, still wish to change America.”</p>
<p>It's fair to hope that Kagan's political views have matured over the years, but there's no reason to doubt that Kagan's general political and legal outlook remains decidedly of the Left, even if she has been quiet on specific issues. Those who know her well vouch that she is, as a White House handler has declared, “clearly a legal progressive.” In a 1993 reflection on her clerkship with Justice Thurgood Marshall, Kagan celebrated Marshall's view that the Supreme Court had freewheeling authority “to safeguard the interests of people who had no other champion” — indeed, that the Court “existed primarily to fulfill this mission.” Complaining that “some recent Justices have sniped at [Marshall's] vision” of the Court and the Constitution — not just disagreed with it — she called that vision “a thing of glory.”</p>
<p>Elsewhere Kagan has denigrated the “extreme conservatism of [Robert] Bork's known views” and lauded his 1987 borking as a model of “a serious discussion of the meaning of the Constitution, the role of the Court, and the views of the nominee.” She's referred in passing to the “ultimate wrongheadedness” of “much of Justice Scalia's work” (even w hile praising its “quality and intelligence”). And she's called Ruth Bader Ginsburg a “well-known moderate.”</p>
<p>One striking exception to Kagan's guardedness was her vehement rhetoric, and aggressive conduct, as Harvard Law School dean against what she called the “military's discriminatory recruitment policy.” What Kagan condemned as “a profound wrong — a moral injustice of the first order” was the continued existence of the Clinton administration's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy on gays in the military, which implemented a provision of law adopted by a Democratic-controlled Congress. That policy was bolstered by the 1996 Solomon Amendment, which denied federal funds to universities that discriminated against military recruiters.</p>
<p>When she first became dean in 2003, Kagan, to her “deep distress,” followed the course of action that her predecessor had adopted the previous year: permitting military recruiters to avail themselves of the resources of the law school's jobs office so as not to jeopardize the flow of federal funds to Harvard. One year later, though, after a federal court ruled that the Solomon Amendment was unconstitutional, Kagan saw an opening to be more aggressive. Even though the legal effect of the court ruling was suspended pending Supreme Court review, Kagan decided to bar the military recruiters from the law school's jobs office in the “hope . . . that the [Defense] Department would choose not to enforce its interpretation of the Solomon Amendment.” (Kagan's defenders try to make much of the fact that the military recruiters could still try to coordinate interviews via a student veterans group, but the group made clear that its meager resources couldn't possibly duplicate the services of the jobs office.) The following fall, when it had become clear that DOD believed that Kagan's barring the recruiters from the jobs office violated the Solomon Amendment, Kagan reverted to the policy of giving the military recruiters access to the jobs office while harshly condemning what she continued to stigmatize as the military's policy.</p>
<p>In 2005, Kagan also signed her name to an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case that offered a reading of the Solomon Amendment that Chief Justice Roberts determined would have rendered it “largely meaningless.” His opinion (in Rumsfeld v. FAIR) rejecting the various challenges to the Solomon Amendment was unanimous; not a single justice agreed with Kagan.</p>
<p>In sum, Kagan, in an exercise of cheap moral posturing, elevated her ideological commitment on gay rights above what Congress, acting on the advice of military leaders, had determined best served the interests of national security. She directed her verbal fire entirely at the military, not at the politicians who in fact bore ultimate responsibility for Don't Ask, Don't Tell. In the midst of war, she violated federal law by treating military recruiters worse than she treated the elite law firms that were donating their legal services to anti-American terrorists and suspected terrorists. As Peter Beinart, the liberal former editor of The New Republic, has put it, barring military recruiters from the jobs office amounted to “a statement of national estrangement,” of Kagan's “alienating [her]self from the country.”</p>
<p>Kagan also appears to have indulged her ideological bias on gay rights as solicitor general by undermining federal laws that she was duty-bound to defend. She failed to seek Supreme Court review of a rogue Ninth Circuit ruling that threatened Don't Ask, Don't Tell and that subjected the military to burdensome litigation. And under her charge the Department of Justice filed a brief that gratuitously abandoned strong grounds for defending the Defense of Marriage Act. One proponent of same-sex marriage celebrated the brief as “a gift to the gay-marriage movement” that “will no doubt make its way into judicial opinions.”</p>
<p>(In light of unfortunate speculation about Kagan's sexual orientation, I will note that the White House, surely after carefully verifying the matter with Kagan, has emphatically rejected rumors that she is gay. My exploration of the one area about which Kagan has been particularly vocal should not be mistaken as some sort of coded statement about her.)</p>
<p>Because so little is known about Kagan's legal and policy views, and because what little is known suggests that she may well indulge her sense of empathy in making legal judgments, it is especially important that the Senate conduct a thorough examination of her views. Kagan herself has made the case for doing so. As she complained in a book review 15 years ago, “when the Senate ceases to engage nominees in meaningful discussion of legal issues, the confirmation process takes on an air of vacuity and farce.” She urged exploration “first, of the nominee's broad judicial philosophy and, second, of her views on particular constitutional issues.” The Senate should “insist[] on seeing how theory works in practice by evoking a nominee's comments on particular issues — involving privacy rights, free speech, race and gender discrimination, and so forth — that the Court regularly faces.”</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the Obama team now appears to be trying to walk Kagan away from her position. Of course, every White House, aiming to minimize the political costs of a nomination battle, wants to limit the scope of questioning of its nominee, even if the nominee has clear majority support in the Senate. What may be surprising is how many senators — especially Republican senators — have acquiesced in this practice, including for opposite-party nominees. Perhaps that's because the senators have made the strategic judgment that limited scrutiny will somehow yield better justices overall. Or perhaps they've decided that limited scrutiny makes nominations less controversial or less well-defined and thus makes it easier to exploit inattention or ambiguity to minimize the downside political costs of their votes.</p>
<p>With 59 Democrats in the Senate, Elena Kagan is a sure bet to be confirmed this summer. That doesn't make the inquiry into, and debate over, her judicial philosophy unimportant. It even means that she is especially well positioned to improve the confirmation process — along the line that she's advocated — by committing to provide the Senate a meaningful discussion of her legal views.</p>
<p>* Correction: Kagan had never argued any appeals. But her Senate questionnaire response indicates that as a junior associate in private practice she did argue one summary-judgment motion in one case and two motions — “to compel release [to the public of certain] transcripts and to prevent redaction” — in another.</p>
<p>Mr. Whelan is president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. He contributes regularly to National Review Online's Bench Memos blog.</p> | false | 1 | announcing decision nominate elena kagan supreme court president obama hailed kagans supposed choice citizens united campaignfinance case first case argue court solicitor general think says great deal commitment protect fundamental rights democracy powerful interests must allowed drown voices ordinary citizens like state union demagoguery citizens united ruling obamas spin suffers flaws render justice alito might say true first citizens united happened kagans first oral argument chose argue cases last spring supreme court teed big case special session last september second kagans job sg calls defend constitutionality federal laws irrespective legal assessment commitment third kagan arguing case abandoned precedent holding corporate speech could restricted distorting drowningout effects thus paved way court overrule precedent indeed kagan criticized precedent 1996 lawreview article obamas broader populist makeover kagan equally implausible dean harvard law school became sg kagan educated princeton oxford harvard combined career legal academia stints democratic insider dc thats mix access influence would explain goldman sachs would pay 10000 annual stipend lend name one advisory committees hardly ideal background appreciating law affects obama put lives ordinary people point object kagans elite credentials much less endorse obamas populist rhetoric supreme court rather highlight curious chasm rhetoric reality kagan pick one explanation chasm might obamas outlook shaped progressive academic milieu sees ordinary people sort folks cling guns religion species whose real interests best understood experts obama may eager seize appealing rhetoric substitute lawless politically unpopular empathy standard supreme court justices important recall obamas empathy standard casual aside obama often reminded taught constitutional law years university chicago law school elaborated standard carefully prepared senate floor statement delivered 2005 explain voting confirmation john roberts chief justice obama put truly difficult cases would appear cases traditional interpretation doesnt yield results obama wants determined basis ones deepest values ones core concerns ones broader perspectives world works depth breadth ones empathy cases critical ingredient supplied judges heart therefore empathy standard provides obama essential measure supreme court nominee obama repeated empathy standard campaigned president stopped voicing many judicial nominees including first supreme court nominee sonia sotomayor saw sensible political choice repudiate emphatically pursues projects sweeping transmogrification american healthcare system clear wants justices ignore constitutional limits stand way time invent new constitutional rights matters samesex marriage permanently impose agenda left distinguishes kagan candidates obama reportedly interviewed diane wood merrick garland sidney thomas three federal appellate judges decade utter lack judicial experience indeed kagan may less experience bears work justice entering justice last five decades beyond zero judicial experience years realworld legal experience never argued court becoming solicitor general last year entire career academia written handful scholarly articles equally striking cause concern many left guarded kagan generally expressing political legal views last couple decades tom goldstein hyperconnected dc lawyer blogger close kagan invited offer formal motion admission supreme court bar last year says doesnt know anyone conversation expressed personal conviction question constitutional law past decade one liberal law professor reviewed academic writings summarized cautious academic exercises sort banal ontheotherhanding whose prime virtue unlikely offend anyone position power kagan wasnt always reticent revealing piece wrote princetons student newspaper days president reagans election 1980 described despair takeover senate republican avengers innocent life b1 bomber especially alfonse damatos defeat liz holtzman kagan campaigned hard new york senate race gut response election night emotionpacked conclusion world gone mad liberalism dead longer place ideals held beliefs espoused much tried reason way despair still wonder could possibly happened earth ill able get job next year senior thesis history socialist movement new york city kagan found puzzling something cries explanation americans likely speak capitalisms glories socialisms greatness lamented story strange death socialism new york city sad also chastening one half century socialisms decline still wish change america fair hope kagans political views matured years theres reason doubt kagans general political legal outlook remains decidedly left even quiet specific issues know well vouch white house handler declared clearly legal progressive 1993 reflection clerkship justice thurgood marshall kagan celebrated marshalls view supreme court freewheeling authority safeguard interests people champion indeed court existed primarily fulfill mission complaining recent justices sniped marshalls vision court constitution disagreed called vision thing glory elsewhere kagan denigrated extreme conservatism robert borks known views lauded 1987 borking model serious discussion meaning constitution role court views nominee shes referred passing ultimate wrongheadedness much justice scalias work even w hile praising quality intelligence shes called ruth bader ginsburg wellknown moderate one striking exception kagans guardedness vehement rhetoric aggressive conduct harvard law school dean called militarys discriminatory recruitment policy kagan condemned profound wrong moral injustice first order continued existence clinton administrations dont ask dont tell policy gays military implemented provision law adopted democraticcontrolled congress policy bolstered 1996 solomon amendment denied federal funds universities discriminated military recruiters first became dean 2003 kagan deep distress followed course action predecessor adopted previous year permitting military recruiters avail resources law schools jobs office jeopardize flow federal funds harvard one year later though federal court ruled solomon amendment unconstitutional kagan saw opening aggressive even though legal effect court ruling suspended pending supreme court review kagan decided bar military recruiters law schools jobs office hope defense department would choose enforce interpretation solomon amendment kagans defenders try make much fact military recruiters could still try coordinate interviews via student veterans group group made clear meager resources couldnt possibly duplicate services jobs office following fall become clear dod believed kagans barring recruiters jobs office violated solomon amendment kagan reverted policy giving military recruiters access jobs office harshly condemning continued stigmatize militarys policy 2005 kagan also signed name amicus brief supreme court case offered reading solomon amendment chief justice roberts determined would rendered largely meaningless opinion rumsfeld v fair rejecting various challenges solomon amendment unanimous single justice agreed kagan sum kagan exercise cheap moral posturing elevated ideological commitment gay rights congress acting advice military leaders determined best served interests national security directed verbal fire entirely military politicians fact bore ultimate responsibility dont ask dont tell midst war violated federal law treating military recruiters worse treated elite law firms donating legal services antiamerican terrorists suspected terrorists peter beinart liberal former editor new republic put barring military recruiters jobs office amounted statement national estrangement kagans alienating country kagan also appears indulged ideological bias gay rights solicitor general undermining federal laws dutybound defend failed seek supreme court review rogue ninth circuit ruling threatened dont ask dont tell subjected military burdensome litigation charge department justice filed brief gratuitously abandoned strong grounds defending defense marriage act one proponent samesex marriage celebrated brief gift gaymarriage movement doubt make way judicial opinions light unfortunate speculation kagans sexual orientation note white house surely carefully verifying matter kagan emphatically rejected rumors gay exploration one area kagan particularly vocal mistaken sort coded statement little known kagans legal policy views little known suggests may well indulge sense empathy making legal judgments especially important senate conduct thorough examination views kagan made case complained book review 15 years ago senate ceases engage nominees meaningful discussion legal issues confirmation process takes air vacuity farce urged exploration first nominees broad judicial philosophy second views particular constitutional issues senate insist seeing theory works practice evoking nominees comments particular issues involving privacy rights free speech race gender discrimination forth court regularly faces unfortunately obama team appears trying walk kagan away position course every white house aiming minimize political costs nomination battle wants limit scope questioning nominee even nominee clear majority support senate may surprising many senators especially republican senators acquiesced practice including oppositeparty nominees perhaps thats senators made strategic judgment limited scrutiny somehow yield better justices overall perhaps theyve decided limited scrutiny makes nominations less controversial less welldefined thus makes easier exploit inattention ambiguity minimize downside political costs votes 59 democrats senate elena kagan sure bet confirmed summer doesnt make inquiry debate judicial philosophy unimportant even means especially well positioned improve confirmation process along line shes advocated committing provide senate meaningful discussion legal views correction kagan never argued appeals senate questionnaire response indicates junior associate private practice argue one summaryjudgment motion one case two motions compel release public certain transcripts prevent redaction another mr whelan president ethics public policy center contributes regularly national review onlines bench memos blog | 1,340 |
<p>Note: George Weigel, a distinguished senior fellow&#160;at Washington’s Ethics and Public Policy Center, was the speaker on May 10 at the 201st commencement exercises of Mt. St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md.,&#160;America’s second-oldest Catholic institution of higher learning. Like that of another institution&#160;much in the news recently, the campus of Mt. St. Mary’s&#160;is&#160;dominated by a gold statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.&#160;</p>
<p>Reverend Fathers; distinguished members of the Board of Trustees; President Powell and distinguished members of the faculty; parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends of the graduates; all mothers present, on this Mother’s Day; and last, but certainly not least, my fellow members of the Class of 2009 at Mt. St. Mary’s University:</p>
<p>Thank you for honoring me with the invitation to address you today. Thank you, too, for honoring my work with the gift of an honorary degree. As President Powell mentioned, I received my undergraduate education in philosophy at the Liberal Arts College of St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. So, if I may borrow from President Kennedy on Harvard and Yale, I now have an abundance of riches: a St. Mary’s education and a Mt. St. Mary’s degree. So I thank you.</p>
<p>This commencement ceremony has an even deeper sense of solemnity this year because there are two members of the Class of 2009 who are not physically present with us today: Nicole Spencer and Elizabeth DiNunzio. As we remember them, we commend them to the Risen Lord and his merciful Father, and we pray that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, will pour out his love on their families and on all here who cherished them.</p>
<p>It has been one of the privileges of my life to have spent more than two and a half decades chronicling the achievements, and explicating the thought, of a great man: the Servant of God Pope John Paul II. He was, certainly, a great man. Part of his greatness lay in the fact that he had a very firm grip on his own fallibility. In September 1997, the Italian Bishops Conference hosted a national Eucharistic Congress in Bologna. John Paul II was helicoptered up there on a Sunday night to give the closing address. A staffer at the bishops conference had gotten the bright idea that Bob Dylan would be a good set-up act for the pope. So, perhaps a half-hour before the Holy Father appeared, Dylan came out on stage before hundreds of thousands of Italians, floppy hat, guitar, harmonica, and so forth, and did a few songs, ending with his signature composition, “Blowin’ in the Wind.” The Pope came out and, demonstrating his remarkable capacity to seize an opportunity, discarded his prepared text and immediately began talking about the Holy Spirit “blowin’ in the wind” of the modern world, and about Jesus Christ as the one road that all of us must walk down, for “Christ, who said ‘I am the way’&#160;.&#160;.&#160;.&#160;is the road of truth, the way of life.” It was a remarkable performance. Three days later, I was at lunch in the papal apartment, and before I could even get seated after grace, John Paul II fixed me with that look across the table and said, “Who eeze Bob DEE-lahn?”</p>
<p>We are now a month shy of the 30th anniversary of another moment when John Paul II rose to an occasion — this time, in a way that changed the course of history. For next month marks the 30th anniversary of what I have come to call the “Nine Days of John Paul II”: June 2 through June 10, 1979, the nine days of the late Pope’s first pilgrimage to his Polish homeland, during which he ignited a revolution of conscience — a moral revolution — that played a crucial role in the collapse of Communist tyranny and in the liberation of the Slavic peoples of central and eastern Europe.</p>
<p>How did he do it? He did it in ways that should resonate with graduates of this university, which is itself the bearer of a distinguished history marked by the labors of saints and other great witnesses to the power of Catholic conviction.</p>
<p>John Paul II did it through Faith: faith in the power of the truth to cut through the Communist culture of the lie.</p>
<p>He did it through Discovery: By putting a life spent probing the truth about the dignity of the human person to work in liberating men and women from the shackles of hopelessness that bound them, he empowered his people to imagine a new, nobler, more human future for themselves, their children, and their country.</p>
<p>He did it through Leadership: the kind of priestly and episcopal leadership that for two millennia has taught the people of the Church that, as St. Paul put it to the Galatians, it is “for freedom that Christ has set [us] free” [Gal. 5:1].</p>
<p>And he did it through Community: for by re-planting the seeds of civil society in a Poland wracked by 40 years of totalitarian oppression, John Paul II laid the foundations for a new type of resistance community — a community of solidarity that proved stronger than tanks, truncheons, fire hoses, and the other weapons of Communist repression.</p>
<p>But, you may say, all of this was done by a great man — so what does that have to do with me? To which I would reply, all of this was done by a man who, when he was your age, never imagined that he would be pope, never imagined that he would become perhaps the pivotal figure of the second half of the 20th century, never imagined that the world would recognize his greatness and the Church his heroic virtue.</p>
<p>He was, in a word, much like you.</p>
<p>And that suggests to me that each of you, my fellow members of the Class of 2009, can also do great things with your lives.</p>
<p>Some of you will do great things as the world measures greatness. Some of you will do great things as the Church measures greatness, joining the ranks of the great figures who have walked here on Mary’s mountain: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; Bishop John Dubois; Archbishop John Hughes; Bishop James Edward Walsh of the Class of 1910, a living martyr for ten years in a Chinese Communist prison. Who knows, perhaps one of you will even top Jim Phelan’s remarkable record as a basketball coach. But each of you can do great things in the one, essential way that Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II, did great things. You can do the greatest thing of which human beings are capable: You can conform yourself to the will of God for your life.</p>
<p>Many of you will enter the world of work after this graduation; others of you will continue your studies. No matter what you will be doing tomorrow, or next week, or next September, there is a lesson for you in the life of John Paul II: Don’t think of your life simply as a “career.” Think of your life as a vocation.</p>
<p>God has something unique in mind for each of you. There is something singular that each of you brings to the making of history. Think of your lives in those terms, and you’ll never fall prey to that most deadening of temptations: the temptation of boredom.</p>
<p>That is the kind of life — a life of high adventure in the greatest of adventures, the making of your soul — for which Mt. St. Mary’s has prepared you. For that is the entire purpose of Catholic higher education, rightly understood: Catholic higher education exists to form vocationally serious men and women in whom faith and reason support a transforming conviction — the conviction that every human life is, by definition, extraordinary. That is the conviction on which this university was founded. That is the conviction on which this university can and must build its future.</p>
<p>In living out that conviction by preparing men and women whose intellectual competence is deepened by their character, the Catholic colleges and universities of the United States perform an immense public service. For, in the final analysis, our freedom depends on the content of our character as a people. That is how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. asked that his children be judged. That is how we should all wish to be judged. For character counts, both for the happiness of each of our lives and for the future of America.</p>
<p>Only a people of character will be able to understand that, as Lord Acton taught, freedom is not a matter of doing what we like, but of having the right to do what we Ought.</p>
<p>Only a people of character will be able to build a civic community out of the materials of diversity.</p>
<p>Only a people of character will know how to deploy the explosion of knowledge in the life sciences so that the biotechnologies of the future serve the ends of genuine healing, rather than leading us into a brave new world of stunted humanity.</p>
<p>Only a people of character will be able to defend freedom in the world by defending the human rights of all, especially the first human right of religious freedom.</p>
<p>By preparing those kinds of citizens, Catholic colleges and universities today are defending the claim inscribed on the birth certificate of American independence: that our freedom rests on self-evident moral truths about human beings, our origins, and our destiny.</p>
<p>These tasks are ever more urgent today, for we live in a culture that is deeply confused about what freedom means and deeply conflicted about how freedom is to be lived. In the most famous oration in American history, delivered ten miles from here at the cemetery in Gettysburg, President Lincoln, whose bicentenary we mark this year, called on the Americans of his day to give “this nation, under God&#160;.&#160;.&#160;.&#160;a new birth of freedom.” That must be your task, too.</p>
<p>The freedoms we cherish in the United States have been put in jeopardy by many threats over the 233 years of our independence. Freedom was put in jeopardy by the institution of slavery, America’s original sin. Freedom was jeopardized by ethnic and religious prejudice. Freedom in this century was threatened by a great depression, by fascism, Nazism, and Communism. Freedom in your own lifetimes has been threatened by the rise of jihadism, which claims that the murder of innocents is pleasing to God. Defending freedom in the past drew deeply on our nation’s virtue capital. Defending freedom today also requires that we be a people of virtue.</p>
<p>And what does virtue require of us?</p>
<p>Virtue requires us to acknowledge, and to defend, the first principle of justice, according to which innocent human life has an inalienable dignity and value that must be recognized by law. Never flag, never fail, never weary in defense of the right to life. Never give up on the great civil-rights issues of our time — the life issues.</p>
<p>Virtue requires us to recognize that the temptation of Prometheus remains with us, and that there are things that we can do, from a scientific point of view, that we must not do, from a moral and humanistic point of view.</p>
<p>Virtue requires us to defend and promote the cause of freedom, rather than retreating into a bunker of hemispheric isolation and an iPod world of self-absorption.</p>
<p>Virtue requires us to live as John Paul II challenged the young people of the world to live: by never, ever settling for anything less than the spiritual and moral greatness of which, with God’s grace, you are capable. Never, ever settle for less than that.</p>
<p>The virtues that are the foundation of this American experiment in ordered liberty are known from both faith and reason. In spending these past years on Mary’s mountain, you have been immersed in both — in both faith and reason. As you walk off the mountain today, take both faith and reason with you. Nurture them in your mind, heart, and soul. Living your lives vocationally — living your lives as the gift to others that your own life is to you — you can give America a new birth of freedom.</p>
<p>And the confessors, the martyrs, and all the other saints who once walked here, on Mary’s mountain in the Catoctins, will be cheering you on, all the way.</p>
<p>Godspeed on your journey.</p>
<p>George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of Washington’s Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he holds the William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.</p> | false | 1 | note george weigel distinguished senior fellow160at washingtons ethics public policy center speaker may 10 201st commencement exercises mt st marys university emmitsburg md160americas secondoldest catholic institution higher learning like another institution160much news recently campus mt st marys160is160dominated gold statue blessed virgin mary160 reverend fathers distinguished members board trustees president powell distinguished members faculty parents grandparents aunts uncles brothers sisters cousins friends graduates mothers present mothers day last certainly least fellow members class 2009 mt st marys university thank honoring invitation address today thank honoring work gift honorary degree president powell mentioned received undergraduate education philosophy liberal arts college st marys seminary university baltimore may borrow president kennedy harvard yale abundance riches st marys education mt st marys degree thank commencement ceremony even deeper sense solemnity year two members class 2009 physically present us today nicole spencer elizabeth dinunzio remember commend risen lord merciful father pray holy spirit comforter pour love families cherished one privileges life spent two half decades chronicling achievements explicating thought great man servant god pope john paul ii certainly great man part greatness lay fact firm grip fallibility september 1997 italian bishops conference hosted national eucharistic congress bologna john paul ii helicoptered sunday night give closing address staffer bishops conference gotten bright idea bob dylan would good setup act pope perhaps halfhour holy father appeared dylan came stage hundreds thousands italians floppy hat guitar harmonica forth songs ending signature composition blowin wind pope came demonstrating remarkable capacity seize opportunity discarded prepared text immediately began talking holy spirit blowin wind modern world jesus christ one road us must walk christ said way160160160160is road truth way life remarkable performance three days later lunch papal apartment could even get seated grace john paul ii fixed look across table said eeze bob deelahn month shy 30th anniversary another moment john paul ii rose occasion time way changed course history next month marks 30th anniversary come call nine days john paul ii june 2 june 10 1979 nine days late popes first pilgrimage polish homeland ignited revolution conscience moral revolution played crucial role collapse communist tyranny liberation slavic peoples central eastern europe ways resonate graduates university bearer distinguished history marked labors saints great witnesses power catholic conviction john paul ii faith faith power truth cut communist culture lie discovery putting life spent probing truth dignity human person work liberating men women shackles hopelessness bound empowered people imagine new nobler human future children country leadership kind priestly episcopal leadership two millennia taught people church st paul put galatians freedom christ set us free gal 51 community replanting seeds civil society poland wracked 40 years totalitarian oppression john paul ii laid foundations new type resistance community community solidarity proved stronger tanks truncheons fire hoses weapons communist repression may say done great man would reply done man age never imagined would pope never imagined would become perhaps pivotal figure second half 20th century never imagined world would recognize greatness church heroic virtue word much like suggests fellow members class 2009 also great things lives great things world measures greatness great things church measures greatness joining ranks great figures walked marys mountain st elizabeth ann seton bishop john dubois archbishop john hughes bishop james edward walsh class 1910 living martyr ten years chinese communist prison knows perhaps one even top jim phelans remarkable record basketball coach great things one essential way karol wojtyla pope john paul ii great things greatest thing human beings capable conform god life many enter world work graduation others continue studies matter tomorrow next week next september lesson life john paul ii dont think life simply career think life vocation god something unique mind something singular brings making history think lives terms youll never fall prey deadening temptations temptation boredom kind life life high adventure greatest adventures making soul mt st marys prepared entire purpose catholic higher education rightly understood catholic higher education exists form vocationally serious men women faith reason support transforming conviction conviction every human life definition extraordinary conviction university founded conviction university must build future living conviction preparing men women whose intellectual competence deepened character catholic colleges universities united states perform immense public service final analysis freedom depends content character people dr martin luther king jr asked children judged wish judged character counts happiness lives future america people character able understand lord acton taught freedom matter like right ought people character able build civic community materials diversity people character know deploy explosion knowledge life sciences biotechnologies future serve ends genuine healing rather leading us brave new world stunted humanity people character able defend freedom world defending human rights especially first human right religious freedom preparing kinds citizens catholic colleges universities today defending claim inscribed birth certificate american independence freedom rests selfevident moral truths human beings origins destiny tasks ever urgent today live culture deeply confused freedom means deeply conflicted freedom lived famous oration american history delivered ten miles cemetery gettysburg president lincoln whose bicentenary mark year called americans day give nation god160160160160a new birth freedom must task freedoms cherish united states put jeopardy many threats 233 years independence freedom put jeopardy institution slavery americas original sin freedom jeopardized ethnic religious prejudice freedom century threatened great depression fascism nazism communism freedom lifetimes threatened rise jihadism claims murder innocents pleasing god defending freedom past drew deeply nations virtue capital defending freedom today also requires people virtue virtue require us virtue requires us acknowledge defend first principle justice according innocent human life inalienable dignity value must recognized law never flag never fail never weary defense right life never give great civilrights issues time life issues virtue requires us recognize temptation prometheus remains us things scientific point view must moral humanistic point view virtue requires us defend promote cause freedom rather retreating bunker hemispheric isolation ipod world selfabsorption virtue requires us live john paul ii challenged young people world live never ever settling anything less spiritual moral greatness gods grace capable never ever settle less virtues foundation american experiment ordered liberty known faith reason spending past years marys mountain immersed faith reason walk mountain today take faith reason nurture mind heart soul living lives vocationally living lives gift others life give america new birth freedom confessors martyrs saints walked marys mountain catoctins cheering way godspeed journey george weigel distinguished senior fellow washingtons ethics public policy center holds william e simon chair catholic studies | 1,050 |
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<p>Drodzy bracia w solidarnosci katolickiej wiary! [Dear brothers in the solidarity of Catholic faith]: Thank you for inviting me to join you on this historic pilgrimage. Thank you for your witness, as grandfathers and fathers, as sons and brothers, as uncles and cousins, to the truth that sets us free: the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord.</p>
<p>Niech bedzie pochwolony Jezus Chrystus, terz&#160;i na wieki! [Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!] Why is an American theologian and writer speaking to you today? The short answer is that our beloved archbishop, Damian Zimon, invited me — many times! And I finally said “Yes.” But that only raises another question: why did Archbishop Zimon invite me to be with you today? I have spent, all told, more than two years in your beautiful country and I am proud to be a friend of Poland — but as you can tell, I am still less than an infant when it comes to speaking your language. So why did the good archbishop invite me? I think it was because my life — as a man, a Christian, a father, and now a grandfather —&#160; was touched by the spiritual fatherhood of Pope John Paul II.</p>
<p>During the many years this son of Poland walked the world’s stage, he became a spiritual father to tens of millions, perhaps hundreds of millions, of people. He became a father in a world looking for fatherhood, and often failing to find it. He became a spiritual father to men and women who do not share our Christian faith, as he had been a father to his archdiocese of Cracow during his years as its bishop. How did he do this? How does it happen that so many millions of people, in very different situations, come to experience one man as a father? And what does that tell us about our own responsibilities and opportunities as fathers? Perhaps the answer will begin to come into focus if I tell you a bit about my experience in writing the biography of John Paul II.</p>
<p>When I began work in 1996 on what would become&#160;Witness to Hope, I had known John Paul II personally for some five years — and I had been writing about him since 1979. As my conversation with the Holy Father grew deeper over the next three years, I was asked, many times, what new things I was learning about the pope. And of course the answer was, I was learning many new things.</p>
<p>I learned how his personality and his vocation had been shaped by his experience of World War II. I learned about his unique ministry with students and young people, a ministry that often took him on pilgrimages throughout Poland. I learned about his contributions to the Second Vatican Council; I learned about his work as a philosopher, a literary man, and a bishop. And I learned how his life and his own witness to Christ had been shaped by two remarkable fathers.</p>
<p>The first was his natural father, Captain Karol Wojtyla. I believe “the captain,”as everyone in Wadowice called him, was the most important influence on the first twenty years of&#160; young Karol’s life. From his father, young Karol Wojtyla learned to be a man of integrity: a man honest with himself and honest with others. His father gave him his first sustained lessons in Polish history; and in those lessons, the father taught the son an idea of Poland as free, faithful, open, generous, and tolerant. One day, the son would turn that idea of Poland into a powerful instrument of liberation that would change the course of history.</p>
<p>Above all, however, the father taught the son that prayerfulness and manliness go together. Being a man means being a man of prayer. Being a true man means living in conversation with the God whom Jesus calls “Father.” And, in his memoir,&#160;Gift and Mystery, Pope John Paul II pays his father the high tribute of writing that his father’s example of prayer was his “first seminary.” The son’s priesthood, which would ultimately touch the entire world, was shaped by the father’s example.</p>
<p>The second of Pope John Paul II’s remarkable fathers was his spiritual father, Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha. The “Prince-Archbishop,” the “archbishop of the long, dark night of Occupation,” taught the future pope that the fatherhood of priests and bishops means defending the rights of their spiritual sons and daughters, when those rights are being violated. In addition, Archbishop Sapieha’s example of prayerfulness reinforced the example that had been set for young Karol Wojtyla by Captain Karol Wojtyla, who died in 1942. Every night during his year as an underground seminarian, while he was living in hiding in the archbishop’s residence in Cracow, young Karol Wojtyla saw Archbishop Sapieha bring the day’s grave problems before the Lord in prayer. That was the source of the archbishop’s courage and strength: his constant life of prayer. That same practice of constant prayer would shape the life of Karol Wojtyla, priest, bishop, and pope.</p>
<p>In his plays and poems, Cardinal Wojtyla thought about the experience of fatherhood he had known from his own father, from Cardinal Sapieha, and in his own ministry as priest and bishop. He once reflected on what he had learned in a poetic essay, “Reflections on Fatherhood.” There he wrote, “…everything else will turn out to be unimportant and inessential except for this: father, child, love. And then, looking at the simplest things, all of us will say: ‘could we not have learned this long ago? Has this not always been embedded at the bottom of everything that is?'”</p>
<p>What is the Pope saying here? I think he is saying this: that at the bottom of everything that is, we do not find only protons and electrons and neutrons and all the other apparatus of the atom; at the bottom of everything there is, we find fatherhood. Because at the source of everything is the God who shows himself within the Trinity and to the creation as “Father.” The fatherhood of God is imprinted on everything that is. The fatherhood of God is imprinted on us.</p>
<p>And so, my brothers in Christ, if we are to be good fathers, as John Paul II was a good father and as Captain Karol Wojtyla and Cardinal Sapieha were good fathers, we must turn to God the Father. All fatherhood begins with Him. In the merciful Father, who comes out to greet the prodigal son and restores to that son the dignity he had wasted, we find the meaning and model of being a father: strength so deeply rooted in love that it can express itself in life-giving compassion.</p>
<p>Our families need this fatherhood. So do our nations. And so does our world. The loneliness that so many people experience in the world today is a loneliness that can be healed by men who live their fatherhood with strength and compassion. By bringing the world the strength and compassion of fatherhood, we bring the world a little closer to God — to the Father who is, as John Paul II wrote, “at the bottom of everything that is.”&#160; Poland’s men can best give thanks for the gift that was Pope John Paul II by being the fathers your families, your country, and the world need.</p>
<p>Thank you for the fathers you are, and for the fathers you will be. Thank you for the gift of fatherhood you will transmit to your sons and grandsons. And let us thank God the Father for the great gift of the fatherhood of John Paul II. Through his intercession, may all of us live more fully our vocations as fathers and sons.</p>
<p>George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. and holds EPPC’s William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.</p> | false | 1 | drodzy bracia w solidarnosci katolickiej wiary dear brothers solidarity catholic faith thank inviting join historic pilgrimage thank witness grandfathers fathers sons brothers uncles cousins truth sets us free truth jesus christ lord niech bedzie pochwolony jezus chrystus terz160i na wieki praised jesus christ forever american theologian writer speaking today short answer beloved archbishop damian zimon invited many times finally said yes raises another question archbishop zimon invite today spent told two years beautiful country proud friend poland tell still less infant comes speaking language good archbishop invite think life man christian father grandfather 160 touched spiritual fatherhood pope john paul ii many years son poland walked worlds stage became spiritual father tens millions perhaps hundreds millions people became father world looking fatherhood often failing find became spiritual father men women share christian faith father archdiocese cracow years bishop happen many millions people different situations come experience one man father tell us responsibilities opportunities fathers perhaps answer begin come focus tell bit experience writing biography john paul ii began work 1996 would become160witness hope known john paul ii personally five years writing since 1979 conversation holy father grew deeper next three years asked many times new things learning pope course answer learning many new things learned personality vocation shaped experience world war ii learned unique ministry students young people ministry often took pilgrimages throughout poland learned contributions second vatican council learned work philosopher literary man bishop learned life witness christ shaped two remarkable fathers first natural father captain karol wojtyla believe captainas everyone wadowice called important influence first twenty years of160 young karols life father young karol wojtyla learned man integrity man honest honest others father gave first sustained lessons polish history lessons father taught son idea poland free faithful open generous tolerant one day son would turn idea poland powerful instrument liberation would change course history however father taught son prayerfulness manliness go together man means man prayer true man means living conversation god jesus calls father memoir160gift mystery pope john paul ii pays father high tribute writing fathers example prayer first seminary sons priesthood would ultimately touch entire world shaped fathers example second pope john paul iis remarkable fathers spiritual father cardinal adam stefan sapieha princearchbishop archbishop long dark night occupation taught future pope fatherhood priests bishops means defending rights spiritual sons daughters rights violated addition archbishop sapiehas example prayerfulness reinforced example set young karol wojtyla captain karol wojtyla died 1942 every night year underground seminarian living hiding archbishops residence cracow young karol wojtyla saw archbishop sapieha bring days grave problems lord prayer source archbishops courage strength constant life prayer practice constant prayer would shape life karol wojtyla priest bishop pope plays poems cardinal wojtyla thought experience fatherhood known father cardinal sapieha ministry priest bishop reflected learned poetic essay reflections fatherhood wrote everything else turn unimportant inessential except father child love looking simplest things us say could learned long ago always embedded bottom everything pope saying think saying bottom everything find protons electrons neutrons apparatus atom bottom everything find fatherhood source everything god shows within trinity creation father fatherhood god imprinted everything fatherhood god imprinted us brothers christ good fathers john paul ii good father captain karol wojtyla cardinal sapieha good fathers must turn god father fatherhood begins merciful father comes greet prodigal son restores son dignity wasted find meaning model father strength deeply rooted love express lifegiving compassion families need fatherhood nations world loneliness many people experience world today loneliness healed men live fatherhood strength compassion bringing world strength compassion fatherhood bring world little closer god father john paul ii wrote bottom everything is160 polands men best give thanks gift pope john paul ii fathers families country world need thank fathers fathers thank gift fatherhood transmit sons grandsons let us thank god father great gift fatherhood john paul ii intercession may us live fully vocations fathers sons george weigel distinguished senior fellow ethics public policy center washington dc holds eppcs william e simon chair catholic studies | 658 |
<p>Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich, writing recently in the Wall Street Journal, is <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119984199293776549.html" type="external">urging</a> the Democratic presidential candidates to stop discussing their differences on health care so voters will stay focused on the consensus emerging among them.</p>
<p>In terms of Democratic political interests, Reich is surely right. Senator Hillary Clinton’s on-going attacks of Senator Barack Obama as a health-care apostate for not embracing mandatory insurance only divert attention from their common commitment to an expansive and universal health-care entitlement. Democrats are much better served by sticking to the message, however deceptive, that they want to provide “affordable health care for all,” and Republicans don’t.</p>
<p>Reich is also right that the Democratic plans have far more in common than not. All of the leading candidates build their health-care plans around the same four basic changes. First, they want to force employers (except for very small businesses) to pay for health insurance — so-called “pay or play.” Second, they want to create new “purchasing pools” for group-rated insurance outside of the employer setting. Third, they would create a new government-run insurance option which anyone could join. Fourth, they would provide subsidies to lower-income enrollees to reduce their premiums in these new insurance arrangements.</p>
<p>How is it that all of the Democrats ended up with essentially the same basic plan? It’s simple: focus groups. In road testing their plans, they all bumped into the same political reality: the only way to keep all of their potential voters happy is with a plan that appears to provide options on both sides of the health-care divide: private and “governmental” at the same time.</p>
<p>And in this balancing act, the private component is crucial. As Clinton found out the hard way in 1994, most Democrats are no different than most Republicans: they support health-care reform in theory, but only if it doesn’t disrupt what they have today, which they generally like. To these voters, the Democrats keep saying, “don’t worry, you can keep what you have.”</p>
<p>But Democrats must appease other constituencies too. First, there are the union members, heavily concentrated in aging manufacturing industries, who believe they are losing jobs in part because other segments of the economy are not paying their “fair share” of health-care costs. For these voters, the Democrats offer “pay or play,” to “level the playing field” across industries and, at least in theory, widen access to employer-sponsored plans for lower wage workers in smaller businesses.</p>
<p>Democrats also must throw a bone to the small in number but noisy advocates for Canadian-style, single-payer health insurance. To these voters, the Democrats do not promise a government takeover outright, for fear of alienating their other supporters. Instead, they offer the creation of an optional, government-run insurance plan available to anyone who wants to enroll in it.</p>
<p>All of this would seem to be clever positioning by the Democrats, and, in fact, it is likely that the candidates are benefiting from the perception that they have finally settled on a realistic formula for breaking the reform impasse.</p>
<p>The only problem is that the Democratic plans won’t work as advertised. If adopted, the combination of policies being pushed by the Democrats would so destabilize existing private insurance arrangements — including employer-sponsored plans — as to make a complete government takeover of insurance just a matter of time.</p>
<p>Why? For starters, the “play or pay” employer mandate would have the opposite of its intended effect. In addition to destroying hundreds of thousands of low wage jobs, the mandate would lead to the rapid decline of employer-sponsored insurance and the migration of millions of workers into either the government-run plan or the plans offered through the new purchasing arrangement.</p>
<p>In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger initially suggested setting an employer “pay or play” mandate at 4 percent of payroll, but current employer contributions are well above that rate (California Democrats have been pushing for a broader mandate). In 2007, the average cost of family coverage exceeded $12,000, with the employer paying, on average, 72 percent of the premium, or about $8,700. That’s more than 18 percent of today’s median income. Only employers with the most highly paid workers would find it cheaper to pay premiums instead of paying the tax under any reasonable scenario. Union members see “pay or play” as a floor on employer contributions to health care, but the mandate should be viewed as a ceiling as well. Once in place, employers would gravitate toward paying the specified tax rate — and no more. Over time, “pay or play” would give all of those employers who have been looking for an excuse to drop their health coverage or cut their contributions a ready excuse to do so.</p>
<p>The Democrats will argue that workers losing employer coverage will still have access to private insurance through their new, government-run purchasing pools. But private insurance offered through such arrangements will be competing for enrollees with the new government-run insurance plan, and the playing field will be anything but level. To keep the costs of premium subsidies down, the government-run plan will inevitably import the kinds of price controls used in Medicare, with the government essentially dictating payment rates instead of negotiating them with doctors and hospitals. Private insurers do not have that kind of power, and so they will be at a large competitive disadvantage. Seeing the writing on the wall, most insurers would likely concede the market to the government-run plan, which would swell in numbers.</p>
<p>Robert Reich is right. There is a growing consensus among Democrats on health care. They all agree that their political success depends on convincing voters that their health-care plans pose no threat to the viability of current, private insurance arrangements. Republicans can take heart in knowing this claim is not true.</p>
<p>— James C. Capretta is a fellow at the <a href="" type="internal">Ethics and Public Policy Center</a> and a health policy and research consultant.</p> | false | 1 | former clinton labor secretary robert reich writing recently wall street journal urging democratic presidential candidates stop discussing differences health care voters stay focused consensus emerging among terms democratic political interests reich surely right senator hillary clintons ongoing attacks senator barack obama healthcare apostate embracing mandatory insurance divert attention common commitment expansive universal healthcare entitlement democrats much better served sticking message however deceptive want provide affordable health care republicans dont reich also right democratic plans far common leading candidates build healthcare plans around four basic changes first want force employers except small businesses pay health insurance socalled pay play second want create new purchasing pools grouprated insurance outside employer setting third would create new governmentrun insurance option anyone could join fourth would provide subsidies lowerincome enrollees reduce premiums new insurance arrangements democrats ended essentially basic plan simple focus groups road testing plans bumped political reality way keep potential voters happy plan appears provide options sides healthcare divide private governmental time balancing act private component crucial clinton found hard way 1994 democrats different republicans support healthcare reform theory doesnt disrupt today generally like voters democrats keep saying dont worry keep democrats must appease constituencies first union members heavily concentrated aging manufacturing industries believe losing jobs part segments economy paying fair share healthcare costs voters democrats offer pay play level playing field across industries least theory widen access employersponsored plans lower wage workers smaller businesses democrats also must throw bone small number noisy advocates canadianstyle singlepayer health insurance voters democrats promise government takeover outright fear alienating supporters instead offer creation optional governmentrun insurance plan available anyone wants enroll would seem clever positioning democrats fact likely candidates benefiting perception finally settled realistic formula breaking reform impasse problem democratic plans wont work advertised adopted combination policies pushed democrats would destabilize existing private insurance arrangements including employersponsored plans make complete government takeover insurance matter time starters play pay employer mandate would opposite intended effect addition destroying hundreds thousands low wage jobs mandate would lead rapid decline employersponsored insurance migration millions workers either governmentrun plan plans offered new purchasing arrangement california governor arnold schwarzenegger initially suggested setting employer pay play mandate 4 percent payroll current employer contributions well rate california democrats pushing broader mandate 2007 average cost family coverage exceeded 12000 employer paying average 72 percent premium 8700 thats 18 percent todays median income employers highly paid workers would find cheaper pay premiums instead paying tax reasonable scenario union members see pay play floor employer contributions health care mandate viewed ceiling well place employers would gravitate toward paying specified tax rate time pay play would give employers looking excuse drop health coverage cut contributions ready excuse democrats argue workers losing employer coverage still access private insurance new governmentrun purchasing pools private insurance offered arrangements competing enrollees new governmentrun insurance plan playing field anything level keep costs premium subsidies governmentrun plan inevitably import kinds price controls used medicare government essentially dictating payment rates instead negotiating doctors hospitals private insurers kind power large competitive disadvantage seeing writing wall insurers would likely concede market governmentrun plan would swell numbers robert reich right growing consensus among democrats health care agree political success depends convincing voters healthcare plans pose threat viability current private insurance arrangements republicans take heart knowing claim true james c capretta fellow ethics public policy center health policy research consultant | 551 |
<p />
<p>Let's call her Jenny. Jenny was alone, and clearly confused. Her face was dotted with acne, and her short blond hair was stiff at the ends. As the Skyline train sped towards the next destination, she stood "at attention" in her military fatigue and boots staring aimlessly into the vastness of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.</p>
<p>Jenny was not the only returnee from Iraq. The airport was bustling with men and women in uniform. There seemed to be little festivity awaiting them. The scene was marred with the same confusion and uncertainty that has accompanied this war from the start: unclear goals that kept on changing while its own advocates - within the media, the government, and right-wing think tanks - began slowly and shamelessly disowning it. They all changed their tune, and many of them redirected their venom at Iran. In the meanwhile, the soldiers continued to fight, kill, and fall in droves. Following the recent reduction of troops in Iraq, thousands were expected to come home, while others headed to Afghanistan to battle on, carrying with them their inconceivably heavy gear and their continued bewilderment.</p>
<p>America's poor have always carried the burden of wars undertaken by America's rich, who barefacedly scurry for the spoils while soldiers give up their lives, or are otherwise left with medals and untold physical and psychological scars.</p>
<p>"As of Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010, at least 4,421 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003," reported the Associated Press. "Since the start of U.S. military operations in Iraq, 31,951 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department's weekly tally." As for the Iraqi body count, the number fluctuates from hundreds of thousands to well over the one million mark. This doesn't include those who perished in the first Iraq war (1990-91) or as a result of the long-term sanctions that followed. But one cannot blame the Associated Press for not spitting out exact numbers. The rate of death among that shattered nation was happening at such an imaginable speed that the victims were lucky to even get a proper burial.</p>
<p>The Skyline high-speed train came to a stop at Terminal A and quickly resumed its circular journey. Passengers departed and newcomers embarked. Jenny remained in her place. She reminded me of Lynndie England, the army reservist famed for dragging a poor, tortured Iraqi prisoner with a leash in Abu Ghraib. The prisoner's face was a testament to all the pain an expression can possibly communicate. England's face was frozen, as she stared at her captive without a decipherable expression. She was later convicted with connection to the torture.</p>
<p>Abu Ghraib was only a microcosm of Iraq. No one was convicted for the much larger crime that has decimated the civilization that served as the cradle of all civilizations. Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Bush are enjoying retirement to the fullest. Those who fabricated the "case for war" on Iraq are still as busy as ever, in their think-tanks, universities and media outlets. Now they are concocting a "case for war" against Iran.</p>
<p>But Jenny might not be the Lynndie England type at all. Maybe she did some clerical work in the Green Zone. Maybe she developed an affinity to Iraq. Maybe she even befriended an Iraqi family or two. Maybe she is currently carrying in her handbag some photos of an Iraqi child named Hiyyat, meaning "life".</p>
<p>Jenny might never have committed even the most minor of crimes. She might have genuinely thought that her deployment to Iraq was going to better the world, to protect the US from the terrorists that she was mislead to believe coordinated their attacks on America with Saddam Hussein. She may be too young to understand how the world works. She has the face of a teenager, because she is one. They gave her a gun and taught her how to shoot. They told her things about democracy, and how the Arabs think. They promised her tuition and a variety of other perks. Is Jenny at all responsible for what happened in Iraq?</p>
<p>Now at terminals B and C, Jenny doesn't seem to be paying the slightest attention to the robotic voice in English and Spanish informing passengers about the upcoming stop and when to get off the train.</p>
<p>When was Jenny even sent to Iraq? Were the disasters created by the war as clear then as they are now? Those who lead wars always promise that the world will be a better place - once the guns are silenced, the dead are buried and the "collateral damage" is conveniently justified and forgotten. But in the case of this war, at least, the world has certainly not emerged a better place. Neither the Middle East region nor the US are in any way safer. It fact, the whole world is much more dangerous now. The war was provoked on faulty premises, concocted evidence and forgery. It created chaos, enlivened sectarian divisions, pitted governments and people against each other. While the Iraqis, of course, have paid the heaviest price by far, the war is also a major component of the current crisis engulfing the United States: political division at home, loss of foreign policy direction (and leadership) abroad, economic recession, which struck first nationally, then internationally, among many other manifestations.</p>
<p>The war is not over, and an older war is being expediently reignited. Jenny, once home, will be told of how bad things have been. How difficult it is to find a job. Her chances of making a dignified living in America have dwindled significantly since she joined the army, regardless of when that was. The army, after all, might be her best chance at making a living.</p>
<p>Where will it be now, Jenny? Back to Iraq, maybe, but under a mission with a different title? Operation New Dawn?</p>
<p>At the last terminal, D, Jenny is still in her place. Now every last passenger will have to disembark, as the Skyline speed-train is about to restart its circular journey. Where will it be, Jenny? It is, after all, your choice.</p> | false | 1 | lets call jenny jenny alone clearly confused face dotted acne short blond hair stiff ends skyline train sped towards next destination stood attention military fatigue boots staring aimlessly vastness dallasfort worth international airport jenny returnee iraq airport bustling men women uniform seemed little festivity awaiting scene marred confusion uncertainty accompanied war start unclear goals kept changing advocates within media government rightwing think tanks began slowly shamelessly disowning changed tune many redirected venom iran meanwhile soldiers continued fight kill fall droves following recent reduction troops iraq thousands expected come home others headed afghanistan battle carrying inconceivably heavy gear continued bewilderment americas poor always carried burden wars undertaken americas rich barefacedly scurry spoils soldiers give lives otherwise left medals untold physical psychological scars wednesday sept 22 2010 least 4421 members us military died iraq war since began march 2003 reported associated press since start us military operations iraq 31951 us service members wounded hostile action according defense departments weekly tally iraqi body count number fluctuates hundreds thousands well one million mark doesnt include perished first iraq war 199091 result longterm sanctions followed one blame associated press spitting exact numbers rate death among shattered nation happening imaginable speed victims lucky even get proper burial skyline highspeed train came stop terminal quickly resumed circular journey passengers departed newcomers embarked jenny remained place reminded lynndie england army reservist famed dragging poor tortured iraqi prisoner leash abu ghraib prisoners face testament pain expression possibly communicate englands face frozen stared captive without decipherable expression later convicted connection torture abu ghraib microcosm iraq one convicted much larger crime decimated civilization served cradle civilizations cheney rumsfeld bush enjoying retirement fullest fabricated case war iraq still busy ever thinktanks universities media outlets concocting case war iran jenny might lynndie england type maybe clerical work green zone maybe developed affinity iraq maybe even befriended iraqi family two maybe currently carrying handbag photos iraqi child named hiyyat meaning life jenny might never committed even minor crimes might genuinely thought deployment iraq going better world protect us terrorists mislead believe coordinated attacks america saddam hussein may young understand world works face teenager one gave gun taught shoot told things democracy arabs think promised tuition variety perks jenny responsible happened iraq terminals b c jenny doesnt seem paying slightest attention robotic voice english spanish informing passengers upcoming stop get train jenny even sent iraq disasters created war clear lead wars always promise world better place guns silenced dead buried collateral damage conveniently justified forgotten case war least world certainly emerged better place neither middle east region us way safer fact whole world much dangerous war provoked faulty premises concocted evidence forgery created chaos enlivened sectarian divisions pitted governments people iraqis course paid heaviest price far war also major component current crisis engulfing united states political division home loss foreign policy direction leadership abroad economic recession struck first nationally internationally among many manifestations war older war expediently reignited jenny home told bad things difficult find job chances making dignified living america dwindled significantly since joined army regardless army might best chance making living jenny back iraq maybe mission different title operation new dawn last terminal jenny still place every last passenger disembark skyline speedtrain restart circular journey jenny choice | 534 |
<p>Emmanuel Karenzi Karake’s reign of terror as head of the notorious Directorate of Military Intelligence</p>
<p>Over the last two decades, Emmanuel Karenzi Karake has cut a striking figure in the world of Rwandan intelligence, having navigated the corridors of power with intellectual prowess.</p>
<p>His former colleagues describe him first and foremost as a master at exploiting weakness, a man able to target enemies with astounding precision and never missing his mark. He understood on a visceral level what Paul Kagame wanted to accomplish in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide and knew on a cerebral level how it should be done.</p>
<p>“Quite simply, Karake is the most brilliant officer that Kagame has ever had,” said an ex-colleague now in exile.</p>
<p>“He is observant and careful. Kagame trusted him most of the time…except when he suspected Karake might be building his own power base,” the officer explained.</p>
<p>Another officer who worked with Karake for years said his boss excelled in organizing “abductions, targeted killings and mass killings.”</p>
<p>“At the planning and killing level, he is more shrewd than most. It is hard to escape his traps. Karenzi doesn’t miss a target,” the source explained.</p>
<p>Raised by Tutsi refugee parents in the Congo, Karake was schooled in Uganda and underwent military training in Tanzania before becoming a civil intelligence officer at Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s office following the ouster of dictator Milton Obote in the 1980s.</p>
<p>In the early 1990s, after Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) invaded Rwanda and unleashed a civil war, Karake became a member of an African Union military observer group before becoming a key liaison officer for the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) in its dealings with the United Nations peacekeeping mission, UNAMIR.</p>
<p>Karake’s ability to move freely throughout Rwanda with internationally sanctioned military missions enabled him to gather crucial information at opportune moments: “It was a golden opportunity to see every corner of the country. He gathered really good intelligence for the final assault on Kigali.”</p>
<p>The experience put Karake in good stead when the RPF swooped into the capital, swore in a new government and promised to rebuild Rwanda from its ashes.</p>
<p>Having a predilection for socializing and enjoying the company of women, Karake is the polar opposite of socially austere Kagame. Unlike his boss, he is actually popular with Tutsi officers and soldiers, even among the lowest rank.</p>
<p>His only real nemesis, colleagues pointed out, was Kayumba Nyamwasa, his predecessor who headed the notorious Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) before and during the genocide.</p>
<p>Just what was the role of DMI, an institution led by Karake for nearly three years after the genocide? Rwandans have variously described DMI as a repository of malevolence and pain.</p>
<p>Investigators at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) set out to discover what DMI did during and after the genocide. Their findings were compiled in a confidential report submitted to Prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow and accessed by this journalist.</p>
<p>“The Directorate of Military Intelligence was created in late 1990 as part of the RPA military structure. From its creation and until the end of the war in 1994, Colonel Kayumba Nyamwasa was in charge of this directorate. The DMI is hated and feared by most of the Rwandan population, inside and outside of Rwanda due to its reputation for cruelty and killing operations. Most of the massacres attributed to the RPA were committed by the DMI,” the document states.</p>
<p>The report emphasizes that Nyamwasa was DMI chief until the formation of the RPF government and “‘nothing was done without his knowledge.” Investigators later state that Nyamwasa “was replaced by Lt Colonel Karenzi Karake.”</p>
<p>The report—written by the ICTR’s Special Investigations Unit that looked into crimes committed by the RPF—goes on to say that DMI representatives were in every military unit, and that special DMI forces were under the control of DMI headquarters, and special agents called ‘technicians’ were part of DMI operations.</p>
<p>The report states that technicians were trained to use pharmaceutical products to kill and poison water; they were given courses on how to murder with ropes and hoes, how to smother people with plastic bags, how to inject oil from syringes into victims’ ears, and how to tie people’s elbows behind their backs and bind their feet as a means of torture. The technicians were also instructed to use bayonets, guns and grenades, in addition to laying landmines.</p>
<p>Immediately after Kagame’s troops seized the capital and in the smoky weeks before being named DMI chief, Karake directed a series of operations from all over Rwanda that lured and screened young male Hutus into the RPA, in schemes that brought them to killing centers, mainly in remote areas of Akagera Park which was off limits to the UN and NGOs, sources said. He worked closely at the time with Patrick Nyamvumba, who headed the Training Wing and is now Rwanda’s chief of defense staff.</p>
<p>The practice of screening Hutus and transporting them to execution sites started during the genocide but was implemented in earnest afterward, entrenching a deadly policy that continued, in varying degrees, for years to come.</p>
<p>From testimony collected from witnesses, investigators stipulated that “after the war, the Hutu population were arrested by DMI agents in given places and eliminated at a great rate. The bodies were incinerated and ashes were buried.” Sports grounds and military camps were often created over common graves.</p>
<p>“Places where massacres executed by agents of the DMI sometimes with the assistance of soldiers were: Gabiro, Kami, Masaka, Giti, Nyamirambo, Kidaho, Butaro, Kirambo, Ruhengeri city, Kinihira, Nyungwe Forest, Kabutare, Butare Aboretum, Save, Gikomero, Ndera, Runda, Musambira City, Rambura, Muhura-Buyumba City,” investigators wrote.</p>
<p>“It appears that the principal heads of the DMI are responsible not only because of their personal actions but also because of the orders given. They are also accountable on the basis of the responsibility of the superior hierarchy,” the investigators concluded.</p>
<p>One of the preferred killing grounds under the authority of DMI was Camp Kami, a sprawling base on the outskirts of Kigali adjacent to bush. ICTR investigators discovered that “thousands of civilians who had taken refuge in the camp were executed. In May 1994, military prisoners would dig graves during the day, and during the night the bodies of the executed persons would be buried in these mass graves. For many years Camp Kami continued to be used by the DMI as an execution site.”</p>
<p>One of Karake’s close colleagues confided that while Kayumba held sway at Kami for two months, it was Karake that transformed the military camp into “a true slaughterhouse.”</p>
<p>“No one knows how many Hutus were slaughtered at Kami. Those who returned from Zaire and others were killed there,” the Tutsi officer said. “Even Tutsis were slaughtered at Kami, but for Tutsis there had to be a reason for being killed.”</p>
<p>He said one day in August 1994, at about 5:30 pm, he was heading to Kami just as a soldier was leaving. The soldier said he was exhausted after killing Hutus for eleven hours straight. “There are still many and Afandi KK (Karenzi Karake) wants the job to be completed before tomorrow,” the soldier told him.</p>
<p>The Tutsi officer arrived on site and found hundreds of Hutu men “screaming and agonizing,” their arms tied behind them and legs bound. “It was horrible,” he recounted, adding that soldiers were looking for hoes to bury them alive.</p>
<p>He said Karake visited the camp that night, was pleased with the scene and quickly retreated to DMI headquarters, which was called Ku Kabindi (the Calabash) because it was next to a building with a calabash and straw.</p>
<p>Karake’s Achilles Heel, shared by many upper echelon members of the RPF, was his antipathy toward Hutus.</p>
<p>“He hated Hutus. He would kill a person just because he or she was Hutu,” the officer said.</p>
<p>And yet many years ago, Karake fell in love with a Hutu girl who was very beautiful. But for a senior ranking Tutsi officer it was unheard of—and even dangerous—to contemplate marrying a Hutu woman.</p>
<p>“He had to drop her and it killed his heart. He became emotionally challenged after that.”</p>
<p>Another colleague had a different view. “It wasn’t so much that Karake hated Hutus more than other RPF officers did. It was just that killing Hutus was the policy. It was part of the program.”</p>
<p>The RPF’s Hutu extermination policy reached its apotheosis under Karake’s tenure, when DMI supervised with great precision the 1996 invasion of Zaire and the mass killings of Congolese and Rwandan Hutu refugees.</p>
<p>The killing squads in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, were supervised by DMI and instructed by Karake, according to an officer involved in operations.</p>
<p>“No intelligence officer could operate without orders from KK. All intelligence officers from all units and sub-units were provided by DMI and could be replaced by DMI,” he said, adding that DMI worked closely with the gendarmerie, military police and external intelligence.</p>
<p>In an interview, a former soldier from a mobile DMI unit recounted killing Hutus in the Congo in November 1996.</p>
<p>“We stopped in Kasindi (in Zaire) and conducted ‘clean up’ operations throughout the area. We got rid of everyone considered an enemy: that meant all Hutus. We found the refugees in the forest. There were starving and sick. There was no water or food for these people. But we were told to eliminate them. So we killed them all. We even killed those who were dying, with perhaps only a few minutes to live. We didn’t use guns on the weakest. We used traditional weapons like agafuni (hoes) to finish them off.</p>
<p>“Most of the killings of refugees took place in the jungle. But if refugees tried to hide in towns, we went after them and identified them.</p>
<p>“At this stage, there were no ex-FAR (Hutu soldiers) in the area. There were only civilians.”</p>
<p>By the time Rwandan troops reached Bafwasende near Kisangani in January 1997, many refugees, more than ten thousand, were killed, the soldier said.</p>
<p>“I was part of a team that unearthed corpses from mass graves. We worked day and night for a long time to take bodies to other locations to be incinerated. It was about the time when people were calling for an investigation to confirm whether indeed there had been massacres of Hutu refugees in the area. Rwanda of course was denying the allegations and we had to destroy the evidence. We needed to hide the proof.</p>
<p>“Bodies were decomposing. It was shocking to be forced to carry out such operations. We did this with our own hands, with no protection or gloves. Our superiors were behind us. These commanders hit us from time to time. It’s hard for you to imagine but we had to put corpses on our backs and dump them onto trucks. When we were discouraged they would beat us and force us to carry on. It was forced labor. I became ill afterward.”</p>
<p>In 2010, an investigation by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded that Rwandan troops committed crimes against humanity and possibly genocide in the former Zaire.</p>
<p>The author of that report, a war crimes prosecutor from Montreal named Luc Coté, <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/congo-butchery-like-rwandan-genocide-20100828-13wbm.html" type="external">said</a> that Rwandan Tutsi troops and their rebel allies targeted, chased, hacked, shot and burned Hutus—men, women and children—in the DRC.</p>
<p>Coté previously worked in the ICTR’s Office of Prosecutor and was responsible for indicting Colonel Theoneste Bagosora, considered the architect of the 1994 genocide against Tutsis.</p>
<p>In the first disordered weeks of the Rwandan invasion of Zaire, several hundred thousand Rwandan refugees headed eastward back home, while another mass of humanity fled deeper west into the jungle, chased by RPA forces. Mainstream media, channeling officials in Kigali, declared the forced return of Hutus as a victory against genocidal forces that had used the camps in Zaire as rear bases to mount attacks against Rwanda. What journalists did not say was that thousands of Hutu men were systematically separated from their families after crossing the border in late 1996, only to be transported in trucks and killed in Nyungwe Forest, Akagera Park, Camp Kami and other execution sites, according to dozens of Tutsi officers familiar with operations and families of Hutu men who disappeared.</p>
<p>The coordinated killings of Hutu refugees inside Zaire and the elimination of Hutu men that returned home also coincided with a brutal counterinsurgency campaign the RPA had begun to wage in areas along the western border, particularly in Ruhengeri and Gisenyi. The RPA was accused of going house-to-house, slaughtering civilians, burning huts, and of targeting local critics who dared to raise their voices.</p>
<p>It was during that time that Kagame and Karake made a strategic error of epic proportions, their critics say. They decided to target witnesses—several of them foreign nationals working for NGOs—who knew what was going on in the area. On January 18, 1997, three Spanish nationals working for Doctors of the World were murdered in Ruhengeri. The Spanish court holds Karake responsible for the massacre.</p>
<p>An individual who worked with Karake said he indeed organized and monitored the killings of the Spanish humanitarian workers and the murder of Guy Pinard, an outspoken Québecois priest who openly condemned RPA atrocities against civilians during his sermons.</p>
<p>According to a source with knowledge of the operations against the Spanish and the priest, which occurred within two weeks of each other, the killings were organized by DMI in conjunction with the Gendarmerie. The DMI departments involved were Counter Intelligence led by Charles Karamba and the Criminal Investigation &amp; Prosecution, led by Joseph Nzabamwita.</p>
<p>Father Guy Pinard was shot in the back on February 2, 1997 in front of parishioners while giving communion. His attacker, a Tutsi with connections to the RPF, fled the scene and was never charged. Unlike Spain, <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/families-of-two-canadian-priests-killed-in-rwanda-still-wait-for-justice/article21599090/?page=all" type="external">Canada</a> did not investigate or seek justice.</p>
<p>ICTR investigators collected testimony indicating that RPA troops had temporarily occupied the Catholic Church in Ruhengeri, Father Pinard was in charge of the church when 20 bodies were found in a latrine pit on the premises, after the RPA vacated the site. Pinard was killed shortly thereafter. The priest who was in charge of exhuming the bodies was also murdered, according to the ICTR document.</p>
<p>Absent from the Spanish indictment is the role that DMI, under Karake, played in the murder of another Canadian priest, Claude Simard on October 17, 1994.</p>
<p>Simard, who was beaten to death with a hammer in his home in Butare, had been gathering evidence of RPA killings in the form of audio recordings that he planned to hand over to the international community.</p>
<p>A UN civilian police report concluded that the army had learned of Father Simard’s plans to give the recordings to the United Nations.</p>
<p>“From all indications, Father Claude Simard was murdered by the RPA,” the UN report said. “The image of the RPA was at stake and they could not simply sit by. Father Claude Simard was about to expose them with a recorded cassette of their crimes.”</p>
<p>Karake is currently director general of Rwanda’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), an umbrella spy agency that oversees intelligence gathering in civilian and military spheres.</p>
<p>Karake’s formidable and horrifically violent reign as military intelligence chief after the genocide, and his role in murdering three Spanish nationals led to his arrest on June 20 in London under a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Spanish government. He faces an extradition hearing in October.</p>
<p>In 2008, Judge Fernando Andreu Merelles indicted Karake and 39 other RPA commanders on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and other offenses that include terrorism in a case of universal jurisdiction. Since then, the Spanish court has collected additional evidence against Karake and other RPF officers, a Spanish lawyer handling the case confirmed.</p>
<p>If the 1994 genocide against Tutsis stands as the most depraved and tragic chapter in Rwanda’s history, its corollary is certainly the three years that followed in which a slower, largely hidden campaign of abject cruelty was meted out against Hutu civilians in Rwanda and the DRC, with barely a whimper of international outcry.</p>
<p>If extradited to Spain, Emannuel Karenzi Karake could become the jewel in the crown of witnesses against Kagame’s two-and-a-half decades of crime. He was, by all indications, the most successful of Kagame’s willing executioners.</p>
<p>And yet Karake’s friends insist his culpability is complex. “Yes he was at the center of killing operations in Rwanda for years. But he’s been humiliated too, and was aware that things were not going well,” said one friend.</p>
<p>“Many bad decisions were taken. But what Kagame wants, Kagame gets,” the friend said.</p>
<p>“If Karake is as smart as we think he is, he will not save Kagame this time. He’ll tell the truth. It’s what Rwanda needs.”</p>
<p>[Correction (October 3, 2016): As originally published, this article misstated the name of the ousted Ugandan dictator in the 1980s. It was&#160;Milton Obote, not&#160;Idi Amin.]</p> | false | 1 | emmanuel karenzi karakes reign terror head notorious directorate military intelligence last two decades emmanuel karenzi karake cut striking figure world rwandan intelligence navigated corridors power intellectual prowess former colleagues describe first foremost master exploiting weakness man able target enemies astounding precision never missing mark understood visceral level paul kagame wanted accomplish aftermath 1994 genocide knew cerebral level done quite simply karake brilliant officer kagame ever said excolleague exile observant careful kagame trusted timeexcept suspected karake might building power base officer explained another officer worked karake years said boss excelled organizing abductions targeted killings mass killings planning killing level shrewd hard escape traps karenzi doesnt miss target source explained raised tutsi refugee parents congo karake schooled uganda underwent military training tanzania becoming civil intelligence officer ugandan president yoweri musevenis office following ouster dictator milton obote 1980s early 1990s kagames rwandan patriotic army rpa invaded rwanda unleashed civil war karake became member african union military observer group becoming key liaison officer rwandan patriotic front rpf dealings united nations peacekeeping mission unamir karakes ability move freely throughout rwanda internationally sanctioned military missions enabled gather crucial information opportune moments golden opportunity see every corner country gathered really good intelligence final assault kigali experience put karake good stead rpf swooped capital swore new government promised rebuild rwanda ashes predilection socializing enjoying company women karake polar opposite socially austere kagame unlike boss actually popular tutsi officers soldiers even among lowest rank real nemesis colleagues pointed kayumba nyamwasa predecessor headed notorious directorate military intelligence dmi genocide role dmi institution led karake nearly three years genocide rwandans variously described dmi repository malevolence pain investigators international criminal tribunal rwanda ictr set discover dmi genocide findings compiled confidential report submitted prosecutor hassan bubacar jallow accessed journalist directorate military intelligence created late 1990 part rpa military structure creation end war 1994 colonel kayumba nyamwasa charge directorate dmi hated feared rwandan population inside outside rwanda due reputation cruelty killing operations massacres attributed rpa committed dmi document states report emphasizes nyamwasa dmi chief formation rpf government nothing done without knowledge investigators later state nyamwasa replaced lt colonel karenzi karake reportwritten ictrs special investigations unit looked crimes committed rpfgoes say dmi representatives every military unit special dmi forces control dmi headquarters special agents called technicians part dmi operations report states technicians trained use pharmaceutical products kill poison water given courses murder ropes hoes smother people plastic bags inject oil syringes victims ears tie peoples elbows behind backs bind feet means torture technicians also instructed use bayonets guns grenades addition laying landmines immediately kagames troops seized capital smoky weeks named dmi chief karake directed series operations rwanda lured screened young male hutus rpa schemes brought killing centers mainly remote areas akagera park limits un ngos sources said worked closely time patrick nyamvumba headed training wing rwandas chief defense staff practice screening hutus transporting execution sites started genocide implemented earnest afterward entrenching deadly policy continued varying degrees years come testimony collected witnesses investigators stipulated war hutu population arrested dmi agents given places eliminated great rate bodies incinerated ashes buried sports grounds military camps often created common graves places massacres executed agents dmi sometimes assistance soldiers gabiro kami masaka giti nyamirambo kidaho butaro kirambo ruhengeri city kinihira nyungwe forest kabutare butare aboretum save gikomero ndera runda musambira city rambura muhurabuyumba city investigators wrote appears principal heads dmi responsible personal actions also orders given also accountable basis responsibility superior hierarchy investigators concluded one preferred killing grounds authority dmi camp kami sprawling base outskirts kigali adjacent bush ictr investigators discovered thousands civilians taken refuge camp executed may 1994 military prisoners would dig graves day night bodies executed persons would buried mass graves many years camp kami continued used dmi execution site one karakes close colleagues confided kayumba held sway kami two months karake transformed military camp true slaughterhouse one knows many hutus slaughtered kami returned zaire others killed tutsi officer said even tutsis slaughtered kami tutsis reason killed said one day august 1994 530 pm heading kami soldier leaving soldier said exhausted killing hutus eleven hours straight still many afandi kk karenzi karake wants job completed tomorrow soldier told tutsi officer arrived site found hundreds hutu men screaming agonizing arms tied behind legs bound horrible recounted adding soldiers looking hoes bury alive said karake visited camp night pleased scene quickly retreated dmi headquarters called ku kabindi calabash next building calabash straw karakes achilles heel shared many upper echelon members rpf antipathy toward hutus hated hutus would kill person hutu officer said yet many years ago karake fell love hutu girl beautiful senior ranking tutsi officer unheard ofand even dangerousto contemplate marrying hutu woman drop killed heart became emotionally challenged another colleague different view wasnt much karake hated hutus rpf officers killing hutus policy part program rpfs hutu extermination policy reached apotheosis karakes tenure dmi supervised great precision 1996 invasion zaire mass killings congolese rwandan hutu refugees killing squads zaire democratic republic congo supervised dmi instructed karake according officer involved operations intelligence officer could operate without orders kk intelligence officers units subunits provided dmi could replaced dmi said adding dmi worked closely gendarmerie military police external intelligence interview former soldier mobile dmi unit recounted killing hutus congo november 1996 stopped kasindi zaire conducted clean operations throughout area got rid everyone considered enemy meant hutus found refugees forest starving sick water food people told eliminate killed even killed dying perhaps minutes live didnt use guns weakest used traditional weapons like agafuni hoes finish killings refugees took place jungle refugees tried hide towns went identified stage exfar hutu soldiers area civilians time rwandan troops reached bafwasende near kisangani january 1997 many refugees ten thousand killed soldier said part team unearthed corpses mass graves worked day night long time take bodies locations incinerated time people calling investigation confirm whether indeed massacres hutu refugees area rwanda course denying allegations destroy evidence needed hide proof bodies decomposing shocking forced carry operations hands protection gloves superiors behind us commanders hit us time time hard imagine put corpses backs dump onto trucks discouraged would beat us force us carry forced labor became ill afterward 2010 investigation un office high commissioner human rights concluded rwandan troops committed crimes humanity possibly genocide former zaire author report war crimes prosecutor montreal named luc coté said rwandan tutsi troops rebel allies targeted chased hacked shot burned hutusmen women childrenin drc coté previously worked ictrs office prosecutor responsible indicting colonel theoneste bagosora considered architect 1994 genocide tutsis first disordered weeks rwandan invasion zaire several hundred thousand rwandan refugees headed eastward back home another mass humanity fled deeper west jungle chased rpa forces mainstream media channeling officials kigali declared forced return hutus victory genocidal forces used camps zaire rear bases mount attacks rwanda journalists say thousands hutu men systematically separated families crossing border late 1996 transported trucks killed nyungwe forest akagera park camp kami execution sites according dozens tutsi officers familiar operations families hutu men disappeared coordinated killings hutu refugees inside zaire elimination hutu men returned home also coincided brutal counterinsurgency campaign rpa begun wage areas along western border particularly ruhengeri gisenyi rpa accused going housetohouse slaughtering civilians burning huts targeting local critics dared raise voices time kagame karake made strategic error epic proportions critics say decided target witnessesseveral foreign nationals working ngoswho knew going area january 18 1997 three spanish nationals working doctors world murdered ruhengeri spanish court holds karake responsible massacre individual worked karake said indeed organized monitored killings spanish humanitarian workers murder guy pinard outspoken québecois priest openly condemned rpa atrocities civilians sermons according source knowledge operations spanish priest occurred within two weeks killings organized dmi conjunction gendarmerie dmi departments involved counter intelligence led charles karamba criminal investigation amp prosecution led joseph nzabamwita father guy pinard shot back february 2 1997 front parishioners giving communion attacker tutsi connections rpf fled scene never charged unlike spain canada investigate seek justice ictr investigators collected testimony indicating rpa troops temporarily occupied catholic church ruhengeri father pinard charge church 20 bodies found latrine pit premises rpa vacated site pinard killed shortly thereafter priest charge exhuming bodies also murdered according ictr document absent spanish indictment role dmi karake played murder another canadian priest claude simard october 17 1994 simard beaten death hammer home butare gathering evidence rpa killings form audio recordings planned hand international community un civilian police report concluded army learned father simards plans give recordings united nations indications father claude simard murdered rpa un report said image rpa stake could simply sit father claude simard expose recorded cassette crimes karake currently director general rwandas national intelligence security services niss umbrella spy agency oversees intelligence gathering civilian military spheres karakes formidable horrifically violent reign military intelligence chief genocide role murdering three spanish nationals led arrest june 20 london european arrest warrant issued spanish government faces extradition hearing october 2008 judge fernando andreu merelles indicted karake 39 rpa commanders charges genocide crimes humanity offenses include terrorism case universal jurisdiction since spanish court collected additional evidence karake rpf officers spanish lawyer handling case confirmed 1994 genocide tutsis stands depraved tragic chapter rwandas history corollary certainly three years followed slower largely hidden campaign abject cruelty meted hutu civilians rwanda drc barely whimper international outcry extradited spain emannuel karenzi karake could become jewel crown witnesses kagames twoandahalf decades crime indications successful kagames willing executioners yet karakes friends insist culpability complex yes center killing operations rwanda years hes humiliated aware things going well said one friend many bad decisions taken kagame wants kagame gets friend said karake smart think save kagame time hell tell truth rwanda needs correction october 3 2016 originally published article misstated name ousted ugandan dictator 1980s was160milton obote not160idi amin | 1,595 |
<p>During the British election this past year, the press reported that a certain Janek (or John) Zylinski, a Polish prince living in Britain, had taken umbrage at the anti-immigration rhetoric of Nigel Farage, leader of the U.K. Independence party, and so did what has long come naturally to Polish princes by challenging Farage to a duel​—​with swords, in Hyde Park. Nigel Farage, who claimed not to own a sword, laughed it off, as did everyone else. One suspected that Prince Zylinski, whose father is said to have led a fleetingly successful cavalry charge against the invading Germans in 1939, was laughing, too. He was not wrong, however, in suggesting that a duel, with swords, was something “an 18th century Polish aristocrat and an English gentleman would traditionally do.”</p>
<p>Touché: The Duel in Literature reveals that some people, at least, would have been laughing even in the 18th century. Dueling was a popular topic for literature partly because, like love, with which it was so often connected, it combined life and death seriousness with an inescapable sense of the absurd​—​as John Leigh appears to recognize in his chapter on “Paradoxes of the Duel.” But this was true at least as early as Chaucer’s “Knight’s Tale” in the 14th century, a text not mentioned by Leigh, whose history begins with (and often returns to) Corneille’s Le Cid (1637). Yet this very appeal of the duel to a characteristic Western literary sensibility has had a distorting effect on our historical rear-view mirror, making it necessary to distinguish between duels in literature and duels in real life.</p>
<p>Leigh does not always do this. But what a quantity of learning has gone into the making of this book! Stretching over three centuries, and comprising several European literatures in their original languages, as well as frequent excursus on the visual arts, Touché will be humbling to all but the most learned reader. Dazzling insights, for example, in tracing threads of connection among Corneille, Milton, Voltaire, Beethoven, and Victor Hugo that go far beyond the narrow subject of dueling, make it easy to forgive the occasional lapse.</p>
<p>Yet one is left with the sense there was nothing important that Leigh himself learned in writing this book that he did not know before he started. He, too, often assumes today’s characteristic attitude of superiority to the past, as when he writes that “the transgressiveness of the duel is, once again in the French tradition, an essential part of its charm” without any hint that the Lit Crit jargon of “transgressiveness” was something quite unknown to the people who were allegedly charmed by it. Likewise, he cites as an example of 19th-century social Darwinism a text written more than 20 years before Darwin’s Origin of Species. His own moral disdain for the custom of dueling is so taken for granted that, in the few cases where his examples do not treat dueling as, at the least, morally problematical (as in Dumas’s Three Musketeers), his tone fairly drips with contempt for his material.</p>
<p>Nor does he appear to have any interest in, or curiosity about, the origins of so curious a custom in a particular idea of honor that prevailed in Western Europe from the 16th to the 19th century​—​and for a while, even in America. I think this is because Leigh, who is a lecturer at Cambridge, makes another assumption, all too common today, namely that the “honor” those old-time gentlemen were fighting over could only have been a pretext for something else, something political or psychological or both. Like Prince Zylinski, he knows he can rely on our willingness to take the joke of “honor” for granted. Thus he quotes approvingly Steven Pinker’s opinion that “honor exists ‘because everyone believes that everyone else believes that it exists.’ ”</p>
<p>That is, to say the least, a pretty tenuous form of existence. It is telling that Touché begins not with Corneille but with the Abbé de Saint Pierre almost a century later, who was “one of the first writers to pathologize the duelist.” On the first page we are told that, at least as early as the 18th century, “duellists were supposed to belong to the Dark Ages,” as if the opinions of the anti-dueling authors he mentions were the only ones in the century worth mentioning. Likewise, he says, “literary depictions of duels make them seem honorable,” as if it were too obvious to need saying that they were not honorable. Without some understanding of the actual social history of dueling, an account of its various literary manifestations seems random and arbitrary.</p>
<p>I hope John Leigh will not think it presumptuous of me if I fill in a few of the blanks he has left in this history. Although he recognizes that, in revolutionary France (and, he might have added, revolutionary-era America), dueling underwent a form of embourgeoisement​—​as, “instead of deploring the duel as an aristocratic abuse of power that needed to be extirpated, the middle classes deemed it a privilege they might henceforward share with the nobility”​—​he doesn’t see that, in fact, it was a matter of social mobility from the start. Most of our knowledge of the early history of dueling comes from Italian etiquette books of the 16th century written for aspiring courtiers and others who needed to know how to behave like true aristocrats.</p>
<p>Always interested in the arguments of those opposed to dueling—​he notes, for instance, that while the 17th century tended to favor religious arguments, the 18th century was more likely to argue that dueling was inauthentic medievalism or classicism—​Leigh never properly considers or appears to have any curiosity about those, like Bernard Mandeville, also in the 18th century, who thought with the authors of the dueling manuals of two centuries earlier that the custom was a powerful enforcer of civility. He has no time for our own—​Alexander Hamilton, who, though not a fictional character, continued as many did to think it incumbent upon himself to fight a duel even though he disapproved of the practice. If he had been asked, Hamilton would have said that he could do no other and preserve his honor; but today, the argument from honor is no argument at all but mere posturing absurdity​—​like that of Prince Zylinski.</p>
<p>This raises the question of how the author can have spent so much time and effort on an activity with which he is so much out of sympathy​—​or rather, only with literary treatments of it with which he is in sympathy. Partly, it is true, this is because so many of the authors who wrote about dueling were out of sympathy with duelists and intended to ridicule them and their absurd ideas of honor. But the subject is a bigger and more interesting one than this book allows. Like so many literary histories, it has difficulty in avoiding what Herbert Butterfield called “the Whig interpretation of history”​—​which can see in the past only an evolutionary unfolding of the present.</p>
<p>The up-to-date taste of the author necessarily takes precedence over that of the authors he studies​—​and the taste tendency is further exacerbated by the need to stay pretty rigidly within the “canon” of old texts certified to be worthy of preservation into our own time, partly by lending themselves to readings that flatter our assumptions about the world.</p>
<p>Early on, Leigh writes that “the past is a veil. Once discovered, questions of legitimacy, autonomy, and freedom that the duelist asks of society turn out to be troublingly modern.” What he means is that this is the way he chooses to see them​—​rather than as even more troublingly unmodern. A little more humility before the intolerable strangeness of the past would have made this interesting history a good deal more interesting.</p>
<p>James Bowman is a resident scholar at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and the author of Honor, A History and Media Madness.</p> | false | 1 | british election past year press reported certain janek john zylinski polish prince living britain taken umbrage antiimmigration rhetoric nigel farage leader uk independence party long come naturally polish princes challenging farage duelwith swords hyde park nigel farage claimed sword laughed everyone else one suspected prince zylinski whose father said led fleetingly successful cavalry charge invading germans 1939 laughing wrong however suggesting duel swords something 18th century polish aristocrat english gentleman would traditionally touché duel literature reveals people least would laughing even 18th century dueling popular topic literature partly like love often connected combined life death seriousness inescapable sense absurdas john leigh appears recognize chapter paradoxes duel true least early chaucers knights tale 14th century text mentioned leigh whose history begins often returns corneilles le cid 1637 yet appeal duel characteristic western literary sensibility distorting effect historical rearview mirror making necessary distinguish duels literature duels real life leigh always quantity learning gone making book stretching three centuries comprising several european literatures original languages well frequent excursus visual arts touché humbling learned reader dazzling insights example tracing threads connection among corneille milton voltaire beethoven victor hugo go far beyond narrow subject dueling make easy forgive occasional lapse yet one left sense nothing important leigh learned writing book know started often assumes todays characteristic attitude superiority past writes transgressiveness duel french tradition essential part charm without hint lit crit jargon transgressiveness something quite unknown people allegedly charmed likewise cites example 19thcentury social darwinism text written 20 years darwins origin species moral disdain custom dueling taken granted cases examples treat dueling least morally problematical dumass three musketeers tone fairly drips contempt material appear interest curiosity origins curious custom particular idea honor prevailed western europe 16th 19th centuryand even america think leigh lecturer cambridge makes another assumption common today namely honor oldtime gentlemen fighting could pretext something else something political psychological like prince zylinski knows rely willingness take joke honor granted thus quotes approvingly steven pinkers opinion honor exists everyone believes everyone else believes exists say least pretty tenuous form existence telling touché begins corneille abbé de saint pierre almost century later one first writers pathologize duelist first page told least early 18th century duellists supposed belong dark ages opinions antidueling authors mentions ones century worth mentioning likewise says literary depictions duels make seem honorable obvious need saying honorable without understanding actual social history dueling account various literary manifestations seems random arbitrary hope john leigh think presumptuous fill blanks left history although recognizes revolutionary france might added revolutionaryera america dueling underwent form embourgeoisementas instead deploring duel aristocratic abuse power needed extirpated middle classes deemed privilege might henceforward share nobilityhe doesnt see fact matter social mobility start knowledge early history dueling comes italian etiquette books 16th century written aspiring courtiers others needed know behave like true aristocrats always interested arguments opposed duelinghe notes instance 17th century tended favor religious arguments 18th century likely argue dueling inauthentic medievalism classicismleigh never properly considers appears curiosity like bernard mandeville also 18th century thought authors dueling manuals two centuries earlier custom powerful enforcer civility time ownalexander hamilton though fictional character continued many think incumbent upon fight duel even though disapproved practice asked hamilton would said could preserve honor today argument honor argument mere posturing absurditylike prince zylinski raises question author spent much time effort activity much sympathyor rather literary treatments sympathy partly true many authors wrote dueling sympathy duelists intended ridicule absurd ideas honor subject bigger interesting one book allows like many literary histories difficulty avoiding herbert butterfield called whig interpretation historywhich see past evolutionary unfolding present uptodate taste author necessarily takes precedence authors studiesand taste tendency exacerbated need stay pretty rigidly within canon old texts certified worthy preservation time partly lending readings flatter assumptions world early leigh writes past veil discovered questions legitimacy autonomy freedom duelist asks society turn troublingly modern means way chooses see themrather even troublingly unmodern little humility intolerable strangeness past would made interesting history good deal interesting james bowman resident scholar ethics public policy center author honor history media madness | 665 |
<p>…and it’s potentially beneficial for peace in the region</p>
<p>BEIRUT — Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD), the doctrine of military strategy and national security policy in which a full-scale use of high-yield weapons by two opposing sides would effectively result in the potential annihilation of both the attacker and the defender, thus becoming a war that has no victor but only reciprocal destruction is increasingly becoming relevant to the Iran/Israel regional confrontation.</p>
<p>MAD is based on the theory of deterrence according to which the deployment, and implicit menace and threat of using massive weapons is essential to threaten the enemy in order to prevent the use by said-enemy of the same weapons against oneself. The strategy is a form of the famed mathematician, John Forbes Nash (“A Beautiful Mind”) game theory equilibrium in which neither side, once armed, has any rational incentive either to initiate a conflict or to disarm. The Mad Doctrine assumes that each side has enough weaponry and military tenacity among its forces to destroy the other side.&#160; That being the case, if either side is attacked for any reason by the other, the country attacked would retaliate without with equal or greater force.</p>
<p>Some Pentagon analysts with much experience with MAD as part of U.S. and USSR strategic doctrine during the cold war believe that curtailing Israel aggression and even preventing nuclear war in the Middle East could best be prevented if neither Iran nor Israel could expect to survive a full-scale exchange as a functioning state. Although the Cold War ended in the early 1990s, the doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction continues to apply and increasingly between Israel and Iran.</p>
<p>In recent months “the imminent threat” of Iran has become shriller from the US-Israel and its “international community” allies.&#160; The people of the world on the other hand are increasingly viewing Iran’s strong military position rather differently.&#160; This is true not only among Middle Eastern countries but also among the 120 member nonaligned countries that support Iran’s right to enrich uranium. An opinion survey conducted by WorldPublicOpinion.org is also reporting this week that a record high 75% of the American public favors an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan and a majority does not view Iran as a threat.</p>
<p>As pointed out recently by Professor Noam Chomsky, Europeans regard Israel, not Iran, as the greatest threat to world peace and are worried about the dangers it poses in the Middle East. The survey concludes that while Iran is disliked by some Arab regimes, it is seen as a threat only by a very small minority. Israel and the U.S. are regarded as the pre-eminent threat. A majority think that the region would be more secure if Iran had nuclear weapons: In Egypt on the eve of the Arab Spring, 90 percent held this opinion, according to Brookings Institution/Zogby International polls. Moreover, China and Russia oppose U.S. policy on Iran, as does India, which announced that it would disregard U.S. sanctions and increase trade with Iran. Turkey has followed a similar course. Their populations tend to favor a strong Iran as deterrence to Israel’s history of aggression.</p>
<p>There is little credible discussion of just what constitutes the Iranian threat, though we do have an authoritative answer, provided by U.S. military and intelligence. Their presentations to Congress make it clear that Iran doesn’t pose a military threat.</p>
<p>In numerous presentations to Congress by U.S. military and intelligence officials, its strategic doctrine is defensive, designed to deter invasion long enough for diplomacy to take effect. If Iran is developing nuclear weapons (which is still undetermined), that would be part of its deterrent strategy with potential benefits for peace in the region.</p>
<p>The understanding of serious Israeli and U.S. analysts is expressed clearly by 30-year CIA veteran Bruce Riedel, who said in January, “If I was an Iranian national security planner, I would want nuclear weapons” as a deterrent.</p>
<p>One pillar of the current mutual deterrence status between the growing Resistance Alliances confronting Israel is the prevailing weapons ambiguity of Hezbollah.&#160; During Israel’s 5th war against Lebanon in July 2006, the National Lebanese Resistance led by Hezbollah is widely known, for a variety of reasons including suggestions from allies, including Iran, to have held back on using its most devastating weapon(s).&#160; This is unlikely to the case in the next war.</p>
<p>Syria also did not contribute to its allies her most powerful weapons in 2006, and it remains unclear which of its current weapon systems would be available to its allies to be used against Israel given the current uncertainty in Syria.</p>
<p>According to Israeli officials, hundreds of Hezbollah fighters have been receiving training in the use of advanced anti-aircraft weapons in Syria and Iran in recent months; in a development the Israeli military says absolutely jeopardizes its aerial supremacy. Russia also sent Syria other modern antiaircraft missiles last year, including about 40 SA-17 Grizzly missiles and two medium-range SA-17 Buk systems, according to SIPRI.</p>
<p>In addition, Israel believes Russia has recently delivered upgraded versions of the MiG-29 combat aircraft to Syria and has upgraded hundreds of T-72 tanks every year since 2007, fitting them with far more modern weapons and that National Lebanese Resistance fighters led by Hezbollah have been training on these weapons.</p>
<p>Tactical ambiguity about Resistance weapons and exactly which weapons of mass destruction may have been placed along Israel’s borders and aimed at key military centers has led to more frequent Israeli movements along the northern border of occupied Palestine with Lebanon and on the Golan heights. Rumors range from nuclear weapons to “dirty bombs.” What exactly is the truth adds credence to the growing deterrence status between Iran and Israel.</p>
<p>“”Last month, Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi invoked Iran’s deterrence doctrine in warning Israel against mounting such an attack on Iran: “Any act by the Zionist regime against Iran will bring about its destruction.”</p>
<p>Speaking at a ceremony honoring past Hezbollah commanders, Vahidi said that “Israel is weaker than it has ever been and its army is tired and humiliated…. This is why it is trying to solve its problems by talking about taking action against Iran. But these are ridiculous statements. Iran’s warriors are ready and willing to retaliated and destroy Israel and we have the capacity to do so,” he declared.</p>
<p>U.S. and Israeli intelligence staff are said to take the current growing MAD status between Iran and Israel as seriously as it was taken during the cold war period. If both parties continue taking it seriously a major war in the Middle East might be avoided.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the 17-agency U.S. intelligence community continues perhaps its most pressing assigned task, and that is of developing the capacity for the U.S. to block Israel’s triggering a nuclear weapon.</p> | false | 1 | potentially beneficial peace region beirut mutual assured destruction mad doctrine military strategy national security policy fullscale use highyield weapons two opposing sides would effectively result potential annihilation attacker defender thus becoming war victor reciprocal destruction increasingly becoming relevant iranisrael regional confrontation mad based theory deterrence according deployment implicit menace threat using massive weapons essential threaten enemy order prevent use saidenemy weapons oneself strategy form famed mathematician john forbes nash beautiful mind game theory equilibrium neither side armed rational incentive either initiate conflict disarm mad doctrine assumes side enough weaponry military tenacity among forces destroy side160 case either side attacked reason country attacked would retaliate without equal greater force pentagon analysts much experience mad part us ussr strategic doctrine cold war believe curtailing israel aggression even preventing nuclear war middle east could best prevented neither iran israel could expect survive fullscale exchange functioning state although cold war ended early 1990s doctrine mutual assured destruction continues apply increasingly israel iran recent months imminent threat iran become shriller usisrael international community allies160 people world hand increasingly viewing irans strong military position rather differently160 true among middle eastern countries also among 120 member nonaligned countries support irans right enrich uranium opinion survey conducted worldpublicopinionorg also reporting week record high 75 american public favors immediate withdrawal us forces afghanistan majority view iran threat pointed recently professor noam chomsky europeans regard israel iran greatest threat world peace worried dangers poses middle east survey concludes iran disliked arab regimes seen threat small minority israel us regarded preeminent threat majority think region would secure iran nuclear weapons egypt eve arab spring 90 percent held opinion according brookings institutionzogby international polls moreover china russia oppose us policy iran india announced would disregard us sanctions increase trade iran turkey followed similar course populations tend favor strong iran deterrence israels history aggression little credible discussion constitutes iranian threat though authoritative answer provided us military intelligence presentations congress make clear iran doesnt pose military threat numerous presentations congress us military intelligence officials strategic doctrine defensive designed deter invasion long enough diplomacy take effect iran developing nuclear weapons still undetermined would part deterrent strategy potential benefits peace region understanding serious israeli us analysts expressed clearly 30year cia veteran bruce riedel said january iranian national security planner would want nuclear weapons deterrent one pillar current mutual deterrence status growing resistance alliances confronting israel prevailing weapons ambiguity hezbollah160 israels 5th war lebanon july 2006 national lebanese resistance led hezbollah widely known variety reasons including suggestions allies including iran held back using devastating weapons160 unlikely case next war syria also contribute allies powerful weapons 2006 remains unclear current weapon systems would available allies used israel given current uncertainty syria according israeli officials hundreds hezbollah fighters receiving training use advanced antiaircraft weapons syria iran recent months development israeli military says absolutely jeopardizes aerial supremacy russia also sent syria modern antiaircraft missiles last year including 40 sa17 grizzly missiles two mediumrange sa17 buk systems according sipri addition israel believes russia recently delivered upgraded versions mig29 combat aircraft syria upgraded hundreds t72 tanks every year since 2007 fitting far modern weapons national lebanese resistance fighters led hezbollah training weapons tactical ambiguity resistance weapons exactly weapons mass destruction may placed along israels borders aimed key military centers led frequent israeli movements along northern border occupied palestine lebanon golan heights rumors range nuclear weapons dirty bombs exactly truth adds credence growing deterrence status iran israel last month iranian deputy defense minister ahmad vahidi invoked irans deterrence doctrine warning israel mounting attack iran act zionist regime iran bring destruction speaking ceremony honoring past hezbollah commanders vahidi said israel weaker ever army tired humiliated trying solve problems talking taking action iran ridiculous statements irans warriors ready willing retaliated destroy israel capacity declared us israeli intelligence staff said take current growing mad status iran israel seriously taken cold war period parties continue taking seriously major war middle east might avoided meanwhile 17agency us intelligence community continues perhaps pressing assigned task developing capacity us block israels triggering nuclear weapon | 664 |
<p>A former US Marine who traveled to Syria to fight with a Kurdish militia group against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) was killed this month, according to Kurdish YPG forces.</p>
<p>The Kurdish military group released a video on Tuesday saying that David Taylor, 25, of Florida was “martyred fighting ISIS barbarism” in the city of Raqqa, Syria, on July 16, according to AP.</p>
<p>Taylor, who used the nom de guerre Zafer Querecox, “was loved among his comrades,” the YPG said in the YouTube video. “He had a big heart and was a very conscientious comrade, and an expert at what he did.”</p>
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<p>Known as the People’s Protection Units, the YPG are allied with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – a militant movement that has waged a three-decade guerrilla war for independence against the Turkish government.</p>
<p>Taylor is the third American volunteer to die fighting alongside Kurdish soldiers this year, spotlighting a little-known underground pipeline of US citizen fighters.</p>
<p>The YPG said Taylor joined the group in May. In his last video, Taylor said he had volunteered “to fight against ISIS and do whatever I can to fight the revolution here,” adding “Long live free Kurdistan.”</p>
<p>Taylor’s father, David Sr., <a href="https://www.stripes.com/news/marine-corps/former-marine-killed-fighting-isis-in-syria-1.479721#.WXifD4QrKJA" type="external">confirmed</a> his death to AP, and said the family was told last weekend by a US consular official. They said the YPG is paying to transport Taylor’s body back to the United States.</p>
<p>The US State Department said it was aware of reports of a US citizen being killed while fighting in Syria, but offered no further comment.</p>
<p>Taylor arrived in Syria last spring and only told his family that was he was training with the Kurdish military group known as the YPG.</p>
<p>During his stint in the US Marines, Taylor was deployed in Afghanistan, Japan and South Korea, and spent time in Jordan before he was discharged last year.</p>
<p>The presence of American volunteers with the YPG is complicated both militarily and diplomatically.</p>
<p>The Trump administration angered Turkey earlier this year when it promised to supply small arms, machine guns, armored vehicles and other military hardware to the Kurds. Washington sees the militia as best-suited for the siege of Raqqa, the Syrian stronghold of Islamic State. Ankara, however, sees the YPG as terrorists.</p>
<p>The US agrees with Turkey in designating the PKK as a terrorist organization, but rejects the idea that Kurdish forces in Syria or Iraq should be treated in the same fashion.</p>
<p>Turkey is allied with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), and regards them and the Arab components of the Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as better candidates for receiving any sort of aid.</p>
<p>Turkey is also threatened by the Kurds in Iraq, especially after the US pumped millions of dollars into the Iraqi Army and the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/396833-turkey-us-bases-syria/" type="external" /></p>
<p>Last month, Iraq’s Kurdish region announced that they will hold an independence referendum in September.</p>
<p>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the move, fearing that it might produce a domino effect leading to Kurdish-controlled autonomous areas (cantons) in northern Syria to declare independence as well.</p>
<p>Erdogan emphasized that Turkey will not allow a Kurdish state to be established in northern Syria. However, despite repeated reports that the Kurds in Syria want to create their own state, there’s been no official moves to suggest that an independence declaration is imminent.</p>
<p>At the same time, the State Department has said the SDF, and the YPG in particular, are critical parts of the US-led coalition opposing IS in Syria.</p>
<p>“I think we’ve been clear in acknowledging that it’s a very complex battle space in northern Syria,” Mark Toner, the State Department’s deputy spokesman, said in March.</p>
<p>“We have chosen to work with the YPG as a part of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which include Syrian Kurds, Syria Turkmen and Syrian Arabs — a diverse group of ethnicities — in order to go after, destroy ISIS,” Toner said. “So we’re in common cause in going after ISIS, as is Turkey. Turkey also realizes the threat they face from ISIS.”</p>
<p>Taylor is the third American to die this month fighting alongside the YPG. Earlier, the YPG confirmed the deaths of Robert Grodt and Nicholas Warden, who were killed on July 5.</p>
<p>Grodt had joined the YPG in March 2017 and took the name Demhat Goldman. He joined the group “to help the Kurdish people in their struggle for autonomy” and to fight IS, he said in a video.</p>
<p>Warden, 29, was a resident of Depew, New York. His father Mark confirmed his son’s death to <a href="http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/heart-broken-father-awaits-sons-remains-from-syria/456152228" type="external">WGRZ</a> of Buffalo.</p>
<p>Warden served two tours in Afghanistan with the US Army, and on leaving the military signed on with the French Foreign Legion to fight Boko Haram in Africa, his father said. He went to Syria to fight IS in February, according to the YPG.</p>
<p>“I joined the YPG to fight ISIS because of the terrorist attacks they were doing in Orlando and San Bernardino, in Nice, in Paris,” Warden, who used the name Rodî Deysie, said in a YPG video.</p>
<p>It’s not known how many Americans have joined the Syrian Democratic Forces, but the YPG says many of them are military veterans.</p>
<p>Western-backed coalition forces have been fighting alongside Kurdish militias to retake Raqqa since November last year.</p>
<p>Having captured the surrounding villages, the coalition announced it was attacking Raqqa itself on June 6, completely cutting it off from the outside world just over two weeks later. On July 3, the coalition fought its way into the Old City, breaking through a perimeter of IS defenses in a major advance.</p>
<p>IS had declared Raqqa the capital of its so-called caliphate.</p> | false | 1 | former us marine traveled syria fight kurdish militia group islamic state formerly isisisil killed month according kurdish ypg forces kurdish military group released video tuesday saying david taylor 25 florida martyred fighting isis barbarism city raqqa syria july 16 according ap taylor used nom de guerre zafer querecox loved among comrades ypg said youtube video big heart conscientious comrade expert known peoples protection units ypg allied kurdistan workers party pkk militant movement waged threedecade guerrilla war independence turkish government taylor third american volunteer die fighting alongside kurdish soldiers year spotlighting littleknown underground pipeline us citizen fighters ypg said taylor joined group may last video taylor said volunteered fight isis whatever fight revolution adding long live free kurdistan taylors father david sr confirmed death ap said family told last weekend us consular official said ypg paying transport taylors body back united states us state department said aware reports us citizen killed fighting syria offered comment taylor arrived syria last spring told family training kurdish military group known ypg stint us marines taylor deployed afghanistan japan south korea spent time jordan discharged last year presence american volunteers ypg complicated militarily diplomatically trump administration angered turkey earlier year promised supply small arms machine guns armored vehicles military hardware kurds washington sees militia bestsuited siege raqqa syrian stronghold islamic state ankara however sees ypg terrorists us agrees turkey designating pkk terrorist organization rejects idea kurdish forces syria iraq treated fashion turkey allied free syrian army fsa regards arab components kurdisharab syrian democratic forces sdf better candidates receiving sort aid turkey also threatened kurds iraq especially us pumped millions dollars iraqi army kurdish peshmerga fighters read last month iraqs kurdish region announced hold independence referendum september turkish president recep tayyip erdogan condemned move fearing might produce domino effect leading kurdishcontrolled autonomous areas cantons northern syria declare independence well erdogan emphasized turkey allow kurdish state established northern syria however despite repeated reports kurds syria want create state theres official moves suggest independence declaration imminent time state department said sdf ypg particular critical parts usled coalition opposing syria think weve clear acknowledging complex battle space northern syria mark toner state departments deputy spokesman said march chosen work ypg part syrian democratic forces include syrian kurds syria turkmen syrian arabs diverse group ethnicities order go destroy isis toner said common cause going isis turkey turkey also realizes threat face isis taylor third american die month fighting alongside ypg earlier ypg confirmed deaths robert grodt nicholas warden killed july 5 grodt joined ypg march 2017 took name demhat goldman joined group help kurdish people struggle autonomy fight said video warden 29 resident depew new york father mark confirmed sons death wgrz buffalo warden served two tours afghanistan us army leaving military signed french foreign legion fight boko haram africa father said went syria fight february according ypg joined ypg fight isis terrorist attacks orlando san bernardino nice paris warden used name rodî deysie said ypg video known many americans joined syrian democratic forces ypg says many military veterans westernbacked coalition forces fighting alongside kurdish militias retake raqqa since november last year captured surrounding villages coalition announced attacking raqqa june 6 completely cutting outside world two weeks later july 3 coalition fought way old city breaking perimeter defenses major advance declared raqqa capital socalled caliphate | 545 |
<p>Expect the usual hot spots to be in full festival mode and buzzing with industry gatherings. Soho House Toronto will be celebrating its fifth anniversary with a kickoff fete (Grey Goose is partnering with the venue); the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, has a custom Cristal Champagne and Remy Martin cocktail, the 6ix75 (selling for a cool $650), to mark major film acquisitions or any celebratory moment; and the Thompson hotel rooftop and lobby bar will offer several TIFF-themed cocktails. Their (Bill) Marshall (a mix of two scotches, bitters and a cinnamon simple syrup) honors the late TIFF co-founder.</p>
<p>SEE MORE: <a href="https://variety.com/access-digital/" type="external">From the September 05, 2017, issue of Variety</a></p>
<p>For future reference: sales have opened for the 660 condos at the Nobu Residences. The two towers on Mercer Street will also be home to Canada’s first Nobu restaurant and a Nobu hotel and spa from actor-producer-hotelier <a href="http://variety.com/t/robert-de-niro/" type="external">Robert De Niro</a> and his partner Nobu Matsuhisa.</p>
<p>Here are more places to toast, chill out or grab a bite in Toronto.</p>
<p>Victorian high lifeIn its former life, the circa 1891 building housing the 58-room <a href="http://www.thebroadviewhotel.ca/" type="external">Broadview Hotel</a> (pictured above) was a renowned strip club. Now it has a more respectable calling as a boutique hotel with a rooftop bar (aptly called The Rooftop), ground floor restaurant (The Civic), multiple event spaces and a casual cafe. Developed by Dream Unlimited and Streetcar Development, the 126-year old building underwent a complete makeover by the Design Agency and reflects the East End’s Victorian origins. Exposed brick walls and brass accents abound; room decor is boudoir-inspired. Corner rooms have brass stripper poles in a cheeky ode to the past. From the rooftop there’s a 360-degree view of Toronto’s skyline including the Don Valley and historic East End. The cafe becomes a neon-lit cocktail and Champagne bar at night, ideal for sophisticated meet-ups.106 Broadview Ave.</p>
<p>Local sudsThe made-in-Toronto brewery <a href="http://northernmaverick.ca/" type="external">Northern Maverick Brewing</a> plans on opening its 400-seat gastropub in time for the festival. The King West locale promises a hefty brewing facility complemented by retail store and bar. Settle into the oyster bar for a genial pairing with their delicate White IPA. Charcuterie board meats are house-cured and are intended to go well with the nine craft beers on tap. Look for Ontario craft cheeses, bacon-topped burgers and crisp fries to round out the menu of locally sourced ingredients. The brewery aimed to make beer great again by releasing its publicity generating “Fake News Ale,” a tongue-and-cheek salute to the U.S. president.115 Bathurst St.</p>
<p>Entertainment District GiantLifetime Developments (Four Seasons Hotel &amp; Residences is only one of their many projects) and Charles Khabouth, INK Entertainment’s CEO, are behind this 44-story hotel/condo project slated to open around the festival. <a href="http://www.bishahoteltoronto.com/" type="external">Bisha Hotel Toronto</a>&#160;is steps from the TIFF Bell Lightbox and will ultimately hold a 44th floor rooftop restaurant, 24-hour cafe and lobby bar all from Iconink hospitality. (Byblos is another one of their eateries). Celebrity chef <a href="http://variety.com/t/akira-back/" type="external">Akira Back</a> will open his first Canadian namesake restaurant within the complex in October.&#160;The 96-room hotel presents high style; actor and rocker Lenny Kravitz designed one floor of the hotel’s rooms.80 Blue Jays Way</p>
<p>Chic Steakhouse <a href="http://togrp.com/brand/stk/" type="external">STK Toronto</a>’s moody lighting and theatrical interiors set it apart from other meat emporiums. The emphasis is on elevated comfort foods like Tater Tot bacon poutine and truffle fries paired with dry-aged prime cuts. The multi-level seafood platter features Canadian lobster and other cold-water shellfish. Cocktails are ample with Moscow mules in demand. Two private dining rooms, large booths and an expansive bar complete the nightclub vibe.153 Yorkville Ave.</p>
<p>Hidden CantinaFrom the owner of the stylish Bar Raval, <a href="http://elreybar.com/" type="external">El Rey Bar</a> spotlights mezcal. Stop in for a shot or house-made cocktails at the 30-seat bar. The compact menu features bar snacks, piquant ceviche and meat, shrimp and veggie tostadas. There’s an outside patio when the weather is fine.2A Kensington Ave.</p>
<p>New PubThe latest from the Oliver &amp; Bonacini restaurant family, <a href="http://www.libertycommons.ca/" type="external">Liberty Commons</a> at Big Rock Brewery takes its cues from the craft brews made on site. There’s an ode to British standards too — cottage pie and fish &amp; chips — but the menu covers all the contemporary gastropub bases from barbeque baby back ribs to beer-can chicken. Vegetarians have options, too, though the Pilsner beer-battered bacon bar snack is not one of them. There are two private dining rooms with beer-related decor.42 Liberty St.</p>
<p>Picture PerfectTake a break for a sugar rush and meet locals and Instagrammers at Queen Street’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ihalokrunch/" type="external">iHalo Krunch</a>. All are in line for the foodie fad du jour: multi-hued, soft-serve ice cream served in black cones. The black comes from activated charcoal made from coconut husks. The selections are colorful: Ube Haze is made from purple yam, green soft serve is infused with Japanese matcha and Black on Black is coconut charcoal ice cream served in a photogenic black cone. Wait times vary but midday, weekdays are best for those pressed for time.915 Queen St. W;&#160;(647) 505-3777</p> | false | 1 | expect usual hot spots full festival mode buzzing industry gatherings soho house toronto celebrating fifth anniversary kickoff fete grey goose partnering venue ritzcarlton toronto custom cristal champagne remy martin cocktail 6ix75 selling cool 650 mark major film acquisitions celebratory moment thompson hotel rooftop lobby bar offer several tiffthemed cocktails bill marshall mix two scotches bitters cinnamon simple syrup honors late tiff cofounder see september 05 2017 issue variety future reference sales opened 660 condos nobu residences two towers mercer street also home canadas first nobu restaurant nobu hotel spa actorproducerhotelier robert de niro partner nobu matsuhisa places toast chill grab bite toronto victorian high lifein former life circa 1891 building housing 58room broadview hotel pictured renowned strip club respectable calling boutique hotel rooftop bar aptly called rooftop ground floor restaurant civic multiple event spaces casual cafe developed dream unlimited streetcar development 126year old building underwent complete makeover design agency reflects east ends victorian origins exposed brick walls brass accents abound room decor boudoirinspired corner rooms brass stripper poles cheeky ode past rooftop theres 360degree view torontos skyline including valley historic east end cafe becomes neonlit cocktail champagne bar night ideal sophisticated meetups106 broadview ave local sudsthe madeintoronto brewery northern maverick brewing plans opening 400seat gastropub time festival king west locale promises hefty brewing facility complemented retail store bar settle oyster bar genial pairing delicate white ipa charcuterie board meats housecured intended go well nine craft beers tap look ontario craft cheeses bacontopped burgers crisp fries round menu locally sourced ingredients brewery aimed make beer great releasing publicity generating fake news ale tongueandcheek salute us president115 bathurst st entertainment district giantlifetime developments four seasons hotel amp residences one many projects charles khabouth ink entertainments ceo behind 44story hotelcondo project slated open around festival bisha hotel toronto160is steps tiff bell lightbox ultimately hold 44th floor rooftop restaurant 24hour cafe lobby bar iconink hospitality byblos another one eateries celebrity chef akira back open first canadian namesake restaurant within complex october160the 96room hotel presents high style actor rocker lenny kravitz designed one floor hotels rooms80 blue jays way chic steakhouse stk torontos moody lighting theatrical interiors set apart meat emporiums emphasis elevated comfort foods like tater tot bacon poutine truffle fries paired dryaged prime cuts multilevel seafood platter features canadian lobster coldwater shellfish cocktails ample moscow mules demand two private dining rooms large booths expansive bar complete nightclub vibe153 yorkville ave hidden cantinafrom owner stylish bar raval el rey bar spotlights mezcal stop shot housemade cocktails 30seat bar compact menu features bar snacks piquant ceviche meat shrimp veggie tostadas theres outside patio weather fine2a kensington ave new pubthe latest oliver amp bonacini restaurant family liberty commons big rock brewery takes cues craft brews made site theres ode british standards cottage pie fish amp chips menu covers contemporary gastropub bases barbeque baby back ribs beercan chicken vegetarians options though pilsner beerbattered bacon bar snack one two private dining rooms beerrelated decor42 liberty st picture perfecttake break sugar rush meet locals instagrammers queen streets ihalo krunch line foodie fad du jour multihued softserve ice cream served black cones black comes activated charcoal made coconut husks selections colorful ube haze made purple yam green soft serve infused japanese matcha black black coconut charcoal ice cream served photogenic black cone wait times vary midday weekdays best pressed time915 queen st w160647 5053777 | 554 |
<p>In the 2014 midterm elections, opposition to the Affordable Care Act — i.e., Obamacare — was a clear political winner. That’s obvious from the election results themselves but also from <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/obama_and_democrats_health_care_plan-1130.html" type="external">polling</a> that consistently finds that far more of the electorate disapproves of the law than approves of it.</p>
<p>It is therefore to be expected that the incoming Congress, fully under the control of the GOP, will vote on a straight repeal bill, probably very early in next session. In the House, such a bill will pass easily. But in the Senate, Democrats will control at least 46 seats in the new Congress, giving them plenty of votes to filibuster most legislation they oppose. Consequently, the most likely scenario is that the repeal legislation will die in the Senate and therefore&#160;never get sent to the president for a certain veto.</p>
<p>Perhaps that’s just as well, because repeal without a replacement plan is not the best long-term position for ACA opponents anyway. The ultimate goal should be enactment of a plan that is far better than the ACA, with broader and deeper public support.</p>
<p>The electorate is deeply uneasy about the ACA’s approach to reform, for good reasons. It cedes massive new authority over the health system to the federal government. That will lead, inevitably, to more regulation and a lowering of the quality of American health care. The law is also terribly expensive and a wet blanket on the American economy at a time when middle-class incomes are stagnant.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean the public is eager to go back to the pre-ACA status quo, which is what is implied with a bill that repeals the ACA but does not replace it. President Obama got one thing right about American health care in 2009: It needed to be reformed –&#160;just not in the way he advocated. The pre-ACA health system left too many Americans with inadequate and insecure insurance, treated individuals unfairly who bought insurance on their own, allowed too many people with preexisting conditions to fall through regulatory cracks, and inflated costs with open-ended federal entitlement programs and tax subsidies.</p>
<p>The ACA’s answer to these problems was to consolidate power over the entire system within the federal government. But that’s exactly why the public is so uneasy about what passed in 2010 (in addition to being unhappy with the process that was used to enact it). The door is open for ACA opponents to present an alternative vision for reform that addresses the real problems in American health care without the big-government baggage of the ACA.</p>
<p>The task for ACA opponents has been made more complicated (in a good way) by the Supreme Court’s recent decision to take up the <a href="http://www.cato.org/blog/statement-supreme-court-granting-cert-king-v-burwell" type="external">King v. Burwell</a> case. Previously, the assumption was that while Congress might be able to make some incremental progress toward repealing and replacing the ACA in 2015, the real action would not take place until 2017, and real progress would happen then only if a Republican succeeded President Obama in the White House. Based on that assumption, the thinking up to now has been that Republicans would need to slowly coalesce around a consensus replacement plan over the next year or so, as numerous ideas were considered and debated both in Congress and among the competing presidential candidates. That consensus plan could then be an important plank in the GOP nominee’s platform going into the 2016 campaign.</p>
<p>The King case upends this timing. If the Supreme Court sides with the plaintiff and disallows the payment of premium credits in the federally built exchanges, the GOP will have been handed a not-to-be-missed opportunity to begin replacing the ACA with something far better. Republicans in Congress must have a plan ready well in advance of the Supreme Court’s decision (probably next June) to take full advantage of this potential opportunity.</p>
<p>So what should the plan be? Here it is best to think first about what a full replacement plan should look like — the kind that might be fully enacted with a Republican president in 2017 — and then to consider what might be done if the Supreme Court stops the payment of premium credits in federal exchanges in mid-2015.</p>
<p>The starting point for a full replacement plan should be a rational synthesis of the two best reform plans now on the table: <a href="http://2017project.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/An-Obamacare-Alternative-Full-Proposal.pdf" type="external">one developed by the 2017 Project</a> (a group dedicated to developing a conservative reform agenda for the next administration) and <a href="http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;File_id=871b0ef8-7705-4f72-aef2-e81d01b9c009" type="external">the other by Republican Senators Richard Burr, Tom Coburn, and Orrin Hatch</a>. The two plans share much in common. They are practical, market-based solutions. They both retain the employer-based health-insurance system for the vast majority of Americans, even as they would encourage more cost discipline in the most expensive job-based plans with a limitation on the federal tax break for employer-paid premiums. To broaden insurance enrollment and to correct an inequity in current law, they also would provide a new federal tax credit to households without access to employer coverage. The credit would be adjusted by age (and, in the case of Burr-Coburn-Hatch, by income) and could be used to purchase any state-approved health-insurance product. Finally, the plans would create a new “continuous-coverage protection” construct: People who stay continuously enrolled in health insurance would be protected from premium hikes based on their health status and from exclusions from coverage based on a preexisting condition.</p>
<p>These reforms would give all Americans access to secure, affordable health insurance without the mandates, regulations, and massive expense of the ACA.</p>
<p>If the Supreme Court disallows premium credits in the federal exchanges, the president and his supporters will demand immediate action by Congress to restore the credits to prevent anyone from losing their health insurance. This will be a potent political argument. The GOP must therefore be ready with an alternative that uses the much more flexible tax credits envisioned in the 2017 Project and Burr-Coburn-Hatch plans. These credits could be used for insurance plans not offered on the exchanges and with coverage that differs from the ACA’s mandates.</p>
<p>The GOP alternative could also provide the states with the authority to reform Medicaid into a premium-support model without the need of a waiver from the Department of Health and Human Services. Medicaid could then work seamlessly with the federal&#160;tax credits to provide low-income Americans with better private-insurance options.</p>
<p>All will not be lost if the Supreme Court sides with the administration in the Kingcase. Republicans could still advance their replace&#160;ideas — along with the many good ideas for repealing the worst features of the ACA — through the budget process. And it is possible, though not likely, that some aspects of repeal and replace would actually make it into law because President Obama was forced to accept them as part of a larger compromise package.</p>
<p>But little progress will be made if ACA opponents remain deeply divided over what should be the replacement approach.</p>
<p>The hard work of developing a credible alternative plan has already been mostly completed. What is needed now is a spirit of practical compromise among key Republican policymakers. It will not be possible to beat an incumbent program — the ACA — with abstractions, good intentions, and idealistic concepts. What’s needed is a workable, politically viable plan, one that voters can see for themselves would work better than the ACA. Now is the time to embrace that kind of plan and begin preparing the way for its full or partial enactment at the first opportunity.</p>
<p>—&#160;James C. Capretta is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.</p> | false | 1 | 2014 midterm elections opposition affordable care act ie obamacare clear political winner thats obvious election results also polling consistently finds far electorate disapproves law approves therefore expected incoming congress fully control gop vote straight repeal bill probably early next session house bill pass easily senate democrats control least 46 seats new congress giving plenty votes filibuster legislation oppose consequently likely scenario repeal legislation die senate therefore160never get sent president certain veto perhaps thats well repeal without replacement plan best longterm position aca opponents anyway ultimate goal enactment plan far better aca broader deeper public support electorate deeply uneasy acas approach reform good reasons cedes massive new authority health system federal government lead inevitably regulation lowering quality american health care law also terribly expensive wet blanket american economy time middleclass incomes stagnant doesnt mean public eager go back preaca status quo implied bill repeals aca replace president obama got one thing right american health care 2009 needed reformed 160just way advocated preaca health system left many americans inadequate insecure insurance treated individuals unfairly bought insurance allowed many people preexisting conditions fall regulatory cracks inflated costs openended federal entitlement programs tax subsidies acas answer problems consolidate power entire system within federal government thats exactly public uneasy passed 2010 addition unhappy process used enact door open aca opponents present alternative vision reform addresses real problems american health care without biggovernment baggage aca task aca opponents made complicated good way supreme courts recent decision take king v burwell case previously assumption congress might able make incremental progress toward repealing replacing aca 2015 real action would take place 2017 real progress would happen republican succeeded president obama white house based assumption thinking republicans would need slowly coalesce around consensus replacement plan next year numerous ideas considered debated congress among competing presidential candidates consensus plan could important plank gop nominees platform going 2016 campaign king case upends timing supreme court sides plaintiff disallows payment premium credits federally built exchanges gop handed nottobemissed opportunity begin replacing aca something far better republicans congress must plan ready well advance supreme courts decision probably next june take full advantage potential opportunity plan best think first full replacement plan look like kind might fully enacted republican president 2017 consider might done supreme court stops payment premium credits federal exchanges mid2015 starting point full replacement plan rational synthesis two best reform plans table one developed 2017 project group dedicated developing conservative reform agenda next administration republican senators richard burr tom coburn orrin hatch two plans share much common practical marketbased solutions retain employerbased healthinsurance system vast majority americans even would encourage cost discipline expensive jobbased plans limitation federal tax break employerpaid premiums broaden insurance enrollment correct inequity current law also would provide new federal tax credit households without access employer coverage credit would adjusted age case burrcoburnhatch income could used purchase stateapproved healthinsurance product finally plans would create new continuouscoverage protection construct people stay continuously enrolled health insurance would protected premium hikes based health status exclusions coverage based preexisting condition reforms would give americans access secure affordable health insurance without mandates regulations massive expense aca supreme court disallows premium credits federal exchanges president supporters demand immediate action congress restore credits prevent anyone losing health insurance potent political argument gop must therefore ready alternative uses much flexible tax credits envisioned 2017 project burrcoburnhatch plans credits could used insurance plans offered exchanges coverage differs acas mandates gop alternative could also provide states authority reform medicaid premiumsupport model without need waiver department health human services medicaid could work seamlessly federal160tax credits provide lowincome americans better privateinsurance options lost supreme court sides administration kingcase republicans could still advance replace160ideas along many good ideas repealing worst features aca budget process possible though likely aspects repeal replace would actually make law president obama forced accept part larger compromise package little progress made aca opponents remain deeply divided replacement approach hard work developing credible alternative plan already mostly completed needed spirit practical compromise among key republican policymakers possible beat incumbent program aca abstractions good intentions idealistic concepts whats needed workable politically viable plan one voters see would work better aca time embrace kind plan begin preparing way full partial enactment first opportunity 160james c capretta senior fellow ethics public policy center visiting fellow american enterprise institute | 707 |
<p>Even in June, well before those rowdy August townhall meetings laid to rest all doubt about where the public stands on Obamacare, the administration knew it had a problem. For months the president had been trying to make his case for health-care reform but had mostly offered vague pronouncements about the need to extend insurance coverage and “bend the cost curve.” When the details began coming to light in late spring, and the public got a good look at what the administration and its allies in Congress actually have in mind, the polls showed a decisive and almost instantaneous shift against enactment of anything so sweeping. Americans intuited that what the president was pushing would not lower their costs but would instead saddle them with heavy new taxes and additional government debt, while an extended federal bureaucracy would interfere with what they like about their health care today.</p>
<p>So Team Obama went back to the drawing board — but they didn't draw up new policies, only a new political game plan. They decided that what was needed was not new ideas but a new marketing catchphrase for the existing ones. And, so, gone for good is “health-care reform.” What Congress is working on this year is “health-insurance reform.”</p>
<p>The president's speechwriters got the memo and have peppered his recent addresses on health care with the language of insurance reform, which apparently resonates better in focus groups than does talk of “cost curves,” a term that suggests the reduction of benefits rather than their expansion. The reason to pass a health-care bill, the president now says, is to prevent insurance companies from excluding patients with preexisting conditions from coverage and to require them to issue policies to all comers at rates that do not take into account individual health risks.</p>
<p>So far, the change in messaging has not worked. The healthcare plans now under consideration in Congress are becoming more unpopular with each passing month despite a full-court public-relations press by Democrats and interest groups allied with them. For good reason, the public is simply not buying the notion that $1 trillion in new federal spending, massive new taxes, employer mandates, deep cuts in Medicare, an entirely new government-run insurance plan, and federal intrusion into the practice of medicine is going to lower their costs and improve the quality of their care.</p>
<p>Moreover, most Americans are satisfied with their current insurance and do not believe a government takeover of all insurance arrangements is needed to eliminate unfair discrimination. And they're right: It isn't necessary.</p>
<p>At the same time, Americans have serious misgivings about the operation of some portions of the insurance market, and with some justification. There are cracks in it, and people fall through them — not necessarily through any fault of their own. The precise number of people who do so is not known, but it is certainly far fewer than what is implied by overheated rhetoric. For example, the last definitive survey by the federal government found that less than 1 percent of the total population under age 65 (about 2 million people) had ever been denied insurance because of a medical condition. But most Americans know that this possibility exists, either from direct experience or from anecdotal information, and President Obama is playing upon their fear of it to create pressure for his much more sweeping policy ambitions. If conservatives want to prevent a full and irreversible government takeover of health care, they must address the public's insecurity with an alternative solution — one that makes it plain that Obamacare is entirely unnecessary.</p>
<p>The principle informing a sensible insurance-reform bill is straightforward and politically appealing: If Americans remain in continuous coverage in today's system of voluntary private insurance, they should be guaranteed access to coverage, with premiums that do not unduly penalize them for developing health conditions that raise their risk profiles. This objective is achievable with a few changes in existing insurance laws.</p>
<p>The chief problem with the present system is that health insurance is not truly portable. Workers getting insurance from their employers don't own their policies — the firms do. So when an employee leaves a company, for whatever reason, he has to switch insurance plans. In the process, he may become vulnerable to coverage exclusions and to spikes in premiums.</p>
<p>A 1996 law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) tried to give workers with continuous insurance coverage a measure of protection against these risks. Today, owing to HIPAA, when a worker goes from one job-based plan to another without an extensive lapse in coverage (the cutoff is about two months), a preexisting condition cannot be excluded from the coverage offered; the worker must be given coverage on the same terms as everyone else in the employer group.</p>
<p>But sometimes workers go from group-rated (i.e., employer-owned) policies to the individual health-insurance market, in which policies are sold directly to consumers, not to their employers-for instance, when they lose their jobs, retire early, or join companies that don't offer insurance. In theory, HIPAA extended portability protections to these workers, too, but its provisions aren't satisfactory for a number of reasons. This is where most of the cracks need to be filled.</p>
<p>To begin with, many workers moving from group insurance to the individual market end up with no protection at all, because they don't know about the law's fine print: In order to have guaranteed access to individual coverage that cannot exclude a preexisting condition, workers must first exhaust their right to continuous coverage with their former employer's plan. But paying for insurance in an ex-employer's job-based plan — an arrangement called COBRA coverage, for the federal law that enabled it — is rarely cheap. The premium paid by the former employee must cover the full cost of coverage, including the share that the employer used to pay, and workers insured through COBRA also lose access to certain tax preferences. (This year's stimulus legislation provided more generous terms for some recipients of COBRA coverage, but for only a limited time.) Additionally, employer-based plans usually are quite comprehensive, and therefore costly, with premiums often amounting to more than the ex-employee will be willing or able to pay, particularly if he has become unemployed. Many people therefore inadvertently waive their HIPAA rights by declining COBRA coverage; then, when they try to buy policies on the individual market, they discover that they are vulnerable to exclusions based on preexisting conditions.</p>
<p>Even if workers satisfy HIPAA's continuous-coverage requirement, the law gives them no relief from the premiums they face in the individual market. Many states impose some form of rating restriction (price controls on premiums) and guarantee access to at least two choices of policy in the individual market; but in most states, insurers are allowed to “underwrite” new entrants into the individual market, meaning that they can demand a health screening and take particular risks into account when calculating the premium they will charge. So a family with a child suffering from a chronic ailment may suddenly find itself facing premiums several times the average simply because it has moved from a job-based to an individual plan.</p>
<p>Likewise, HIPAA provides no premium protections for persons moving between individual insurance policies. A healthy worker who leaves an employer plan for the individual market could probably find an affordable plan — but if he ever wanted to switch insurers, he would face the prospect of having his premium recalculated based on a new assessment of his health status. If he should become seriously ill while enrolled in an individual plan, he cannot be reassigned to a different risk category so long as he rem ains with the same insurer. But he loses that protection if he changes insurers — which he might be forced to do if, for instance, he moves to a new state. In effect, the existing rules lock many people into plans — and therefore employment and living situations — they might otherwise wish to leave.</p>
<p>Targeted changes are in order here, not a trillion-dollar government takeover of the health-care industry. The appropriate changes are reasonably straightforward.</p>
<p>First, workers leaving job-based plans for the individual market should be able to do so without being penalized for failing to exhaust their COBRA rights. Any such worker should be protected from having coverage denied based on a preexisting condition.</p>
<p>Second, the premiums insurers may charge customers moving from the group market to the individual market should be limited to no more than 1.5 times the standard rate. That means insurers could take higher health risks into account when calculating premiums, but the maximum rate would be no more than 50 percent above what is charged to customers without unusual risk factors. (States should be permitted to continue to allow premium differentials above this limit based on geographic and demographic factors, including age.)</p>
<p>It is inevitable that some entrants into the individual market will have ailments that are more costly than what can be covered under the premium ceiling. Who will cover the excess costs? Most congressional Democrats' preferred solution is to use coverage mandates and price controls to legislate higher premiums for the healthy. In a voluntary marketplace, this would be entirely self-defeating. Every state that has tried it has seen an exodus of healthy people out of the insurance market, which pushes up the average costs for all who remain. Hence the Democrats' push for an “individual mandate” — an insurance market you can never leave — and for tighter insurance-rating restrictions. The bottom line is that this approach would force healthy people to pay higher prices for a limited menu of government-approved insurance plans.</p>
<p>A better alternative, and one much less disruptive to current policyholders, would be to provide adequate and sustainable funding of high-risk pools. Today, most — but not all — states have subsidized high-risk pools that are intended to reduce premiums in the individual marketplace for people with expensive preexisting conditions. They are the most common way for states to comply with HIPAA's requirement that workers leaving group plans have access to the individual market.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, these pools haven't worked well, largely because they have invited a mismatch between funding and demand. State and federal subsidies for high-risk pools have been meager relative to the size of the problem they are intended to address, and insurers have been able to steer applicants toward the pools with impunity. Politicians tend to prefer rate restrictions and hidden subsidies to more transparent and straightforward funding for high-risk pools, because the former measures are off-budget and seemingly costless to taxpayers. In truth, that approach backfires, imposing heavy burdens on a very narrow base of private purchasers in the individual market.</p>
<p>There should be substantial new federal funding for these high-risk pools —&#160; but also new operating rules. If an applicant's health status argues for a premium higher than 1.5 times the standard rate, insurers should be able to apply for a high-risk-pool subsidy. The job of determining eligibility for the subsidy should be contracted out to a neutral third party with experience in medical-insurance underwriting. If that party, based on mutually agreed-upon underwriting criteria, finds no basis for designating the applicant an unusually high risk, the insurer making the application would be required to take the applicant at no more than the maximum rate of 1.5 times the standard premium.</p>
<p>New funding for high-risk pools could come from a number of federal and state sources, including a reduction in payments made to hospitals for care provided to the uninsured and a penalty on individual-market insurers that forward too many unqualified risks to the high-risk pool.</p>
<p>The third necessary change is a requirement that insurers participating in the individual market offer coverage without a new risk assessment to anyone who has a current individual policy in the state. This would mean that market entrants would face a risk evaluation only once and then would have the right to policy renewal at their rate class from any licensed insurer in the state.</p>
<p>Finally, there is the question of the uninsured. The intent of the proposals we have outlined is to establish strong protections for those who remain in continuous coverage, but there ought to be an opportunity for those outside of the system to opt back in based on the new protections they would gain. The risk of moral hazard requires that it be a one-time offer. Moreover, these uninsured applicants would have to face some sort of health evaluation, because of their high expected costs. One approach would be to allow premiums for this group to go as high as twice the standard rate before an insurer could apply for high-risk funding.</p>
<p>Of course, many of the problems in the insurance market, including the problem that many persons who wish to be insured are not, would be greatly diminished if we ended the current preferential tax treatment for employer-based insurance and instead offered a tax credit for the purchase of individual insurance. But even absent such a reform, we can provide more insurance security, and we need not authorize a federal takeover of the health-insurance market in the process. Most Americans want health insurance and will secure it, given the right incentives. The targeted changes described here would help many more of them do so-without punishing everyone else.</p>
<p>Mr. Capretta is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a policy and a research consultant to private health insurers. Mr. Miller is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.</p> | false | 1 | even june well rowdy august townhall meetings laid rest doubt public stands obamacare administration knew problem months president trying make case healthcare reform mostly offered vague pronouncements need extend insurance coverage bend cost curve details began coming light late spring public got good look administration allies congress actually mind polls showed decisive almost instantaneous shift enactment anything sweeping americans intuited president pushing would lower costs would instead saddle heavy new taxes additional government debt extended federal bureaucracy would interfere like health care today team obama went back drawing board didnt draw new policies new political game plan decided needed new ideas new marketing catchphrase existing ones gone good healthcare reform congress working year healthinsurance reform presidents speechwriters got memo peppered recent addresses health care language insurance reform apparently resonates better focus groups talk cost curves term suggests reduction benefits rather expansion reason pass healthcare bill president says prevent insurance companies excluding patients preexisting conditions coverage require issue policies comers rates take account individual health risks far change messaging worked healthcare plans consideration congress becoming unpopular passing month despite fullcourt publicrelations press democrats interest groups allied good reason public simply buying notion 1 trillion new federal spending massive new taxes employer mandates deep cuts medicare entirely new governmentrun insurance plan federal intrusion practice medicine going lower costs improve quality care moreover americans satisfied current insurance believe government takeover insurance arrangements needed eliminate unfair discrimination theyre right isnt necessary time americans serious misgivings operation portions insurance market justification cracks people fall necessarily fault precise number people known certainly far fewer implied overheated rhetoric example last definitive survey federal government found less 1 percent total population age 65 2 million people ever denied insurance medical condition americans know possibility exists either direct experience anecdotal information president obama playing upon fear create pressure much sweeping policy ambitions conservatives want prevent full irreversible government takeover health care must address publics insecurity alternative solution one makes plain obamacare entirely unnecessary principle informing sensible insurancereform bill straightforward politically appealing americans remain continuous coverage todays system voluntary private insurance guaranteed access coverage premiums unduly penalize developing health conditions raise risk profiles objective achievable changes existing insurance laws chief problem present system health insurance truly portable workers getting insurance employers dont policies firms employee leaves company whatever reason switch insurance plans process may become vulnerable coverage exclusions spikes premiums 1996 law called health insurance portability accountability act hipaa tried give workers continuous insurance coverage measure protection risks today owing hipaa worker goes one jobbased plan another without extensive lapse coverage cutoff two months preexisting condition excluded coverage offered worker must given coverage terms everyone else employer group sometimes workers go grouprated ie employerowned policies individual healthinsurance market policies sold directly consumers employersfor instance lose jobs retire early join companies dont offer insurance theory hipaa extended portability protections workers provisions arent satisfactory number reasons cracks need filled begin many workers moving group insurance individual market end protection dont know laws fine print order guaranteed access individual coverage exclude preexisting condition workers must first exhaust right continuous coverage former employers plan paying insurance exemployers jobbased plan arrangement called cobra coverage federal law enabled rarely cheap premium paid former employee must cover full cost coverage including share employer used pay workers insured cobra also lose access certain tax preferences years stimulus legislation provided generous terms recipients cobra coverage limited time additionally employerbased plans usually quite comprehensive therefore costly premiums often amounting exemployee willing able pay particularly become unemployed many people therefore inadvertently waive hipaa rights declining cobra coverage try buy policies individual market discover vulnerable exclusions based preexisting conditions even workers satisfy hipaas continuouscoverage requirement law gives relief premiums face individual market many states impose form rating restriction price controls premiums guarantee access least two choices policy individual market states insurers allowed underwrite new entrants individual market meaning demand health screening take particular risks account calculating premium charge family child suffering chronic ailment may suddenly find facing premiums several times average simply moved jobbased individual plan likewise hipaa provides premium protections persons moving individual insurance policies healthy worker leaves employer plan individual market could probably find affordable plan ever wanted switch insurers would face prospect premium recalculated based new assessment health status become seriously ill enrolled individual plan reassigned different risk category long rem ains insurer loses protection changes insurers might forced instance moves new state effect existing rules lock many people plans therefore employment living situations might otherwise wish leave targeted changes order trilliondollar government takeover healthcare industry appropriate changes reasonably straightforward first workers leaving jobbased plans individual market able without penalized failing exhaust cobra rights worker protected coverage denied based preexisting condition second premiums insurers may charge customers moving group market individual market limited 15 times standard rate means insurers could take higher health risks account calculating premiums maximum rate would 50 percent charged customers without unusual risk factors states permitted continue allow premium differentials limit based geographic demographic factors including age inevitable entrants individual market ailments costly covered premium ceiling cover excess costs congressional democrats preferred solution use coverage mandates price controls legislate higher premiums healthy voluntary marketplace would entirely selfdefeating every state tried seen exodus healthy people insurance market pushes average costs remain hence democrats push individual mandate insurance market never leave tighter insurancerating restrictions bottom line approach would force healthy people pay higher prices limited menu governmentapproved insurance plans better alternative one much less disruptive current policyholders would provide adequate sustainable funding highrisk pools today states subsidized highrisk pools intended reduce premiums individual marketplace people expensive preexisting conditions common way states comply hipaas requirement workers leaving group plans access individual market unfortunately pools havent worked well largely invited mismatch funding demand state federal subsidies highrisk pools meager relative size problem intended address insurers able steer applicants toward pools impunity politicians tend prefer rate restrictions hidden subsidies transparent straightforward funding highrisk pools former measures offbudget seemingly costless taxpayers truth approach backfires imposing heavy burdens narrow base private purchasers individual market substantial new federal funding highrisk pools 160 also new operating rules applicants health status argues premium higher 15 times standard rate insurers able apply highriskpool subsidy job determining eligibility subsidy contracted neutral third party experience medicalinsurance underwriting party based mutually agreedupon underwriting criteria finds basis designating applicant unusually high risk insurer making application would required take applicant maximum rate 15 times standard premium new funding highrisk pools could come number federal state sources including reduction payments made hospitals care provided uninsured penalty individualmarket insurers forward many unqualified risks highrisk pool third necessary change requirement insurers participating individual market offer coverage without new risk assessment anyone current individual policy state would mean market entrants would face risk evaluation would right policy renewal rate class licensed insurer state finally question uninsured intent proposals outlined establish strong protections remain continuous coverage ought opportunity outside system opt back based new protections would gain risk moral hazard requires onetime offer moreover uninsured applicants would face sort health evaluation high expected costs one approach would allow premiums group go high twice standard rate insurer could apply highrisk funding course many problems insurance market including problem many persons wish insured would greatly diminished ended current preferential tax treatment employerbased insurance instead offered tax credit purchase individual insurance even absent reform provide insurance security need authorize federal takeover healthinsurance market process americans want health insurance secure given right incentives targeted changes described would help many sowithout punishing everyone else mr capretta fellow ethics public policy center policy research consultant private health insurers mr miller resident fellow american enterprise institute | 1,253 |
<p>The art of biography, as it is practiced today, nearly always involves the biographer as mediator between past and present, a bridge over the ever-widening gap between the two. As history has more and more become the record of what we feel we ought to be ashamed of our ancestors for, the biography-worthy great men of centuries gone by require new champions to explain why&#160;they, at least, weren’t so bad as most of their benighted contemporaries.</p>
<p>The biographical apologia, like the debunking, was already well-established 30 years ago, when Irvin Ehrenpreis completed his three-volume biography of Jonathan Swift after two decades of work. The vogue in the 1960s, when Ehrenpreis began his work, was for psychological, often Freudian, analysis of one’s subject, and the undoubtedly weird figure of the 18th-century dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin and author ofGulliver’s Travels&#160;(1726) must have offered one of the more tempting subjects in English literature for such treatment.</p>
<p>Yet, since Freudianism lost favor and patronizing the past in other ways became popular, it has taken another generation for Ehrenpreis’s sometime-colleague at the University of Virginia, Leo Damrosch, now of Harvard, to write a Swift biography in the more up-to-date manner. The result is enlightening and amusing, and it is enlivened by the inclusion of stories and anecdotes about Swift that Ehrenpreis had omitted because they were insufficiently well-attested in his overscrupulous view. But there is no denying the challenge Damrosch has taken on in trying to make Swift a more palatable subject for the 21st century.</p>
<p>Take, for instance, his penultimate chapter, called simply “The Disgusting Poems.” Here, his sympathy for his subject is more evident than his conviction in advancing any of the multiple excuses for Swiftian scatology that have occurred to previous biographers and commentators. The reader may presumably pick his own favorite. For what it’s worth, mine is the one separately suggested by two different writers who, though neither mentions the comparison, seem to see the poems of excrement and sexual disgust as ironic anticipations of Winnie Verloc in Joseph Conrad’s&#160;Secret Agent, who “felt profoundly that things do not stand much looking into.”</p>
<p>Swift’s staunch Tory politics, which made him the most feared pamphleteer of his own age, also make him a dubious character in ours. Recently, congressman Paul Ryan got into trouble for saying that people in “inner cities” were somewhat lacking in “the culture of work” and had to apologize for his remark, calling it “inarticulate.” His critics called it racist. Not being around to apologize or defend himself for want of feeling, Swift has to rely on his latest biographer to explain that a similar statement of his should be put down to the fact that “sensibilities were different then”—in case you didn’t know it. Swift was hardly the only one among his contemporaries who “tended to see moral explanations for all kinds of social problems” even though “this moral emphasis neglected some deep structural causes of poverty.” Which, by the way, is all the more remarkable if we are to believe Edmund Wilson’s observation that “Swift shared with Marx a deadly sense of the infinite capacity of human nature for remaining oblivious or indifferent to the pains we inflict on others, when we have a chance to get something out of them for ourselves.”</p>
<p>This is said about&#160;A Modest Proposal&#160;(1729), which, after&#160;Gulliver’s Travels, may be Swift’s best known work for its savage satire in proposing that Irish babies be sold as food for the rich of England. But even apart from the gratuitous reference to Marx—who didn’t have such a view, or, indeed,&#160;any&#160;view of “human nature” in the classical sense—I find it hard to believe that Swift could have written&#160;A Modest Proposal, or any of his other appeals to conscience, without a belief in some limit to that human capacity for obliviousness short of infinity.</p>
<p>Perhaps a more delicate subject than even “The Disgusting Poems” was Swift’s attitude toward women. Evidence that, compared with his swinish and chauvinistic contemporaries, he “was ahead of his time in his attitude toward gender” comes from the fact that</p>
<p>He wanted to refute the assumption, then held by most women and nearly all men, that the last things to look for in a wife were “good natural sense, some taste of wit and humour, sufficiently versed in her own natural language, able to read and relish history, books of travels, moral or entertaining discourses, and be a tolerable judge of the beauties in poetry.”</p>
<p>I’m not sure that this will strike everyone as enough of an exception from the “attitude toward gender” of his times, especially in view of the fact that Swift never married. Or did he? To the question of whether he secretly wed either of the two women with whom he had intimate, even passionate, relationships—Esther Johnson (known to him as “Stella”) and Esther Vanhomrigh (known to him as “Vanessa”)—Damrosch takes a necessarily cautious, agnostic approach, though he repeats the apocryphal story of Stella’s begging Swift on her deathbed for a public acknowledgment of their union and Swift’s refusing. It may be true that “keeping his intimate relationships mysterious was an essential strategy of self-protection,” but it’s not exactly up to our high standards as a progressive “attitude toward gender.”</p>
<p>One of the problems with reimagining Swift as “our contemporary”—as the late Jan Kott tried to do with Shakespeare—is that it makes him much harder to read. We are constantly having to abandon our delight in what he wrote in order to get our minds around what he&#160;really&#160;must have meant by it, especially when he is at his most misanthropic or moralistic. One example comes in Damrosch’s discussion of Swift’s pseudonymous&#160;A Project for the Advancement of Religion, and the Reformation of Manners&#160;(1709). In it he proposes rigid enforcement of morality on the part of those in government offices, even though he recognizes that this will produce hypocrisy, which at least “wears the livery of religion .  .  . acknowledgeth her authority, and is cautious of giving scandal.” Most shockingly, Swift wrote: “I believe it is with religion as it is with love, which by much dissembling at last grows real.”</p>
<p>“Can Swift possibly have meant all this?” asks Damrosch. “Some distinguished Swiftians have thought he did. But it’s hard to believe that the author of the&#160;Argument to Abolish Christianity&#160;[1708], with its mordant critique of ‘nominal Christianity,’ could call for obligatory hypocrisy in a police state founded on censorship and spying.”</p>
<p>Yet Swift often wrote in favor of an outward conformity to established practices, especially those of the established church of which he was a clergy-man, in spite of inward doubts and even contrary convictions. As the king of Brobdingnag says to Gulliver:</p>
<p>He knew no reason why those, who entertain [religious or political] opinions prejudicial to the public, should be obliged to change, or should not be obliged to conceal them. And as it was tyranny in any government to require the first, so it was weakness not to enforce the second: for a man may be allowed to keep poisons in his closet, but not to vend them about for cordials.</p>
<p>Damrosch concludes that&#160;A Project for the Advancement of Religion&#160;was a satire on the recent revival of Puritanism among the Whigs (who were his political enemies), but that it was so cleverly camouflaged they could not take exception to it, since it pretended to adopt the views of Queen Anne, lately fallen under their influence. This may be so—though such subtlety must always find its limit at the point where the satire becomes indistinguishable from the thing satirized. That Swift was always bumping up against that limit can hardly be an accident, and it must surely be the final word on all questions of his sincerity, or lack thereof, in what he wrote—questions which even the most ingenious biographer should relegate to the closet of his secrets.</p>
<p>Without the anxiety of having to prove Swift the kind of man who today’s politically decent people would would choose to know, he emerges as the sort of amusing companion his contemporaries found him to be, a man his cousin Deane Swift described as one who “equally loved to speak, and loved to hearken,” a man who could write in a letter of consolation to a woman who had lost a child, just as he himself was feeling anguished at the imminent death of Stella, that “Life is a tragedy, wherein we sit as spectators awhile, and then act our own part in it.”</p>
<p>That sort of humanity is different from Damrosch’s view that “Swift still matters, three and a half centuries after his birth, because he was a great writer and a great man.” This irritating modern habit of writing about “why X matters” is one indication that we are now expected to look for excuses, in the onward march of progress, to discard such figures from the past who need the help of their biographers to tell us why they continue to hang on to some shred of relevance.</p> | false | 1 | art biography practiced today nearly always involves biographer mediator past present bridge everwidening gap two history become record feel ought ashamed ancestors biographyworthy great men centuries gone require new champions explain why160they least werent bad benighted contemporaries biographical apologia like debunking already wellestablished 30 years ago irvin ehrenpreis completed threevolume biography jonathan swift two decades work vogue 1960s ehrenpreis began work psychological often freudian analysis ones subject undoubtedly weird figure 18thcentury dean st patricks cathedral dublin author ofgullivers travels1601726 must offered one tempting subjects english literature treatment yet since freudianism lost favor patronizing past ways became popular taken another generation ehrenpreiss sometimecolleague university virginia leo damrosch harvard write swift biography uptodate manner result enlightening amusing enlivened inclusion stories anecdotes swift ehrenpreis omitted insufficiently wellattested overscrupulous view denying challenge damrosch taken trying make swift palatable subject 21st century take instance penultimate chapter called simply disgusting poems sympathy subject evident conviction advancing multiple excuses swiftian scatology occurred previous biographers commentators reader may presumably pick favorite worth mine one separately suggested two different writers though neither mentions comparison seem see poems excrement sexual disgust ironic anticipations winnie verloc joseph conrads160secret agent felt profoundly things stand much looking swifts staunch tory politics made feared pamphleteer age also make dubious character recently congressman paul ryan got trouble saying people inner cities somewhat lacking culture work apologize remark calling inarticulate critics called racist around apologize defend want feeling swift rely latest biographer explain similar statement put fact sensibilities different thenin case didnt know swift hardly one among contemporaries tended see moral explanations kinds social problems even though moral emphasis neglected deep structural causes poverty way remarkable believe edmund wilsons observation swift shared marx deadly sense infinite capacity human nature remaining oblivious indifferent pains inflict others chance get something said about160a modest proposal1601729 after160gullivers travels may swifts best known work savage satire proposing irish babies sold food rich england even apart gratuitous reference marxwho didnt view indeed160any160view human nature classical sensei find hard believe swift could written160a modest proposal appeals conscience without belief limit human capacity obliviousness short infinity perhaps delicate subject even disgusting poems swifts attitude toward women evidence compared swinish chauvinistic contemporaries ahead time attitude toward gender comes fact wanted refute assumption held women nearly men last things look wife good natural sense taste wit humour sufficiently versed natural language able read relish history books travels moral entertaining discourses tolerable judge beauties poetry im sure strike everyone enough exception attitude toward gender times especially view fact swift never married question whether secretly wed either two women intimate even passionate relationshipsesther johnson known stella esther vanhomrigh known vanessadamrosch takes necessarily cautious agnostic approach though repeats apocryphal story stellas begging swift deathbed public acknowledgment union swifts refusing may true keeping intimate relationships mysterious essential strategy selfprotection exactly high standards progressive attitude toward gender one problems reimagining swift contemporaryas late jan kott tried shakespeareis makes much harder read constantly abandon delight wrote order get minds around he160really160must meant especially misanthropic moralistic one example comes damroschs discussion swifts pseudonymous160a project advancement religion reformation manners1601709 proposes rigid enforcement morality part government offices even though recognizes produce hypocrisy least wears livery religion acknowledgeth authority cautious giving scandal shockingly swift wrote believe religion love much dissembling last grows real swift possibly meant asks damrosch distinguished swiftians thought hard believe author the160argument abolish christianity1601708 mordant critique nominal christianity could call obligatory hypocrisy police state founded censorship spying yet swift often wrote favor outward conformity established practices especially established church clergyman spite inward doubts even contrary convictions king brobdingnag says gulliver knew reason entertain religious political opinions prejudicial public obliged change obliged conceal tyranny government require first weakness enforce second man may allowed keep poisons closet vend cordials damrosch concludes that160a project advancement religion160was satire recent revival puritanism among whigs political enemies cleverly camouflaged could take exception since pretended adopt views queen anne lately fallen influence may sothough subtlety must always find limit point satire becomes indistinguishable thing satirized swift always bumping limit hardly accident must surely final word questions sincerity lack thereof wrotequestions even ingenious biographer relegate closet secrets without anxiety prove swift kind man todays politically decent people would would choose know emerges sort amusing companion contemporaries found man cousin deane swift described one equally loved speak loved hearken man could write letter consolation woman lost child feeling anguished imminent death stella life tragedy wherein sit spectators awhile act part sort humanity different damroschs view swift still matters three half centuries birth great writer great man irritating modern habit writing x matters one indication expected look excuses onward march progress discard figures past need help biographers tell us continue hang shred relevance | 770 |
<p>Has the modern age seen a widespread decline in violence due to an awakening of western thought and culture in the 17th and 18th centuries? The author and neurobiologist Steven Pinker famously argued exactly that in his celebration of the Enlightment,The Better Angels of our Nature. Last week, in The Guardian, the author John Gray published <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/13/john-gray-steven-pinker-wrong-violence-war-declining" type="external">a long article</a> arguing that Pinker is wrong.</p>
<p>So, who’s right?</p>
<p>Here are the points I would make.</p>
<p>1. There has not so much been a decline in violence as a rise in squeamishness.</p>
<p>As evidence of our much lower threshold of tolerance for violence, Pinker points out that in the Middle Ages, cats would be burned alive for popular entertainment. He also points to Voltaire’s famous revulsion at the gruesome public torture of the would-be king-killer Jean-François Damiens, a hitherto standard procedure that so shocked the French elites that it was banned.</p>
<p>At the same time, it is hard to look at the horrors of the 20th century and not think that there is more to the story. A perhaps useful heuristic is evolutionary psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s <a href="http://www.moralfoundations.org/" type="external">Moral Foundations Theory</a>&#160;which sets out five “foundations” for our moral world views. One of these is “care/harm” which makes us dislike the pain experienced by others. Typically, modern persons have much stronger “care/harm” feelings than people in more traditional societies, and within the West, progressives have stronger “care/harm” feelings than conservatives.</p>
<p>It’s easy to see how an increase in squeamishness would make many kinds of violence unacceptable — but how it would facilitate others. The special horrors of the 20th century mostly occurred at a remove from those most responsible for the killing. It’s easier to feel less squeamish when the regime’s victims are spirited away to gulags or concentration camps, or when incendiary or nuclear bombs can be dropped from 30,000 feet at the push of a button.</p>
<p>By and large, this increase in squeamishness is true and very good, but we should not confuse it with something it’s not, and we should be aware of how, even as it makes many kinds of violence less acceptable, it might make other kinds of violence easier to swallow. The “care/harm” creates good intentions, but good intentions alone are not enough.</p>
<p>2. If there is a decline in violence, it is due to Christianity.</p>
<p>By now, mainstream historians are slowly waking up to the realization that almost everything we like about the Enlightenment, from the rule of law to the scientific method to capitalism, had its roots in the extraordinary civilization of the Middle Ages.</p>
<p>Why is it that we modern persons are so much more squeamish, so much more likely to be stirred by the idea of harm?</p>
<p>One answer might be that our civilization had, for a millennium, at the center of its moral imagination, the battered and broken figure of a slave hanging from a gibbet, condemned to die by all rightful authorities and abandoned by his friends.</p>
<p>And it is worth noting that the increase in squeamishness in the West dates back from the takeover of the Roman Empire by Christianity.</p>
<p>A key indicator of cultural squeamishness is how a society treats children. As the historian O.M. Bakke shows in the tellingly-named book How Children Became People: The Birth of Childhood in Early Christianity, Pagan society considered children as little more than objects, with consequences of — to us post-Christians — astonishing cruelty. The practice of abandoning newborns was widespread and not frowned upon. While most abandoned infants died, those who did not were typically “rescued” into child sex slavery, which was a legal and thriving industry. The sources report that sex with castrated boys, in particular, was considered very titillating, and there are reports of babies castrated to serve that purpose. These were all practices that Christians famously condemned, and Bakke nicely traces how phrases by Jesus holding children up as examples and insisting on care for the “least of these” caused emerging civilization, for the first time in the history of the West, to regard children as full human beings endowed with rights.</p>
<p>Another good indicator of squeamishness is the treatment of slaves. While only by the High Middle Ages was slavery over in the West — the first time in all of human history that a culture had abolished slavery — as soon as Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire rafts of unprecedented laws were passed to reform the institution of slavery, typically “squeamish” laws such as banning sexual relations between slaves and masters, making it illegal to break up slave families, banning the branding of slaves (first on the face, and later anywhere). The first condemnation of slavery as an institution in all of recorded history was made by the Catholic bishop and Church Father Gregory of Nyssa, in strikingly “squeamish” terms, exhorting his congregation to see in their slaves the same image of God that dwells in them, and to free them.</p>
<p>Because human hearts are so hard and crooked, this rise in squeamishness was infuriatingly slow and incomplete (and still is), but if there is one starting point one could name, it would be the rise of Christianity. If the Enlightenment did anything, it was only to accelerate a process that had been ongoing for centuries.</p>
<p>3. The modern age doesn’t look so hot when you count abortion.</p>
<p>Abortion is a typical “squeamish” issue, where mere squeamishness leads us astray. It’s harder to get squeamish about a “clump of cells” than a live baby, even though there is no conceptual difference between the two.&#160; <a href="http://theweek.com/articles/544972/ghosts-world-down-syndrome-day" type="external">When it comes to disabled children in the womb</a>, we all too often get squeamish in exactly the wrong way: we get squeamish about the pain they will endure, instead of getting squeamish about the idea of snuffing out innocent life. “Care/harm” makes us empathize more with those we recognize as our alter egos, but make us empathize less about those we do not include in our circle of fellowship.</p>
<p>According to the <a href="http://www.numberofabortions.com/" type="external">U.S. Abortion Clock</a> there have been 55 million abortions in the United States since abortion was legalized in the U.S., and more than one billion abortions worldwide since 1980. One billion. If abortions are counted as homicides then the modern age sure doesn’t look so hot.</p>
<p>4. The dark side of the Enlightenment.</p>
<p>The one true sleight-of-hand practiced by Steven Pinker in his account of the decline of violence (which, as I have said, has a lot of truth) is that he tries to erase the inherently modern phenomenon of totalitarianism from the legacy of the Enlightenment, so that they don’t get put on the Enlightenment’s balance sheet.</p>
<p>But totalitarianism is an inherently modern phenomenon that would have been impossible without the Enlightenment. Late 18th century French society got squeamish about the public torture of Jean-François Damiens — and just a few decades later, they used the hygienic innovation of the guillotine to murder people in the name of Enlightenment values on a scale that would have been unthinkable in the Ancien Régime. Communism was inherently a modern phenomenon: atheistic, pseudo-scientific, and pseudo-rationalistic, driven by a post-Christian and “squeamish” concern for the fates of the working poor, universal in scope and ambition. And while Nazism got mileage out of reactionary rhetoric, it is also inseparable from roots in the movements of “scientific racism” and eugenics which argued for treating human genetics as a kind of technology and fixing it (with the power of the state if need be).</p>
<p>I make this point because I am a person who believes the Enlightenment is a very good thing, but that it also has its dark side. The modern age included a laudable squeamishness against tyranny, but it also included a nice dose of utopian hubris, and the special horrors of the modern age are incomprehensible without this Enlightenment idea. The Enlightenment is a glorious thing, but it is also a dangerous thing — it must always be rescued from itself. The first way to do it is to refuse to whitewash its true legacy.</p>
<p>—&#160;Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | modern age seen widespread decline violence due awakening western thought culture 17th 18th centuries author neurobiologist steven pinker famously argued exactly celebration enlightmentthe better angels nature last week guardian author john gray published long article arguing pinker wrong whos right points would make 1 much decline violence rise squeamishness evidence much lower threshold tolerance violence pinker points middle ages cats would burned alive popular entertainment also points voltaires famous revulsion gruesome public torture wouldbe kingkiller jeanfrançois damiens hitherto standard procedure shocked french elites banned time hard look horrors 20th century think story perhaps useful heuristic evolutionary psychologist jonathan haidts moral foundations theory160which sets five foundations moral world views one careharm makes us dislike pain experienced others typically modern persons much stronger careharm feelings people traditional societies within west progressives stronger careharm feelings conservatives easy see increase squeamishness would make many kinds violence unacceptable would facilitate others special horrors 20th century mostly occurred remove responsible killing easier feel less squeamish regimes victims spirited away gulags concentration camps incendiary nuclear bombs dropped 30000 feet push button large increase squeamishness true good confuse something aware even makes many kinds violence less acceptable might make kinds violence easier swallow careharm creates good intentions good intentions alone enough 2 decline violence due christianity mainstream historians slowly waking realization almost everything like enlightenment rule law scientific method capitalism roots extraordinary civilization middle ages modern persons much squeamish much likely stirred idea harm one answer might civilization millennium center moral imagination battered broken figure slave hanging gibbet condemned die rightful authorities abandoned friends worth noting increase squeamishness west dates back takeover roman empire christianity key indicator cultural squeamishness society treats children historian om bakke shows tellinglynamed book children became people birth childhood early christianity pagan society considered children little objects consequences us postchristians astonishing cruelty practice abandoning newborns widespread frowned upon abandoned infants died typically rescued child sex slavery legal thriving industry sources report sex castrated boys particular considered titillating reports babies castrated serve purpose practices christians famously condemned bakke nicely traces phrases jesus holding children examples insisting care least caused emerging civilization first time history west regard children full human beings endowed rights another good indicator squeamishness treatment slaves high middle ages slavery west first time human history culture abolished slavery soon christianity became state religion roman empire rafts unprecedented laws passed reform institution slavery typically squeamish laws banning sexual relations slaves masters making illegal break slave families banning branding slaves first face later anywhere first condemnation slavery institution recorded history made catholic bishop church father gregory nyssa strikingly squeamish terms exhorting congregation see slaves image god dwells free human hearts hard crooked rise squeamishness infuriatingly slow incomplete still one starting point one could name would rise christianity enlightenment anything accelerate process ongoing centuries 3 modern age doesnt look hot count abortion abortion typical squeamish issue mere squeamishness leads us astray harder get squeamish clump cells live baby even though conceptual difference two160 comes disabled children womb often get squeamish exactly wrong way get squeamish pain endure instead getting squeamish idea snuffing innocent life careharm makes us empathize recognize alter egos make us empathize less include circle fellowship according us abortion clock 55 million abortions united states since abortion legalized us one billion abortions worldwide since 1980 one billion abortions counted homicides modern age sure doesnt look hot 4 dark side enlightenment one true sleightofhand practiced steven pinker account decline violence said lot truth tries erase inherently modern phenomenon totalitarianism legacy enlightenment dont get put enlightenments balance sheet totalitarianism inherently modern phenomenon would impossible without enlightenment late 18th century french society got squeamish public torture jeanfrançois damiens decades later used hygienic innovation guillotine murder people name enlightenment values scale would unthinkable ancien régime communism inherently modern phenomenon atheistic pseudoscientific pseudorationalistic driven postchristian squeamish concern fates working poor universal scope ambition nazism got mileage reactionary rhetoric also inseparable roots movements scientific racism eugenics argued treating human genetics kind technology fixing power state need make point person believes enlightenment good thing also dark side modern age included laudable squeamishness tyranny also included nice dose utopian hubris special horrors modern age incomprehensible without enlightenment idea enlightenment glorious thing also dangerous thing must always rescued first way refuse whitewash true legacy 160pascalemmanuel gobry fellow ethics public policy center | 708 |
<p>If Economic Growth Falls to 1.4%, What Happens to the Stock Market? Answer: 1.5% Average Real Returns in the Next 20 Years, 3.2% in the Next 75.</p>
<p>a report by John Mueller Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Lehrman Bell Mueller Cannon, Inc.</p>
<p>for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Washington, D.C. October 1997</p>
<p>1. When Can We Use the Past to Forecast the Future?</p>
<p>Those who seek to end pay-as-you-go Social Security often compare past returns on financial assets with projected future returns on pay-as-you-go Social Security.</p>
<p>In the past, the “privatizers” agree, the average return on Social Security — about 9% — was much higher than the average returns on common stocks.[i]</p>
<p>But future returns on Social Security, the “privatizers” argue, will be far lower than in the past. Therefore, they say, future retirees would be better off if pay-as-you-go Social Security were abolished and replaced with financial savings accounts.</p>
<p>If we believed that the future will resemble the past (apart fromrandom variations), then past returns on financial assets would be our best guide to future returns. In that case, we would have to conclude that Social Security will outperform financial assets in the future, because it always did so in the past.</p>
<p>But the “privatizers” insist that the future will be very different from the past. First, they point out, Social Security’s extraordinary returns in the past were partly due to the startup of a pay-as-you-go retirement system, which will not be repeated. Second, they say, the retirement of the Baby Boom will result in a sharp decline in the ratio of workers paying taxes to retirees receiving benefits. Finally, they point out, in a “mature” pay-as-you-go retirement system, the average return of benefits from paying payroll taxes is equal to the rate of economic growth — but the projected demographic bust implies much slower economic growth.</p>
<p>If we accept these assumptions, we can no longer assume that the average future returns on financial assets will equal average returns in the past. Otherwise, we would have to make at least three[ii] peculiar assumptions: first, that Social Security is affected by the rate of economic growth, but financial assets are not; second, that the return on Social Security is affected by demographic changes like the Baby Boom, but financial assets are not; finally, that the return on financial assets is unaffected by the return on alternate investments like Social Security.</p>
<p>2. The Systematic Behavior of Financial Markets</p>
<p>Using past returns to forecast the future requires certain basic assumptions, which are squarely contradicted by the assumptions just described. This renders useless certain techniques (like “Monte Carlo” simulations, which are much in vogue at the moment), because the basic requirement for projecting past financial returns into the future is that the past variation in returns must be random.</p>
<p>Although there is a great deal of randomness in day-to-day and month-to-month variations in asset returns, the longer-term behavior of financial assets over the past century has been quite systematic.</p>
<p>This is obvious, for example, when we consider asset returns in 20-year periods. (The typical family has an average of about 20 years in which its retirement savings can earn a return on investment.[iii])</p>
<p>Since 1900, the 20-year average annual real change in the stock market was negative about one-third of the time (Graph 1). And this did not occur randomly, but in four periods of several years each. The 20-year average real total return (that is, the return if all dividends are reinvested in the stock market) fell to about zero during three 20-year periods in the past century — from 1901 to 1921, from 1928 to 1948, and from 1962 to 1982 (Graph 2). In each case, these lows were interspersed with periods in which stock returns peaked at rates about twice the long-term average — again for several years at a time.</p>
<p>In other words, there is evidence of a pronounced stock market cycle.</p>
<p>We see a similar non-random pattern in bond returns. Since 1945, the 20-year average annual real return on long-term government bonds was negative almost exactly two-thirds of the time — in fact, for 33 straight years (Graph 3). During the same half-century, the 20-year average real total return on long-term corporate bonds was negative almost exactly half the time — for about 25 almost uninterrupted years. Measured net of management fees (but before taxes), corporate bonds also yielded a negative return for 33 years straight (Graph 4).</p>
<p>It’s curious that the “privatizers” now ignore all this. Martin Feldstein used to remark rather often about the inordinate length of these financial losing streaks.[iv]</p>
<p>Before projecting the past into the future, therefore, we must first account for this systematic behavior. The current paper will show that the non-random long-run return of the stock market is largely a function of three factors: the rate of economic growth, the relative size of subsequent generations, and the stock market’s volatility — precisely the three factors which the “privatizers” ignore.</p>
<p>If future economic growth and demographic trends are as adverse as projected, so will be the performance of the stock market. In the future as in the past, pay-as-you-go Social Security will continue to outperform financial assets.</p>
<p>3. Economic Growth and the Stock Market</p>
<p>Measured by its “standard deviation,” the stock market has been about four times as risky as the economy since 1926.[v] Because of people’s natural aversion to risk, this higher volatility is the main reason why the risk-adjusted return on the stock market has been much lower than the rate of economic growth.</p>
<p>It might seem, then, that any change in the rate of economic growth would cause the stock market to decline or accelerate by some multiple. But this is not the way things work. Short-term fluctuations of the stock market are a multiple of variations in economic growth. But the long-term influence seems to be almost exactly 1 for 1. We will therefore begin by dividing the total return of the stock market by gross domestic product. This index will show how the stock market performs relative to the economy. It also has the advantage of telling us how the stock market performs relative to pay-as-you-go Social Security.[vi]</p>
<p>Apart from the pronounced waves which we are trying to explain, the stock market’s total return rises relative to the economy at a constant rate of about 2-1/2%. This rate is precisely equal to the risk premium of the stock market vs. the economy, during relatively quiet periods — the average volatility in stock returns since 1880, excluding the turbulent years between the start of the Great Depression and the end of the Korean War.</p>
<p>Since the Korean War, the annual stock market total return fluctuated about 12 percentage points above or below average; while growth of the economy fluctuated about 3 percentage points from the average. (Graph 5) This difference in “normal” volatility implies that, for the median investor — someone who is neither terribly conservative nor overly speculative — the “risk premium” in the total return of the stock market, compared with the economy (or with Social Security), is just under 2-1/2%.[vii]</p>
<p>This is interesting but also curious. Standard portfolio theory assumes that higher stock market risk[viii] is rewarded by a higher return. That implies that the average rate of return on the stock market ought to be proportional to the average volatility of returns. If so, stock market returns ought to have been higher when the market was more volatile, and lower when the market was less volatile. Exactly the reverse is true. The return on the stock market has been sharply lower, immediately after 20-year average volatility was higher than average, and the return was sharply higher, immediately after volatility was lower than normal.</p>
<p>This means that the stock market rewarded investors for what we might call “normal” risk, but penalized those who assumed “abnormal” risk by remaining fully invested in stocks.</p>
<p>The principle is essentially the same as the difference between “systematic” and “unsystematic” risk in the theory of equity diversification. In portfolio theory, the “unsystematic” risk assumed by an investor as the result of failing to diversify his equity holdings (among different companies and different sectors) is not rewarded with a higher return, because such risk could have been avoided. Only the “systematic” risk to which a diversified stock portfolio is subject is rewarded, in this theory.</p>
<p>But the same is true to a certain extent of the stock market as a whole, because equities comprise only one of several alternate classes of financial investments. Exposure to abnormal variations in stock market risk could be avoided by holding less risky assets.</p>
<p>We can get an idea of this shifting among asset classes, in response to perceived changes in stock market risk, by comparing the 20-year average volatility of stock market returns with the short-term interest rates (in this case, the yield on high-quality 6-month commercial paper). Whenever stock market volatility rose above the “normal” average, the commercial paper rate declined, and whenever stock market volatility fell below the “normal” average, the commercial paper rate rose. (Graph 6)</p>
<p>We will consider the effect of “abnormal” risk shortly. For now, we note that when we adjust for GDP growth and for “normal” stock market risk, we find that the total return of the stock market fluctuates in waves compared with the economy. (Graph 7) Most of these waves are associated with demographic changes.</p>
<p>4. Demographics and the Stock Market</p>
<p>This brings us to the second remarkable assumption of the “privatizers”: that the stock market is not affected by the differing sizes of generations.</p>
<p>The omission is curious, because the “privatizers” also argue that the future return on Social Security will be adversely affected by the relative size of the “Baby Boom.” With more retirees and fewer workers, they argue, the system will not be able to support growth of benefits at the same rate as in the past.</p>
<p>What they don’t explain is why the stock market is not affected by exactly the same demographic changes. After all, there will be fewer workers producing profits, but more retirees trying to live on those profits — and, later on, there will be fewer investors to sell their remaining assets to.</p>
<p>We can view this demographic reality by comparing the relative size of subsequent generations. A convenient way to do this is to compare the ratio of 44-year-olds to 22-year-olds[ix] (Graph 8).</p>
<p>If we compare the risk-adjusted return of the stock market, relative to the economy, with the relative size of successive generations, we find that there is, on average, a one-for-one relation between the two (Graph 9). A smaller generation receives a stock-market return higher than the rate of economic growth, and a larger generation receives a return that is lower. Even the year-to-year correlation between the two has been remarkable since about 1960. From 1962 to 1982, the risk-adjusted stock market underperformed the economy by more than half — almost exactly the same proportion in which the ratio of 44- to 22-year-olds was falling. Since 1982, the stock market (adjusted for risk) has risen about three times as fast as the economy — almost exactly the proportion by which the ratio of 44- to 22-year olds was rising.</p>
<p>Generation size, therefore, explains the rest of the trend of the stock market’s risk-adjusted total return, relative to GDP (Graph 10). Apart from changes in generation size, the stock market return, adjusted for “normal” risk, has on average been about the same as the growth rate of the economy.</p>
<p>However, this still leaves part of the stock market’s ups and downsunexplained. The remaining variation is smaller and has no trend, but is not completely random: it has remained above or below average for several years at a time. Can we explain why?</p>
<p>5. Abnormal Stock Market Volatility and Stock Market Performance</p>
<p>The main reason for the remaining variation in the stock market’s total return becomes apparent when we compare this “demographically adjusted” pattern with earlier changes in the volatility of the stock market.</p>
<p>So far we have assumed there is such a thing as a “typical” stock market investor, and that the volatility of the market remains about the same. But in fact investors are not required to invest in stocks, and as we have already seen, the volatility of the market is not constant. (Graph 11)</p>
<p>In fact, investors enter or leave the stock market systematically, and out of or into other investments, in response to changes in “perceived risk” — approximated by stock market volatility during the preceding generation.</p>
<p>From Graph 12 we can see that the market trades at a premium immediately after periods of lower-than-average volatility, and trades at a discount immediately after periods of higher-than-average volatility. Investors who are not normally in the stock market enter the market when perceived risk is below normal, while the “typical” stock market investor tends to leave the market when perceived risk is above normal.</p>
<p>For example, inexperienced investors flooded into the stock market during the 1920s when its relative volatility was at an all-time low[x]. But even “typical” stock investors left the stock market during and after the Great Depression, when perceived risk hit an all-time high. During the 1990s (as in the 1960s) below-average volatility has drawn more risk-averse investors into the stock market. But such investors, by waiting to buy until volatility had already fallen, have therefore paid a premium proportional to their degree of risk aversion. This implies that, should stock-market volatility rise back even to normal levels, such investors will again be willing to sell at a discount to avoid the rise in perceived risk.</p>
<p>6. 75-Year Stock Market Futures</p>
<p>By combining the factors we have examined — economic growth, generation size, and stock market volatility — we can devise a simple model that can tell us about the stock market’s likely future performance relative to the economy.[xi] Such a model seems able to explain most of the stock market’s past variation. (Graph 13).</p>
<p>The evidence suggests that the tremendous rise of the stock market since 1980 is due primarily to the relative rise in the number of Baby Boomers saving for retirement. This has bid up stock prices to the benefit of their parents’ generation, which bought stocks while prices were relatively low. A smaller but stillsignificant part of the rise is due to the below-average volatility of the stock market during the last generation. Just as in the 1920s, this decline in volatility has attracted more risk-averse investors into the stock market, because they perceive stock market risk to be lower than the historical norm.</p>
<p>What does this analysis imply for the future performance of the stock market? The same factors imply that the stock market’s total return will peak relative to the economy before the year 2000, and decline sharply thereafter. Even if volatility remains at current below-normal levels, demographic projections suggest that the stock market will under-perform the economy by about one-third for the first two decades of the 21st century. If volatility rises above normal, the decline will occur more quickly.</p>
<p>Based on current Census Bureau projections of generation size, the stock market’s risk-adjusted relative return should then fluctuate around the lower level — that is, once again keep pace with the economy — until at least the year 2050.</p>
<p>From 1926 to 1996, common stocks yielded an average real return of about 7.4%, while real GDP grew at about a 3.2% rate. The Social Security Administration’s actuaries project an average real GDP growth of about 1.4% over the next 75 years. Consistency with these assumptions requires that the stock market’s real total return should average about 3.2% over the next 75 years. But for the first 20 years, the average real return on the stock market would be much lower than this — about 1.5%. (Graph 14) This is because most of the adverse demographic trends are concentrated in this period.</p>
<p>Our analysis also allows us to construct an investment “frontier” — the probable combinations of average real return and average risk on various investments –consistent with the Social Security actuaries’ assumptions. For any set of consistent assumptions about future growth of GDP and future demographic trends, there must also be a unique and consistent relationship among the returns and risks on different investments, including stocks, bonds and Social Security.</p>
<p>If the rate of economic growth and the average yield of the stock market decline, the yield of every other class of financial investment should also decline. However, the relative risks and returns of the various investments available should not change. Treasury bills over the next 75 years are unlikely to yield more than common stocks, for example.</p>
<p>Since the actuaries’ projection does not envision another Great Depression, double-digit average inflation, or a world war, we will (perhaps optimistically) assume that the average volatility in the economy and in financial markets will be “normal” — much lower than from 1926 to 1996, and resembling the much quieter period since about 1950: 3% average volatility for real GDP, and 13% for the inflation-adjusted stock market (in both cases, the lowest risk for the longest period ever observed).</p>
<p>Graph 15 shows the investment “frontier” from 1996 to 2075 under these assumptions. As Graph 16 shows, steady-state Social Security still increases the future return on retirement saving for the typical investor, compared with the choices that would be available under a “privatized” retirement system.</p>
<p>7. Conclusion: Keep Social Security Pay-As-You-Go.</p>
<p>It may seem strange to speak of the stock market’s performance over the next 75 years. Yet, as we have seen, it is easier to explain the long-term effect of fundamental changes than to predict year-to-year market fluctuations — precisely because the long-term changes are systematic, while the short-term changes are more random.</p>
<p>Moreover, a 75-year stock market forecast is necessarily contained in the argument for “privatizing” Social Security. But the forecasts of the “privatizers” are internally inconsistent: their projections for the stock market do not agree with their projections for the economy.</p>
<p>The evidence argues against privatizing Social Security. For those already retired, the benefit “return” on Social Security contributions has been much higher than the return from the stock market. In the future, as long as our assumptions are internally consistent, the total risk-adjusted return on U.S. retirement saving will be higher if the Social Security retirement program is maintained on a pay-as-you-go basis, than if Social Security were “privatized.”</p>
<p>Endnotes</p>
<p>References</p>
<p>Aaron, Henry J. (1966), “The Social Insurance Paradox,” Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science, vol. 32, August, 371-77.</p>
<p>Duggan, James E., Robert Gillingham and John S. Greenlees (1993), “Returns Paid to Early Social Security Cohorts,” Contemporary Policy Issues vol. XI, October, 1-13.</p>
<p>Feldstein, Martin (1979), “Inflation and Saving: The Role of Taxes,” remarks presented to the annual meeting of the National Association of Manufacturers, March 29.</p>
<p>Feldstein, Martin (1994), “Fiscal Policies, Capital Formation and Capitalism,” NBER Working Paper 4885, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, Mass., October.</p>
<p>Ferrara, Peter J. and John R. Lott Jr. (1985), “Rates of Return Promised to Today’s Young Workers,” in Social Security: Prospects for Real Reform, Ferrara, ed., Cato Institute, Washington, D.C.</p>
<p>General Accounting Office (1997), “Retirement Income: Implications of Demographic Trends for Social Security and Pension Reform,” G.A.O., Washington, D.C.</p>
<p>Ibbotson, Roger G. and Rex A. Sinquefield (1997), Stocks Bonds Bills and Inflation: 1997 Yearbook, Ibbotson Associates, Chicago.</p>
<p>Samuelson, Paul A. (1958), “An Exact Consumption Loan Model of Interest with or without the Social Contrivance of Money,” Journal of Political Economy vol. LXVI no. 6, December, 467-482.</p>
<p>If Economic Growth Falls to 1.4%, What Happens to the Stock Market? Answer: 1.5% Average Real Returns in the Next 20 Years, 3.2% in the Next 75.</p>
<p>a report by John Mueller Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Lehrman Bell Mueller Cannon, Inc. for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Washington, D.C. October 1997</p>
<p>Summary</p>
<p>Those who seek to “privatize” Social Security — replace pay-as-you-go retirement benefits with mandatory financial savings accounts — claim that future returns on financial assets will be much higher than the return on Social Security. The long-term real return on Social Security must equal the rate of economic growth — which Social Security actuaries project will fall, from 3.2% in the last 70 years to 1.4% in the next 75. The average annual real return on the stock market since 1926, they point out, was 7.4%.</p>
<p>In two separate papers, we showed that, 1. the “privatizers” ignore the existence of volatility risk: adjusted for risk, the average real rate of return on common stocks since 1926 was far below the rate of economic growth; and 2. there are strong theoretical reasons to think that this will always be the case.</p>
<p>The current paper shows that using past market returns to forecast the future requires two extreme assumptions: 1. that Social Security is affected by economic growth, but the stock market is not, and 2. that Social Security is affected by demographic changes, but the stock market is not. The paper shows that the return on the stock market, apart from random variation, is largely determined by precisely the three factors which the “privatizers” ignore: the rate of economic growth, the varying size of generations, and the market’s volatility risk. The paper shows how to construct a projection for financial asset returns consistent with the Social Security actuaries’ economic and demographic projections. The actuaries’ projections imply that the same factors that drove average real stock market returns up to 10% in the past 20 years will drive returns down to about 1.5% in the next 20 years — almost exactly like the periods from 1901 to 1921, from 1928 to 1948, and from 1962 to 1982. The same projections imply an average real return on the stock market of 3.2% over the next 75 years.</p>
<p>Conclusion: Under any consistent set of assumptions, the average risk-adjusted return on pay-as-you-go Social Security remain far above the average risk-adjusted returns on financial assets.</p>
<p>[i] Duggan et al. (1993).</p>
<p>[ii] As we noted in two separate papers, the “privatizers” also ignore volatility risk and the existence of “human capital.” Their argument also assumes that people are forward-looking in their expectations about Social Security, but backward-looking in their expectations about financial assets.</p>
<p>[iii] For someone who begins saving at age 25, saves an equal amount each year for 40 years, and retires at age 65, savings will earn a return for an average of 20 years. For most people, most of the saving occurs between the ages of 45 and 65, after children are grown, which shortens the average considerably. On the other hand, part of the saving earns a return after age 65 until it is spent. Hence a 70-year average rate of return would make sense only for someone who retired at age 165, not age 65.</p>
<p>[iv] As Martin Feldstein observed in 1979: “Last year, the National Bureau of Economic Research released a study of the impact of inflation on the taxation of capital gains. In this study, Joel Slemrod and I looked first at the experience of someone who invested in a broad portfolio of securities like the Stardard &amp; Poor’s five hundred securities in 1957, held it for twenty years and sold it in 1977. An investor who did that would have been fortunate enough to have his investment slightly more than double during that time. Unfortunately, the price level also doubled during that time. In terms of actual purchasing power, the investor had no gain at all on his investment. And yet of course the tax law would hold him accountable for a tax liability on this nominal gain.” Feldstein (1979), 3.</p>
<p>[v] The 1926 starting date is often chosen because the current Standard &amp; Poor’s 500-stock index dates from that year. However, a comparable series going back to 1870 was compiled by the Cowles Commission. Where necessary (for example, in calculating “perceived” risk), this paper uses the full series.</p>
<p>[vi] The point that the return on a mature pay-as-you go retirement system like Social Security is linked to the growth of the economy was first made by Samuelson (1958) and confirmed by Aaron (1966). It is accepted by “privatizers” like Feldstein (1994) and Ferrara (1985). A pay-as-you-go pension like Social Security is linked to labor compensation, which grows at almost exactly the same rate as the economy. However, the return is also affected by changes in aggregate contributions and benefits as shares of the economy and by the relative number of workers and beneficiaries. For an even-handed discussion of the influence of economic and demographic assumptions, see General Accounting Office (1997). The volatility risk for Social Security is a bit lower than for the economy. Social Security is tied to labor compensation, which grows at the same average rate, but vary less than the rest of national income.</p>
<p>[vii] This calculation treats post-Korean War average volatility of nominal GDP (about 3.1%) and stocks (about 11.9%) as “normal.” The “normal” stock risk premium, compared with the economy (or with Social Security), is therefore about [.5(1.1192) + .5/(1.1192)] – [.5(1.0312) + .5/(1.0312)] = 2.35%. This applies to the “typical” stock market investor, though the average risk premium for all investors must be higher, because many are more risk-averse and don’t invest in stocks. The standard deviation of annual returns on common stocks (measured by the Standard &amp; Poor’s 500 stock index) has averaged about 20% since 1926, which would yield a risk premium for the typical investor of about 7%. That by itself would explain the entire difference in return between the stock market and the economy. However, as we will see, this is not the way the stock market actually works. The 20% standard deviation includes the extremely high volatility during and after the Great Depression. But the stock market has not in fact rewarded abnormally high volatility with abnormally high returns. On the contrary, returns have been abnormally low after volatility was abnormally high, and abnormally high after volatility was abnormally low. The stock market rewards “normal” volatility, but not abnormal variations above or below this level. A reason for this is suggested below: investors systematically alter their portfolios in response to changes in perceived risk, measured by volatility over the previous generation.</p>
<p>[viii] Actually, the theory distinguishes between “systematic” and “unsystematic” risk. What is being discussed here is “systematic” risk, which means risk that cannot be removed by diversifying one’s portfolio. “Unsystematic” risk is risk that can be avoided through diversification, so the market does not reward someone who takes on more “unsystematic” risk — for example, putting all his money into a single stock — because such risk could be avoided by holding a number of different stocks, as well as stocks of different kinds.</p>
<p>[ix] The reason for choosing 22 years is that this is the median age of marriage for women in the past century. The age has fluctuated between 20 and 24 with no apparent long-term trend. Twenty-two years is therefore approximately the biological length of a generation. When women are about age 22, households are formed. From age 22 to age 44, parents devote their resources to raising children. At about age 44, children begin to leave home and parents begin saving for their own retirement. At about age 66, parents begin to retire — though the retirement age is rising with increases in longevity. Apart from the varying number of births in each year, the relative size of generations is affected by changes in life expectancy and net immigration.</p>
<p>[x] The relative volatility declined, not because the volatility of the stock market was lower before the Depression than since the Second World War, but because the volatility of the economy was higher. This is presumably because the economy has diversified over time from agriculture and manufacturing toward services.</p>
<p>[xi] The model extrapolates the risk-adjusted return of the stock market, measured relative to the economy, based on its past relation to generation size and perceived risk (proxied by actual stock market volatility in the previous 20 years). As Graph 13 shows, the fit is good. In technical jargon, the R2 is about .85, the t-statistics are highly significant, and the unexplained residual shows relatively little autocorrelation. Assumptions about future generation size are based on current Census Bureau projections, while volatility in the stock market is assumed to remain at current (below-average) levels.</p> | false | 1 | economic growth falls 14 happens stock market answer 15 average real returns next 20 years 32 next 75 report john mueller senior vice president chief economist lehrman bell mueller cannon inc national committee preserve social security medicare washington dc october 1997 1 use past forecast future seek end payasyougo social security often compare past returns financial assets projected future returns payasyougo social security past privatizers agree average return social security 9 much higher average returns common stocksi future returns social security privatizers argue far lower past therefore say future retirees would better payasyougo social security abolished replaced financial savings accounts believed future resemble past apart fromrandom variations past returns financial assets would best guide future returns case would conclude social security outperform financial assets future always past privatizers insist future different past first point social securitys extraordinary returns past partly due startup payasyougo retirement system repeated second say retirement baby boom result sharp decline ratio workers paying taxes retirees receiving benefits finally point mature payasyougo retirement system average return benefits paying payroll taxes equal rate economic growth projected demographic bust implies much slower economic growth accept assumptions longer assume average future returns financial assets equal average returns past otherwise would make least threeii peculiar assumptions first social security affected rate economic growth financial assets second return social security affected demographic changes like baby boom financial assets finally return financial assets unaffected return alternate investments like social security 2 systematic behavior financial markets using past returns forecast future requires certain basic assumptions squarely contradicted assumptions described renders useless certain techniques like monte carlo simulations much vogue moment basic requirement projecting past financial returns future past variation returns must random although great deal randomness daytoday monthtomonth variations asset returns longerterm behavior financial assets past century quite systematic obvious example consider asset returns 20year periods typical family average 20 years retirement savings earn return investmentiii since 1900 20year average annual real change stock market negative onethird time graph 1 occur randomly four periods several years 20year average real total return return dividends reinvested stock market fell zero three 20year periods past century 1901 1921 1928 1948 1962 1982 graph 2 case lows interspersed periods stock returns peaked rates twice longterm average several years time words evidence pronounced stock market cycle see similar nonrandom pattern bond returns since 1945 20year average annual real return longterm government bonds negative almost exactly twothirds time fact 33 straight years graph 3 halfcentury 20year average real total return longterm corporate bonds negative almost exactly half time 25 almost uninterrupted years measured net management fees taxes corporate bonds also yielded negative return 33 years straight graph 4 curious privatizers ignore martin feldstein used remark rather often inordinate length financial losing streaksiv projecting past future therefore must first account systematic behavior current paper show nonrandom longrun return stock market largely function three factors rate economic growth relative size subsequent generations stock markets volatility precisely three factors privatizers ignore future economic growth demographic trends adverse projected performance stock market future past payasyougo social security continue outperform financial assets 3 economic growth stock market measured standard deviation stock market four times risky economy since 1926v peoples natural aversion risk higher volatility main reason riskadjusted return stock market much lower rate economic growth might seem change rate economic growth would cause stock market decline accelerate multiple way things work shortterm fluctuations stock market multiple variations economic growth longterm influence seems almost exactly 1 1 therefore begin dividing total return stock market gross domestic product index show stock market performs relative economy also advantage telling us stock market performs relative payasyougo social securityvi apart pronounced waves trying explain stock markets total return rises relative economy constant rate 212 rate precisely equal risk premium stock market vs economy relatively quiet periods average volatility stock returns since 1880 excluding turbulent years start great depression end korean war since korean war annual stock market total return fluctuated 12 percentage points average growth economy fluctuated 3 percentage points average graph 5 difference normal volatility implies median investor someone neither terribly conservative overly speculative risk premium total return stock market compared economy social security 212vii interesting also curious standard portfolio theory assumes higher stock market riskviii rewarded higher return implies average rate return stock market ought proportional average volatility returns stock market returns ought higher market volatile lower market less volatile exactly reverse true return stock market sharply lower immediately 20year average volatility higher average return sharply higher immediately volatility lower normal means stock market rewarded investors might call normal risk penalized assumed abnormal risk remaining fully invested stocks principle essentially difference systematic unsystematic risk theory equity diversification portfolio theory unsystematic risk assumed investor result failing diversify equity holdings among different companies different sectors rewarded higher return risk could avoided systematic risk diversified stock portfolio subject rewarded theory true certain extent stock market whole equities comprise one several alternate classes financial investments exposure abnormal variations stock market risk could avoided holding less risky assets get idea shifting among asset classes response perceived changes stock market risk comparing 20year average volatility stock market returns shortterm interest rates case yield highquality 6month commercial paper whenever stock market volatility rose normal average commercial paper rate declined whenever stock market volatility fell normal average commercial paper rate rose graph 6 consider effect abnormal risk shortly note adjust gdp growth normal stock market risk find total return stock market fluctuates waves compared economy graph 7 waves associated demographic changes 4 demographics stock market brings us second remarkable assumption privatizers stock market affected differing sizes generations omission curious privatizers also argue future return social security adversely affected relative size baby boom retirees fewer workers argue system able support growth benefits rate past dont explain stock market affected exactly demographic changes fewer workers producing profits retirees trying live profits later fewer investors sell remaining assets view demographic reality comparing relative size subsequent generations convenient way compare ratio 44yearolds 22yearoldsix graph 8 compare riskadjusted return stock market relative economy relative size successive generations find average oneforone relation two graph 9 smaller generation receives stockmarket return higher rate economic growth larger generation receives return lower even yeartoyear correlation two remarkable since 1960 1962 1982 riskadjusted stock market underperformed economy half almost exactly proportion ratio 44 22yearolds falling since 1982 stock market adjusted risk risen three times fast economy almost exactly proportion ratio 44 22year olds rising generation size therefore explains rest trend stock markets riskadjusted total return relative gdp graph 10 apart changes generation size stock market return adjusted normal risk average growth rate economy however still leaves part stock markets ups downsunexplained remaining variation smaller trend completely random remained average several years time explain 5 abnormal stock market volatility stock market performance main reason remaining variation stock markets total return becomes apparent compare demographically adjusted pattern earlier changes volatility stock market far assumed thing typical stock market investor volatility market remains fact investors required invest stocks already seen volatility market constant graph 11 fact investors enter leave stock market systematically investments response changes perceived risk approximated stock market volatility preceding generation graph 12 see market trades premium immediately periods lowerthanaverage volatility trades discount immediately periods higherthanaverage volatility investors normally stock market enter market perceived risk normal typical stock market investor tends leave market perceived risk normal example inexperienced investors flooded stock market 1920s relative volatility alltime lowx even typical stock investors left stock market great depression perceived risk hit alltime high 1990s 1960s belowaverage volatility drawn riskaverse investors stock market investors waiting buy volatility already fallen therefore paid premium proportional degree risk aversion implies stockmarket volatility rise back even normal levels investors willing sell discount avoid rise perceived risk 6 75year stock market futures combining factors examined economic growth generation size stock market volatility devise simple model tell us stock markets likely future performance relative economyxi model seems able explain stock markets past variation graph 13 evidence suggests tremendous rise stock market since 1980 due primarily relative rise number baby boomers saving retirement bid stock prices benefit parents generation bought stocks prices relatively low smaller stillsignificant part rise due belowaverage volatility stock market last generation 1920s decline volatility attracted riskaverse investors stock market perceive stock market risk lower historical norm analysis imply future performance stock market factors imply stock markets total return peak relative economy year 2000 decline sharply thereafter even volatility remains current belownormal levels demographic projections suggest stock market underperform economy onethird first two decades 21st century volatility rises normal decline occur quickly based current census bureau projections generation size stock markets riskadjusted relative return fluctuate around lower level keep pace economy least year 2050 1926 1996 common stocks yielded average real return 74 real gdp grew 32 rate social security administrations actuaries project average real gdp growth 14 next 75 years consistency assumptions requires stock markets real total return average 32 next 75 years first 20 years average real return stock market would much lower 15 graph 14 adverse demographic trends concentrated period analysis also allows us construct investment frontier probable combinations average real return average risk various investments consistent social security actuaries assumptions set consistent assumptions future growth gdp future demographic trends must also unique consistent relationship among returns risks different investments including stocks bonds social security rate economic growth average yield stock market decline yield every class financial investment also decline however relative risks returns various investments available change treasury bills next 75 years unlikely yield common stocks example since actuaries projection envision another great depression doubledigit average inflation world war perhaps optimistically assume average volatility economy financial markets normal much lower 1926 1996 resembling much quieter period since 1950 3 average volatility real gdp 13 inflationadjusted stock market cases lowest risk longest period ever observed graph 15 shows investment frontier 1996 2075 assumptions graph 16 shows steadystate social security still increases future return retirement saving typical investor compared choices would available privatized retirement system 7 conclusion keep social security payasyougo may seem strange speak stock markets performance next 75 years yet seen easier explain longterm effect fundamental changes predict yeartoyear market fluctuations precisely longterm changes systematic shortterm changes random moreover 75year stock market forecast necessarily contained argument privatizing social security forecasts privatizers internally inconsistent projections stock market agree projections economy evidence argues privatizing social security already retired benefit return social security contributions much higher return stock market future long assumptions internally consistent total riskadjusted return us retirement saving higher social security retirement program maintained payasyougo basis social security privatized endnotes references aaron henry j 1966 social insurance paradox canadian journal economics political science vol 32 august 37177 duggan james e robert gillingham john greenlees 1993 returns paid early social security cohorts contemporary policy issues vol xi october 113 feldstein martin 1979 inflation saving role taxes remarks presented annual meeting national association manufacturers march 29 feldstein martin 1994 fiscal policies capital formation capitalism nber working paper 4885 national bureau economic research cambridge mass october ferrara peter j john r lott jr 1985 rates return promised todays young workers social security prospects real reform ferrara ed cato institute washington dc general accounting office 1997 retirement income implications demographic trends social security pension reform gao washington dc ibbotson roger g rex sinquefield 1997 stocks bonds bills inflation 1997 yearbook ibbotson associates chicago samuelson paul 1958 exact consumption loan model interest without social contrivance money journal political economy vol lxvi 6 december 467482 economic growth falls 14 happens stock market answer 15 average real returns next 20 years 32 next 75 report john mueller senior vice president chief economist lehrman bell mueller cannon inc national committee preserve social security medicare washington dc october 1997 summary seek privatize social security replace payasyougo retirement benefits mandatory financial savings accounts claim future returns financial assets much higher return social security longterm real return social security must equal rate economic growth social security actuaries project fall 32 last 70 years 14 next 75 average annual real return stock market since 1926 point 74 two separate papers showed 1 privatizers ignore existence volatility risk adjusted risk average real rate return common stocks since 1926 far rate economic growth 2 strong theoretical reasons think always case current paper shows using past market returns forecast future requires two extreme assumptions 1 social security affected economic growth stock market 2 social security affected demographic changes stock market paper shows return stock market apart random variation largely determined precisely three factors privatizers ignore rate economic growth varying size generations markets volatility risk paper shows construct projection financial asset returns consistent social security actuaries economic demographic projections actuaries projections imply factors drove average real stock market returns 10 past 20 years drive returns 15 next 20 years almost exactly like periods 1901 1921 1928 1948 1962 1982 projections imply average real return stock market 32 next 75 years conclusion consistent set assumptions average riskadjusted return payasyougo social security remain far average riskadjusted returns financial assets duggan et al 1993 ii noted two separate papers privatizers also ignore volatility risk existence human capital argument also assumes people forwardlooking expectations social security backwardlooking expectations financial assets iii someone begins saving age 25 saves equal amount year 40 years retires age 65 savings earn return average 20 years people saving occurs ages 45 65 children grown shortens average considerably hand part saving earns return age 65 spent hence 70year average rate return would make sense someone retired age 165 age 65 iv martin feldstein observed 1979 last year national bureau economic research released study impact inflation taxation capital gains study joel slemrod looked first experience someone invested broad portfolio securities like stardard amp poors five hundred securities 1957 held twenty years sold 1977 investor would fortunate enough investment slightly double time unfortunately price level also doubled time terms actual purchasing power investor gain investment yet course tax law would hold accountable tax liability nominal gain feldstein 1979 3 v 1926 starting date often chosen current standard amp poors 500stock index dates year however comparable series going back 1870 compiled cowles commission necessary example calculating perceived risk paper uses full series vi point return mature payasyou go retirement system like social security linked growth economy first made samuelson 1958 confirmed aaron 1966 accepted privatizers like feldstein 1994 ferrara 1985 payasyougo pension like social security linked labor compensation grows almost exactly rate economy however return also affected changes aggregate contributions benefits shares economy relative number workers beneficiaries evenhanded discussion influence economic demographic assumptions see general accounting office 1997 volatility risk social security bit lower economy social security tied labor compensation grows average rate vary less rest national income vii calculation treats postkorean war average volatility nominal gdp 31 stocks 119 normal normal stock risk premium compared economy social security therefore 511192 511192 510312 510312 235 applies typical stock market investor though average risk premium investors must higher many riskaverse dont invest stocks standard deviation annual returns common stocks measured standard amp poors 500 stock index averaged 20 since 1926 would yield risk premium typical investor 7 would explain entire difference return stock market economy however see way stock market actually works 20 standard deviation includes extremely high volatility great depression stock market fact rewarded abnormally high volatility abnormally high returns contrary returns abnormally low volatility abnormally high abnormally high volatility abnormally low stock market rewards normal volatility abnormal variations level reason suggested investors systematically alter portfolios response changes perceived risk measured volatility previous generation viii actually theory distinguishes systematic unsystematic risk discussed systematic risk means risk removed diversifying ones portfolio unsystematic risk risk avoided diversification market reward someone takes unsystematic risk example putting money single stock risk could avoided holding number different stocks well stocks different kinds ix reason choosing 22 years median age marriage women past century age fluctuated 20 24 apparent longterm trend twentytwo years therefore approximately biological length generation women age 22 households formed age 22 age 44 parents devote resources raising children age 44 children begin leave home parents begin saving retirement age 66 parents begin retire though retirement age rising increases longevity apart varying number births year relative size generations affected changes life expectancy net immigration x relative volatility declined volatility stock market lower depression since second world war volatility economy higher presumably economy diversified time agriculture manufacturing toward services xi model extrapolates riskadjusted return stock market measured relative economy based past relation generation size perceived risk proxied actual stock market volatility previous 20 years graph 13 shows fit good technical jargon r2 85 tstatistics highly significant unexplained residual shows relatively little autocorrelation assumptions future generation size based current census bureau projections volatility stock market assumed remain current belowaverage levels | 2,755 |
<p>The opening of China’s first military base in Africa gives an additional foothold in a region where it already has much sway, thanks to economic ties. Some commentators see Africa as Beijing’s chance to preserve its manufacturing dominance for future generations.</p>
<p>In a joint ceremony with a local honor guard, Chinese troops last week opened their new naval base in Djibouti, a tiny nation in East Africa which already leases land to several facilities of foreign militaries. The Chinese troops are stationed right next to the Pentagon’s only permanent base in Africa, as well as Japanese, French and Italian forces.</p>
<p>Shortly before the opening, Beijing suggested that it may deploy its troops on Djibouti’s border with Eritrea in the north, where the two African nations contest sovereignty over a mountain and an island. The hypothetical deployment would fill a vacuum left behind by some 450 Qatari peacekeeping troops, who were withdrawn in June amid the kingdom’s diplomatic spat with other Arab nations.</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/398205-china-opens-base-djibouti/" type="external" /></p>
<p>Beijing stressed that the deployment has nothing to do with the opening of the base and would only be done under a UN mandate and with both parties to the conflict agreeing to this mediation.</p>
<p>China is already taking part in several UN peacekeeping missions in Africa, including in South Sudan, Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and prides itself on being the biggest contributor of peacekeepers among permanent members of the UN Security Council, with over 2,500 people <a href="http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/resources/statistics/contributors.shtml" type="external">participating</a>. Sceptics say Beijing <a href="https://jamestown.org/program/chinas-contribution-peacekeeping-operation-understanding-numbers/" type="external">milks</a> its “minimal investment” in UN missions for propaganda effort.</p>
<p>China insists its military advances in Africa are purely logistical and aimed at supporting missions such as fighting piracy and providing humanitarian relief, although some experts see a potential for additional tension coming from increased militarization of the continent.</p>
<p>“The Americans have similar bases, not to mention the Europeans. So, on the ground itself, ultimately the African continent is becoming the staging ground for the next possibly-violent confrontation between the superpowers of the world in their so-called proxy battles,” African journalist and documentary filmmaker Ayo Johnson told RT.</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/op-edge/399082-africa-somalia-turkey-military-bases/" type="external" /></p>
<p>Journalist Finian Cunningham concurs that the Chinese base may feed “American anxieties that Beijing is flexing its muscles globally,” but doubts it will go any further.</p>
<p>“China has legitimate concerns to safeguard its shipping routes through one of the globe’s choke points via the Red Sea. The move is unlikely to spark a US-China military clash anytime soon, but the setting up of Chinese military base in Africa will add to American strategic fears that their global power is being undermined,” he told RT.</p>
<p>The trade route through the Gulf of Aden is far from the only thing the Chinese deem worth protecting in Africa. Over the past decade, China has significantly boosted its trade with the Dark Continent, rising from less than $5 billion in 2000 to over $103 billion during the 2015 peak, after which a drop in commodity prices tanked Africa’s exports, <a href="http://www.sais-cari.org/data-china-africa-trade/" type="external">according</a> to China Africa Research Initiative (CARI), a Johns Hopkins University research project.</p>
<p>The Chinese government has been heavily investing in African infrastructure projects. Even the HQ of the African Union, which opened in 2012 in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, was a $200 million <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-16770932" type="external">gift from Beijing</a>. Among other notable examples are the Merowe Hydropower Dam in Sudan, the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway and Algeria’s East–West Highway, in all of which Chinese funding and contractors played a crucial part.</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/398490-us-main-global-threat-survey/" type="external" /></p>
<p>Private Chinese money is playing a significant role in African economies too – bigger than previously believed, according to a recent <a href="http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/middle-east-and-africa/the-closest-look-yet-at-chinese-economic-engagement-in-africa" type="external">report</a> by McKinsey &amp; Company. The consulting firm estimates that over 10,000 businesses owned by Chinese capital are operating in Africa today, 3.7 times more than listed by the Chinese Commerce Ministry. The report says 90 percent of those firms are private, challenging the view that the Chinese government is leading an African investment drive.</p>
<p>Among Chinese success stories in Africa is mobile phone producer Tecno, which <a href="https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/seven-chinese-companies-made-africa/59407/" type="external">won over</a> the market with innovations targeting the specific needs of the local market. These include a phone featuring keyboard in Amharic, Ethiopia’s official language, camera software adapted to better capture darker skin tones, or longer-lasting batteries in budget models. The company is <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/28/china-is-everywhere-in-africas-rising-technology-industry.html" type="external">estimated</a> to have more than 40 percent market share in Sub-Saharan Africa.</p>
<p>Chinese business ties with African nations appear to be shifting away from the “investment for natural resources” model, some analysts <a href="http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2017/07/27/china-africa-relations-crossroads.html" type="external">suggest</a>. The reason is that China’s advantage of cheap and abundant labor force is shrinking, both due to rising wages in the country and Beijing’s curbing of an unsustainable population growth rate, which in decades would produce an older and wealthier society. Meanwhile in Africa, roughly half of the population is younger than 20 and poor, making the continent a tempting destination for outsourcing manufacturing. Provided that stable and secure conditions and safe trade routes out of Africa can be guaranteed.</p>
<p>China’s economic presence in Africa is backed not only by troops, but also by soft power. According to a recent <a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/2017/07/13/more-name-u-s-than-china-as-worlds-leading-economic-power/" type="external">Pew poll</a>, Sub-Saharan Africa is where China’s image is among the best in the world, with a median 59 percent of people viewing it positively and only 18 percent negatively. Only in Russia did a greater share of people say they like China (although Nigerians were even more favorable).</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/341669-american-trade-rules-pacific/" type="external" /></p>
<p>One of main points of criticism of China in the West – its human rights record – does not seem to bother Africans. Fifty-three percent of respondents there believe Beijing respects the personal freedoms of its people. So Hillary Clinton’s <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-clinton-africa-idUSTRE75A0RI20110611" type="external">warning</a> that China’s non-interference in domestic issues in Africa – contrasting to the US and the EU demanding reforms in exchange for investments and aid – amounted to “new colonialism” apparently fell on deaf ears.</p>
<p>As China’s influence in Africa grows, the US appears to be <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2017-07-18/the-us-is-losing-the-battle-for-influence-in-africa" type="external">on the retreat</a>, some experts warn. The Trump administration made it clear that it wants to cut African programs not directly related to security, which would conceivably diminish America’s soft power on the continent.</p>
<p>Of course, Africa’s glaring future as a global workshop of the mid-21st century is far from assured, some commentators believe. The Economist, for example, <a href="https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21725288-big-ways-and-small-china-making-its-presence-felt-across" type="external">predicts</a> that Chinese investment in African infrastructure and economies will not pay off, and in a decade Beijing will be either forced to write off bad debts or try to collect them by force.</p> | false | 1 | opening chinas first military base africa gives additional foothold region already much sway thanks economic ties commentators see africa beijings chance preserve manufacturing dominance future generations joint ceremony local honor guard chinese troops last week opened new naval base djibouti tiny nation east africa already leases land several facilities foreign militaries chinese troops stationed right next pentagons permanent base africa well japanese french italian forces shortly opening beijing suggested may deploy troops djiboutis border eritrea north two african nations contest sovereignty mountain island hypothetical deployment would fill vacuum left behind 450 qatari peacekeeping troops withdrawn june amid kingdoms diplomatic spat arab nations read beijing stressed deployment nothing opening base would done un mandate parties conflict agreeing mediation china already taking part several un peacekeeping missions africa including south sudan mali democratic republic congo prides biggest contributor peacekeepers among permanent members un security council 2500 people participating sceptics say beijing milks minimal investment un missions propaganda effort china insists military advances africa purely logistical aimed supporting missions fighting piracy providing humanitarian relief although experts see potential additional tension coming increased militarization continent americans similar bases mention europeans ground ultimately african continent becoming staging ground next possiblyviolent confrontation superpowers world socalled proxy battles african journalist documentary filmmaker ayo johnson told rt read journalist finian cunningham concurs chinese base may feed american anxieties beijing flexing muscles globally doubts go china legitimate concerns safeguard shipping routes one globes choke points via red sea move unlikely spark uschina military clash anytime soon setting chinese military base africa add american strategic fears global power undermined told rt trade route gulf aden far thing chinese deem worth protecting africa past decade china significantly boosted trade dark continent rising less 5 billion 2000 103 billion 2015 peak drop commodity prices tanked africas exports according china africa research initiative cari johns hopkins university research project chinese government heavily investing african infrastructure projects even hq african union opened 2012 ethiopian capital addis ababa 200 million gift beijing among notable examples merowe hydropower dam sudan addis ababadjibouti railway algerias eastwest highway chinese funding contractors played crucial part read private chinese money playing significant role african economies bigger previously believed according recent report mckinsey amp company consulting firm estimates 10000 businesses owned chinese capital operating africa today 37 times listed chinese commerce ministry report says 90 percent firms private challenging view chinese government leading african investment drive among chinese success stories africa mobile phone producer tecno market innovations targeting specific needs local market include phone featuring keyboard amharic ethiopias official language camera software adapted better capture darker skin tones longerlasting batteries budget models company estimated 40 percent market share subsaharan africa chinese business ties african nations appear shifting away investment natural resources model analysts suggest reason chinas advantage cheap abundant labor force shrinking due rising wages country beijings curbing unsustainable population growth rate decades would produce older wealthier society meanwhile africa roughly half population younger 20 poor making continent tempting destination outsourcing manufacturing provided stable secure conditions safe trade routes africa guaranteed chinas economic presence africa backed troops also soft power according recent pew poll subsaharan africa chinas image among best world median 59 percent people viewing positively 18 percent negatively russia greater share people say like china although nigerians even favorable read one main points criticism china west human rights record seem bother africans fiftythree percent respondents believe beijing respects personal freedoms people hillary clintons warning chinas noninterference domestic issues africa contrasting us eu demanding reforms exchange investments aid amounted new colonialism apparently fell deaf ears chinas influence africa grows us appears retreat experts warn trump administration made clear wants cut african programs directly related security would conceivably diminish americas soft power continent course africas glaring future global workshop mid21st century far assured commentators believe economist example predicts chinese investment african infrastructure economies pay decade beijing either forced write bad debts try collect force | 643 |
<p>PITTSBURGH — The <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Pittsburgh_Steelers/" type="external">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> are preparing to play the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Baltimore-Ravens/" type="external">Baltimore Ravens</a> this week while still dealing with some uncertainty about the health of their teammate <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ryan-Shazier/" type="external">Ryan Shazier</a>, who remains in a Cincinnati hospital with a spinal cord injury.</p>
<p>The Steelers hope Shazier can return to Pittsburgh to continue his recovery later in the week. But in the meantime, Shazier is encouraging his teammates to focus on the game Sunday night that could clinch the AFC North for the Steelers.</p>
<p>“We know that’s what Ryan wants,” quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ben_Roethlisberger/" type="external">Ben Roethlisberger</a> said. “In talking to Ryan, that’s what he wants. So we’re going to go out and prepare for the Baltimore Ravens like Ryan would want us to do and is asking us to do.”</p>
<p>Steelers players are doing their best to move on without their defensive leader.</p>
<p>Shazier isn’t a captain, but he makes all the calls on defense and is one of the most respected players inside the Steelers locker room.</p>
<p>“It’s crazy,” outside linebacker Arthur Moats said. “I put it in the same perspective as if you have a loved one who is injured. It doesn’t matter how it happened.</p>
<p>“You just know they’re hurting. You have that compassion for them to be well. That’s how we all feel now. As soon as he gets back we’ll be extremely happy for him. In the meantime, let’s do whatever it takes to make his job and his life easier right now.”</p>
<p>Shazier leads the Steelers in tackles and interceptions. He was featured as a run-stopper and a pass defender in Keith Butler’s 3-4 defense. Now they will have to move on without him for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>“He’s a freaky athlete,” Moats said. “From a communication standpoint and a productivity standpoint, it’s not going to be easy. But I feel like we have a great group of guys who always step up. I feel like it’ll be a group effort.”</p>
<p>The Ravens enter the game with injury issues of their own. They will play their first game without top cornerback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jimmy_Smith/" type="external">Jimmy Smith</a>, who was lost for the season with an Achilles injury last week against the Lions and was also suspended.</p>
<p>SERIES HISTORY: 44th regular-season meeting. Steelers lead series, 23-20. The Steelers beat the Ravens, 26-9, Oct. 1 in Baltimore. The Steelers have won the past two in the series after losing the previous four. The game at Heinz Field last year decided the AFC North division championship. The Steelers won, 31-27. These two teams have met in the postseason four times. The Steelers won three of those postseason meetings.</p>
<p>–Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger does not believe the one-game suspension the NFL handed down to receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was warranted. Smith-Schuster was suspended for a block he executed on Bengals linebacker <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Vontaze-Burfict/" type="external">Vontaze Burfict</a>. Smith-Schuster also stood over Burfict after the play and was rebuked by the league for taunting.</p>
<p>“I didn’t think it was warranted,” Roethlisberger said. “I thought maybe a pretty steep fine. I thought what happened, the play happened within the context of a football play. It wasn’t away from the ball. It wasn’t a hit on a kicker or a defenseless player. It was a guy getting ready to make a tackle, a much bigger player.</p>
<p>“Obviously, we don’t like the taunting, standing over him. I don’t like to compare players and suspensions, but if you look at what Gronk (Patriots tight end <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Rob_Gronkowski/" type="external">Rob Gronkowski</a>) did and what JuJu did … And they got the same suspension. I don’t know that that’s necessarily fair, but that’s above all of our pay grades.”</p>
<p>Many Steelers players are miffed about the suspensions the league handed down over the weekend and the inequity that was involved in those decisions. By suspending players for so-called “football plays,” the league has opened up a can of worms for future suspensions.</p>
<p>Steelers safety <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mike_Mitchell/" type="external">Mike Mitchell</a> was just as upset about the suspension of Bengals safety George Iloka for his helmet-to-helmet hit on <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Antonio_Brown/" type="external">Antonio Brown</a>. The suspension was rescinded Wednesday, but he still has to pay a $36,000 fine.</p>
<p>“I was talking to George after the game because he is one of my dear friends,” Mitchell said. “I felt like I had to defend him. I know George and I know his fiancee. We are physical safeties. Think of what you ask us to do. We’re always the last line of defense. We’re always making bang-bang plays. You never see us getting to line someone up in the hole like a linebacker.</p>
<p>“We’re playing full-speed. We’re 4.4, 4.3 speed. Aim that. You go do that. You can’t. It’s just the risk of playing football. If the ball is in the air and a man jumps or a man ducks his head, how do you want me to readjust my body? You cannot do it. At the end of the day, this is football. If you want to see flag football, then let’s take our pads off. That would make it easier for me because now I don’t have to wear heavy (stuff). But give us flags for me to pull off because that way I know what we’re playing. I signed up to play full-speed, contact football, and we’re not doing that.”</p>
<p>Roethlisberger isn’t sure how things will unfold with suspensions in the future.</p>
<p>“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Roethlisberger said. “Now that you set the precedent, is that the precedent now? Is it going to change? You never really know with this league in terms of discipline and what’s going to happen. I’m disappointed he got a game. We thought it’d be a hefty fine, but they obviously had different thoughts on it.”</p>
<p>–The Steelers say there is a big difference between the rivalry they have with the Ravens and the one they have with the Bengals. In fact, many Steelers won’t even call their series with the Bengals a rivalry because it lacks the respect they have with the Ravens.</p>
<p>“This is our biggest rival, but at the same time, there’s a lot of respect from both organizations and both sets of players as well,” Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats said. “We’re going to have a lot of big hits, but it’s never with the malicious intent you sometimes get when we play Cincinnati. With this team they know us extremely well, and we’re going to compete until the bitter end. You saw that last year on Christmas. But there’s always that respect level. I feel like that’s the difference between this rivalry and the one with Cincinnati.”</p>
<p>The Ravens held a team prayer for Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier before their team meeting Wednesday. Shazier suffered a spinal cord injury Monday night in Cincinnati and remains in a hospital there.</p>
<p>“I mentioned it before the game,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “When you play Baltimore, you’re going to get your head knocked off, and you’re going to try to knock their head off, but you’re going to help them up and respect them. ‘Great job. Let’s go at it again.’ It’s kind of fun playing in that kind of football game. It’s not fun in the sense that your body hurts. But it’s fun, the respect between the two teams.”</p>
<p>NOTES: TE Vance McDonald, who has missed the past three games because of an ankle injury, went through a full practice Wednesday. … S Mike Mitchell, who missed the Bengals game with an ankle injury, went through a full practice Wednesday. … LB Tyler Matakevich, who injured his shoulder in the Bengals game, did not practice Wednesday. … CB <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Joe-Haden/" type="external">Joe Haden</a>, who has missed the last three games because of a fractured fibula, did not practice Wednesday and is not expected to play against the Ravens.</p> | false | 1 | pittsburgh pittsburgh steelers preparing play baltimore ravens week still dealing uncertainty health teammate ryan shazier remains cincinnati hospital spinal cord injury steelers hope shazier return pittsburgh continue recovery later week meantime shazier encouraging teammates focus game sunday night could clinch afc north steelers know thats ryan wants quarterback ben roethlisberger said talking ryan thats wants going go prepare baltimore ravens like ryan would want us asking us steelers players best move without defensive leader shazier isnt captain makes calls defense one respected players inside steelers locker room crazy outside linebacker arthur moats said put perspective loved one injured doesnt matter happened know theyre hurting compassion well thats feel soon gets back well extremely happy meantime lets whatever takes make job life easier right shazier leads steelers tackles interceptions featured runstopper pass defender keith butlers 34 defense move without foreseeable future hes freaky athlete moats said communication standpoint productivity standpoint going easy feel like great group guys always step feel like itll group effort ravens enter game injury issues play first game without top cornerback jimmy smith lost season achilles injury last week lions also suspended series history 44th regularseason meeting steelers lead series 2320 steelers beat ravens 269 oct 1 baltimore steelers past two series losing previous four game heinz field last year decided afc north division championship steelers 3127 two teams met postseason four times steelers three postseason meetings quarterback ben roethlisberger believe onegame suspension nfl handed receiver juju smithschuster warranted smithschuster suspended block executed bengals linebacker vontaze burfict smithschuster also stood burfict play rebuked league taunting didnt think warranted roethlisberger said thought maybe pretty steep fine thought happened play happened within context football play wasnt away ball wasnt hit kicker defenseless player guy getting ready make tackle much bigger player obviously dont like taunting standing dont like compare players suspensions look gronk patriots tight end rob gronkowski juju got suspension dont know thats necessarily fair thats pay grades many steelers players miffed suspensions league handed weekend inequity involved decisions suspending players socalled football plays league opened worms future suspensions steelers safety mike mitchell upset suspension bengals safety george iloka helmettohelmet hit antonio brown suspension rescinded wednesday still pay 36000 fine talking george game one dear friends mitchell said felt like defend know george know fiancee physical safeties think ask us always last line defense always making bangbang plays never see us getting line someone hole like linebacker playing fullspeed 44 43 speed aim go cant risk playing football ball air man jumps man ducks head want readjust body end day football want see flag football lets take pads would make easier dont wear heavy stuff give us flags pull way know playing signed play fullspeed contact football roethlisberger isnt sure things unfold suspensions future dont know whats going happen roethlisberger said set precedent precedent going change never really know league terms discipline whats going happen im disappointed got game thought itd hefty fine obviously different thoughts steelers say big difference rivalry ravens one bengals fact many steelers wont even call series bengals rivalry lacks respect ravens biggest rival time theres lot respect organizations sets players well steelers linebacker arthur moats said going lot big hits never malicious intent sometimes get play cincinnati team know us extremely well going compete bitter end saw last year christmas theres always respect level feel like thats difference rivalry one cincinnati ravens held team prayer steelers linebacker ryan shazier team meeting wednesday shazier suffered spinal cord injury monday night cincinnati remains hospital mentioned game quarterback ben roethlisberger said play baltimore youre going get head knocked youre going try knock head youre going help respect great job lets go kind fun playing kind football game fun sense body hurts fun respect two teams notes te vance mcdonald missed past three games ankle injury went full practice wednesday mike mitchell missed bengals game ankle injury went full practice wednesday lb tyler matakevich injured shoulder bengals game practice wednesday cb joe haden missed last three games fractured fibula practice wednesday expected play ravens | 667 |
<p>Shortly after Prep-Comm III, the Third Preparatory Commission meeting in anticipation of the 1994 Cairo World Conference on Population and Development, one of those “Senior Vatican Officials” who like to remain nameless told me an enlightening story. For his sins, the SVO had been condemned to attend Prep-Comm III and try to prevent it from calling for a universal human right to abortion on demand, which would then be formally declared at the impending Cairo conference. His tale of what unfolded during his week of Purgatory remains quite relevant, despite its age. In fact, one moment from Prep-Comm III sheds important light on recent events, including the Susan G. Komen/Planned Parenthood wars and the Obama administration’s determination to compel employers to provide contraceptives, abortifacients, and sterilization “services” those employers find morally abhorrent.</p>
<p>Like other U.N. circuses, the diplomatic circus of Prep-Comm III, held in New York, was accompanied by a parallel circus of international non-governmental organizations; and to that sideshow activists from around the globe flocked in their thousands, united in their commitment to lifestyle libertinism. The formal diplomatic proceedings in Prep-Comm III were harsh enough, with the Vatican coming under verbal assault from U.N. bureaucrats and European politicians for its principled opposition to “reproductive rights” that included abortion on demand. (The ineffable Gro Harlem Brundtland, then prime minister of Norway, dismissed the Holy See as “a small state with no natural inhabitants.” And that was on the mild side of the assault.) But it was in the INGO meeting that things really got down and dirty — and clarifying. There, as the Senior Vatican Official told the story, a somewhat scruffy Dutch activist got up and announced to all and sundry, “Let’s stop fooling around here. What we’re talking about is our right to f*** whoever we want, however we want, whenever we want.”</p>
<p>The Dutchman’s formulation may have lacked elegance, but it certainly didn’t lack precision. For that was precisely what was at issue 18 years ago, and it is precisely what is at issue today: Will the sexual revolution, which reduced sex to a recreational activity of no moral consequence, be protected, advanced, and indeed mandated by the coercive powers of the modern state?</p>
<p>There is irony in the fire here, of course. What began as a movement to liberate sexuality from the constraints of moral reason, custom, and law has become a movement determined to use the instruments of law to impose its deconstruction of human sexuality and its moral relativism on all of society. That is what drives those who urged the Obama administration to issue its “contraceptive” mandate, which is of course an abortifacient and sterilization mandate. That is what drives those who loosed the furies (including such viragos as Senator Barbara Boxer) on the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, which had had the temerity to suggest that Planned Parenthood actually provide the mammograms Komen’s grants were paying for. It’s all about Leviathan as enforcer of the sexual revolution.</p>
<p>Anyone who doesn’t understand that — from Catholic bishops to upper-class foundation executives with previously immaculate reputations — is going to get rolled over by Leviathan. For Leviathan cannot be met at some mythical 50-yard line of “accommodation.” Leviathan can only be beaten.</p>
<p>This fierce determination to use Leviathan to make sure that that Dutch INGO delegate’s libidinous desires are requited might be tolerable if its effects were confined to those who want to, well, you know: whoever, whenever, however. But they are not. The sexual revolution distorts everything that gets in its way; and in due course, it will persecute anything that gets in its way.</p>
<p>To take one current example: The threat to religious freedom posed by the administration’s “contraceptive” mandate is not the kind of inadvertent political faux pas that Joe Biden and Bill Daley would have us believe it was. Rather, the order to religious institutions and employers to re-arrange their convictions to suit Leviathan’s pleasure is of a piece with the administration’s dumbing-down of religious freedom in its international human-rights policy. On numerous occasions, the secretary of state has declined to speak of “religious freedom,” but has referred to “freedom of worship.” Thus religious freedom is rendered a kind of privacy right that can be upheld so long as what happens religiously takes place out of the public square. This is manifestly absurd on its face: For if religious freedom is simply freedom of worship, then there is religious freedom in Saudi Arabia, so long as Christian or Jewish prayer takes place behind closed doors (and no one snitches to the Islamist purity police).</p>
<p>But to make matters worse, Secretary Clinton and the administration have linked this dumbing-down of religious freedom to their ramping-up of what they frankly call the “LGBT agenda” as a priority concern of U.S. international human-rights policy. On the one hand, religious freedom is hollowed out, abroad and at home. On the other hand, the LGBT agenda — the logical endgame of the sexual revolution’s gnosticism and antinomianism — is given priority in the human-rights agenda of the U.S. government around the world, while other planks in the libertine platform are imposed by coercive state power at home. Leviathan is nothing if not consistent.</p>
<p>Then there are the sexual revolution’s cultural impacts. At the risk of salaciousness, go back to that scruffy Dutchman’s claim in 1994, ponder it a moment — and then see if it doesn’t become piercingly obvious that there is a direct line of connection between that vulgarity and the implicit claim in much of the Komen/Planned Parenthood and HHS-mandate brawls: namely, that the transmission of human life is a disease to be “prevented.” Which, of course, means that children are not the fruit of love and a precious gift to be received with gratitude, but another lifestyle choice to be indulged at the whim of the imperial autonomous Self.</p>
<p>Where this is all leading is not pleasant to contemplate. But if Leviathan is to be confronted, and defeated, in his attempt to impose the sexual revolution by brute state power, a critical mass of morally serious minds have got to get clear on one crucial point: The invention of the oral contraceptive was, with the splitting of the atom and the unraveling of the DNA double helix, one of the three world-historical scientific developments of the last century — scientific accomplishments that have within themselves the capacity to change culture and history in fundamental ways. By effectively sundering sexual expression from procreation, modern contraceptives have done something their less-effective predecessors were unable to do for millennia: They have created a contraceptive culture that identifies fertility with disease and willful infertility with “health.” Those who celebrate that culture are not interested in compromise: They are interested in having everyone pay for what they want, and in levying serious penalties on those who won’t truckle to their will.</p>
<p>The issue, it might be added, is not family planning. The Catholic Church, for example, teaches that all couples have a moral responsibility to plan their families. The question at issue is one of means: What methods of regulating fertility are congruent with the dignity of human beings and especially the dignity of women? That, in fact, is the question that ought to have been posed to that vulgar Dutch activist 18 years ago. It remains to be pressed home today.</p>
<p>One final point. At the beginning, the 2012 election was about jobs, jobs, and jobs. The culture wars have now reshaped the race, and the stakes, as Iran may eventually do in another sphere of policy. But what the Komen/Planned Parenthood and HHS-mandate battles ought to have made clear is that 2012 is, domestically, an election about the survival of c ivil society. Will Leviathan continue to trample the institutions of civil society at the behest of the champions of lifestyle libertinism? Will such institutions as marriage, the family, and the Church be permitted to exist only insofar as they become wards of the state, or simulacra of the state?</p>
<p>That, and nothing less than that, is the question the past several weeks have put before the American people.</p>
<p>– George Weigel is distinguished senior fellow at Washington‘s Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he holds the William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.</p> | false | 1 | shortly prepcomm iii third preparatory commission meeting anticipation 1994 cairo world conference population development one senior vatican officials like remain nameless told enlightening story sins svo condemned attend prepcomm iii try prevent calling universal human right abortion demand would formally declared impending cairo conference tale unfolded week purgatory remains quite relevant despite age fact one moment prepcomm iii sheds important light recent events including susan g komenplanned parenthood wars obama administrations determination compel employers provide contraceptives abortifacients sterilization services employers find morally abhorrent like un circuses diplomatic circus prepcomm iii held new york accompanied parallel circus international nongovernmental organizations sideshow activists around globe flocked thousands united commitment lifestyle libertinism formal diplomatic proceedings prepcomm iii harsh enough vatican coming verbal assault un bureaucrats european politicians principled opposition reproductive rights included abortion demand ineffable gro harlem brundtland prime minister norway dismissed holy see small state natural inhabitants mild side assault ingo meeting things really got dirty clarifying senior vatican official told story somewhat scruffy dutch activist got announced sundry lets stop fooling around talking right f whoever want however want whenever want dutchmans formulation may lacked elegance certainly didnt lack precision precisely issue 18 years ago precisely issue today sexual revolution reduced sex recreational activity moral consequence protected advanced indeed mandated coercive powers modern state irony fire course began movement liberate sexuality constraints moral reason custom law become movement determined use instruments law impose deconstruction human sexuality moral relativism society drives urged obama administration issue contraceptive mandate course abortifacient sterilization mandate drives loosed furies including viragos senator barbara boxer susan g komen cure foundation temerity suggest planned parenthood actually provide mammograms komens grants paying leviathan enforcer sexual revolution anyone doesnt understand catholic bishops upperclass foundation executives previously immaculate reputations going get rolled leviathan leviathan met mythical 50yard line accommodation leviathan beaten fierce determination use leviathan make sure dutch ingo delegates libidinous desires requited might tolerable effects confined want well know whoever whenever however sexual revolution distorts everything gets way due course persecute anything gets way take one current example threat religious freedom posed administrations contraceptive mandate kind inadvertent political faux pas joe biden bill daley would us believe rather order religious institutions employers rearrange convictions suit leviathans pleasure piece administrations dumbingdown religious freedom international humanrights policy numerous occasions secretary state declined speak religious freedom referred freedom worship thus religious freedom rendered kind privacy right upheld long happens religiously takes place public square manifestly absurd face religious freedom simply freedom worship religious freedom saudi arabia long christian jewish prayer takes place behind closed doors one snitches islamist purity police make matters worse secretary clinton administration linked dumbingdown religious freedom rampingup frankly call lgbt agenda priority concern us international humanrights policy one hand religious freedom hollowed abroad home hand lgbt agenda logical endgame sexual revolutions gnosticism antinomianism given priority humanrights agenda us government around world planks libertine platform imposed coercive state power home leviathan nothing consistent sexual revolutions cultural impacts risk salaciousness go back scruffy dutchmans claim 1994 ponder moment see doesnt become piercingly obvious direct line connection vulgarity implicit claim much komenplanned parenthood hhsmandate brawls namely transmission human life disease prevented course means children fruit love precious gift received gratitude another lifestyle choice indulged whim imperial autonomous self leading pleasant contemplate leviathan confronted defeated attempt impose sexual revolution brute state power critical mass morally serious minds got get clear one crucial point invention oral contraceptive splitting atom unraveling dna double helix one three worldhistorical scientific developments last century scientific accomplishments within capacity change culture history fundamental ways effectively sundering sexual expression procreation modern contraceptives done something lesseffective predecessors unable millennia created contraceptive culture identifies fertility disease willful infertility health celebrate culture interested compromise interested everyone pay want levying serious penalties wont truckle issue might added family planning catholic church example teaches couples moral responsibility plan families question issue one means methods regulating fertility congruent dignity human beings especially dignity women fact question ought posed vulgar dutch activist 18 years ago remains pressed home today one final point beginning 2012 election jobs jobs jobs culture wars reshaped race stakes iran may eventually another sphere policy komenplanned parenthood hhsmandate battles ought made clear 2012 domestically election survival c ivil society leviathan continue trample institutions civil society behest champions lifestyle libertinism institutions marriage family church permitted exist insofar become wards state simulacra state nothing less question past several weeks put american people george weigel distinguished senior fellow washingtons ethics public policy center holds william e simon chair catholic studies | 743 |
<p />
<p>I was captivated while praying for the wellbeing of an eight-year-old boy with the rest of Malaysia. William wandered away from his mother in Kuala Lumpur the week I was visiting in January 2013. Police officers, neighbors, politicians, and radio jockeys all searched for him. I, too, kept praying that he would be found alive somehow before I left the country. But alas, the day of my departure, the newspapers carried the story of his body being found.</p>
<p>Only a mother can truly feel what it is like to lose a child.</p>
<p>What touched my heart so much, however, was not just William and his grieving parents, but also the reaction of Malaysians themselves.</p>
<p>Malaysia is a multi-racial, multi-faith country. Its culture is defined by their unique successful model of co-existence and respect for each other individually, as well as communally.</p>
<p>Neighbors - Muslims, Christians, Malays, Chinese, and Indians - distributed fliers of the missing child as they searched for him. I noticed the women police officers dressed in Hijab, along with non-Hijabis, looking for William. All newspapers, Malay, Chinese, and English, were busy searching and reporting.</p>
<p>It was, however, not an occasion where an interfaith coalition would deliberately rally in a planned exercise in solidarity, as happens in the United States after each attack on a mosque. Coming together regardless of faith, language, or culture is just business as usual in Malaysia. It is not something Malaysians do deliberately. It is simply part of the national ethos.</p>
<p>And it was William who brought my attention to this aspect of Malaysian society.</p>
<p>William's parents are Chinese Christians in a predominantly Muslim Malay country which considers Islam its state religion, organizes Hajj and Zakat officially, and engages in Islamic banking at the highest level among all Muslim countries.</p>
<p>Malaysia is a nation of 29 million with Malays making up 60.3%, Chinese 22.9%, and Indians 7.1% of the total population.</p>
<p>Chinese and Indian laborers were mostly brought here by the British when they occupied Malaysia. They were poor workers, struggling at mines and plantations. Today, they are thriving communities. According to Forbes Magazine's list of the 40 Richest Malaysians, at the top is a Chinese Malaysian, next an Indian Malaysian. The next eight are all Chinese, with only one Malay Muslim making the list. Today, the Chinese account for 70 percent of the country's market capitalization, according to one report.</p>
<p>There is certainly some resentment about this. However, unlike Indonesia, which has gone through more than one violent campaign against Chinese control of the economy, Malaysia has been able to build socio-economical and political acceptance for this success story by channeling potential Malay resentments through ethnic quotas. <a href="mailto:http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/EF07Aa01.html" type="external">Amy Chua actually</a> thinks that this model is worth learning from for other countries where majorities resent minorities' success.</p>
<p>However, this is not just about ethnic quotas.</p>
<p>The Malaysians' social contract was born during their freedom struggle against the British, in which the Chinese agreed to special rights for the Malay majority and Malays agreed to grant citizenship to a million-plus Chinese in the 1950s. That communal understanding provided a framework for harmony and growth which has benefited all communities.</p>
<p>Malaysia, as a result, has achieved better minority-majority harmony and peace as compared to neighboring countries, where economically stronger minorities have been persecuted as in Indonesia, suffering several violent attacks or against the poorer ethnic minorities as in Thailand, Myanmar and Philippines.</p>
<p>It was an elderly Chinese cab driver who first alerted me to this historic understanding, saying that it has worked for all communities in Malaysia. However, he warned me that young people sometimes don't understand the wisdom of this arrangement.</p>
<p>This understanding has translated into Malaysian culture of communal co-existence.</p>
<p>A common street scene in Malaysia is a working woman dressed in Hijab walking side by side on the street, chatting and laughing together, with a less-covered Chinese or Indian woman in a miniskirt. Visible Islam and visible non-Islam exist right next to each other in Malaysia.</p>
<p>It contrasts strongly with the neighboring Chinese-controlled Singapore, where Malay Muslim girls are not allowed to wear a headscarf in school because of a government ban.</p>
<p>During my stay, the newspapers also featured stories about the Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebrations. The birthday of the Prophet is a big deal in Malaysia. Their king, a constitutionally elected leader, was present at the major mosque of the capital during ceremonies whose theme was "Moderate Islam is the way."</p>
<p>But it is not just the Muslim holiday which was visible that week. Chinese New Year preparations were reported upon on the daily basis. The lobbies of the Petronas towers, which not long ago displaced Chicago's Sears Tower as the tallest building in the world, were festooned with red Chinese New Year decorations.</p>
<p>Then there was a whole special section in Malaysian newspapers about a Hindu religious holiday. It was a Southern Indian festival where most of Malaysia's Tamil Hindus come from.</p>
<p>This accommodation of religious diversity contrasts strongly with India, where newspapers hardly ever mention the Muslim Eid celebration. This is in a country where 150 million Muslims reside. &#160;India political culture suppresses community identity by using the word "communal" as a pejorative term.</p>
<p>The Malaysian model of successful pluralism is unique. I don't know any other place in the world where the government pays for minorities to run their schools in their own languages. Malaysia has government-financed primary schools in Chinese and Tamil (Indian) languages, along with public schools. During my visit, I watched television programs in three languages: Chinese, Tamil, and Malay.</p>
<p>While nation-states around the world were busy over-emphasizing the individualism of citizens and their rights at the expense of allegiance to ethnic identity in the last half century, Malaysia was engaging the ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities in its society and politics as a group. This was done far before India and China became synonymous with the term "rising superpower".</p>
<p>Now that nation-states around the world are weakening, and ethnic demands and solidarities are rising from Kurdistan to Catalonia as Al Gore puts it in his latest book, The Future, it is important for the world to look into Malaysia's model of ethnic recognition and co-existence instead of investing all resources in a militarized suppression of these demands. In many countries, minorities control the economy, which the majority population resents. And electoral politics is likely to make things difficult for those minorities as a result.</p>
<p>The Malaysian model is not new. For Muslims, it has roots in the Prophet's Charter of Madinah which recognized pagan and Jewish tribes by name, gave full freedom of religion, life, security, and autonomy in their own laws, all while calling them and the Muslim community together "one Ummah". This is probably the source of Malaysia's multi-cultural, multi-ethnic ideology which Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud, an eminent Malay professor, has written about.</p>
<p />
<p /> | false | 1 | captivated praying wellbeing eightyearold boy rest malaysia william wandered away mother kuala lumpur week visiting january 2013 police officers neighbors politicians radio jockeys searched kept praying would found alive somehow left country alas day departure newspapers carried story body found mother truly feel like lose child touched heart much however william grieving parents also reaction malaysians malaysia multiracial multifaith country culture defined unique successful model coexistence respect individually well communally neighbors muslims christians malays chinese indians distributed fliers missing child searched noticed women police officers dressed hijab along nonhijabis looking william newspapers malay chinese english busy searching reporting however occasion interfaith coalition would deliberately rally planned exercise solidarity happens united states attack mosque coming together regardless faith language culture business usual malaysia something malaysians deliberately simply part national ethos william brought attention aspect malaysian society williams parents chinese christians predominantly muslim malay country considers islam state religion organizes hajj zakat officially engages islamic banking highest level among muslim countries malaysia nation 29 million malays making 603 chinese 229 indians 71 total population chinese indian laborers mostly brought british occupied malaysia poor workers struggling mines plantations today thriving communities according forbes magazines list 40 richest malaysians top chinese malaysian next indian malaysian next eight chinese one malay muslim making list today chinese account 70 percent countrys market capitalization according one report certainly resentment however unlike indonesia gone one violent campaign chinese control economy malaysia able build socioeconomical political acceptance success story channeling potential malay resentments ethnic quotas amy chua actually thinks model worth learning countries majorities resent minorities success however ethnic quotas malaysians social contract born freedom struggle british chinese agreed special rights malay majority malays agreed grant citizenship millionplus chinese 1950s communal understanding provided framework harmony growth benefited communities malaysia result achieved better minoritymajority harmony peace compared neighboring countries economically stronger minorities persecuted indonesia suffering several violent attacks poorer ethnic minorities thailand myanmar philippines elderly chinese cab driver first alerted historic understanding saying worked communities malaysia however warned young people sometimes dont understand wisdom arrangement understanding translated malaysian culture communal coexistence common street scene malaysia working woman dressed hijab walking side side street chatting laughing together lesscovered chinese indian woman miniskirt visible islam visible nonislam exist right next malaysia contrasts strongly neighboring chinesecontrolled singapore malay muslim girls allowed wear headscarf school government ban stay newspapers also featured stories prophet muhammads birthday celebrations birthday prophet big deal malaysia king constitutionally elected leader present major mosque capital ceremonies whose theme moderate islam way muslim holiday visible week chinese new year preparations reported upon daily basis lobbies petronas towers long ago displaced chicagos sears tower tallest building world festooned red chinese new year decorations whole special section malaysian newspapers hindu religious holiday southern indian festival malaysias tamil hindus come accommodation religious diversity contrasts strongly india newspapers hardly ever mention muslim eid celebration country 150 million muslims reside 160india political culture suppresses community identity using word communal pejorative term malaysian model successful pluralism unique dont know place world government pays minorities run schools languages malaysia governmentfinanced primary schools chinese tamil indian languages along public schools visit watched television programs three languages chinese tamil malay nationstates around world busy overemphasizing individualism citizens rights expense allegiance ethnic identity last half century malaysia engaging ethnic chinese indian minorities society politics group done far india china became synonymous term rising superpower nationstates around world weakening ethnic demands solidarities rising kurdistan catalonia al gore puts latest book future important world look malaysias model ethnic recognition coexistence instead investing resources militarized suppression demands many countries minorities control economy majority population resents electoral politics likely make things difficult minorities result malaysian model new muslims roots prophets charter madinah recognized pagan jewish tribes name gave full freedom religion life security autonomy laws calling muslim community together one ummah probably source malaysias multicultural multiethnic ideology wan mohd wan daud eminent malay professor written | 640 |
<p>A pair of highly anticipated government studies, one of them due to be released this week, could complicate President Donald Trump’s effort to roll back federal climate regulations, according to people on both sides of the debate over global warming.</p>
<p>A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-backed report summarizing the global effects of climate change in 2016 is scheduled for release Thursday. Its conclusion will be similar to previous years’ versions, according to people familiar with the report: Climate change is real, it’s man-made and it’s dangerous.&#160;</p>
<p>That report dovetails with a broader National Climate Assessment, which is due next year from the administration. Drafts of the study, compiled by scientists from across the federal government, show the effects of climate change in the U.S. are severe.</p>
<p>Both reports are at odds with Trump’s contention that climate change is a “hoax” and may hinder his moves to undo President Barack Obama’s efforts to address the issue, analysts say. Revoking Obama’s rules requires agencies to give a legally sound justification for the policy pivots —&#160;such as arguing they are no longer necessary.</p>
<p>David Schnare, who worked on Trump’s transition team at the Environmental Protection Agency and then advised EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, said that both reports will make it harder for the agency to reverse the Obama administration’s limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, as well as the broader policy that defines those emissions as a danger to the public, called an endangerment finding.</p>
<p>“If the NCA comes out with an unflattering report on carbon dioxide, the only way EPA can change its endangerment finding is to reexamine all that science, and have a reasonable basis for rejecting” it, said Schnare, who left EPA in March. Once those reports become public, “it’s hard to dodge,” he said.</p>
<p>Opponents of Trump’s climate policies agreed that the reports could slow his administration’s repeal of Obama-era regulations.</p>
<p>“It will make it harder for them to justify,” said David Hawkins, director of climate programs for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “It’s yet another document that weighs against whatever claims Trump political appointees attempt to make about the state of the science.”</p>
<p>Thursday’s report, which was written by more than 450 scientists in the U.S. and abroad, will show that ice levels in Antarctica have set a record low, according to Keith Seitter, executive director&#160;of the American Meteorological Society.&#160;Antarctic ice levels had previously been increasing, a point highlighted by those who say climate change is a hoax.</p>
<p>The study will be released in the group’s Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.</p>
<p>Otherwise, the report doesn’t contain many surprises, according to Seitter —&#160;because the public has become accustomed to continually breaking temperature records. On Tuesday, NOAA reported that 2017 is so far the second-warmest year to date.</p>
<p>“As a standard practice, NOAA does not discuss leaked or draft reports,” said Brady Phillips, a spokesman for the agency.</p>
<p>NOAA’s willingness to publicize data about the threat of climate change presents a stark contrast with other agencies. The EPA has removed information about climate change from its website; Pruitt has said human activity isn’t the primary contributor to global warming, as has Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. And the Interior Department reassigned dozens of employees, including one scientist who said his transfer to an office processing revenue was in retaliation “for speaking out publicly about the dangers that climate change poses to Alaska Native communities.”</p>
<p>An Interior spokeswoman declined to discuss specific personnel matters among the senior executive service and said the reassignments “are being conducted to better serve the taxpayer and the department’s operations.” The EPA didn’t respond to a request for comment.</p>
<p>The difference, according to Schnare, reflects the fact that the Trump administration has yet to assign political appointees to NOAA, which has left the agency —&#160;a division of the Department of Commerce —&#160;with an unusual degree of independence. Nor has the administration filled key climate positions at the White House; the Office of Science and Technology Policy still has no confirmed director, preventing it from aligning policy across federal agencies.</p>
<p>“This administration has simply not gotten its coordinating process together,” said Schnare. Ross Gillfillan, a spokesman for the science office, declined to comment.</p>
<p>A test of that coordinating process will be the National Climate Assessment, which the White House is required by Congress to release every four years. The last report, in 2014, concluded that average global temperatures had increased more than 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 Celsius) since 1880, and predicted as much as four feet of sea-level rise by 2100. A draft version of the 2018 report projects temperatures in the U.S. will rise as much as 12 degrees if emissions aren’t reduced. The New York Times reported Tuesday that scientists involved were worried the Trump administration would suppress that study.</p>
<p>“The White House will withhold comment on any draft report before its scheduled release date,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement referring to the New York Times story.</p>
<p>Hawkins, of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the administration could in theory try to stop publication of the final report, which must be approved by 13 federal agencies; it could even go so far as to reassign or fire the scientists working on it. But, he added, those strategies are unlikely to do much good.</p>
<p>“Now that the current draft report is public knowledge, firing people isn’t going to undermine the validity of what’s written down,” Hawkins said. “They can’t prevent the understanding of the science anymore than Canute could hold back the seas.”</p> | false | 1 | pair highly anticipated government studies one due released week could complicate president donald trumps effort roll back federal climate regulations according people sides debate global warming national oceanic atmospheric administrationbacked report summarizing global effects climate change 2016 scheduled release thursday conclusion similar previous years versions according people familiar report climate change real manmade dangerous160 report dovetails broader national climate assessment due next year administration drafts study compiled scientists across federal government show effects climate change us severe reports odds trumps contention climate change hoax may hinder moves undo president barack obamas efforts address issue analysts say revoking obamas rules requires agencies give legally sound justification policy pivots 160such arguing longer necessary david schnare worked trumps transition team environmental protection agency advised epa administrator scott pruitt said reports make harder agency reverse obama administrations limits carbon dioxide emissions power plants well broader policy defines emissions danger public called endangerment finding nca comes unflattering report carbon dioxide way epa change endangerment finding reexamine science reasonable basis rejecting said schnare left epa march reports become public hard dodge said opponents trumps climate policies agreed reports could slow administrations repeal obamaera regulations make harder justify said david hawkins director climate programs natural resources defense council yet another document weighs whatever claims trump political appointees attempt make state science thursdays report written 450 scientists us abroad show ice levels antarctica set record low according keith seitter executive director160of american meteorological society160antarctic ice levels previously increasing point highlighted say climate change hoax study released groups bulletin american meteorological society otherwise report doesnt contain many surprises according seitter 160because public become accustomed continually breaking temperature records tuesday noaa reported 2017 far secondwarmest year date standard practice noaa discuss leaked draft reports said brady phillips spokesman agency noaas willingness publicize data threat climate change presents stark contrast agencies epa removed information climate change website pruitt said human activity isnt primary contributor global warming secretary energy rick perry interior department reassigned dozens employees including one scientist said transfer office processing revenue retaliation speaking publicly dangers climate change poses alaska native communities interior spokeswoman declined discuss specific personnel matters among senior executive service said reassignments conducted better serve taxpayer departments operations epa didnt respond request comment difference according schnare reflects fact trump administration yet assign political appointees noaa left agency 160a division department commerce 160with unusual degree independence administration filled key climate positions white house office science technology policy still confirmed director preventing aligning policy across federal agencies administration simply gotten coordinating process together said schnare ross gillfillan spokesman science office declined comment test coordinating process national climate assessment white house required congress release every four years last report 2014 concluded average global temperatures increased 15 degrees fahrenheit 08 celsius since 1880 predicted much four feet sealevel rise 2100 draft version 2018 report projects temperatures us rise much 12 degrees emissions arent reduced new york times reported tuesday scientists involved worried trump administration would suppress study white house withhold comment draft report scheduled release date white house spokeswoman sarah sanders said statement referring new york times story hawkins natural resources defense council said administration could theory try stop publication final report must approved 13 federal agencies could even go far reassign fire scientists working added strategies unlikely much good current draft report public knowledge firing people isnt going undermine validity whats written hawkins said cant prevent understanding science anymore canute could hold back seas | 564 |
<p>CARSON CITY — They quietly labor as registered foreign agents on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Their mission: Encourage U.S. veterans and policymakers to oppose a law Congress passed that would allow terror victims’ families to sue nations linked to terrorism.</p>
<p>Four Nevada-based registered foreign agents for Saudi Arabia either work for or are closely tied to Organized Karma, a Las Vegas consulting firm. Aida Blankenship, Ronni Council and Charity Stevens are registered with the U.S. Department of Justice as agents for Saudi Arabia and work as subcontractors for Qorvis MLSGroup, a public relations firm that does advocacy work for Saudi Arabia, records show.</p>
<p>The other registered foreign agent is Assemblywoman Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod, D-Las Vegas.</p>
<p>The agents linked to the kingdom work to oppose the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA. JASTA has long been sought by some 9/11 families who declined other legal settlements so they could pursue claims against Saudi Arabia instead. Others oppose the measure on legal grounds, citing fears that other nations could enact similar laws and sue U.S. veterans, intelligence officials and diplomats who work on foreign soil.</p>
<p>Former President Barack Obama vetoed the bill, but <a href="" type="internal">Congress overrode the veto in September</a>.</p>
<p>The Saudi government has invested in a multimillion-dollar public relations and lobbying effort to advocate against the law in the U.S. with agents throughout the nation. The work includes flying veterans to Washington, D.C., to raise concerns about the issue and encouraging them to write letters to members of Congress.</p>
<p>Being a registered foreign agent is legal, but agents must disclose their ties in materials sent out to the public. The federal government began requiring disclosures through the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, in 1938, in response to German propaganda that emerged in the United States.</p>
<p>Bilbray-Axelrod’s federal registration document required by FARA was filed in October, shortly before she was elected a state assemblywoman.</p>
<p>On her form, Bilbray-Axelrod says her purpose is “outreach to media, influencers, state and federal elected officials regarding the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act.” The document also says her political activity involves “describing the unintended consequences that JASTA poses” to U.S. interests, including potential legal liability for U.S. military, intelligence and diplomatic officials.</p>
<p>In a text message to a Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter, Bilbray-Axelrod said she had done “some outreach” before the November election on the “unintended consequences of the legislation.”</p>
<p>About the document, she said: “We all had to fill them out. I was not really involved as I was running (for election).” Bilbray-Axelrod was unavailable for further comment.</p>
<p>The legislator’s status as an agent for Saudi Arabia was first picked by 28pages.org, a blog about 9/11. The Review-Journal confirmed it through a federal public database.</p>
<p>For her salary, Bilbray-Axelrod checked the box labeled, “Not based solely on services rendered to the foreign principal(s).” Other disclosure options include a salary with a dollar amount, a fee or a commission. Her work is done on a “special basis,” records show.</p>
<p>‘NO MENTION OF SAUDI ARABIA’</p>
<p>In Nevada, one prominent veteran rights and political activist says he was blindsided after sending an email blast to veterans at the encouragement of Nevada-based agents, who never mentioned their link to the kingdom.</p>
<p>Steve Sanson, the president of Veterans in Politics International in Las Vegas, opposed JASTA and wanted help fighting a defamation lawsuit. He reached out to Ronni Council of Organized Karma, but he said he knew nothing about a Saudi connection. Council offered help if Sanson sent emails to members of Congress about JASTA.</p>
<p>“Then she said, ‘Dario Herrera is going to contact you,’” Sanson said.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Herrera is a former Clark County commissioner</a> who does public relations and consulting work. His political career ended after he was convicted of corruption and served time in federal prison.</p>
<p>After exchanging emails with Herrera and Aida Blankenship of Organized Karma, Sanson sent an email blast to his organization’s followers in January encouraging veterans to contact Congress with concerns about JASTA.</p>
<p>One email Sanson received from Blankenship included four sample letters to send to different members of Congress.</p>
<p>“When you send your emails please BCC myself and Dario,” Blankenship emailed Sanson.</p>
<p>Bilbray-Axelrod wasn’t involved in Sanson’s experience or copied on the emails. Herrera is not registered as a foreign agent, while Blankenship and Council are registered for the kingdom.</p>
<p>After the blast went out, Organized Karma paid Veterans in Politics $120, Sanson said.</p>
<p>Sanson learned of the link to Saudi Arabia through a friend and fellow veteran. “There was no mention of Saudi Arabia,” Sanson said. “The only thing that was said was about 9/11 victims suing Saudi Arabia and that this would be a detriment to the military veterans.”</p>
<p>Full disclosure would have been better, Sanson said.</p>
<p>“I’m not trying to throw Ronni under the bus at all,” Sanson said. “It’s just I feel I was used. Tell me the whole story and let me make an educated guess on what direction I want to go.”</p>
<p>Herrera told the Review-Journal that he was simply helping out and was unaware his associates represent Saudi interests. “This is the first time I’ve been given that information, and I’m happy to follow up,” he said.</p>
<p>Council said federal disclosures she and the others filed were required to work with the firm that hired them.</p>
<p>Other foreign agents elsewhere have held “fly-ins” in which they arranged plane tickets and hotel rooms for veterans to go to Washington, D.C., and take their concerns to policymakers.</p>
<p>Council said that Organized Karma “chose to not participate in the lobbying fly-ins.” Asked about Sanson’s issue, Council said that, if they had decided to participate in fly-ins, “We would have absolutely let him know.”</p>
<p>TRIPS TO DC</p>
<p>The New York Post reported last week that several veterans outside Nevada were taken on trips to Washington to advocate against JASTA but were not told about the organizers’ connection to Saudi Arabia or found out well after boarding the plane.</p>
<p>Other veterans interviewed by the Review-Journal don’t view the arrangement as problematic. For them, it’s simply a matter of having concern about an issue that happens to be shared with Saudi Arabia.</p>
<p>Charles Tucker of Chicago, a retired Air Force major general, said he twice went to Washington to voice his concerns about the law. The Saudi connection, he said, is “irrelevant” and simply demonstrates that, on this issue, veterans and the kingdom have “a commonality of interests.”</p>
<p>George Risse, a retired Air Force colonel from O’Fallon, Ill., said that JASTA goes well beyond simply allowing 9/11 families to sue, and that the work involves veterans doing their own research. “There has been no effort by the people who put this together to try to coerce us into what we have to say,” he said.</p>
<p>Cole Azare, a Navy veteran who lives in Reno, has participated in fly-ins. He said that everything is up front with the disclosures, and that the goal is to “make sure our community, which has already given so much because of 9/11, doesn’t once again have something else put on its back.”</p>
<p>“There’s no grand prince from the Saudi government telling us what to do,” he said.</p>
<p>Contact Ben Botkin at [email protected] or 775-461-0661. Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/BenBotkin1" type="external">@BenBotkin1</a> on Twitter.</p> | false | 1 | carson city quietly labor registered foreign agents behalf kingdom saudi arabia mission encourage us veterans policymakers oppose law congress passed would allow terror victims families sue nations linked terrorism four nevadabased registered foreign agents saudi arabia either work closely tied organized karma las vegas consulting firm aida blankenship ronni council charity stevens registered us department justice agents saudi arabia work subcontractors qorvis mlsgroup public relations firm advocacy work saudi arabia records show registered foreign agent assemblywoman shannon bilbrayaxelrod dlas vegas agents linked kingdom work oppose justice sponsors terrorism act jasta jasta long sought 911 families declined legal settlements could pursue claims saudi arabia instead others oppose measure legal grounds citing fears nations could enact similar laws sue us veterans intelligence officials diplomats work foreign soil former president barack obama vetoed bill congress overrode veto september saudi government invested multimilliondollar public relations lobbying effort advocate law us agents throughout nation work includes flying veterans washington dc raise concerns issue encouraging write letters members congress registered foreign agent legal agents must disclose ties materials sent public federal government began requiring disclosures foreign agents registration act fara 1938 response german propaganda emerged united states bilbrayaxelrods federal registration document required fara filed october shortly elected state assemblywoman form bilbrayaxelrod says purpose outreach media influencers state federal elected officials regarding justice sponsors terrorism act document also says political activity involves describing unintended consequences jasta poses us interests including potential legal liability us military intelligence diplomatic officials text message las vegas reviewjournal reporter bilbrayaxelrod said done outreach november election unintended consequences legislation document said fill really involved running election bilbrayaxelrod unavailable comment legislators status agent saudi arabia first picked 28pagesorg blog 911 reviewjournal confirmed federal public database salary bilbrayaxelrod checked box labeled based solely services rendered foreign principals disclosure options include salary dollar amount fee commission work done special basis records show mention saudi arabia nevada one prominent veteran rights political activist says blindsided sending email blast veterans encouragement nevadabased agents never mentioned link kingdom steve sanson president veterans politics international las vegas opposed jasta wanted help fighting defamation lawsuit reached ronni council organized karma said knew nothing saudi connection council offered help sanson sent emails members congress jasta said dario herrera going contact sanson said herrera former clark county commissioner public relations consulting work political career ended convicted corruption served time federal prison exchanging emails herrera aida blankenship organized karma sanson sent email blast organizations followers january encouraging veterans contact congress concerns jasta one email sanson received blankenship included four sample letters send different members congress send emails please bcc dario blankenship emailed sanson bilbrayaxelrod wasnt involved sansons experience copied emails herrera registered foreign agent blankenship council registered kingdom blast went organized karma paid veterans politics 120 sanson said sanson learned link saudi arabia friend fellow veteran mention saudi arabia sanson said thing said 911 victims suing saudi arabia would detriment military veterans full disclosure would better sanson said im trying throw ronni bus sanson said feel used tell whole story let make educated guess direction want go herrera told reviewjournal simply helping unaware associates represent saudi interests first time ive given information im happy follow said council said federal disclosures others filed required work firm hired foreign agents elsewhere held flyins arranged plane tickets hotel rooms veterans go washington dc take concerns policymakers council said organized karma chose participate lobbying flyins asked sansons issue council said decided participate flyins would absolutely let know trips dc new york post reported last week several veterans outside nevada taken trips washington advocate jasta told organizers connection saudi arabia found well boarding plane veterans interviewed reviewjournal dont view arrangement problematic simply matter concern issue happens shared saudi arabia charles tucker chicago retired air force major general said twice went washington voice concerns law saudi connection said irrelevant simply demonstrates issue veterans kingdom commonality interests george risse retired air force colonel ofallon ill said jasta goes well beyond simply allowing 911 families sue work involves veterans research effort people put together try coerce us say said cole azare navy veteran lives reno participated flyins said everything front disclosures goal make sure community already given much 911 doesnt something else put back theres grand prince saudi government telling us said contact ben botkin bbotkinreviewjournalcom 7754610661 follow benbotkin1 twitter | 708 |
<p>The most important, and uncertain, provision of Obamacare remains the individual mandate.</p>
<p>Obamacare’s authors believed it was crucial to the viability of the law to impose a new obligation on U.S. citizens and legal residents to enroll in government-approved health insurance. This new obligation was to be enforced by a penalty on the non-compliant, collected through the income tax.</p>
<p>In&#160; <a href="http://www2.bloomberglaw.com/public/desktop/document/Natl_Federation_of_Independent_Business_v_Sebelius_No_Nos_11393_1" type="external">NFIB v. Sebelius</a>, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, rejected this conception of the mandate. The court ruled that Congress did not have the authority to compel the purchase of government-approved health insurance under the Constitution’s commerce clause. However, the Court further ruled that Congress did have the authority to give citizens a choice between enrolling in health insurance or, alternatively, paying a tax, so long as the tax was not so high as to make insurance enrollment effectively compulsory. In other words, in the eyes of Chief Justice Roberts, the tax for going uninsured that was enacted in Obamacare is just another tax, and not a penalty for non-compliance with a federal law.</p>
<p>Much depends on whether or not the public comes to see the tax the same way Roberts does—as a legitimate and perfectly legal option in lieu of enrolling in government-sanctioned insurance. If so, then many millions of Americans may forgo insurance, at least temporarily, and pay the tax instead because the tax, in many cases, will be far less than the premiums they would owe for coverage. Under Obamacare’s rules, anyone who chooses not to enroll in health insurance can always sign up for coverage during the next open enrollment period, with no premium penalty.</p>
<p>The hope of Obamacare’s authors is that most Americans will come to see enrolling in health insurance as an obligation of citizenship, despite what the Supreme Court has said. Most citizens want to feel as if they are complying with the law, and so if the mandate comes to be viewed as establishing a new social norm, then it is possible that many millions of currently uninsured Americans will feel compelled to get coverage that they otherwise might have avoided.</p>
<p>A big unknown is what will happen with the tax in this first year of implementation when there is expected to be the largest number of Americans subject to the tax. The long-term perception of the mandate could be shaped by what happens in the coming months.</p>
<p>The Obama administration has stated that 8.1 million people have gotten health insurance through the federal and state exchanges. Actual enrollment is likely to be lower due to non-payment of premiums by some consumers. In any event, enrollment in the exchanges says little about the status of insurance coverage in the country. The net increase in insurance coverage under Obamacare requires examination of enrollment in employer plans, Medicaid, and the individual insurance plans offered outside the exchanges, in addition to enrollment in the exchanges.</p>
<p>At this point, all indications point to a still very large number of uninsured in 2014.&#160; <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/45231-ACA_Estimates.pdf" type="external">According to the Congressional Budget Office,</a>&#160;the number of uninsured Americans is expected to remain at about 42 million people in 2014, and that assumes continued robust enrollment in Medicaid throughout the year.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/09-19-12-Indiv_Mandate_Penalty.pdf" type="external">In a previous analysis</a>, issued in 2012, CBO indicated that a large proportion of the uninsured would be exempt from the tax for various reasons. For instance, undocumented immigrants are not subject to the tax, nor are very low income households that generally do not pay income taxes anyway. CBO estimated that about two-thirds of the uninsured would fall into these exemption categories. In addition, CBO assumed that some Americans would file for exemptions due to religious and other reasons.</p>
<p>Taking all of this into account, CBO assumed that, in 2016 at least, about 20 percent, or 6 million people, would be subject to the tax.</p>
<p>In CBO’s projections, there are going to be 12 million more people uninsured in 2014 compared to 2016, which means there will also be many more people paying the uninsured tax. But how many? If the same percentage holds for 2014 as CBO estimates for 2016, then there would be a total of 8.4 million people subject to the tax for the 2014 enrollment year. By any measure, that is a sizeable number of taxpayers, and a lot of voters too.</p>
<p>But it is certainly possible that an even larger percentage of the uninsured would be subject to the tax in 2014 than in 2016 because the expected increase in enrollment in 2016 could come primarily from people with the ability to pay premiums and therefore not subject to the income exemption. Consequently, the number of uninsured subject to the tax in 2014 could quite easily be 10 or even 12 million people. The tax owed by these households when they file their taxes next spring will be the greater of $95 per adult (and $47.50 per child), or 1 percent of household income.</p>
<p>Over the coming months, awareness of this tax is likely to grow, and with growing awareness will come greater political turmoil. It is an open question whether the Obama administration and the law’s supporters in Congress will follow through and impose this new tax in the face of likely growing opposition.</p>
<p>The administration has already given itself a way out. Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)&#160; <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/exemptions/" type="external">put on the healthcare.gov website</a>&#160;a list of acceptable reasons for not getting insurance and therefore not paying the tax. Among the reasons are unexpected expenses caring for a family member or a death in the family. The last reason listed is an open-ended catch-all: “You experienced another hardship in obtaining health insurance.” Although this would seemingly provide an out for anyone who wants it, the administration has so far downplayed its significance and denied that it is a major loophole. Those seeking an exemption have to file a form with HHS.</p>
<p>The next several months are likely to be a crucial period for the individual mandate, and thus for the entirety of Obamacare. Supporters and opponents both agree that the law depends, in part, of the effectiveness of the mandate. Even if fully enforced, it may not be effective because the tax is low relative to health insurance premiums. But to be effective at all, it almost certainly has to be stringently enforced, especially initially.</p>
<p>At every juncture over the past year, when confronted with political blowback, the Obama administration has sought to defuse problems with work-arounds, many of which have dubious legal standing. It would therefore not be surprising to see a decision to provide a blanket exemption to all of the uninsured this year on the grounds that the process for signing up was so, well, challenging. That might help the president and his supporters politically in the short-term, but it will raise even more questions over whether the law is workable over the long term.</p>
<p>James C. Capretta is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.</p> | false | 1 | important uncertain provision obamacare remains individual mandate obamacares authors believed crucial viability law impose new obligation us citizens legal residents enroll governmentapproved health insurance new obligation enforced penalty noncompliant collected income tax in160 nfib v sebelius supreme court led chief justice john roberts rejected conception mandate court ruled congress authority compel purchase governmentapproved health insurance constitutions commerce clause however court ruled congress authority give citizens choice enrolling health insurance alternatively paying tax long tax high make insurance enrollment effectively compulsory words eyes chief justice roberts tax going uninsured enacted obamacare another tax penalty noncompliance federal law much depends whether public comes see tax way roberts doesas legitimate perfectly legal option lieu enrolling governmentsanctioned insurance many millions americans may forgo insurance least temporarily pay tax instead tax many cases far less premiums would owe coverage obamacares rules anyone chooses enroll health insurance always sign coverage next open enrollment period premium penalty hope obamacares authors americans come see enrolling health insurance obligation citizenship despite supreme court said citizens want feel complying law mandate comes viewed establishing new social norm possible many millions currently uninsured americans feel compelled get coverage otherwise might avoided big unknown happen tax first year implementation expected largest number americans subject tax longterm perception mandate could shaped happens coming months obama administration stated 81 million people gotten health insurance federal state exchanges actual enrollment likely lower due nonpayment premiums consumers event enrollment exchanges says little status insurance coverage country net increase insurance coverage obamacare requires examination enrollment employer plans medicaid individual insurance plans offered outside exchanges addition enrollment exchanges point indications point still large number uninsured 2014160 according congressional budget office160the number uninsured americans expected remain 42 million people 2014 assumes continued robust enrollment medicaid throughout year previous analysis issued 2012 cbo indicated large proportion uninsured would exempt tax various reasons instance undocumented immigrants subject tax low income households generally pay income taxes anyway cbo estimated twothirds uninsured would fall exemption categories addition cbo assumed americans would file exemptions due religious reasons taking account cbo assumed 2016 least 20 percent 6 million people would subject tax cbos projections going 12 million people uninsured 2014 compared 2016 means also many people paying uninsured tax many percentage holds 2014 cbo estimates 2016 would total 84 million people subject tax 2014 enrollment year measure sizeable number taxpayers lot voters certainly possible even larger percentage uninsured would subject tax 2014 2016 expected increase enrollment 2016 could come primarily people ability pay premiums therefore subject income exemption consequently number uninsured subject tax 2014 could quite easily 10 even 12 million people tax owed households file taxes next spring greater 95 per adult 4750 per child 1 percent household income coming months awareness tax likely grow growing awareness come greater political turmoil open question whether obama administration laws supporters congress follow impose new tax face likely growing opposition administration already given way earlier year department health human services hhs160 put healthcaregov website160a list acceptable reasons getting insurance therefore paying tax among reasons unexpected expenses caring family member death family last reason listed openended catchall experienced another hardship obtaining health insurance although would seemingly provide anyone wants administration far downplayed significance denied major loophole seeking exemption file form hhs next several months likely crucial period individual mandate thus entirety obamacare supporters opponents agree law depends part effectiveness mandate even fully enforced may effective tax low relative health insurance premiums effective almost certainly stringently enforced especially initially every juncture past year confronted political blowback obama administration sought defuse problems workarounds many dubious legal standing would therefore surprising see decision provide blanket exemption uninsured year grounds process signing well challenging might help president supporters politically shortterm raise even questions whether law workable long term james c capretta senior fellow ethics public policy center visiting fellow american enterprise institute | 630 |
<p>It should be no wonder that it has been, and continues to be, official US policy to protect al-Qaeda.</p>
<p>In the weeks leading up to the agreed upon cessation-of-hostilities (CoH) agreement between the US and Russia, it was John Kerry’s diplomacy that was instrumental in “downgrading” the truce from a more forceful and legally binding ‘ceasefire’ agreement to the less intensive ‘cessation-of-hostilities’ now taking effect.</p>
<p>As <a href="http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/02/252431.htm" type="external">described by Kerry</a>: “So, a ceasefire has a great many legal prerogatives and requirements. A cessation of hostilities does not. A ceasefire in the minds of many of the participants in this particular moment connotes something far more permanent and far more reflective of sort of an end of conflict, if you will. And it is distinctly not that. This is a pause dependent on the process going forward.”</p>
<p>So why the insistence on non-permanence? Especially if, as Kerry says, the ultimate objective is to “obtain a durable, long-term ceasefire” at some point in time?</p>
<p>According to the 29-year career diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service, India’s former ambassador to Uzbekistan and Turkey <a href="http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2016/02/12/us-presses-pause-button-in-syria/" type="external">M. K. Bhadrakumar</a>, it is plainly because “the Russian military operations have met with devastating success lately in strengthening the Syrian regime and scattering the Syrian rebel groups,” leading “the US and its regional allies” to “stare at defeat.” Therefore, they “forthwith need an end to the Russian operations so that they can think up a Plan B. The Geneva talks will not have the desired outcome of President Bashar Al-Assad’s ouster unless the tide of war is reversed.” Therefore, “a cessation of hostilities in Syria is urgently needed.”[1]</p>
<p>Judging by the fact that top US officials began announcing that Russia would break the deal immediately after it was agreed upon while calling for further measures to “ <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-cia-chiefs-dont-think-russia-will-abide-by-syria-ceasefire-officials-say-1456235932?mod=fox_australian" type="external">inflict real pain on the Russians</a>”, Bhadrakumar’s assessment that a pause, and not a permanent halt, was sought in order to regroup and eventually reverse the tide of war seems to be quite apt. As well there has been an almost ubiquitous media campaign in the US to prime the public for accusations of a Russian infraction, from which a breakdown of the deal would follow; the narrative portrayed is filled with “doubts” and “worries” and “statements from US officials” about how Russia isn’t serious and will likely break the agreement.</p>
<p>Furthermore, outwardly Russia is much more optimistic and invested in the deal, President Putin hopefully promoting it while engaging in a blitz of diplomacy to support it, while on the other hand the US has been less vocal and much quicker to doubt its outcomes.</p>
<p>However, this downgrading from a ‘ceasefire’ to a ‘cessation of hostilities’ actually violates past agreements.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sc12171.doc.htm" type="external">UN Security Council Resolution 2254</a>, in which it was articulated that member states be committed to the “sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic,” while calling on them to suppress ISIS, al-Nusra, and “all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL”, it was also agreed upon that the Security Council “expresses its support&#160;for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria” (emphasis added).</p>
<p>Given the about-face, Lavrov was visibly agitated, stating that “Resolution 2254 talks about the ceasefire only. This term is not liked by some members of the International Syria Support Group. What I’m referring to is how something that has been agreed upon should be implemented rather than try to remake the consensus that has been achieved in order to get some unilateral advantages.”</p>
<p>The “unilateral advantages” likely are in reference to the pause-and-regroup strategy Bhadrakumar previously articulated.</p>
<p>Despite this Russia agreed to the downgraded CoH, however, in the week leading up to the agreement there was a major hurdle to overcome, namely whether al-Nusra, the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, would be protected as a party to the truce.</p>
<p>Long has there been a tenant of US propaganda which claims that a sort of “third force” of “moderate opposition fighters” exists, separate and distinct from the extremists and al-Qaeda affiliates. Yet when push came to shove the main stumbling-block in the way of the CoH was the oppositions demand that any truce be “ <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKCN0VT0J6" type="external">conditional on the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front no longer being targeted</a>.” Sources close to the talks would tell Reuters that this insistence was the main “elephant in the room” preventing a settlement.</p>
<p>Even more telling is the fact that this opposition demand only came after the US had insisted upon it. Indeed, while relentlessly pushing the “moderate rebel” narrative it was official US policy to push for the protection of al-Qaeda.</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-says-international-meeting-for-syria-cease-fire-cancelled/2016/02/19/47179aac-d692-11e5-a65b-587e721fb231_story.html" type="external">The Washington Post</a>: “Russia was said to have rejected a U.S. proposal to leave Jabhat al-Nusra off-limits to bombing as part of a cease-fire, at least temporarily, until the groups can be sorted out” (emphasis added).</p>
<p>Responding to arguments posited that al-Nusra should be included in the truce, given that they operate in areas where other rebels are and thus Russia can use this as an excuse to bomb them, Max Abrahms, Professor at Northeastern University and member of the Council on Foreign Relations, explains that these recent developments show that Nusra and the other rebels are <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxAbrahms/status/701059113871142913" type="external">one in the same</a>.</p>
<p>“ <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxAbrahms/status/701103144730808320" type="external">If you’re pro-rebel in Syria, you’re pro-al Qaeda in Syria</a>,” Abrahms writes. “The rebels are now begging for Russia to stop bombing their al-Qaeda partner.”</p>
<p>Indeed, it was the “moderate” US-backed FSA factions that were the biggest advocates of their al-Qaeda partners being included in the truce.</p>
<p>Major Ammar al-Wawi, Secretary General of the Free Syrian Army and head of the FSA’s al-Ababil Brigade in Aleppo, said that al-Nusra was the FSA’s “partner”, and that al-Qaeda was an ally of most of the groups brought together by Saudi Arabia underneath the Higher Negotiation Committee (HNC) banner.</p>
<p>“Nusra has fighters on the ground with rebel brigades in most of Syria and is a partner in the fighting with most of the brigades that attended the Riyadh conference.”</p>
<p>And therefore, while the ceasefire is good in principle, it is not good if it does not include al-Nusra, because “if the ceasefire excludes Jabhat a-Nusra, then this means that the killing of civilians will continue since Nusra’s forces are among civilians.” Al-Wawi seems to forget that the reason Nusra is a terrorist organization is specifically because of its indiscriminate attacks and disregard for civilian lives.</p>
<p>According to the spokesman for Alwiyat al-Furqan, one of the largest FSA factions operating under the Southern Front umbrella, the FSA “will not accept a truce that excludes Jabhat al-Nusra.” The spokesman later goes on to call Nusra “honorable”, along with the equally honorable Salafi-Jihadists groups Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam.</p>
<p>Ahrar, it should be noted, only presents itself as being different from al-Qaeda, in actuality it is not, it is a Salafi-Jihadi group which espouses a reactionary and <a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/ahrar-al-sham-s-apocalyptic-vision-syria-and-beyond-455405201" type="external">apocalyptic Islamist ideology</a> that has been complicit in <a href="http://nationalinterest.org/feature/meet-syrias-fake-moderates-13451?page=2" type="external">sectarian mass murders</a> of Alawites throughout Syria. On the other hand, Jaish al-Islam, in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zajo2GeKyV4" type="external">the words of their former leader</a>, regards al-Nusra as their “brothers” whom they “praise” and “fight alongside.” Jaish al-Islam as well is infamous for parading caged civilians throughout warzones, <a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/11/syrian-rebels-use-caged-civilians-fighters-to-deter-airstrikes.php" type="external">using them as human shields</a>. The current leader of the group, Mohammed Alloush, was <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35364114" type="external">named as the chief negotiator</a> to represent the rebel opposition in talks with the UN.</p>
<p>Yet, according to the FSA, “If today we agreed to exclude Jabhat a-Nusra, then tomorrow we would agree to exclude Ahrar a-Sham, then Jaish al-Islam and so on for every honorable faction. We will not allow the threat of being classified as a terrorist organization to compromise the fundamentals of the revolution for which the Syrian people rose up and for which we have sacrificed and bled.”</p>
<p>One wonders, if the exclusion of al-Qaeda from the ceasefire is tantamount to “compromising the revolution”, what would <a href="https://twitter.com/Hayder_alKhoei/status/703051622918844417" type="external">choosing al-Qaeda as partners</a> be called?</p>
<p>Muhammad a-Sheikh, spokesman for an FSA faction in Latakia, as well thanked Nusra for its “role in trying to lessen the pain inflicted on the Syrian people”, of all things.[2]</p>
<p>Yet all of this gets recycled within the US media as al-Nusra merely being “intermingled with moderate rebel groups”, as the Washington Post puts it. While the narrative purports that the FSA consists of “moderates” reluctantly forced to endure an al-Qaeda alliance for military expediency, in reality much of FSA conduct throughout the war has not been much different from that of the recognized extremists.</p>
<p>In the case of Aleppo, while one man describes how al-Nusra beheaded one of his brother-in-laws, ripped the other to pieces between an electricity poll and a moving car, and kidnapped the other, another man describes how “ <a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/essays/journey-aleppo-how-war-ripped-syrias-biggest-city-apart-1376989223" type="external">Free Syrian Army fighters burned down their house</a>—leaving one daughter with terrible burns” after the man refused to join them. He said they attempted to abduct one of his daughters, but were unsuccessful as neighbors intervened.</p>
<p>Another Aleppo resident writes that “Turkish-Saudi backed ‘moderate rebels’ <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2016/02/18/the-media-are-misleading-public-syria/8YB75otYirPzUCnlwaVtcK/story.html" type="external">showered the residential neighborhoods of Aleppo</a> with unguided rockets and gas jars.”</p>
<p>Indeed, FSA groups were so brutal at times that these “moderates” were feared even more than other recognized extremists.</p>
<p>“Pilloried in the West for their sectarian ferocity… jihadists were often welcomed by local people for restoring law and order after the looting and banditry of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army,” writes Patrick Cockburn, the leading Western journalist in the region.[3]</p>
<p>For people paying close attention this is unfortunately not that surprising.</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.opinion.co.uk/perch/resources/syriadatatablesjuly2014.pdf" type="external">a recent poll</a> conducted by ORB, it was found that most Syrians more or less hold both ISIS and the FSA in equal disdain, 9% saying the FSA represents the Syrian people while 4% saying that ISIS does. The similarity in opinion is reflective of the similarity in conduct.</p>
<p>The not-so-popular FSA groups are routinely described as a separate and distinct entity apart from al-Nusra and ISIS, yet in actuality the lines between the groups have always been extremely porous.</p>
<p>“Due to porous links between some Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels, other Islamist groups like al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham, and ISIS, there have been prolific weapons transfers from ‘moderate’ to Islamist militant groups,” <a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/nafeez-ahmed/isis-wants-destroy-greyzone-how-we-defend" type="external">writes Nafeez Ahmed</a>, Britain’s leading international security scholar.</p>
<p>These links were so extreme that German journalist Jurgen Todenhofer, who spent 10 days inside the Islamic State,&#160; <a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/war-islamic-state-new-cold-war-fiction-1608242142#sthash.CjIaEIZV.dpuf" type="external">reported</a>&#160;last year that ISIS is being “indirectly” armed by the west: “They buy the weapons that we give to the Free Syrian Army, so they get western weapons – they get French weapons… I saw German weapons, I saw American weapons.”</p>
<p>Recently the BBC’s Peter Oborne <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06s0qy9" type="external">conducted an investigation</a> into these claims and came across evidence that the “moderate” FSA were in essence being utilized as a conduit through which Western supplies were funneled to extremists.</p>
<p>Oborne spoke to a lawyer who represents Bherlin Gildo, a Swedish national who went to join the rebel ranks in 2012 and was subsequently arrested for terrorist offenses. Based on her clients own first-hand observations while embedded with the rebels, trucks referred to as NATO trucks were observed coming in from Turkey, which would then be unloaded by the FSA and the arms then distributed quite generally without any specificity of the exact recipient. The weapons would be distributed “to whoever was involved in particular battles.”</p>
<p>Similarly, in 2014 US-backed Syrian Revolutionary Front (SRF) commander Jamal Maarouf <a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/179200" type="external">admitted</a> that his US-handlers had instructed him to send weapons to al-Qaeda. “If the people who support us tell us to send weapons to another group, we send them. They asked us a month ago to send weapons to [Islamist fighters in] Yabroud so we sent a lot of weapons there.”</p>
<p>Battlefield necessity was dictating the weapons recipients, not humanitarian concern for victims of terrorism.</p>
<p>Eventually charges brought against Mr. Gildo <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/01/trial-swedish-man-accused-terrorism-offences-collapse-bherlin-gildo" type="external">were dropped</a>. The reason was because he planned to argue that he had fought on the same side the UK government was supporting. As it was explained before the court, if it is the case that the government “was actively involved in supporting armed resistance to the Assad regime at a time when the defendant was present in Syria and himself participating in such resistance it would be unconscionable”, indeed an “affront to justice”, “to allow the prosecution to continue.”</p>
<p>In a similar case a man named Moazzam Begg was arrested in the UK under terrorism charges after meeting with Ahrar al-Sham. However, his case too was dropped, the courts understanding that if he was guilty of supporting terrorism than so was the British state. “I was very disappointed that the trail didn’t go through,” Begg said. “I believe I would have won… what I was doing… was completely in line with British policy at the time.”</p>
<p>Career MI6 agent and former British diplomat Alastair Crooke extrapolates further on this phenomena of the West’s principle allies playing such a crucial role in arming the jihadis.</p>
<p>“The West does not actually hand the weapons to al-Qaeda, let alone ISIS,” he said, “but the system that they have constructed leads precisely to that end. The weapons conduit that the West directly has been giving to groups such as the Syrian Free Army (FSA), have been understood to be a sort of ‘Wal Mart’ from which the more radical groups would be able to take their weapons and pursue the jihad.” This constitutes a sort of ‘supermarket’ where rebels can go and receive weapons, the weapons always migrating “along the line to the more radical elements.” The idea was to “use jihadists to weaken the government in Damascus and to drive it to its knees to the negotiating table.” Exactly the same kind of policy used in Afghanistan during the 1980s, when conduits such as the Pakistani ISI were used to funnel weapons to the mujahedeen.</p>
<p>Yet these Western weapons were not just going to al-Qaeda and Ahrar al-Sham, ISIS too was shopping at the “moderate” “supermarket.”</p>
<p>In his book “The Rise of Islamic State”, Patrick Cockburn writes, “An intelligence officer from a Middle Eastern country neighboring Syria told me that ISIS members “say they are always pleased when sophisticated weapons are sent to anti-Assad groups of any kind, because they can always get the arms off them by threats of force or cash payments” (emphasis added).[4]</p>
<p>The result of all of this was a deep alliance between the US-backed “moderates” and al-Qaeda, as well as a rebel opposition dominated by ISIS and al-Nusra.</p>
<p>Recently a leader of the Nusra group appeared in a video presenting an FSA commander with <a href="https://twitter.com/EjmAlrai/status/668048941603254272?replies_view=true&amp;cursor=AMCWgS1jRQk" type="external">a gift</a> while saying that there is no difference between the FSA, Ahrar al-Sham, and al-Qaeda. “They are all one,” he explains. The Nusra field commander goes on to thank the FSA for <a href="http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940901001167" type="external">supplying Nusra with US-made TOW anti-tank missiles</a>, which were given to the FSA directly, of course, from the CIA.</p>
<p>A month prior to these revelations reports started to surface about the unfolding situation in “rebel-held” Idlib. Despite the repressive dress codes and savage Islamist laws it became apparent that the FSA was only operating under the authority of the more powerful al-Qaeda rebels.</p>
<p>Jenan Moussa, a journalist for the UAE based Al Aan TV channel who recently had visited the area, reported that Nusra allows the FSA to operate in Hama and Idlib because the FSA groups there get TOW missiles from the West. The reason they are allowed to operate is that the “ <a href="https://twitter.com/jenanmoussa/status/658649059436027904" type="external">FSA uses these TOW in support of Nusra</a>.”</p>
<p>Investigating the situation further, veteran journalist Gareth Porter concludes from a range of sources that in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo every rebel organization is in fact part of a military structure <a href="https://consortiumnews.com/2016/02/16/obamas-moderate-syrian-deception/" type="external">controlled and dominated by al-Nusra</a>.</p>
<p>“All of these rebel groups fight alongside the Nusra Front and coordinate their military activities with it,” Porter writes.</p>
<p>In the case of the rebel capture of Idlib, “Although some U.S.-supported groups participated in the campaign in March and April 2015, the “operations room” planning the campaign was run by Al Qaeda and its close ally Ahrar al Sham.” As well, before the Idlib campaign, “Nusra had forced another U.S.-supported group, Harakat Hazm, to disband and took all of its TOW anti-tank missiles.”</p>
<p>Clearly al-Nusra was subordinating the “moderates.”</p>
<p>The reality began to emerge in December of 2014 when US-backed rebels, supplied with TOW missiles, teamed up with Nusra and fought under their command in order to capture the Wadi al-Deif base. Al Qaeda was “exploiting the Obama administration’s desire to have its own Syrian Army as an instrument for influencing the course of the war.”</p>
<p>Andrew Cockburn reports that “A few months before the Idlib offensive, a member of one CIA-backed group had explained the true nature of its relationship to the Al Qaeda franchise. Nusra, he told the New York Times, allowed militias vetted by the United States to appear independent, so that they would continue to receive American supplies.”</p>
<p>“In other words,” Porter writes, “Nusra was playing Washington,” while Washington was “evidently a willing dupe.”</p>
<p>This all comes down to the fact that the savage and brutal al-Qaeda fighters were proving to be militarily effective, leaving a trail of torture and atrocities, and battlefield successes, in their wake.</p>
<p>Explaining the mindset, Ed Husain, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, writes that the influx of Al-Qaeda and various jihadis “brings discipline, religious fervor, battle experience from Iraq, funding from Sunni sympathizers in the Gulf, and most importantly, <a href="http://www.cfr.org/syria/al-qaedas-specter-syria/p28782" type="external">deadly results</a>.”</p>
<p>Because of this, Porter explains, “instead of breaking with the deception that the CIA’s hand-picked clients were independent of Nusra, the Obama administration continued to cling to it.” The United States basing its policy on the “moderates” was “necessary to provide a political fig leaf for the covert and indirect U.S. reliance on Al Qaeda’s Syrian franchise’s military success.”</p>
<p>Ever since the Russian intervention began, the US has continued to embrace this deceptive narrative, claiming that Russia is targeting the “moderate” opposition. This narrative, and the publics belief in its validity, “had become a necessary shield for the United States to continue playing a political-diplomatic game in Syria.”</p>
<p>Yet, as Patrick Cockburn <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britain-is-on-the-verge-of-entering-into-a-long-war-in-syria-based-on-wishful-thinking-and-poor-a6756476.html" type="external">has reported</a> for quite some time, “The armed opposition to President Assad is dominated by Isis, the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra and the ideologically similar Ahrar al-Sham.” Of the smaller groups the CIA openly supports, they “only operate under license from the extreme jihadists.”</p>
<p>Several rebel groups, 5 of which belong to the FSA, have <a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/02/zleppo-based-rebel-groups-unite-behind-ahrar-al-sham-former-top-leader.php" type="external">recently united</a> under the leadership of the former emir of the al-Qaeda-linked Ahrar al-Sham. A longtime al-Qaeda member who sits on al-Nusra’s elite council explained that “The Free Syrian Army groups said they were ready for anything according to the Islamic sharia and that we are delegated to apply the rulings of the sharia on them”, essentially meaning that the FSA had subordinated themselves to al-Qaeda.</p>
<p>It has been further revealed that <a href="https://twitter.com/EjmAlrai/status/699824599324876800" type="external">all of the Syrian groups operative in Aleppo</a> had recently declared Ba’yaa (loyalty) to the Ahrar al-Sham emir Abu Jaber.</p>
<p>Ba’yaa, it should be noted, means <a href="https://twitter.com/EjmAlrai/status/699825012350586881" type="external">total loyalty and submission</a>, much like what follows from pledging loyalty to ISIS.</p>
<p>Indeed, at least by as far back as August of 2012, <a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Pg.-291-Pgs.-287-293-JW-v-DOD-and-State-14-812-DOD-Release-2015-04-10-final-version11.pdf" type="external">the best US intelligence assessments</a> were reporting that the jihadists and extremists were controlling and steering the course of the opposition. Then head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Michael T. Flynn, would confirm the credibility of these reports, saying that “the intelligence was very clear” and that it wasn’t the case that the administration was just turning a blind eye to these events but instead that the policies were the result of a “ <a href="http://levantreport.com/2015/08/06/former-dia-chief-michael-flynn-says-rise-of-islamic-state-was-a-willful-decision-and-defends-accuracy-of-2012-memo/" type="external">willful decision</a>.”</p>
<p>Despite all of this, US officials still <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-cia-chiefs-dont-think-russia-will-abide-by-syria-ceasefire-officials-say-1456235932?mod=fox_australian" type="external">continue to maintain</a> that “Russia’s bombing campaign in Syria, launched last fall, has infuriated the CIA in particular because the strikes have aggressively targeted relatively moderate rebels it has backed with military supplies, including antitank missiles.”</p>
<p>However, according to the CIA and the intelligence communities own data, this is false.</p>
<p>Back in October of 2012, according to classified US intelligence assessments, “Most of the arms shipped at the behest of Saudi Arabia and Qatar”, which were <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/world/middleeast/cia-said-to-aid-in-steering-arms-to-syrian-rebels.html?_r=0" type="external">organized by the CIA</a>, were “going to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/world/middleeast/jihadists-receiving-most-arms-sent-to-syrian-rebels.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=3&amp;" type="external">hard-line Islamic jihadists</a>.”</p>
<p>A year earlier, immediately after the fall of Gaddafi <a href="https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-defense-state-department-documents-reveal-obama-administration-knew-that-al-qaeda-terrorists-had-planned-benghazi-attack-10-days-in-advance/" type="external">in October of 2011</a>, the CIA began organizing a “ <a href="http://www.lrb.co.uk/v36/n08/seymour-m-hersh/the-red-line-and-the-rat-line" type="external">rat line</a>” from Libya to Syria. Weapons from the former Libyan stockpiles were shipped from Benghazi to Syria and into the hands of the Syrian rebels. According to information obtained by Seymour Hersh, “Many of those in Syria who ultimately received the weapons <a href="http://www.lrb.co.uk/v36/n08/seymour-m-hersh/the-red-line-and-the-rat-line" type="external">were jihadists</a>, some of them affiliated with al-Qaida.”</p>
<p>In a <a href="http://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n01/seymour-m-hersh/military-to-military" type="external">highly classified 2013 assessment</a> put together by the DIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), an “all-source” appraisal which draws on information from signals, satellite, and human intelligence, it was concluded that the US program to arm the rebels quickly turned into a logistical operation for the entire opposition, including al-Nusra and ISIS. The so-called moderates had evaporated, “there was no viable ‘moderate’ opposition to Assad,” and “the US was arming extremists.”</p>
<p>DIA chief Michael Flynn confirmed that his agency had sent a constant stream of warnings to the civilian administration between 2012 and 2014 saying that the jihadists were in control of the opposition.</p>
<p>“If the American public saw the intelligence we were producing daily, at the most sensitive level, they would go ballistic,” Flynn said.</p>
<p>Yet, as Flynn stated previously, it was a “willful decision” for the administration “to do what they’re doing.”</p>
<p>By summer of 2013, Seymour Hersh reported that “although many in the American intelligence community were aware that the Syrian opposition was dominated by extremists,” still “the CIA-sponsored weapons kept coming.”</p>
<p>According to a JCS advisor, despite heavy Pentagon objections there was simply “no way to stop the arms shipments that had been authorised by the president.”</p>
<p>“I felt that they did not want to hear the truth,” Flynn said.</p>
<p>So what Russia is bombing in actuality is an al-Qaeda, extremist dominated opposition embedded with CIA-backed rebels operating under their control. The not-so-moderates only operate under license from, and in support of, the Salafi jihadists, openly expressing their solidarity with them, labelling them as “brothers”, and begging the UN to protect them. Concurrently the US and its allies continue to support the terrorist-dominated insurgency, US officials openly planning to <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxAbrahms/status/702145247875309569" type="external">expand their support to al-Qaeda-laced rebels</a> in order to “inflict pain on the Russians”, all while Turkey and Saudi Arabia openly support al-Qaeda. All of this occurring because of the United States reliance upon “Al Qaeda’s Syrian franchise’s military successes” and their “deadly results”, in order to further the policy of using “jihadists to weaken the government in Damascus” and to “drive it to its knees at the negotiating table.”</p>
<p>The function of the “moderates” in essence being the <a href="https://twitter.com/MoonofA/status/701119792942546945" type="external">logistical and public relations front</a> for the “not-so-moderate” al-Qaeda units winning the battles.</p>
<p>Speaking at Harvard University, Vice President Biden infamously and candidly summarized what had been going on, saying that it was our allies who were “so determined to take down Assad and essentially have a proxy Sunni-Shia war,” that they “poured hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of tons of weapons into anyone who would fight against Assad. Except that the people who were being supplied were al-Nusra and Al Qaeda and the extremist elements of jihadis coming from other parts of the world.”</p>
<p>When asked why the United States was powerless to stop nations like Qatar from engaging in this kind of behavior, “a former adviser to one of the Gulf States replied softly: “ <a href="http://harpers.org/archive/2016/01/a-special-relationship/4/" type="external">They didn’t want to</a>.”</p>
<p>So it should be no wonder why the US tried to push through a provision including al-Nusra in the current ceasefire agreement, nor why they would seek to protect their most viable ally in pursuance of their Syria policy.</p>
<p>It should be no wonder that it has been, and continues to be, official US policy to protect al-Qaeda.</p>
<p>1. For further analysis, see Moon of Alabama, February 20, 2016, “U.S. Ignores Own UNSC Resolution – Tells Russia “Stop Bombing Al-Qaeda!” <a href="http://www.moonofalabama.org/2016/02/us-ignores-own-unsc-resolution-tells-russia-stop-bombing-al-qaeda.html" type="external">http://www.moonofalabama.org/2016/02/us-ignores-own-unsc-resolution-tells-russia-stop-bombing-al-qaeda.html</a>.</p>
<p>2. Syria Direct, “Five rebel spokesmen, commanders react to ‘cessation of hostilities’ to take effect Saturday.” February 25, 2016. <a href="http://syriadirect.org/news/five-rebel-spokesmen-commanders-react-to-cessation-of-hostilities-to-take-effect-Saturday/#.Vs-kDMO3y9U.twitter" type="external">http://syriadirect.org/news/five-rebel-spokesmen-commanders-react-to-cessation-of-hostilities-to-take-effect-Saturday/#.Vs-kDMO3y9U.twitter</a>.</p>
<p>3. Cockburn, Patrick. “Jihadists Hijack the Syria Uprising.”&#160;The Rise of Islamic State: ISIS and the New Sunni Revolution (Brooklyn, NY, 2015), pg. 84-5. Print.</p>
<p>4. Cockburn, Patrick, “The Rise of ISIS”,&#160;The Rise of Islamic State: ISIS and the New Sunni Revolution (Brooklyn, NY, 2015), pg. 3. Print.</p>
<p>This article was originally published at <a href="https://undergroundreports.blogspot.com/2016/02/official-us-policy-protect-al-qaeda.html" type="external">undergroundreports.blogspot.com</a>.</p> | false | 1 | wonder continues official us policy protect alqaeda weeks leading agreed upon cessationofhostilities coh agreement us russia john kerrys diplomacy instrumental downgrading truce forceful legally binding ceasefire agreement less intensive cessationofhostilities taking effect described kerry ceasefire great many legal prerogatives requirements cessation hostilities ceasefire minds many participants particular moment connotes something far permanent far reflective sort end conflict distinctly pause dependent process going forward insistence nonpermanence especially kerry says ultimate objective obtain durable longterm ceasefire point time according 29year career diplomat indian foreign service indias former ambassador uzbekistan turkey k bhadrakumar plainly russian military operations met devastating success lately strengthening syrian regime scattering syrian rebel groups leading us regional allies stare defeat therefore forthwith need end russian operations think plan b geneva talks desired outcome president bashar alassads ouster unless tide war reversed therefore cessation hostilities syria urgently needed1 judging fact top us officials began announcing russia would break deal immediately agreed upon calling measures inflict real pain russians bhadrakumars assessment pause permanent halt sought order regroup eventually reverse tide war seems quite apt well almost ubiquitous media campaign us prime public accusations russian infraction breakdown deal would follow narrative portrayed filled doubts worries statements us officials russia isnt serious likely break agreement furthermore outwardly russia much optimistic invested deal president putin hopefully promoting engaging blitz diplomacy support hand us less vocal much quicker doubt outcomes however downgrading ceasefire cessation hostilities actually violates past agreements un security council resolution 2254 articulated member states committed sovereignty independence unity territorial integrity syrian arab republic calling suppress isis alnusra individuals groups undertakings entities associated al qaeda isil also agreed upon security council expresses support160for nationwide ceasefire syria emphasis added given aboutface lavrov visibly agitated stating resolution 2254 talks ceasefire term liked members international syria support group im referring something agreed upon implemented rather try remake consensus achieved order get unilateral advantages unilateral advantages likely reference pauseandregroup strategy bhadrakumar previously articulated despite russia agreed downgraded coh however week leading agreement major hurdle overcome namely whether alnusra alqaeda affiliate syria would protected party truce long tenant us propaganda claims sort third force moderate opposition fighters exists separate distinct extremists alqaeda affiliates yet push came shove main stumblingblock way coh oppositions demand truce conditional al qaedalinked nusra front longer targeted sources close talks would tell reuters insistence main elephant room preventing settlement even telling fact opposition demand came us insisted upon indeed relentlessly pushing moderate rebel narrative official us policy push protection alqaeda according washington post russia said rejected us proposal leave jabhat alnusra offlimits bombing part ceasefire least temporarily groups sorted emphasis added responding arguments posited alnusra included truce given operate areas rebels thus russia use excuse bomb max abrahms professor northeastern university member council foreign relations explains recent developments show nusra rebels one youre prorebel syria youre proal qaeda syria abrahms writes rebels begging russia stop bombing alqaeda partner indeed moderate usbacked fsa factions biggest advocates alqaeda partners included truce major ammar alwawi secretary general free syrian army head fsas alababil brigade aleppo said alnusra fsas partner alqaeda ally groups brought together saudi arabia underneath higher negotiation committee hnc banner nusra fighters ground rebel brigades syria partner fighting brigades attended riyadh conference therefore ceasefire good principle good include alnusra ceasefire excludes jabhat anusra means killing civilians continue since nusras forces among civilians alwawi seems forget reason nusra terrorist organization specifically indiscriminate attacks disregard civilian lives according spokesman alwiyat alfurqan one largest fsa factions operating southern front umbrella fsa accept truce excludes jabhat alnusra spokesman later goes call nusra honorable along equally honorable salafijihadists groups ahrar alsham jaish alislam ahrar noted presents different alqaeda actuality salafijihadi group espouses reactionary apocalyptic islamist ideology complicit sectarian mass murders alawites throughout syria hand jaish alislam words former leader regards alnusra brothers praise fight alongside jaish alislam well infamous parading caged civilians throughout warzones using human shields current leader group mohammed alloush named chief negotiator represent rebel opposition talks un yet according fsa today agreed exclude jabhat anusra tomorrow would agree exclude ahrar asham jaish alislam every honorable faction allow threat classified terrorist organization compromise fundamentals revolution syrian people rose sacrificed bled one wonders exclusion alqaeda ceasefire tantamount compromising revolution would choosing alqaeda partners called muhammad asheikh spokesman fsa faction latakia well thanked nusra role trying lessen pain inflicted syrian people things2 yet gets recycled within us media alnusra merely intermingled moderate rebel groups washington post puts narrative purports fsa consists moderates reluctantly forced endure alqaeda alliance military expediency reality much fsa conduct throughout war much different recognized extremists case aleppo one man describes alnusra beheaded one brotherinlaws ripped pieces electricity poll moving car kidnapped another man describes free syrian army fighters burned houseleaving one daughter terrible burns man refused join said attempted abduct one daughters unsuccessful neighbors intervened another aleppo resident writes turkishsaudi backed moderate rebels showered residential neighborhoods aleppo unguided rockets gas jars indeed fsa groups brutal times moderates feared even recognized extremists pilloried west sectarian ferocity jihadists often welcomed local people restoring law order looting banditry westernbacked free syrian army writes patrick cockburn leading western journalist region3 people paying close attention unfortunately surprising according recent poll conducted orb found syrians less hold isis fsa equal disdain 9 saying fsa represents syrian people 4 saying isis similarity opinion reflective similarity conduct notsopopular fsa groups routinely described separate distinct entity apart alnusra isis yet actuality lines groups always extremely porous due porous links free syrian army fsa rebels islamist groups like alnusra ahrar alsham isis prolific weapons transfers moderate islamist militant groups writes nafeez ahmed britains leading international security scholar links extreme german journalist jurgen todenhofer spent 10 days inside islamic state160 reported160last year isis indirectly armed west buy weapons give free syrian army get western weapons get french weapons saw german weapons saw american weapons recently bbcs peter oborne conducted investigation claims came across evidence moderate fsa essence utilized conduit western supplies funneled extremists oborne spoke lawyer represents bherlin gildo swedish national went join rebel ranks 2012 subsequently arrested terrorist offenses based clients firsthand observations embedded rebels trucks referred nato trucks observed coming turkey would unloaded fsa arms distributed quite generally without specificity exact recipient weapons would distributed whoever involved particular battles similarly 2014 usbacked syrian revolutionary front srf commander jamal maarouf admitted ushandlers instructed send weapons alqaeda people support us tell us send weapons another group send asked us month ago send weapons islamist fighters yabroud sent lot weapons battlefield necessity dictating weapons recipients humanitarian concern victims terrorism eventually charges brought mr gildo dropped reason planned argue fought side uk government supporting explained court case government actively involved supporting armed resistance assad regime time defendant present syria participating resistance would unconscionable indeed affront justice allow prosecution continue similar case man named moazzam begg arrested uk terrorism charges meeting ahrar alsham however case dropped courts understanding guilty supporting terrorism british state disappointed trail didnt go begg said believe would completely line british policy time career mi6 agent former british diplomat alastair crooke extrapolates phenomena wests principle allies playing crucial role arming jihadis west actually hand weapons alqaeda let alone isis said system constructed leads precisely end weapons conduit west directly giving groups syrian free army fsa understood sort wal mart radical groups would able take weapons pursue jihad constitutes sort supermarket rebels go receive weapons weapons always migrating along line radical elements idea use jihadists weaken government damascus drive knees negotiating table exactly kind policy used afghanistan 1980s conduits pakistani isi used funnel weapons mujahedeen yet western weapons going alqaeda ahrar alsham isis shopping moderate supermarket book rise islamic state patrick cockburn writes intelligence officer middle eastern country neighboring syria told isis members say always pleased sophisticated weapons sent antiassad groups kind always get arms threats force cash payments emphasis added4 result deep alliance usbacked moderates alqaeda well rebel opposition dominated isis alnusra recently leader nusra group appeared video presenting fsa commander gift saying difference fsa ahrar alsham alqaeda one explains nusra field commander goes thank fsa supplying nusra usmade tow antitank missiles given fsa directly course cia month prior revelations reports started surface unfolding situation rebelheld idlib despite repressive dress codes savage islamist laws became apparent fsa operating authority powerful alqaeda rebels jenan moussa journalist uae based al aan tv channel recently visited area reported nusra allows fsa operate hama idlib fsa groups get tow missiles west reason allowed operate fsa uses tow support nusra investigating situation veteran journalist gareth porter concludes range sources provinces idlib aleppo every rebel organization fact part military structure controlled dominated alnusra rebel groups fight alongside nusra front coordinate military activities porter writes case rebel capture idlib although ussupported groups participated campaign march april 2015 operations room planning campaign run al qaeda close ally ahrar al sham well idlib campaign nusra forced another ussupported group harakat hazm disband took tow antitank missiles clearly alnusra subordinating moderates reality began emerge december 2014 usbacked rebels supplied tow missiles teamed nusra fought command order capture wadi aldeif base al qaeda exploiting obama administrations desire syrian army instrument influencing course war andrew cockburn reports months idlib offensive member one ciabacked group explained true nature relationship al qaeda franchise nusra told new york times allowed militias vetted united states appear independent would continue receive american supplies words porter writes nusra playing washington washington evidently willing dupe comes fact savage brutal alqaeda fighters proving militarily effective leaving trail torture atrocities battlefield successes wake explaining mindset ed husain senior fellow council foreign relations writes influx alqaeda various jihadis brings discipline religious fervor battle experience iraq funding sunni sympathizers gulf importantly deadly results porter explains instead breaking deception cias handpicked clients independent nusra obama administration continued cling united states basing policy moderates necessary provide political fig leaf covert indirect us reliance al qaedas syrian franchises military success ever since russian intervention began us continued embrace deceptive narrative claiming russia targeting moderate opposition narrative publics belief validity become necessary shield united states continue playing politicaldiplomatic game syria yet patrick cockburn reported quite time armed opposition president assad dominated isis alqaeda affiliate jabhat alnusra ideologically similar ahrar alsham smaller groups cia openly supports operate license extreme jihadists several rebel groups 5 belong fsa recently united leadership former emir alqaedalinked ahrar alsham longtime alqaeda member sits alnusras elite council explained free syrian army groups said ready anything according islamic sharia delegated apply rulings sharia essentially meaning fsa subordinated alqaeda revealed syrian groups operative aleppo recently declared bayaa loyalty ahrar alsham emir abu jaber bayaa noted means total loyalty submission much like follows pledging loyalty isis indeed least far back august 2012 best us intelligence assessments reporting jihadists extremists controlling steering course opposition head defense intelligence agency dia michael flynn would confirm credibility reports saying intelligence clear wasnt case administration turning blind eye events instead policies result willful decision despite us officials still continue maintain russias bombing campaign syria launched last fall infuriated cia particular strikes aggressively targeted relatively moderate rebels backed military supplies including antitank missiles however according cia intelligence communities data false back october 2012 according classified us intelligence assessments arms shipped behest saudi arabia qatar organized cia going hardline islamic jihadists year earlier immediately fall gaddafi october 2011 cia began organizing rat line libya syria weapons former libyan stockpiles shipped benghazi syria hands syrian rebels according information obtained seymour hersh many syria ultimately received weapons jihadists affiliated alqaida highly classified 2013 assessment put together dia joint chiefs staff jcs allsource appraisal draws information signals satellite human intelligence concluded us program arm rebels quickly turned logistical operation entire opposition including alnusra isis socalled moderates evaporated viable moderate opposition assad us arming extremists dia chief michael flynn confirmed agency sent constant stream warnings civilian administration 2012 2014 saying jihadists control opposition american public saw intelligence producing daily sensitive level would go ballistic flynn said yet flynn stated previously willful decision administration theyre summer 2013 seymour hersh reported although many american intelligence community aware syrian opposition dominated extremists still ciasponsored weapons kept coming according jcs advisor despite heavy pentagon objections simply way stop arms shipments authorised president felt want hear truth flynn said russia bombing actuality alqaeda extremist dominated opposition embedded ciabacked rebels operating control notsomoderates operate license support salafi jihadists openly expressing solidarity labelling brothers begging un protect concurrently us allies continue support terroristdominated insurgency us officials openly planning expand support alqaedalaced rebels order inflict pain russians turkey saudi arabia openly support alqaeda occurring united states reliance upon al qaedas syrian franchises military successes deadly results order policy using jihadists weaken government damascus drive knees negotiating table function moderates essence logistical public relations front notsomoderate alqaeda units winning battles speaking harvard university vice president biden infamously candidly summarized going saying allies determined take assad essentially proxy sunnishia war poured hundreds millions dollars tens thousands tons weapons anyone would fight assad except people supplied alnusra al qaeda extremist elements jihadis coming parts world asked united states powerless stop nations like qatar engaging kind behavior former adviser one gulf states replied softly didnt want wonder us tried push provision including alnusra current ceasefire agreement would seek protect viable ally pursuance syria policy wonder continues official us policy protect alqaeda 1 analysis see moon alabama february 20 2016 us ignores unsc resolution tells russia stop bombing alqaeda httpwwwmoonofalabamaorg201602usignoresownunscresolutiontellsrussiastopbombingalqaedahtml 2 syria direct five rebel spokesmen commanders react cessation hostilities take effect saturday february 25 2016 httpsyriadirectorgnewsfiverebelspokesmencommandersreacttocessationofhostilitiestotakeeffectsaturdayvskdmo3y9utwitter 3 cockburn patrick jihadists hijack syria uprising160the rise islamic state isis new sunni revolution brooklyn ny 2015 pg 845 print 4 cockburn patrick rise isis160the rise islamic state isis new sunni revolution brooklyn ny 2015 pg 3 print article originally published undergroundreportsblogspotcom | 2,251 |
<p>In “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/victoria-abdul/" type="external">Victoria &amp; Abdul</a>,” a gilded let’s-tweak-the-Empire-but-not-really talkfest duet directed by <a href="http://variety.com/t/stephen-frears/" type="external">Stephen Frears</a>, our first encounter with Queen Victoria ( <a href="http://variety.com/t/judi-dench/" type="external">Judi Dench</a>) comes during a lavish lunch for her majesty’s golden jubilee. It’s 1887, and the 68-year-old monarch has been placed at the head of a dining table as long as a cricket field. She’s so bored and depressed that she can barely stay awake, so she eats herself into a food coma and looks ready to be wheeled out — that is, until Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a 24-year-old Indian clerk who’s been chosen to present her with a mohur (a gold coin minted by British India), approaches her royal highness. Their eyes meet, agleam with a delight that’s nearly flirtatious, as if Tinkerbell had just sprinkled fairy dust on both of them.</p>
<p>And so begins a love affair: not a literal one, but a mother-son, master-servant, disciple-guru bond that will stay in place, and grow, for the next 14 years, right up until Victoria’s death, in 1901. There really was an Abdul Karim, and though “Victoria &amp; Abdul” has a cheeky introductory title that says “Based on true events…mostly,” the movie, written by Lee Hall (who drew upon the 2010 book by the Indian journalist Shrabani Basu), sticks close to the particulars of how he came to be a special companion of Victoria’s. She referred to him as “the Munshi,” a word that to Victoria, in the movie, means spiritual teacher. But he’s really her elixir. His very presence makes her feel good.</p>
<p>If Queen Victoria, from minute one, seems not only familiar to us but, indeed, like an old friend, that may be because Dench, 20 years ago, in her first lead movie role, played her in “Mrs. Brown” (1997), another drama about the queen’s “inappropriate” relationship with the most unlikely of underlings. Then too, in the couple of decades since, Dench has played nearly every role as if it were a species of misbehaving royalty: the cutting wit and puckish superiority, the way she has of laughing — or crying — invisibly beneath that dour scolding visage. Dench is 82 now, but she remains the world’s most formidable pixie, and in “Victoria &amp; Abdul” she’s in her element and in her snappish, showbiz-melancholy prime. The film surrounds Dench with a coterie of stuffy arrogant British fools for her to not suffer gladly, each one adding to her (and the audience’s) satisfaction.</p>
<p>And then there’s Abdul. He is tall, twinkly, and yummy handsome, with thick shiny black hair and a beard that makes him look like Paul McCartney in “Let It Be.” The Indian actor Ali Fazal, a Bollywood star who made his Hollywood debut in “Furious 7” (2015), plays him with a sing-song voice and a courtly sweetness that never lets up. When Abdul first sees Victoria after that lunch, it’s at another public event, and, rather startlingly, he gets down on the ground to kiss the queen’s foot. (She doesn’t ask him to; he just does it.) Later on, he talks to her, in starry-eyed tones of gentle rapture, about the Taj Mahal and the wonders of Indian Cuisine (especially the glories of mango chutney), and he agrees to teach her Urdu, which he calls the most “noble” of Indian languages. When he reveals that he’s married, he tells Victoria that she means more to him than his wife does.</p>
<p>Victoria, too, looks up to Abdul, at times the way the Beatles did (however briefly) to the Maharishi: as an exotic force of enlightenment. Yet the word munshi was used, at the time, to mean clerk or secretary, and the central relationship in “Victoria &amp; Abdul” never pretends to be one of equals. Abdul, as a man, remains dutiful, devoted, saintly, obsequious, servile. Maybe that’s accurate, maybe not, but in a mainstream middlebrow drama coming out in 2017, it gives one a bit of pause, because it reinforces a point-of-view toward the British colonization of India that comes off as myopic and, frankly, a little too old-fashioned for comfort.</p>
<p>“Victoria &amp; Abdul” is a pleasant enough entertainment, and it will bring the inevitable awards chatter Dench’s way (is her acting ever less than pinpoint? Never). But as prestige period pieces go, it’s far from top-drawer (more like second drawer, or even third), because its cozy lack of enlightenment is mirrored in the standard but far from scintillating play of its drama. What we once liked to call “Masterpiece Theatre” movies —&#160;an archaic term even before “Downton Abbey” came along — were built upon a certain vital and up-front nostalgia for the age of manners, civilized romance, and courtly Britishness. But “Victoria &amp; Abdul” is a movie that appears to be specifically nostalgic for the relationship between England and India under the British empire.</p>
<p>Thirty-five years ago, in a movie like “Heat &amp; Dust” (1983), the Merchant Ivory team explored the symbiosis of India and England in a way that was far more complex and morally shaded. “Victoria &amp; Abdul” does voice some anti-colonial sentiment, but it’s all placed in the mouth of Abdul’s angry comrade, Mohammed (Adeel Ahktar), who calls the British “barbarians” because of all the animal parts they consume. His ire is treated as a semi-joke, but the real issue is why Abdul, in all his radiant intelligence, is portrayed as a man who never once longed for his country to be free of the yoke of British occupation. I’m not arguing for an anachronistic reading of history, but when Victoria refers to herself as “the Empress of India,” and Abdul smiles on, the movie comes close to portraying it is as if that were the natural order of things.</p>
<p>Of course, this being an American-British Oscar-bait production, there are all these marquee British actors playing stuffed shirts: Michael Gambon as the Prime Minister, Olivia Williams as Baroness Churchill, Eddie Izzard as Victoria’s son, the Prince of Wales. They turn up their noses at Victoria’s guru-servant and speak of how the Indians are of a “lower” order, and the audience gets to silently tut-tut them, which makes it seem as if the movie has its heart in the right place. But the film’s true strategy is to “dignify” India by holding up a superstar saint like Abdul as its flawless representative. That’s not enlightened — it’s “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” served with mango chutney.</p>
<p>Reviewed at Venice Film Festival (out of competition fiction), September 3, 2017. Running time: 110 MIN.</p>
<p>A Focus Features release of a BBC Films, Working Title Films, Cross Street Films production. Producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Beeban Kidron, Tracey Seaward.</p>
<p>Director: Stephen Frears. Screenplay: Lee Hall, Shrabani Basu. Camera (color, widescreen): Danny Cohen. Editor: Melanie Oliver.</p>
<p>Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Michael Gambon, Olivia Williams, Eddie Izzard, Simon Callow, Tim Pigott-Smith, Adeel Akhtar, Fenella Woolgar, Julian Wadham, Deano Bugatti.</p> | false | 1 | victoria amp abdul gilded letstweaktheempirebutnotreally talkfest duet directed stephen frears first encounter queen victoria judi dench comes lavish lunch majestys golden jubilee 1887 68yearold monarch placed head dining table long cricket field shes bored depressed barely stay awake eats food coma looks ready wheeled abdul karim ali fazal 24yearold indian clerk whos chosen present mohur gold coin minted british india approaches royal highness eyes meet agleam delight thats nearly flirtatious tinkerbell sprinkled fairy dust begins love affair literal one motherson masterservant discipleguru bond stay place grow next 14 years right victorias death 1901 really abdul karim though victoria amp abdul cheeky introductory title says based true eventsmostly movie written lee hall drew upon 2010 book indian journalist shrabani basu sticks close particulars came special companion victorias referred munshi word victoria movie means spiritual teacher hes really elixir presence makes feel good queen victoria minute one seems familiar us indeed like old friend may dench 20 years ago first lead movie role played mrs brown 1997 another drama queens inappropriate relationship unlikely underlings couple decades since dench played nearly every role species misbehaving royalty cutting wit puckish superiority way laughing crying invisibly beneath dour scolding visage dench 82 remains worlds formidable pixie victoria amp abdul shes element snappish showbizmelancholy prime film surrounds dench coterie stuffy arrogant british fools suffer gladly one adding audiences satisfaction theres abdul tall twinkly yummy handsome thick shiny black hair beard makes look like paul mccartney let indian actor ali fazal bollywood star made hollywood debut furious 7 2015 plays singsong voice courtly sweetness never lets abdul first sees victoria lunch another public event rather startlingly gets ground kiss queens foot doesnt ask later talks starryeyed tones gentle rapture taj mahal wonders indian cuisine especially glories mango chutney agrees teach urdu calls noble indian languages reveals hes married tells victoria means wife victoria looks abdul times way beatles however briefly maharishi exotic force enlightenment yet word munshi used time mean clerk secretary central relationship victoria amp abdul never pretends one equals abdul man remains dutiful devoted saintly obsequious servile maybe thats accurate maybe mainstream middlebrow drama coming 2017 gives one bit pause reinforces pointofview toward british colonization india comes myopic frankly little oldfashioned comfort victoria amp abdul pleasant enough entertainment bring inevitable awards chatter denchs way acting ever less pinpoint never prestige period pieces go far topdrawer like second drawer even third cozy lack enlightenment mirrored standard far scintillating play drama liked call masterpiece theatre movies 160an archaic term even downton abbey came along built upon certain vital upfront nostalgia age manners civilized romance courtly britishness victoria amp abdul movie appears specifically nostalgic relationship england india british empire thirtyfive years ago movie like heat amp dust 1983 merchant ivory team explored symbiosis india england way far complex morally shaded victoria amp abdul voice anticolonial sentiment placed mouth abduls angry comrade mohammed adeel ahktar calls british barbarians animal parts consume ire treated semijoke real issue abdul radiant intelligence portrayed man never longed country free yoke british occupation im arguing anachronistic reading history victoria refers empress india abdul smiles movie comes close portraying natural order things course americanbritish oscarbait production marquee british actors playing stuffed shirts michael gambon prime minister olivia williams baroness churchill eddie izzard victorias son prince wales turn noses victorias guruservant speak indians lower order audience gets silently tuttut makes seem movie heart right place films true strategy dignify india holding superstar saint like abdul flawless representative thats enlightened guess whos coming dinner served mango chutney reviewed venice film festival competition fiction september 3 2017 running time 110 min focus features release bbc films working title films cross street films production producers tim bevan eric fellner beeban kidron tracey seaward director stephen frears screenplay lee hall shrabani basu camera color widescreen danny cohen editor melanie oliver judi dench ali fazal michael gambon olivia williams eddie izzard simon callow tim pigottsmith adeel akhtar fenella woolgar julian wadham deano bugatti | 652 |
<p>Ralph Battels figured it out when one of his patients woke up and tried to punch him in the face. A single shot of naloxone often really isn’t enough to do the trick anymore.</p>
<p>Addicts in the Colorado town where he’s an emergency room doctor are downing such incredibly powerful opioids that the overdose-reversal agent may have to be applied two or three times — or more — to revive them and calm their sometimes violent highs. The budget at Pagosa Springs Medical Center is taking an unanticipated hit, another victim of a raging national epidemic.</p>
<p>“It’s a problem that frankly we should be able to control,” Battels said. “But it’s a big challenge. It’s everywhere.”</p>
<p>Hospitals and emergency-services agencies across the U.S. are confronting higher bills for the chemical compound that can block the effects of painkillers and heroin, as super-strong synthetic opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil grow increasingly popular. Not only are more doses of the remedy often required, prices for some brands of naxolone have been ticking up.</p>
<p>“You try and balance product cost and care — and that creates obvious problems,” said Nilay Shah, a consultant in the Division of Health Care Policy and Research at the Mayo Clinic and one of the authors of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that warned escalating costs threaten efforts to save lives.</p>
<p>The number of naloxone recipients getting multiple doses has grown more than 25 percent since 2012, according to research published in May by the National Association of EMS Physicians. Some medical centers have increased their routine doses just to be safe, with Danbury Hospital in Connecticut, for example, now giving four-milligram rather than two-milligram applications of Adapt Pharma Inc.’s Narcan as a matter of course. Some can’t keep up: St. Vincent Hospital in Leadville, Colorado, recently ran out and had to borrow supplies from a nearby facility.</p>
<p>Legally Bound</p>
<p>It all adds up to a drain on health-care resources. In Florida, the Manatee County Emergency Medical Services department gave 432 applications of Narcan in June compared to just nine in the same month four years ago, with a 650 percent cost increase to $109,650.</p>
<p>“We have noticed an ebb and flow of different synthetics, some requiring multiple doses to bring patients around,” said Paul DiCicco, the department’s chief. The synthesized opioids, often manufactured illegally and available over the internet, can be dozens of times stronger than heroin.</p>
<p>EMS crews save money by stocking the cheapest naloxone available and buying low-cost nasal dispensers instead of purchasing the medication in pre-filled injectors. But they’re legally, and ethically, bound to try to save lives no matter the cost.</p>
<p>“There’s no way not to respond to a 911 call,” said Brent Myers, president of the National Association of EMS Physicians. “And once there, there’s no way not provide a life-saving treatment.”</p>
<p>A city councilman in Middletown, Ohio, proposed doing just that earlier this year — with a baseball-style strike-out rule where emergency response personnel wouldn’t be dispatched to someone overdosing for a third time.</p>
<p>Nine Doses</p>
<p>“We need to put a fear about overdosing in Middletown,” the councilman, Dan Picard, told his colleagues when he made his suggestion, which he quickly withdrew&#160;upon realizing the legal hurdles it faced.</p>
<p>There are about 50,000 people in Middletown, and there have been around 600 overdoses so far there this year, more than in all of 2016. And because the opiates are getting so much stronger, it can take up to nine doses of naloxone to revive a person, according to a report prepared by the city manager.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump has backed a recommendation in a&#160;report from the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis and said the epidemic is a national emergency. Declaring an emergency, the report said, will allow Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to negotiate reduced pricing for government-issued naloxone.</p>
<p>The federal government and many cities and states have moved to make naloxone, first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1971, more easily available. It can be purchased over the counter in about 40 states.</p>
<p>Annual sales of all brands went from $21.3 million in 2011 to $81.9 million in 2015, according to QuintilesIMS Holdings Inc., which tracks drug sales. The brand that has gotten the most attention and criticism is Evzio from Kaleo Inc., an injectible that’s made for personal use and not widely used by hospitals or EMS crews. The two-dose package list price went from $690 in 2014 to $4,500 last year, according to research published in December in The New England Journal of Medicine. Kaleo said it did that to generate more revenue to expand its patient-assistance program, which covers insured individuals’ co-payments and most costs for low-income people.</p>
<p>Manufacturers such as&#160;Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Hospira Inc. offer discounts and rebates and negotiate with hospitals and others, so that few buyers actually pay the list price, with out-of-pocket costs for people with insurance usually much less. Many companies, including Kaleo, donate batches of their products to public-health, emergency-services and nonprofit agencies.</p>
<p>The epidemic has reached critical proportions,&#160;said Gail D’Onofrio, chair of the emergency medicine department at the Yale School of Medicine. With overdose rates up and opioids more powerful, “it’s a perfect storm.”</p> | false | 1 | ralph battels figured one patients woke tried punch face single shot naloxone often really isnt enough trick anymore addicts colorado town hes emergency room doctor downing incredibly powerful opioids overdosereversal agent may applied two three times revive calm sometimes violent highs budget pagosa springs medical center taking unanticipated hit another victim raging national epidemic problem frankly able control battels said big challenge everywhere hospitals emergencyservices agencies across us confronting higher bills chemical compound block effects painkillers heroin superstrong synthetic opioids like fentanyl carfentanil grow increasingly popular doses remedy often required prices brands naxolone ticking try balance product cost care creates obvious problems said nilay shah consultant division health care policy research mayo clinic one authors study published new england journal medicine warned escalating costs threaten efforts save lives number naloxone recipients getting multiple doses grown 25 percent since 2012 according research published may national association ems physicians medical centers increased routine doses safe danbury hospital connecticut example giving fourmilligram rather twomilligram applications adapt pharma incs narcan matter course cant keep st vincent hospital leadville colorado recently ran borrow supplies nearby facility legally bound adds drain healthcare resources florida manatee county emergency medical services department gave 432 applications narcan june compared nine month four years ago 650 percent cost increase 109650 noticed ebb flow different synthetics requiring multiple doses bring patients around said paul dicicco departments chief synthesized opioids often manufactured illegally available internet dozens times stronger heroin ems crews save money stocking cheapest naloxone available buying lowcost nasal dispensers instead purchasing medication prefilled injectors theyre legally ethically bound try save lives matter cost theres way respond 911 call said brent myers president national association ems physicians theres way provide lifesaving treatment city councilman middletown ohio proposed earlier year baseballstyle strikeout rule emergency response personnel wouldnt dispatched someone overdosing third time nine doses need put fear overdosing middletown councilman dan picard told colleagues made suggestion quickly withdrew160upon realizing legal hurdles faced 50000 people middletown around 600 overdoses far year 2016 opiates getting much stronger take nine doses naloxone revive person according report prepared city manager president donald trump backed recommendation a160report presidents commission combating drug addiction opioid crisis said epidemic national emergency declaring emergency report said allow department health human services secretary tom price negotiate reduced pricing governmentissued naloxone federal government many cities states moved make naloxone first approved food drug administration 1971 easily available purchased counter 40 states annual sales brands went 213 million 2011 819 million 2015 according quintilesims holdings inc tracks drug sales brand gotten attention criticism evzio kaleo inc injectible thats made personal use widely used hospitals ems crews twodose package list price went 690 2014 4500 last year according research published december new england journal medicine kaleo said generate revenue expand patientassistance program covers insured individuals copayments costs lowincome people manufacturers as160amphastar pharmaceuticals inc hospira inc offer discounts rebates negotiate hospitals others buyers actually pay list price outofpocket costs people insurance usually much less many companies including kaleo donate batches products publichealth emergencyservices nonprofit agencies epidemic reached critical proportions160said gail donofrio chair emergency medicine department yale school medicine overdose rates opioids powerful perfect storm | 518 |
<p>SPOILER ALERT:&#160;Do not read if you have not yet watched “The Most Disappointed Man,” the seventh episode of the second season of “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/this-is-us/" type="external">This Is Us</a>.”</p>
<p>The past and present day stories within episodes of NBC’s “ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/tv-ad-prices-football-walking-dead-empire-1202602792/" type="external">This Is Us</a>” always have thematic parallels to each other, but perhaps none has thus far been as poignant as in the seventh episode of the second season, “The Most Disappointed Man.”</p>
<p>The episode saw Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) hit a roadblock on the way to adopting Randall in an African-American judge (guest star Delroy Lindo), who thought the boy would be better off placed with a black family, while grown up Randall (Sterling K. Brown) found an obstacle of his own when he met Deja’s mother (Joy Brunson) and learned she planned to get out of jail and get her daughter back.</p>
<p>“We knew we always wanted to do a story in the area of the formal adoption of Randall because in the pilot they bring him home, and then we’re in the future, and we never really told the story of how he became, really, their child. Once we heard the opinion of the time, we knew we really wanted to dive in and explore it in that way,” executive producer Isaac Aptaker tells&#160;Variety.</p>
<p>Here, Aptaker talks&#160;Variety&#160;through working out the details of this episode, including the research done on both the adoption and foster care systems, what’s next for Randall and Deja’s mom, Kate (Chrissy Metz) finally planning a wedding, and Kevin’s (Justin Hartley) addiction.</p>
<p>What kind of research did you do in breaking the story about adoption decades ago?</p>
<p>It really came from the writer of the episode — Kay Oyegun&#160;— who came in and brought it to our attention that in 1972 the National Association of Black Social Workers published a statement very much against transracial adoption. So with Randall’s adoption in ’80 or ’81, less than a decade after this has been released, the Pearsons were doing something that at the time was considered very controversial&#160;— especially in the African-American community.</p>
<p>What did you learn about the foster care system today?</p>
<p>We’ve had a lot of people come in and talk to us about foster and fost-to-adopt, and what I think is really interesting about fost-to-adopt is the ultimate goal there is reunification with the birth parents. So you’re in this really tricky situation where you’re bringing a child in who, for one reason or another, the birth parents were found unsuitable for the time, and of course you’re probably falling in love with that kid and trying to give them a good home, but the ultimate goal there is that the birth parent or parents complete their treatment plan and get the child back. So there is competing, conflicting what you’re rooting for as a foster parent, and that’s something that I think is so interesting.</p>
<p>What does Randall’s journey look like now? Does he have to prepare himself to say good-bye, or will he fight harder to keep her even if her mother gets released?</p>
<p>Even in this episode we see that conflict within Randall. This whole episode is about them trying to decide how they feel about this woman&#160;— she’s so different from them, and she hasn’t been the best mother to Deja but obviously has so much love for her. So it’s a really, really tricky thing.</p>
<p>Randall did let Deja (Lyric Ross) speak to her mother on the phone, so will she be integrating back into Deja’s life in coming episodes?</p>
<p>Yeah, we have the actress&#160;— she’s so fantastic, and when she came in, she had the same sort of vocalisms as Lyric, who plays Deja, so as soon as we saw her, we said, “Oh my God, she’s amazing!” Our casting director did a great job matching. But yes, this is not the last you will see of her. It’s a story that’s going to play out over the next few episodes.</p>
<p>How did you come up with the scene with Randall and Deja’s mom? Telling someone how they should parent is not something to which most people are receptive.</p>
<p>It was a really tough scene to write, and we worked on many different rewrites of the scene. I think on our show it’s important that nobody is a full-on hero, nobody’s a full-on villain. We’re trying to examine the complexity of the situation, and for me, Sterling is so great in that scene, but by the end of it, you’re kind of like, “Whoa, Randall! I’m not so sure I totally agree with you.” You know where he’s coming from, but it’s like, “Whoa, dude, that’s her daughter, and she’s only been in your house a few weeks.” He kind of redeems himself in the next scene where he clearly had this off-camera change of heart. But it’s just a testament to both of those performances that in that three- or four-minute scene, Randall, who’s our guy, you’re able to just all of a sudden be like, “Maybe I’m on her side?” It’s not where you may expect to be.</p>
<p>Similarly, the audience has an emotional history with Jack and Rebecca and therefore is armed with reasons why they should be allowed to adopt Randall, but the judge has his own perspective on transracial adoption.</p>
<p>No one there is totally in the right or totally in the wrong. It’s just people from different points of view trying to understand each other. The judge has to make some points where you’re like, “Wow, I didn’t see it that way.”</p>
<p>Was there ever temptation to have either Jack or Rebecca respond to the judge to point out the flaws in the adoption system? Or would they have even known just how hard that system was?</p>
<p>I don’t think they’re necessarily super-educated in that way. You know, this is a time before the internet, and they can’t just Google and have all of the information at their fingertips as we can now. So they’re definitely as informed as they can be, but they made this decision on a whim, and it’s only been about a year now that they’ve had to learn about this, so they’re not coming at this as experts.</p>
<p>How did you come to cast Delroy Lindo and Sam Anderson in their respective judge roles? Was there ever a discussion about what it says to have the judge who helps William (Jermel Nakia) be a kind of white savior?</p>
<p>We talked about it a lot. We talked about what the races of the judges should be, and we ultimately decided that we’d have the two black judges in the one story and the white judge in the other. A lot of it was finding the actors, but also you want to be true to the reality of the world, and it felt like three black judges wasn’t necessarily what the make-up of the judicial system would have been in Pennsylvania at that time. So it was being true to the time and finding amazing people for the jobs.</p>
<p>Turning to Kate and Toby (Chris Sullivan), are they actually going to be moving toward having a wedding this season?</p>
<p>Yes, they’re definitely going to start picking up momentum, and in the back-half of the season, we’ll start really getting some real traction on that. We’re going to do a big, awesome Pearson wedding that will deliver on what everyone is hoping for and what that courthouse wedding couldn’t have possibly been.</p>
<p>Why did you feel it was important to give them some moments of tradition at this stage in their relationship?</p>
<p>It’s about Toby is such a romantic. He loves romantic comedies, and he sees in Kate a woman who deserves everything that she has ever wanted. So we were very mindful of making sure it wasn’t a story that Toby was throwing a wedding that Kate didn’t want on her. It was a case of your partner knowing you better than you know yourself. She just needed a little push from him to say, “Yes, that’s what I really want. Now let’s go for it.”</p>
<p>Is the pregnancy and wedding planning taking the forefront of Kate’s attention, or is music still a big part of her arc?</p>
<p>She’s a have-it-all kind of girl, so I don’t think it’s the case of one or the other. Their lives are going to get a little crazier with the pregnancy and the wedding, but we’re moving forward on all of those fronts, and the singing is getting traction for her, and I don’t think it’s going anywhere.</p>
<p>And with Kevin, how much was his speech to Sophie (Alexandra Breckenridge) just a method of pushing her away before she noticed just how troubled he is?</p>
<p>I think so much of it is about pushing her away. In a way, it mirrors the Kate story, who’s another character who just doesn’t feel worthy. He’s so cognizant of how he hurt her in the past — and how the first time around, he really destroyed her for quite awhile. And I think at this point, he’s pushing her away both to protect her and to protect his growing addiction because he thinks he’s bad news and doesn’t want to hurt her more. He doesn’t want to burden her with more of his drama.</p>
<p>Is this the end for them?</p>
<p>As we saw last year she forgave him for cheating on her and getting divorced, so they’ve come back from bigger obstacles from this. But I think it’s safe to say that for the immediate future, Kevin is not in a place where he should be in a relationship. For everybody’s best interest.</p>
<p>Without her in his life, and with his family so obviously dealing with their own things, is there anyone who can notice what’s going on with him?</p>
<p>You hope it’s Kate, but at the same time, she has the singing and the pregnancy and the marriage. We talked to a lot of people with addiction&#160;— particularly pill addiction&#160;— and they really are able to hide it from even their closest, closest friends and family members and significant others for such a long time. You saw Kate senses something’s off a little bit, but then she very very quickly accepted his excuses for it and goes back to her thing. He’s doing a very good job of hiding it.</p>
<p>“This Is Us” airs on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.</p> | false | 1 | spoiler alert160do read yet watched disappointed man seventh episode second season us past present day stories within episodes nbcs us always thematic parallels perhaps none thus far poignant seventh episode second season disappointed man episode saw jack milo ventimiglia rebecca mandy moore hit roadblock way adopting randall africanamerican judge guest star delroy lindo thought boy would better placed black family grown randall sterling k brown found obstacle met dejas mother joy brunson learned planned get jail get daughter back knew always wanted story area formal adoption randall pilot bring home future never really told story became really child heard opinion time knew really wanted dive explore way executive producer isaac aptaker tells160variety aptaker talks160variety160through working details episode including research done adoption foster care systems whats next randall dejas mom kate chrissy metz finally planning wedding kevins justin hartley addiction kind research breaking story adoption decades ago really came writer episode kay oyegun160 came brought attention 1972 national association black social workers published statement much transracial adoption randalls adoption 80 81 less decade released pearsons something time considered controversial160 especially africanamerican community learn foster care system today weve lot people come talk us foster fosttoadopt think really interesting fosttoadopt ultimate goal reunification birth parents youre really tricky situation youre bringing child one reason another birth parents found unsuitable time course youre probably falling love kid trying give good home ultimate goal birth parent parents complete treatment plan get child back competing conflicting youre rooting foster parent thats something think interesting randalls journey look like prepare say goodbye fight harder keep even mother gets released even episode see conflict within randall whole episode trying decide feel woman160 shes different hasnt best mother deja obviously much love really really tricky thing randall let deja lyric ross speak mother phone integrating back dejas life coming episodes yeah actress160 shes fantastic came sort vocalisms lyric plays deja soon saw said oh god shes amazing casting director great job matching yes last see story thats going play next episodes come scene randall dejas mom telling someone parent something people receptive really tough scene write worked many different rewrites scene think show important nobody fullon hero nobodys fullon villain trying examine complexity situation sterling great scene end youre kind like whoa randall im sure totally agree know hes coming like whoa dude thats daughter shes house weeks kind redeems next scene clearly offcamera change heart testament performances three fourminute scene randall whos guy youre able sudden like maybe im side may expect similarly audience emotional history jack rebecca therefore armed reasons allowed adopt randall judge perspective transracial adoption one totally right totally wrong people different points view trying understand judge make points youre like wow didnt see way ever temptation either jack rebecca respond judge point flaws adoption system would even known hard system dont think theyre necessarily supereducated way know time internet cant google information fingertips theyre definitely informed made decision whim year theyve learn theyre coming experts come cast delroy lindo sam anderson respective judge roles ever discussion says judge helps william jermel nakia kind white savior talked lot talked races judges ultimately decided wed two black judges one story white judge lot finding actors also want true reality world felt like three black judges wasnt necessarily makeup judicial system would pennsylvania time true time finding amazing people jobs turning kate toby chris sullivan actually going moving toward wedding season yes theyre definitely going start picking momentum backhalf season well start really getting real traction going big awesome pearson wedding deliver everyone hoping courthouse wedding couldnt possibly feel important give moments tradition stage relationship toby romantic loves romantic comedies sees kate woman deserves everything ever wanted mindful making sure wasnt story toby throwing wedding kate didnt want case partner knowing better know needed little push say yes thats really want lets go pregnancy wedding planning taking forefront kates attention music still big part arc shes haveitall kind girl dont think case one lives going get little crazier pregnancy wedding moving forward fronts singing getting traction dont think going anywhere kevin much speech sophie alexandra breckenridge method pushing away noticed troubled think much pushing away way mirrors kate story whos another character doesnt feel worthy hes cognizant hurt past first time around really destroyed quite awhile think point hes pushing away protect protect growing addiction thinks hes bad news doesnt want hurt doesnt want burden drama end saw last year forgave cheating getting divorced theyve come back bigger obstacles think safe say immediate future kevin place relationship everybodys best interest without life family obviously dealing things anyone notice whats going hope kate time singing pregnancy marriage talked lot people addiction160 particularly pill addiction160 really able hide even closest closest friends family members significant others long time saw kate senses somethings little bit quickly accepted excuses goes back thing hes good job hiding us airs tuesdays 9 pm nbc | 812 |
<p>PITTSBURGH — The <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Pittsburgh_Steelers/" type="external">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> were hopeful Tuesday after receiving news that linebacker <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ryan-Shazier/" type="external">Ryan Shazier</a> had movement in his lower extremities after a scary back injury sent him to the hospital Monday night when the Steelers played the Bengals at <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Paul_Brown/" type="external">Paul Brown</a> Stadium.</p>
<p>Shazier was taken to UC Medical Center after he could not get up after tackling Bengals receiver Josh Malone on the Steelers’ first defensive series of the game. Two Steelers players said afterward that Shazier sustained a spinal cord concussion and that the news was encouraging.</p>
<p>Shazier stayed in the hospital overnight, but there has been some cautious optimism from team personnel and teammates in the hours after the injury occurred.</p>
<p>“Spiritually, he’s in a great place,” said head coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mike_Tomlin/" type="external">Mike Tomlin</a>, who visited Shazier at the hospital early Tuesday before returning home on the team charter. “It was a tough evening. Ryan is a trooper. It was painful to get on that plane last night, but that’s life.”</p>
<p>Tomlin did not provide an update on Shazier’s condition Tuesday afternoon, but he said the doctors caring for him could do that before the end of the day Tuesday.</p>
<p>Shazier’s teammates said the experience was frightening.</p>
<p>“It was terrifying,” linebacker Vince Williams said. “You never want to see one of your teammates and best friends go down like that.”</p>
<p>There have been varying reports on the injury Shazier suffered. The NFL Network reported it was a spinal cord contusion, which is a more serious injury than a spinal cord concussion.</p>
<p>If Shazier has a spinal cord concussion, it will be the third such injury for a Steelers player in the past 15 years. Quarterback Tommy <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Maddox/" type="external">Maddox</a> suffered one in 2002 and quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ben_Roethlisberger/" type="external">Ben Roethlisberger</a> had one in 2008.</p>
<p>“We know this is a tough sport,” defensive end Cameron Heyward said. “It’s not easy losing a guy like Ryan. He’s a family man. He’s got a little kid. I care a lot about Ryan. We just want him to be healthy. It’s hard. We’ll be praying for him. It was a whirlwind of emotion out there.”</p>
<p>The Steelers now have a short week to prepare for the Ravens. They will probably have to sign a linebacker because Shazier’s backup, Tyler Matakevich, left the game and did not return because of a shoulder injury.</p>
<p>Tomlin said Matakevich was being evaluated Tuesday morning and did not have an immediate update on him.</p>
<p>L.J. Fort finished the game for Matakevich. He was the only other inside linebacker dressed for the game.</p>
<p>REPORT CARD VS. BENGALS</p>
<p>—PASSING OFFENSE: B – The Steelers got off to a slow start in the passing game, but they got things rolling in the second half. Ben Roethlisberger was 24-for-40 for 290 yards and two touchdowns, including one to <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Antonio_Brown/" type="external">Antonio Brown</a> late in the fourth quarter that tied the score. Brown finished with 101 receiving yards. Running back <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/LeVeon-Bell/" type="external">Le’Veon Bell</a> was a big part of the passing game for the second week in a row. He caught a 35-yard touchdown from Roethlisberger in the third quarter that got the Steelers back in the game. Bell finished with five catches for 106 yards.</p>
<p>—RUSHING OFFENSE: B – The Steelers averaged 4.2 yards per carry against the Bengals with Bell leading the way with 76 yards on 18 carries. Bell became more effective as the game wore on and had 56 yards in the second half. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/James-Conner/" type="external">James Conner</a> pitched in with 12 yards on three carries. The Steelers haven’t been dominant running the ball this season, but Bell continues to lead the NFL in rushing by more than 100 yards over his nearest competitor.</p>
<p>—PASS DEFENSE: C – Bengals quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Andy_Dalton/" type="external">Andy Dalton</a> picked on Steelers corner <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Coty-Sensabaugh/" type="external">Coty Sensabaugh</a> in the first half, throwing twice to <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/AJ-Green/" type="external">A.J. Green</a> for touchdowns. Sensabaugh started his third consecutive game in place of <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Joe-Haden/" type="external">Joe Haden</a>, who has a fractured fibula. The Steelers replaced Sensabaugh at the beginning of the second half with rookie third-round pick Cameron Sutton, who also got picked on. However, the Bengals only scored three points in the second half. Green caught another long touchdown with Sutton in coverage, but it was called back on a holding penalty. All in all, the Steelers need Haden to return soon because opposing quarterbacks continue to take advantage of their backups.</p>
<p>—RUSH DEFENSE: B-minus – The Bengals, who are on pace for their worst rushing season in franchise history, ran for 130 yards, the most against the Steelers since the Jaguars rushed for more than 200 in a game in early October. The ability to run early set up their two passing touchdowns because they were in manageable downs and distances. But the Steelers clamped down on the Bengals running backs in the second half and limited them to 50 yards after halftime. That helped the Steelers limit Dalton and the Bengals passing game in the second half.</p>
<p>—SPECIAL TEAMS: A-minus – <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chris-Boswell/" type="external">Chris Boswell</a> continued his perfect record against the Bengals. Boswell is now 24-for-24 against the Bengals after booting the winning 38-yard field goal as time expired. Boswell has now kicked the winning field goal as time expired in three of the past four games. He also had game-winners at Indianapolis and against Green Bay last week. The Steelers might have found a kickoff returner in <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Martavis-Bryant/" type="external">Martavis Bryant</a>, who had a 96-yard return that was called back by a holding penalty. Reserve safety <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/JJ-Wilcox/" type="external">J.J. Wilcox</a> was called for the hold and got called for another hold on a punt return.</p>
<p>—COACHING: B – The Steelers got off to a slow start against the Bengals, but they made the necessary adjustments to get their 10th victory. Give defensive coordinator Keith Butler and his players credit for holding the Bengals out of the end zone in the second half. Butler has to shore up his pass defense until cornerback Joe Haden returns from injury, but he has put his players in position to win games. The offense scored 20 points in the second half after scoring only three points in the first half. Offensive coordinator <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Todd_Haley/" type="external">Todd Haley</a> deserves credit getting his unit going in the third and fourth quarters.</p> | false | 1 | pittsburgh pittsburgh steelers hopeful tuesday receiving news linebacker ryan shazier movement lower extremities scary back injury sent hospital monday night steelers played bengals paul brown stadium shazier taken uc medical center could get tackling bengals receiver josh malone steelers first defensive series game two steelers players said afterward shazier sustained spinal cord concussion news encouraging shazier stayed hospital overnight cautious optimism team personnel teammates hours injury occurred spiritually hes great place said head coach mike tomlin visited shazier hospital early tuesday returning home team charter tough evening ryan trooper painful get plane last night thats life tomlin provide update shaziers condition tuesday afternoon said doctors caring could end day tuesday shaziers teammates said experience frightening terrifying linebacker vince williams said never want see one teammates best friends go like varying reports injury shazier suffered nfl network reported spinal cord contusion serious injury spinal cord concussion shazier spinal cord concussion third injury steelers player past 15 years quarterback tommy maddox suffered one 2002 quarterback ben roethlisberger one 2008 know tough sport defensive end cameron heyward said easy losing guy like ryan hes family man hes got little kid care lot ryan want healthy hard well praying whirlwind emotion steelers short week prepare ravens probably sign linebacker shaziers backup tyler matakevich left game return shoulder injury tomlin said matakevich evaluated tuesday morning immediate update lj fort finished game matakevich inside linebacker dressed game report card vs bengals passing offense b steelers got slow start passing game got things rolling second half ben roethlisberger 24for40 290 yards two touchdowns including one antonio brown late fourth quarter tied score brown finished 101 receiving yards running back leveon bell big part passing game second week row caught 35yard touchdown roethlisberger third quarter got steelers back game bell finished five catches 106 yards rushing offense b steelers averaged 42 yards per carry bengals bell leading way 76 yards 18 carries bell became effective game wore 56 yards second half james conner pitched 12 yards three carries steelers havent dominant running ball season bell continues lead nfl rushing 100 yards nearest competitor pass defense c bengals quarterback andy dalton picked steelers corner coty sensabaugh first half throwing twice aj green touchdowns sensabaugh started third consecutive game place joe haden fractured fibula steelers replaced sensabaugh beginning second half rookie thirdround pick cameron sutton also got picked however bengals scored three points second half green caught another long touchdown sutton coverage called back holding penalty steelers need haden return soon opposing quarterbacks continue take advantage backups rush defense bminus bengals pace worst rushing season franchise history ran 130 yards steelers since jaguars rushed 200 game early october ability run early set two passing touchdowns manageable downs distances steelers clamped bengals running backs second half limited 50 yards halftime helped steelers limit dalton bengals passing game second half special teams aminus chris boswell continued perfect record bengals boswell 24for24 bengals booting winning 38yard field goal time expired boswell kicked winning field goal time expired three past four games also gamewinners indianapolis green bay last week steelers might found kickoff returner martavis bryant 96yard return called back holding penalty reserve safety jj wilcox called hold got called another hold punt return coaching b steelers got slow start bengals made necessary adjustments get 10th victory give defensive coordinator keith butler players credit holding bengals end zone second half butler shore pass defense cornerback joe haden returns injury put players position win games offense scored 20 points second half scoring three points first half offensive coordinator todd haley deserves credit getting unit going third fourth quarters | 593 |
<p>SPOILER ALERT:&#160;Do not read if you have not watched “Half a Sheet Cake and a Blue-Raspberry Slushie,” the Nov. 19 episode of “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/smilf/" type="external">SMILF</a>.”</p>
<p>“ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/smilf-frankie-shaw-connie-britton-miguel-gomez-series-premiere-interview-1202585369/" type="external">SMILF</a>’s” latest episode puts its protagonist Bridgette ( <a href="http://variety.com/t/frankie-shaw/" type="external">Frankie Shaw</a>) through a tragic series of events: A desperate stab for extra cash leads her to respond to a Craigslist ad from a man looking for company, but the moment that she feels a spark of connection, he pushes his hand against her crotch, without her consent. It’s particularly painful because Bridgette was sexually abused by her own father, and the twisted re-enactment of her abuse does not escape the audience’s notice.</p>
<p>That storyline is just one part of the show’s exploration of what Shaw calls “making yourself a commodity,” specifically for its female characters trying to make it in a man’s world.</p>
<p>Shaw spoke to Variety about the themes of the episode, which touch on Shaw’s views about prostitution and complicity of everyone trying to succeed in a flawed world. She also related her own story of inappropriate conduct from a producer, someone who has not been named publicly yet.</p>
<p>Are you excited for people to see this episode?</p>
<p>I really am. I’m proud of this episode. Each episode will have one scene idea — with the last one, I was like what if Bridgette gets into Connie’s bathwater? That jumpstarts the whole thing. This one came from an experience I had in my life, when I had just graduated Barnard and was extremely struggling, financially and in general. I started fantasizing by going on Craigslist, with those ads like, “I’ll pay you to go to dinner,” “I’ll buy you lingerie if I can watch you.” That kind of thing. Not selling yourself for sex, but almost.</p>
<p>I responded to one: “Go to dinner for money.” Then I go to my waitressing job, and I tell a friend of mine. She goes, “You cannot go. You will not return from that yourself. You cannot recover.” So I canceled. I texted this guy, I’m just kidding, I’m not gonna go. He said, Well, I’ll give you $300 to just come so I can see your face. It was at Christmastime. I didn’t tell anyone. It was a secret. And I went. In this minivan outside of the St. Marks Place K-Mart. It was daylight. He had all of these UGG boots in his car, because he had come from Westchester, and he was bringing back UGG boots for his kids and his wife.&#160; He stuck his hand out the window and gives me cash and says, “You’re prettier than you know.” I kept walking. I took the money and I kept walking. I felt so strange. I kind of blocked it out. Didn’t tell anyone. Well, now I can buy some Christmas presents. It was so strange.</p>
<p>I always remember him saying that: As if him telling me that I was pretty was what he thought I wanted to hear. Or would make me stay.</p>
<p>I brought it up in the writers’ room. Like: What if I had gone? What could have happened? That’s how it started. And then on top of that, or next to that, is that I’m very interested in the idea of prostitution. My point of view is it should be abolished. It’s not something that can exist in our society, right? It’s not sex. It’s like men jerking off inside women.</p>
<p>I’ve talked to a lot of people who were prostitutes. We had a writer in our room who had an experience in a minivan. This duality — the fantasy of it, that would be maybe “The Girlfriend Experience.” And then the reality for women who do it. For men who participate there is a cognitive dissonance, in the same way that we’re seeing with all the harassment. They didn’t know it was wrong, or they knew, but they blocked it out. You take the humanity out of the woman if she’s selling herself.</p>
<p>So it’s interesting for me to explore both sides. I wanted to show the humanity in the john, and have a real connection. He’s also just doing what he’s told is OK.</p>
<p>Sex work is a progressive cause in many circles — to have it be legal, or less stigmatized.</p>
<p>I’m not an advocate at all. If you’re gonna do it, women should be protected. Some Scandinavian country [Norway and Sweden] has rehabilitation for women who get caught. Rather than it being illegal and they’re put in jail, the johns get put in jail, and the women get to do a program that helps them gain skills to get a different kind of job. That’s the ideal.</p>
<p>One of the things that is so heartbreaking about the end of this scene, when the john touches Bridgette, is that she’s reliving the trauma of her father sexually abusing her. It’s been introduced into the story in a casual, even upbeat way, because Bridgette doesn’t have the luxury of it being a bigger deal.</p>
<p>That’s where we’re building to in the season finale — a big through-line. There’s a lot of shows that I love where we don’t really know where some of the dysfunction comes from. I was interested in exploring Rafi’s (Miguel Gomez) addiction and the root of it. And his pathos. And with Bridgette and her inability to get her s–t together. Food issues being related to sexual trauma. Just connecting some of those dots, without it being, this is what the show is about. Coloring the person, the character, as we go.</p>
<p>When you talk about sexual abuse or sexual violence or harassment, everyone comes out with their story. It’s something we’re seeing now. Because it’s a thing that shows the darkest part of humanity. The thing that for so long no one wanted to talk about.</p>
<p>I made a short a couple of years ago about Congressman Todd Akin’s remarks on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/us/politics/rep-todd-akin-legitimate-rape-statement-and-reaction.html" type="external">“legitimate rape.”</a> It was a satire, and in the short Zoe Kravitz’s character, she’s raped but she gets pregnant. So she goes around asking her rapist and her doctor if it was “legitimate.” Because if it wasn’t legitimate she had to get an abortion.</p>
<p>The point was just people saying the things that are very common, but that we don’t normally say. That was part of the scene of connecting — oh yeah, sexual abuse does give you PTSD.</p>
<p>Bridgette was probably re-enacting her own trauma but really didn’t have the opportunity to understand that more. Which is true for a lot of people who are suffering from PTSD.</p>
<p>Totally. That’s what one does, is recreate your own trauma, because that’s what you know. In this finale, there’s a whole scene — it’s all leading up to facing her dad. You’ll have to wait and see. It’s hard to talk about without giving it away. It ends up being a total disaster, but it does come back. it will be a thread.</p>
<p>Talk about the beginning of the episode, in which Bridgette, Nelson (Samara Weaving), and Eliza (Raven Goodwin)&#160;are in different ways catering to the male gaze.</p>
<p>I was interested in, Can you be empowered while selling yourself, while making yourself a commodity? I think the answer is no. Not really. But we believe it when we’re doing it. Eliza’s character, that was just a strange fetish that I found, eater/feeder porn. If you find the YouTube videos of these women being interviewed, it’s so devastating. Mainly you have an eater and then you have a feeder. The men, who are normally thin, feed the women. People watch. A lot of times it’s not sexual. It does go there, veer into porn. But it’s basically these men wanting these women to get so fat that they can’t leave. They’re totally dependent on the man.</p>
<p>With Nelson, that’s actually Brandin Cooks, who’s a Patriots player. He’s the number five wide receiver. He was so cool and so excited to do that, be the butt of that joke. We were mocking Cam Newton. She does know a lot about sports, but she has to look this way for her job.</p>
<p>We’re all conflicted, right? We all do these things to get the job or to be valued or valuable. Because of the culture we live in, we are all sort of complicit in participating. Bridgette being like, thanks for the job opportunity. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to get spray tans. Or fake eyelashes. Or that chicken cutlet thing [silicone cups for breasts]. That happened to me on a job.</p>
<p>A lot of moments in “SMILF” are communicating these uncomfortable things that we know are true and we kind of can’t do anything about.</p>
<p>There’s not any shame or judgment of being turned on by it, too. If I’m sexualizing myself, and I feel hot in a male gaze-y way, and I’m wearing high heels — which I can’t do, because I can’t walk in them — but when I put them on, I’m like, maybe, yeah! That’s hot. There’s no problem with that either. It’s just finding the true for you, I think.</p>
<p>Yeah, but it’s a maze.</p>
<p>It’s a maze. It’s 2017. It’s like anything is really&#160;possible. Where do you stand on it all? There was a period of time where I stopped wearing anything feminine, because I was just exploring what it was to just be in my brain. What that is. It’s a whole process to figure that out, I think, for anyone.</p>
<p>It’s ongoing, too. I’ve heard from so many women over the past few weeks, about how differently they’re moving through the world.</p>
<p>There was this guy who [recently] sent me an email, a producer: “Break legs with the show.” And I remembered him from a show I did in 2013 or 2014, being creepy. I forwarded the email to a producer on my show, who worked with that producer on that other show. I just wrote “Harvey Weinstein” as a joke. And then my producer writes back something like, “Whatever, that’s just a typical email.” But then he wrote back, and he’s like: I’m so sorry, did anything happen? I didn’t mean to be cavalier. He’s had trouble with this guy. Then I went back and searched that guy’s emails. And… now, I would register it as harassment. But before, I’m like, Oh here’s a creepy guy hitting on me over email inappropriately, I’m just going to ignore it, just gonna play the nice actress, and be like, “Oh sorry, can’t come to your trailer. Gotta go pick up the son!”</p>
<p>Now I’d be like, Go f—k yourself. I’m reporting you. And before I was like, Oh, please don’t fire me.</p>
<p>Has the rolling wave of revelations reached this person yet?</p>
<p>No. And I bet everyone has stories. I mean, I barely had any contact with him. I was on the show just for a couple days. But I remember at the wrap party seeing him with all these extras. These pretty young extra girls. He told me to come to his trailer, and he sent me a picture of a bottle of champagne. He wrote me an email that said, “Damn you for being so hot.”</p>
<p>Sometimes I’m shocked at how unimaginative these guys are.</p>
<p>I know! Right? Does this actually work for you? He would wield his power in the emails. Talking about how successful he is, or how much money he had. Terrible.</p>
<p>To go back to your show, what we’ve been seeing a lot lately is dynamics of abuse of power in really high-up places, but of course, they happen to people on a much lower level, too.</p>
<p>It’s like, none of the waitresses who get harassed everyday are getting written about. Or minimum wage workers. We have all these white women coming out — rich, successful, white women coming out. Are we paying attention to the people of color? That’s actually how we have to be allies with each other.</p>
<p>We have to be representative of many different stories, because at the end of the day for women, we have this commonality. A black man was elected president before a white woman, because at least everyone with a dick can identify with each other.</p>
<p>Is that one of the reasons Bridgette’s kid is a son and not a daughter?</p>
<p>Yeah, it was important for me at least to show what it’s like to raise a boy. And how you talk to a boy. I’m sure both are important. But I have a nine-year-old son. I’m constantly talking to him about the images he’s seeing and representation. He’ll be drawing army figures, and I’m like, which one’s the woman? That’s important! You can only do so much in one show. I don’t want to use all these trendy words, but there’s definitely an inclusory thing that I’m trying, to be intersectional. Then we can tell the stories that I want to explore. We talk about race in Boston. There’s gonna be black characters.</p>
<p>Boston is very recognizable in the show. As someone who lived there for a bit, I came away thinking “SMILF” is really a show about how Boston is awful.</p>
<p>[Laughs.] Kind of! I mean, it’s terrible. It’s like, my family is terrible. But they can’t do anything about it. I’m kidding. But they’re like, bitter and cold and stuck in this way of thinking. My husband hated Boston, and left BU and went to NYU. Cause he was like, this sucks, this place. But then when we were shooting there, and he was there, he found a new love for it. It is also a very beautiful town if you have it in the right season and right mindset.</p> | false | 1 | spoiler alert160do read watched half sheet cake blueraspberry slushie nov 19 episode smilf smilfs latest episode puts protagonist bridgette frankie shaw tragic series events desperate stab extra cash leads respond craigslist ad man looking company moment feels spark connection pushes hand crotch without consent particularly painful bridgette sexually abused father twisted reenactment abuse escape audiences notice storyline one part shows exploration shaw calls making commodity specifically female characters trying make mans world shaw spoke variety themes episode touch shaws views prostitution complicity everyone trying succeed flawed world also related story inappropriate conduct producer someone named publicly yet excited people see episode really im proud episode episode one scene idea last one like bridgette gets connies bathwater jumpstarts whole thing one came experience life graduated barnard extremely struggling financially general started fantasizing going craigslist ads like ill pay go dinner ill buy lingerie watch kind thing selling sex almost responded one go dinner money go waitressing job tell friend mine goes go return recover canceled texted guy im kidding im gon na go said well ill give 300 come see face christmastime didnt tell anyone secret went minivan outside st marks place kmart daylight ugg boots car come westchester bringing back ugg boots kids wife160 stuck hand window gives cash says youre prettier know kept walking took money kept walking felt strange kind blocked didnt tell anyone well buy christmas presents strange always remember saying telling pretty thought wanted hear would make stay brought writers room like gone could happened thats started top next im interested idea prostitution point view abolished something exist society right sex like men jerking inside women ive talked lot people prostitutes writer room experience minivan duality fantasy would maybe girlfriend experience reality women men participate cognitive dissonance way seeing harassment didnt know wrong knew blocked take humanity woman shes selling interesting explore sides wanted show humanity john real connection hes also hes told ok sex work progressive cause many circles legal less stigmatized im advocate youre gon na women protected scandinavian country norway sweden rehabilitation women get caught rather illegal theyre put jail johns get put jail women get program helps gain skills get different kind job thats ideal one things heartbreaking end scene john touches bridgette shes reliving trauma father sexually abusing introduced story casual even upbeat way bridgette doesnt luxury bigger deal thats building season finale big throughline theres lot shows love dont really know dysfunction comes interested exploring rafis miguel gomez addiction root pathos bridgette inability get st together food issues related sexual trauma connecting dots without show coloring person character go talk sexual abuse sexual violence harassment everyone comes story something seeing thing shows darkest part humanity thing long one wanted talk made short couple years ago congressman todd akins remarks legitimate rape satire short zoe kravitzs character shes raped gets pregnant goes around asking rapist doctor legitimate wasnt legitimate get abortion point people saying things common dont normally say part scene connecting oh yeah sexual abuse give ptsd bridgette probably reenacting trauma really didnt opportunity understand true lot people suffering ptsd totally thats one recreate trauma thats know finale theres whole scene leading facing dad youll wait see hard talk without giving away ends total disaster come back thread talk beginning episode bridgette nelson samara weaving eliza raven goodwin160are different ways catering male gaze interested empowered selling making commodity think answer really believe elizas character strange fetish found eaterfeeder porn find youtube videos women interviewed devastating mainly eater feeder men normally thin feed women people watch lot times sexual go veer porn basically men wanting women get fat cant leave theyre totally dependent man nelson thats actually brandin cooks whos patriots player hes number five wide receiver cool excited butt joke mocking cam newton know lot sports look way job conflicted right things get job valued valuable culture live sort complicit participating bridgette like thanks job opportunity cant tell many times get spray tans fake eyelashes chicken cutlet thing silicone cups breasts happened job lot moments smilf communicating uncomfortable things know true kind cant anything theres shame judgment turned im sexualizing feel hot male gazey way im wearing high heels cant cant walk put im like maybe yeah thats hot theres problem either finding true think yeah maze maze 2017 like anything really160possible stand period time stopped wearing anything feminine exploring brain whole process figure think anyone ongoing ive heard many women past weeks differently theyre moving world guy recently sent email producer break legs show remembered show 2013 2014 creepy forwarded email producer show worked producer show wrote harvey weinstein joke producer writes back something like whatever thats typical email wrote back hes like im sorry anything happen didnt mean cavalier hes trouble guy went back searched guys emails would register harassment im like oh heres creepy guy hitting email inappropriately im going ignore gon na play nice actress like oh sorry cant come trailer got ta go pick son id like go fk im reporting like oh please dont fire rolling wave revelations reached person yet bet everyone stories mean barely contact show couple days remember wrap party seeing extras pretty young extra girls told come trailer sent picture bottle champagne wrote email said damn hot sometimes im shocked unimaginative guys know right actually work would wield power emails talking successful much money terrible go back show weve seeing lot lately dynamics abuse power really highup places course happen people much lower level like none waitresses get harassed everyday getting written minimum wage workers white women coming rich successful white women coming paying attention people color thats actually allies representative many different stories end day women commonality black man elected president white woman least everyone dick identify one reasons bridgettes kid son daughter yeah important least show like raise boy talk boy im sure important nineyearold son im constantly talking images hes seeing representation hell drawing army figures im like ones woman thats important much one show dont want use trendy words theres definitely inclusory thing im trying intersectional tell stories want explore talk race boston theres gon na black characters boston recognizable show someone lived bit came away thinking smilf really show boston awful laughs kind mean terrible like family terrible cant anything im kidding theyre like bitter cold stuck way thinking husband hated boston left bu went nyu cause like sucks place shooting found new love also beautiful town right season right mindset | 1,066 |
<p>Nearly every day brings a new experience for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who spent the first 42 years of his life living in a bubble that consisted of NASCAR and not much else.</p>
<p>Now that he has retired from full-time racing, he's got time to experience new adventures. Just last weekend, he went to brunch — his first brunch ever — with his wife and friends, then was convinced to get his first pedicure .</p>
<p>The best is yet to come.</p>
<p>NBC Sports announced Tuesday it will use Earnhardt in its pregame show before the Super Bowl, then send him to South Korea for the network's coverage of next month's Olympics. Earnhardt retired from driving in November and signed on to be an analyst for NBC Sports, a gig that begins in July.</p>
<p>"It's not going to be putting me anywhere outside of my comfort zone, obviously I've never been to a Super Bowl or South Korea," Earnhardt told The Associated Press. "What they are asking me to do is just go out there and be myself and hopefully get people interested in tuning into NASCAR."</p>
<p>NBC plans to use Earnhardt at the Super Bowl in outdoor events and activities taking place in Minneapolis in the days before the game. At the Olympics, he'll visit the speed skating venue and accept a recent social media invite from American bobsled team pilot Nick Cunningham to ride in a bobsled.</p>
<p>"We can't wait to get Dale's take on what is one of the most compelling aspects of the Winter Games — sports that offer a mix of speed with the prospect of danger, an equation that he knows very well," said Jim Bell, president of NBC Olympics Production and Programming.</p>
<p>"Instead of the turns at Daytona, it's the downhill, the luge, and the short track oval. And I think he will have something unique to offer about the need for speed on snow and ice."</p>
<p>Earnhardt, a third-generation NASCAR driver, is the son of Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Sr. He grew up around racing and its grueling 11-month schedule that has drivers on the road and away from home at least three days a week. Although the Super Bowl is typically held before NASCAR's season-opening Daytona 500, rabid Washington Redskins fan Earnhardt said he never had a desire to go to the game.</p>
<p>"Not everybody goes to the Super Bowl," he said. "I was too young when the Redskins were going, I was still in school, and they haven't been since 1991. I definitely would have gone if they had played in one. But as a fan of a particular team, it sort of feels wrong to go to another game. I'd have a hard time even going to see the Redskins play in an opponent's stadium. If I had no purpose to be at the Super Bowl, besides to just see a game, it was hard to make that kind of time commitment."</p>
<p>And the Olympics? Well, that's a dream trip that Earnhardt never had the time to even dream of making. Asked Tuesday where he's been outside the United States, he listed Germany and France — trips he took with his now-wife — as well as Mexico, Canada, Japan and Australia. He also once spent 24 hours in Monaco.</p>
<p>"When I was driving, I didn't want to do anything else," Earnhardt said. "Someone would say, 'Wow, I've got some time, let's go have some fun,' but I wouldn't want to do anything. If I had a day to myself, I wouldn't want to go anywhere or do anything."</p>
<p>Then he was sidelined for the second half of the NASCAR season with concussion symptoms, and Earnhardt was forced to expand his lifestyle.</p>
<p>"When I started peeling away the layers, I started losing some of that habit and getting more comfortable doing things," he said. "When we weren't in the car, you weren't supposed to be focused on anything else. When you went and did something, go to a concert, visit another city, you almost felt guilty for doing it. Like, we already have a pretty good lifestyle as race car drivers and can afford just about anything. So I just felt bad enjoying yourself.</p>
<p>"But when I was out of the car for so long, my doctor encouraged me to put myself in a lot of complex situations. That meant going to concerts and places I've never been and situations where I could push my anxiety. I'll tell you, I was like: 'Wow, this is what retirement is going to be like.'"</p>
<p>He's not nervous about transitioning into his new television career, or that his first real appearances as an NBC Sports analyst will be on two worldwide stages. Earnhardt, who recently learned to ski while in Aspen with Jimmie Johnson, is planning on bringing boots and a helmet to South Korea to try out the slopes. He's also eager to try the cuisine.</p>
<p>The only drawback is that pregnant wife Amy can't make the trip, and Earnhardt said he doesn't sleep well when they are apart. He figures worrying about her as she awaits their first child will make for long nights in South Korea.</p>
<p>He's confident, though, the network won't let him look like a fool and he's leaned heavily on former crew chief Steve Letarte, and former driver Jeff Burton, both members of NBC Sport's current NASCAR booth, for advice.</p>
<p>After his time at the Olympics, he'll head to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the season-opening Daytona 500. Earnhardt is the grand marshal for the race.</p>
<p>"I definitely wouldn't miss the first race of the year," he said. "I feel like I should be there."</p>
<p><a href="http://wjla.com/news/entertainment/earnhardt-jr-to-help-nbc-sports-at-super-bowl-and-olympics-01-16-2018" type="external">The Associated Press</a> contributed to this report.</p> | false | 1 | nearly every day brings new experience dale earnhardt jr spent first 42 years life living bubble consisted nascar much else retired fulltime racing hes got time experience new adventures last weekend went brunch first brunch ever wife friends convinced get first pedicure best yet come nbc sports announced tuesday use earnhardt pregame show super bowl send south korea networks coverage next months olympics earnhardt retired driving november signed analyst nbc sports gig begins july going putting anywhere outside comfort zone obviously ive never super bowl south korea earnhardt told associated press asking go hopefully get people interested tuning nascar nbc plans use earnhardt super bowl outdoor events activities taking place minneapolis days game olympics hell visit speed skating venue accept recent social media invite american bobsled team pilot nick cunningham ride bobsled cant wait get dales take one compelling aspects winter games sports offer mix speed prospect danger equation knows well said jim bell president nbc olympics production programming instead turns daytona downhill luge short track oval think something unique offer need speed snow ice earnhardt thirdgeneration nascar driver son hall famer dale earnhardt sr grew around racing grueling 11month schedule drivers road away home least three days week although super bowl typically held nascars seasonopening daytona 500 rabid washington redskins fan earnhardt said never desire go game everybody goes super bowl said young redskins going still school havent since 1991 definitely would gone played one fan particular team sort feels wrong go another game id hard time even going see redskins play opponents stadium purpose super bowl besides see game hard make kind time commitment olympics well thats dream trip earnhardt never time even dream making asked tuesday hes outside united states listed germany france trips took nowwife well mexico canada japan australia also spent 24 hours monaco driving didnt want anything else earnhardt said someone would say wow ive got time lets go fun wouldnt want anything day wouldnt want go anywhere anything sidelined second half nascar season concussion symptoms earnhardt forced expand lifestyle started peeling away layers started losing habit getting comfortable things said werent car werent supposed focused anything else went something go concert visit another city almost felt guilty like already pretty good lifestyle race car drivers afford anything felt bad enjoying car long doctor encouraged put lot complex situations meant going concerts places ive never situations could push anxiety ill tell like wow retirement going like hes nervous transitioning new television career first real appearances nbc sports analyst two worldwide stages earnhardt recently learned ski aspen jimmie johnson planning bringing boots helmet south korea try slopes hes also eager try cuisine drawback pregnant wife amy cant make trip earnhardt said doesnt sleep well apart figures worrying awaits first child make long nights south korea hes confident though network wont let look like fool hes leaned heavily former crew chief steve letarte former driver jeff burton members nbc sports current nascar booth advice time olympics hell head daytona beach florida seasonopening daytona 500 earnhardt grand marshal race definitely wouldnt miss first race year said feel like associated press contributed report | 515 |
<p>By Rod Nickel</p>
<p>CARMAN, Manitoba (Reuters) – On Canada’s fertile Prairies, dominated by the yellows and golds of canola and wheat, summers are too short to grow corn on a major scale.</p>
<p>But Monsanto Co (N:) is working to develop what it hopes will be North America’s fastest-maturing corn, allowing farmers to grow more in Western Canada and other inhospitable climates, such as Ukraine.</p>
<p>The seed and chemical giant projects that western Canadian corn plantings could multiply 20 times to 10 million acres by 2025 – adding some 1.1 billion bushels, or nearly 3 percent to current global production.</p>
<p>The question, amid historically high supplies and low grain prices, is whether the world really needs more corn.</p>
<p>A global grains glut is now in its fourth year, with supplies bloated by favorable weather, increasingly high-tech farm practices and tougher plant breeds.</p>
<p>The bin-busting harvests of cheap corn, wheat and soybeans are undermining the business models of the world’s largest agriculture firms and the farmers who use their products and services. Some analysts say the firms have effectively innovated their way into a stubbornly oversupplied market.</p>
<p>Never has the world produced so much more food than can be consumed in one season. World ending stocks of total grains – the leftover supplies before a new harvest – have climbed for four straight years and are poised to reach a record 638 million tonnes in 2016/17, according to USDA data.</p>
<p>Farmers and agriculture firms could once count on periodic bouts of crop-destroying weather to tame gluts and drive up prices. But genetically modified crops that repel plant-chewing insects, withstand lethal chemicals and mature faster have made the trend toward oversupply more resistant to traditional boom-and-bust agrarian cycles, experts say.</p>
<p>Another key factor: China – the world’s second-biggest corn grower – adopted stockpiling policies a decade ago when crop supplies ran thin, resulting in greater production than the world needs.</p>
<p>“I think the norm is where we are now,” said Bryan Agbabian, director of agriculture equities at Allianz (DE:) Global Investors.</p>
<p>Allianz investors seem to agree: The value of two agriculture equity funds that Agbabian manages fell to $300 million this year from $800 million in 2011 as crop prices slid, he said.</p>
<p>Abundant supplies have helped lower food prices across the world, but the benefit to consumers and impoverished nations is muted by several factors, including problems with corruption and distribution of food in developing regions, said Sylvain Charlebois, professor of food distribution and policy at Canada’s Dalhousie University.</p>
<p>The bumper harvests may actually harm poor communities more than they benefit their residents in food savings because lower prices depress farm incomes in the same areas, said John Baffes, a senior economist at the World Bank.</p>
<p>Even as farmers reap bountiful harvests, U.S. net farm incomes this year will total $63.4 billion – about half of their earnings in 2013, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast.</p>
<p>Lower incomes mean farmers cannot spend as much on seed, fertilizer and machinery, extending their pain to firms across the agriculture sector.</p>
<p>Potash Corp of Saskatchewan (TO:), the world’s biggest fertilizer company by capacity, closed its newest potash mine last year, eliminating more than 400 jobs, and has seen its U.S.-listed shares fall by nearly half since the beginning of 2015. The drop erased $14 billion in value, and left Potash seeking to merge with rival Agrium Inc (TO:).</p>
<p>With profits under pressure, seed and chemical companies are scrambling to consolidate.</p>
<p>Monsanto’s annual profit in 2016 was its smallest in six years. It agreed last year to combine with Bayer AG (DE:), which would create the world’s largest integrated pesticide and seed company if the deal closes next year.</p>
<p>Grain handler Bunge Ltd (N:) said this summer it would cut costs, and left the door open to selling itself after posting a 34 percent drop in quarterly earnings.</p>
<p>Bunge CEO Soren Schroder sought to reassure investors in May by saying all that was needed to trim supplies was one bad stretch of weather in the U.S. Midwest.</p>
<p>But the glut pervades many major farming regions, making it unlikely that drought or floods in one region could wipe out the mounting global surplus. Even with dry conditions in North America, Europe and Australia, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts that this year will bring the second-biggest global corn, wheat and soybean harvests ever.</p>
<p>Bunge’s Schroder made his comment about bad weather less than three weeks before confirming an informal merger approach from commodities giant Glencore Plc (L:).</p>
<p>“When prices tanked, farmers were no longer willing to pay more” for seed and chemicals, said Jonas Oxgaard, analyst at investment management firm Bernstein. “The mergers are absolutely driven by oversupply because their growth is gone.”</p>
<p>Monsanto spokeswoman Trish Jordan said the company believes demand growth still justifies corn expansion, and she disputed the notion that crop science advances are backfiring on agricultural technology firms.</p>
<p>Monsanto rival DowDuPont Inc (N:) is making the same bet and currently sells the shortest-season field corn in North America, maturing in 70 days, spokesman Ali Aziz said.</p>
<p>Success in the lab and the field, however, has contributed to oversupply and may continue to sustain it, said Oxgaard, the Bernstein analyst.</p>
<p>“It’s somewhat the seed companies’ fault – they keep breeding better and better seeds every year,” he said.</p>
<p>(Exploding crop yields eat into farm profits, click http://tmsnrt.rs/2y4zIGw)</p>
<p>(Grains glut guts global prices, click http://tmsnrt.rs/2y2Ushz)</p>
<p>DARWIN, SEX AND CORN</p>
<p>Charles Darwin helped plant the seeds of the grain glut. The biologist and evolution theorist showed in the late 1800s that cross-fertilization of plants – in which sex cells are fused between crop varieties of the same species – creates a more vigorous breed than those that are self-fertilized.</p>
<p>His work and others’ influenced successive generations of crop scientists and led to the development of hybrid corn, said Stephen Moose, a professor specializing in crop genetics at University of Illinois.</p>
<p>U.S. farmers started planting the first significant acres of hybrid corn in the 1930s, and by 1950 it made up nearly all the corn seeded in the United States.</p>
<p>Yields exploded. Farmers who reaped 20.5 bushels of corn per acre in 1930 harvested an average of 38.2 bushels in 1950, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.</p>
<p>Further hybrid breeding breakthroughs generated corn with leaves that grow more erect, allowing farmers to sow it more densely without starving plants of sunlight. Yields first topped 100 bushels per acre in 1978.</p>
<p>After conventional breeding breakthroughs became harder to find, corn gained new vigor through the 1990s with genetic modification.</p>
<p>In 1996, U.S. regulators approved corn that was genetically engineered to produce bug-killing proteins, accomplished by inserting a bacterium hostile to the corn borer insect into the plant genome.</p>
<p>Before the end of the 1990s, corn able to resist weed-killing chemical glufosinate or Monsanto’s glyphosate hit the market.</p>
<p>Those modified varieties and others that followed proved pivotal in generating the abundant corn crops that have since become commonplace, Moose said.</p>
<p>“In the seed industry, it stimulated a whole other round of investment,” Moose said.</p>
<p>In the 20 years since GMO corn reached U.S. farms, yields jumped another 37 percent to a record 174.6 bushels per acre last year.</p>
<p>Some experts believe the expansion of corn yields may soon hit a ceiling. The crop may be nearing the natural limit of its production potential, and crop yields will likely plateau in the next decade, based on how plants convert light to food and their ability to recover from heat, said Ken Cassman, agronomy professor at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.</p>
<p>Technology has also provided better defenses against pests.</p>
<p>Syngenta AG’s (S:) Viptera and Duracade traits, used to control worms and beetles, launched in 2010 and 2013. SmartStax corn seed, introduced by Monsanto and in 2009, brought twin benefits of insect protection and herbicide tolerance, said Paul Bertels, vice-president of production and sustainability at U.S.-based National Corn Growers Association.</p>
<p>The breakthroughs in seed and pesticide technologies have not come without problems. Monsanto is now embroiled in a controversy over dicamba, a big-selling chemical designed to kill weeds that harm Monsanto’s genetically modified crops.</p>
<p>Many U.S. farmers say dicamba has drifted from its intended fields, damaging plants that are not resistant to the chemical. Monsanto believes the main causes of drifting are errors by farmers and applicators in deploying the herbicide, company spokeswoman Charla Lord said.</p>
<p>GROWING CORN IN ALASKA</p>
<p>As it grew stronger, corn grew faster. Corn that required 120 days to mature in the U.S. Corn Belt during the 1960s now needs only 105 to 115 days.</p>
<p>Farmers in northern North Dakota plant and harvest corn in 80 days, and have doubled the state’s production in five years.</p>
<p>Fast corn is now stirring even the imaginations of researchers in the far north.</p>
<p>University of Alaska Fairbanks horticulture professor Meriam Karlsson grew hundreds of corn plants in the Arctic state in 2015.</p>
<p>The plants, germinated in a greenhouse before they were transplanted outside, grew from a short-season garden corn variety that matured in less than 60 days. Corn rose only four to five feet, allowing plants to spend maximum energy on growing ears, rather than leaves and stalks.</p>
<p>Karlsson had expected few corn plants to survive in Fairbanks – less than 120 miles (190 kilometers) from the Arctic Circle.</p>
<p>“It’s much more adaptable than I expected,” she said. “Amazing what breeding can do. It was kind of exciting that you could do it.”</p>
<p>The lure of technology comes down to money for farmers.</p>
<p>Even with Chicago corn futures down more than 50 percent from their 2012 record high, the high-yielding crop offers one of the strongest returns to Canadian farmers, generating profits per acre four times that of canola, based on average prices and costs, said National Bank analyst Greg Colman.</p>
<p>As corn spreads across the Canadian Prairies, those robust yields are winning farmers over, said Dan Wright, Monsanto Canada’s lead for corn and soybeans.</p>
<p>“Once you harvest corn at 140 or 180 bushels, it’s something you want to do again,” he said.</p>
<p>While corn compares nicely to some crops, it offers U.S. farmers marginal returns at current prices, Bernstein’s Oxgaard said. Switching to other crops is not easy in areas like the U.S. Midwest, where farmers traditionally swing between corn and soybeans, and have invested in costly equipment to grow them.</p>
<p>GLUT TRACES ROOTS TO SHORTAGE</p>
<p>The problems of plenty were on nobody’s mind less than a decade ago. In 2008, a dramatic food price run-up stirred riots from Haiti to Egypt.</p>
<p>Four years later, the U.S. Midwest, the engine of the global corn and soybean growing machine, suffered its worst drought in decades, opening gaping cracks in the soil and withering crops.</p>
<p>Chicago corn and soybean futures () hit record highs as U.S. production fell to multi-year lows.</p>
<p>But high prices proved the cure for high prices.</p>
<p>Farmers in traditionally less productive corn-growing countries such as Russia, Argentina and Brazil expanded corn output to seize bigger profits.</p>
<p>U.S. farming quickly rebounded, reaping record corn harvests in three of the next four years.</p>
<p>New corn varieties have made global production more balanced than ever, with 12 countries producing at least 10 million tonnes of corn annually, up from 10 before the drought.</p>
<p>Even if U.S. or Brazilian corn crops suffered major weather damage, the world would still have the expanding Black Sea corn region to tap, not to mention China’s enormous supplies, said Bertels, of the U.S. corn growers association.</p>
<p>China’s stockpiling policies, enacted in 2007 when corn supplies were tight, also stimulated oversupply. Aiming for self-sufficiency in grains, Beijing bought virtually the entire domestic crop each year and paid farmers as much as 60 percent more than global prices.</p>
<p>The program stuffed Chinese warehouses with some 250 million tonnes of corn by the time Beijing scrapped it last year. China is now boosting incentives for farmers to switch to soybeans from corn.</p>
<p>“The world’s corn is mainly in China,” said Li Qiang, chief consultant at Shanghai JC Intelligence Co Ltd.</p>
<p>He said it will take three to four years for stocks to reach a “normal” level of around 40-50 million tonnes.</p>
<p>The Black Sea region, made up of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, has become a disruptive force with rapidly expanding exports. Moscow aims to drive grain production to 150 million tonnes by 2030 from 117 million in 2016 after increasing storage and export capacity in ports in the last couple of years.</p>
<p>Glut conditions are expected to ease modestly this year, amid dry conditions in China and the United States, but supplies are still so large that prices remain weak.</p>
<p>OVERSUPPLY OF EVERYTHING</p>
<p>In northern North Dakota, an expanding frontier for corn and soybeans, Paul Thomas started dabbling in both crops about a decade ago on his farm near Minot, seeking higher returns than wheat.</p>
<p>Both are now among his biggest crops, including short-season Monsanto corn varieties that have only been available for a couple of years.</p>
<p>Profits may be tougher for Thomas to eke out this year due to dry weather and soft prices, but he shrugs off the struggle.</p>
<p>“We’re very capable of producing a large amount of bushels given an economic incentive,” he said. “If we end up over-producing, then we shift to one that’s more in need. That’s just the way agriculture works.”</p>
<p>Thomas acknowledged, however, that the traditional dynamic may be changing in this current glut.</p>
<p>“I don’t know any single crop that isn’t in oversupply,” he said.</p>
<p>Seeding equipment is becoming more precise, and increasingly cost-conscious farmers are applying fertilizer and chemicals more intelligently, said Al Mussell, head of research at Canadian think tank Agri-Food Economic Systems.</p>
<p>Monsanto projects that corn will become by the mid-2020s one of the biggest crops produced in Canada, which is an agriculture-exporting powerhouse in canola, wheat, oats and pork.</p>
<p>Soybeans are also spreading across Canada. Farmers seeded a record high 7.3 million acres in 2017, up 75 percent in five years.</p>
<p>On Monsanto’s research farm in Carman, Manitoba, the next target is marketing a corn variety that matures in 70 days within the next two years. After that: an even quicker plant to snatch DowDuPont’s claim to North America’s fastest corn.</p>
<p>It is ambitious but realistic, said Kelly Boddy, manager of Monsanto’s research farm.</p>
<p>“Wind the clock back a few years,” he said, “and breeders wouldn’t have thought it possible.”</p> | false | 1 | rod nickel carman manitoba reuters canadas fertile prairies dominated yellows golds canola wheat summers short grow corn major scale monsanto co n working develop hopes north americas fastestmaturing corn allowing farmers grow western canada inhospitable climates ukraine seed chemical giant projects western canadian corn plantings could multiply 20 times 10 million acres 2025 adding 11 billion bushels nearly 3 percent current global production question amid historically high supplies low grain prices whether world really needs corn global grains glut fourth year supplies bloated favorable weather increasingly hightech farm practices tougher plant breeds binbusting harvests cheap corn wheat soybeans undermining business models worlds largest agriculture firms farmers use products services analysts say firms effectively innovated way stubbornly oversupplied market never world produced much food consumed one season world ending stocks total grains leftover supplies new harvest climbed four straight years poised reach record 638 million tonnes 201617 according usda data farmers agriculture firms could count periodic bouts cropdestroying weather tame gluts drive prices genetically modified crops repel plantchewing insects withstand lethal chemicals mature faster made trend toward oversupply resistant traditional boomandbust agrarian cycles experts say another key factor china worlds secondbiggest corn grower adopted stockpiling policies decade ago crop supplies ran thin resulting greater production world needs think norm said bryan agbabian director agriculture equities allianz de global investors allianz investors seem agree value two agriculture equity funds agbabian manages fell 300 million year 800 million 2011 crop prices slid said abundant supplies helped lower food prices across world benefit consumers impoverished nations muted several factors including problems corruption distribution food developing regions said sylvain charlebois professor food distribution policy canadas dalhousie university bumper harvests may actually harm poor communities benefit residents food savings lower prices depress farm incomes areas said john baffes senior economist world bank even farmers reap bountiful harvests us net farm incomes year total 634 billion half earnings 2013 according us department agriculture forecast lower incomes mean farmers spend much seed fertilizer machinery extending pain firms across agriculture sector potash corp saskatchewan worlds biggest fertilizer company capacity closed newest potash mine last year eliminating 400 jobs seen uslisted shares fall nearly half since beginning 2015 drop erased 14 billion value left potash seeking merge rival agrium inc profits pressure seed chemical companies scrambling consolidate monsantos annual profit 2016 smallest six years agreed last year combine bayer ag de would create worlds largest integrated pesticide seed company deal closes next year grain handler bunge ltd n said summer would cut costs left door open selling posting 34 percent drop quarterly earnings bunge ceo soren schroder sought reassure investors may saying needed trim supplies one bad stretch weather us midwest glut pervades many major farming regions making unlikely drought floods one region could wipe mounting global surplus even dry conditions north america europe australia us department agriculture forecasts year bring secondbiggest global corn wheat soybean harvests ever bunges schroder made comment bad weather less three weeks confirming informal merger approach commodities giant glencore plc l prices tanked farmers longer willing pay seed chemicals said jonas oxgaard analyst investment management firm bernstein mergers absolutely driven oversupply growth gone monsanto spokeswoman trish jordan said company believes demand growth still justifies corn expansion disputed notion crop science advances backfiring agricultural technology firms monsanto rival dowdupont inc n making bet currently sells shortestseason field corn north america maturing 70 days spokesman ali aziz said success lab field however contributed oversupply may continue sustain said oxgaard bernstein analyst somewhat seed companies fault keep breeding better better seeds every year said exploding crop yields eat farm profits click httptmsnrtrs2y4zigw grains glut guts global prices click httptmsnrtrs2y2ushz darwin sex corn charles darwin helped plant seeds grain glut biologist evolution theorist showed late 1800s crossfertilization plants sex cells fused crop varieties species creates vigorous breed selffertilized work others influenced successive generations crop scientists led development hybrid corn said stephen moose professor specializing crop genetics university illinois us farmers started planting first significant acres hybrid corn 1930s 1950 made nearly corn seeded united states yields exploded farmers reaped 205 bushels corn per acre 1930 harvested average 382 bushels 1950 according us department agriculture hybrid breeding breakthroughs generated corn leaves grow erect allowing farmers sow densely without starving plants sunlight yields first topped 100 bushels per acre 1978 conventional breeding breakthroughs became harder find corn gained new vigor 1990s genetic modification 1996 us regulators approved corn genetically engineered produce bugkilling proteins accomplished inserting bacterium hostile corn borer insect plant genome end 1990s corn able resist weedkilling chemical glufosinate monsantos glyphosate hit market modified varieties others followed proved pivotal generating abundant corn crops since become commonplace moose said seed industry stimulated whole round investment moose said 20 years since gmo corn reached us farms yields jumped another 37 percent record 1746 bushels per acre last year experts believe expansion corn yields may soon hit ceiling crop may nearing natural limit production potential crop yields likely plateau next decade based plants convert light food ability recover heat said ken cassman agronomy professor university nebraskalincoln technology also provided better defenses pests syngenta ags viptera duracade traits used control worms beetles launched 2010 2013 smartstax corn seed introduced monsanto 2009 brought twin benefits insect protection herbicide tolerance said paul bertels vicepresident production sustainability usbased national corn growers association breakthroughs seed pesticide technologies come without problems monsanto embroiled controversy dicamba bigselling chemical designed kill weeds harm monsantos genetically modified crops many us farmers say dicamba drifted intended fields damaging plants resistant chemical monsanto believes main causes drifting errors farmers applicators deploying herbicide company spokeswoman charla lord said growing corn alaska grew stronger corn grew faster corn required 120 days mature us corn belt 1960s needs 105 115 days farmers northern north dakota plant harvest corn 80 days doubled states production five years fast corn stirring even imaginations researchers far north university alaska fairbanks horticulture professor meriam karlsson grew hundreds corn plants arctic state 2015 plants germinated greenhouse transplanted outside grew shortseason garden corn variety matured less 60 days corn rose four five feet allowing plants spend maximum energy growing ears rather leaves stalks karlsson expected corn plants survive fairbanks less 120 miles 190 kilometers arctic circle much adaptable expected said amazing breeding kind exciting could lure technology comes money farmers even chicago corn futures 50 percent 2012 record high highyielding crop offers one strongest returns canadian farmers generating profits per acre four times canola based average prices costs said national bank analyst greg colman corn spreads across canadian prairies robust yields winning farmers said dan wright monsanto canadas lead corn soybeans harvest corn 140 180 bushels something want said corn compares nicely crops offers us farmers marginal returns current prices bernsteins oxgaard said switching crops easy areas like us midwest farmers traditionally swing corn soybeans invested costly equipment grow glut traces roots shortage problems plenty nobodys mind less decade ago 2008 dramatic food price runup stirred riots haiti egypt four years later us midwest engine global corn soybean growing machine suffered worst drought decades opening gaping cracks soil withering crops chicago corn soybean futures hit record highs us production fell multiyear lows high prices proved cure high prices farmers traditionally less productive corngrowing countries russia argentina brazil expanded corn output seize bigger profits us farming quickly rebounded reaping record corn harvests three next four years new corn varieties made global production balanced ever 12 countries producing least 10 million tonnes corn annually 10 drought even us brazilian corn crops suffered major weather damage world would still expanding black sea corn region tap mention chinas enormous supplies said bertels us corn growers association chinas stockpiling policies enacted 2007 corn supplies tight also stimulated oversupply aiming selfsufficiency grains beijing bought virtually entire domestic crop year paid farmers much 60 percent global prices program stuffed chinese warehouses 250 million tonnes corn time beijing scrapped last year china boosting incentives farmers switch soybeans corn worlds corn mainly china said li qiang chief consultant shanghai jc intelligence co ltd said take three four years stocks reach normal level around 4050 million tonnes black sea region made russia ukraine kazakhstan become disruptive force rapidly expanding exports moscow aims drive grain production 150 million tonnes 2030 117 million 2016 increasing storage export capacity ports last couple years glut conditions expected ease modestly year amid dry conditions china united states supplies still large prices remain weak oversupply everything northern north dakota expanding frontier corn soybeans paul thomas started dabbling crops decade ago farm near minot seeking higher returns wheat among biggest crops including shortseason monsanto corn varieties available couple years profits may tougher thomas eke year due dry weather soft prices shrugs struggle capable producing large amount bushels given economic incentive said end overproducing shift one thats need thats way agriculture works thomas acknowledged however traditional dynamic may changing current glut dont know single crop isnt oversupply said seeding equipment becoming precise increasingly costconscious farmers applying fertilizer chemicals intelligently said al mussell head research canadian think tank agrifood economic systems monsanto projects corn become mid2020s one biggest crops produced canada agricultureexporting powerhouse canola wheat oats pork soybeans also spreading across canada farmers seeded record high 73 million acres 2017 75 percent five years monsantos research farm carman manitoba next target marketing corn variety matures 70 days within next two years even quicker plant snatch dowduponts claim north americas fastest corn ambitious realistic said kelly boddy manager monsantos research farm wind clock back years said breeders wouldnt thought possible | 1,566 |
<p>In her most recent column, “ <a href="http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2014-08-06.html" type="external">Ebola’s Doc’s Condition Downgraded to ‘Idiotic’</a>”, Ann Coulter mocks Dr. Kent Brantly.</p>
<p>Dr. Brantly is a family practice physician who was serving in Liberia through a Samaritan’s Purse&#160; <a href="http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/samaritans-purse-doctor-serving-in-liberia-west-africa-tests-positive-for-ebola/" type="external">program</a>&#160;before joining a medical team responding to the Ebola crisis. A husband and father of two young children, Dr. Brantly tested positive for the Ebola virus while treating patients in Liberia.</p>
<p>This tragic turn of events has made Ms. Coulter agitated and angry, not at the disease but at its victim. Dr. Brantly, you see, is a regrettable instance of “Christian narcissism.” (The irony of Coulter accusing anyone of narcissism seems lost on her.) Of Dr. Brantly and other Christian missionaries, she writes:</p>
<p>Evangelize in Liberia, and the [New York] Times’ Nicholas Kristof will be totally impressed. Which explains why American Christians go on “mission trips” to disease-ridden cesspools. They’re tired of fighting the culture war in the U.S., tired of being called homophobes, racists, sexists and bigots. So they slink off to Third World countries, away from American culture to do good works, forgetting that the first rule of life on a riverbank is that any good that one attempts downstream is quickly overtaken by what happens upstream.</p>
<p>Helping people in lands other than America, Coulter argues, is not only cowardly and selfish, but unbiblical as well. Your country is like your family, she writes. “We’re supposed to take care of our own first.” Dr. Brantly should have been evangelizing Hollywood power brokers, where he could have made a difference, or stayed in Zavala Country, Texas, “where he wouldn’t have risked making his wife a widow and his children fatherless.” And, she adds:</p>
<p>Whatever good Dr. Kent Brantly did in Liberia has now been overwhelmed by the more than $2 million already paid by the Christian charities Samaritan’s Purse and SIM USA just to fly him and his nurse home in separate Gulfstream jets, specially equipped with medical tents, and to care for them at one of America’s premier hospitals.</p>
<p>Some people get all the luck.</p>
<p>Even grading on the Coulter curve, the column is cruel, biblically illiterate and morally incoherent. Cruel because she’s mocking a man who has contracted a brutal and often lethal disease, a man whose family is now terrified for his life. It takes an unusually callous and malicious heart to devote an entire column to attacking a husband and father who, while serving others, is stricken with a virulent disease. And as an added grace note, Coulter divines Dr. Brantley’s heart, accusing him – without a shred of evidence — of being both a coward and vainglorious.</p>
<p>Ms. Coulter’s biblical illiteracy is evident in taking a verse from Deuteronomy (15:11) and building a doctrine that argues that serving people outside of your nation is a violation of God’s word and ways. The logic of her column is that until every problem in your nation is solved, no person should serve as a missionary to other lands. This doctrine would surprise St. Paul, whose missionary journeys took him to (among other places) modern-day Syria, Turkey, Greece and Rome. If Ms. Coulter wants to defend her peculiar missiology and hyper-nationalism, she needs to find sources other than the Bible.</p>
<p>As for Ms. Coulter’s moral incoherence: There are of course real needs in America and many millions of Christians (and non-Christians) are doing something to address them. All honor is due them. But people are called to serve in various ways, and there are other nations in the world where the poverty and misery are far worse than what we see in America. For individual Christians to sacrifice their own lives of comfort and ease to help “the least of these,” on whatever continent they are found, is among the higher callings of the faith. It ranks even above writing books like&#160;Treason,&#160;Slander,Demonic&#160;and&#160;If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans.</p>
<p>Ms. Coulter seems unaware of the fact that the global medical missions movement is one of the great achievements of Christianity. But then again, there is much about Christianity she seems unaware of. Let’s just say that when one thinks about what St. Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – Ann Coulter’s name doesn’t leap immediately to mind.</p>
<p>Elisabeth Elliot, who served as a missionary to the Quichua and Auca Indians in South America and whose husband Jim and four other missionaries were martyred in 1956, wrote a lovely biography about Amy Carmichael,&#160; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chance-Die-Life-Legacy-Carmichael/dp/0800730895" type="external">A Chance to Die</a>. Ms. Elliot referred to Carmichael – an Irish missionary who spent 53 years in South India – as “my first spiritual mother. She showed me the shape of godliness.”</p>
<p>Near the end of her 1987 book, Ms. Elliot writes this:</p>
<p>If there should appear in the twentieth century one who was truly holy, a missionary who actually believed in the word of the Master and the worth of the assigned task, a Christian who never served Mammon, who, though human and failing, nevertheless kept a sense of the glory and dignity of having been redeemed and called by God – if such a person should appear, would we say, “Away with him! Crucify him!”? Not out loud. There are other ways of banishing those who, because they live out the Truth, make us uncomfortable. We can deny the possibility of purity. We can refuse to tolerate superiority. If we are tempted to recognize them as true heroes, we can bolster our self-esteem by pulling them down to our level.</p>
<p>If Elisabeth Elliot didn’t personally know Ann Coulter, she certainly knew her type.</p>
<p>The poor we shall always have among us. The cruel and heartless, too.</p>
<p>Peter Wehner is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | recent column ebolas docs condition downgraded idiotic ann coulter mocks dr kent brantly dr brantly family practice physician serving liberia samaritans purse160 program160before joining medical team responding ebola crisis husband father two young children dr brantly tested positive ebola virus treating patients liberia tragic turn events made ms coulter agitated angry disease victim dr brantly see regrettable instance christian narcissism irony coulter accusing anyone narcissism seems lost dr brantly christian missionaries writes evangelize liberia new york times nicholas kristof totally impressed explains american christians go mission trips diseaseridden cesspools theyre tired fighting culture war us tired called homophobes racists sexists bigots slink third world countries away american culture good works forgetting first rule life riverbank good one attempts downstream quickly overtaken happens upstream helping people lands america coulter argues cowardly selfish unbiblical well country like family writes supposed take care first dr brantly evangelizing hollywood power brokers could made difference stayed zavala country texas wouldnt risked making wife widow children fatherless adds whatever good dr kent brantly liberia overwhelmed 2 million already paid christian charities samaritans purse sim usa fly nurse home separate gulfstream jets specially equipped medical tents care one americas premier hospitals people get luck even grading coulter curve column cruel biblically illiterate morally incoherent cruel shes mocking man contracted brutal often lethal disease man whose family terrified life takes unusually callous malicious heart devote entire column attacking husband father serving others stricken virulent disease added grace note coulter divines dr brantleys heart accusing without shred evidence coward vainglorious ms coulters biblical illiteracy evident taking verse deuteronomy 1511 building doctrine argues serving people outside nation violation gods word ways logic column every problem nation solved person serve missionary lands doctrine would surprise st paul whose missionary journeys took among places modernday syria turkey greece rome ms coulter wants defend peculiar missiology hypernationalism needs find sources bible ms coulters moral incoherence course real needs america many millions christians nonchristians something address honor due people called serve various ways nations world poverty misery far worse see america individual christians sacrifice lives comfort ease help least whatever continent found among higher callings faith ranks even writing books like160treason160slanderdemonic160and160if democrats brains theyd republicans ms coulter seems unaware fact global medical missions movement one great achievements christianity much christianity seems unaware lets say one thinks st paul calls fruit spirit love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness selfcontrol ann coulters name doesnt leap immediately mind elisabeth elliot served missionary quichua auca indians south america whose husband jim four missionaries martyred 1956 wrote lovely biography amy carmichael160 chance die ms elliot referred carmichael irish missionary spent 53 years south india first spiritual mother showed shape godliness near end 1987 book ms elliot writes appear twentieth century one truly holy missionary actually believed word master worth assigned task christian never served mammon though human failing nevertheless kept sense glory dignity redeemed called god person appear would say away crucify loud ways banishing live truth make us uncomfortable deny possibility purity refuse tolerate superiority tempted recognize true heroes bolster selfesteem pulling level elisabeth elliot didnt personally know ann coulter certainly knew type poor shall always among us cruel heartless peter wehner senior fellow ethics public policy center | 532 |
<p>Paul Ryan’s <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/video-paul-ryans-speech_651178.html" type="external">speech</a>&#160;accepting the Republican party’s nomination for vice president was everything that could have been hoped for by the Romney campaign and more. It made the case against President Obama in devastating terms—using humor and memorable line after memorable line to drive home the main point that the president has been a miserable failure in office. The speech is likely to have lasting impact in this campaign.</p>
<p>Which perhaps explains the panicky reaction of the mainstream press and Ryan’s liberal critics. Almost from the moment Ryan finished his speech, apologists for the president ( <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mr-ryans-speech-effective-maybe-but-definitely-misleading/2012/08/30/a9b4e690-f227-11e1-adc6-87dfa8eff430_story.html?tid=pm_pop" type="external">including the Washington Post</a>) have come out swinging, quite plainly indignant that Ryan landed so many punches when the usual media filters couldn’t stop him.</p>
<p>And, so, not surprisingly, these same apologists have resorted to the usual kind of smear tactics—accusing Ryan of offering up <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/ryan-risks-reputation-with-misleading-nomination-speech.php" type="external">misleading arguments</a>&#160;and even “ <a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/08/30/paul_ryans_brazen_lies/" type="external">lies</a>.”</p>
<p>These criticisms of Ryan’s speech are absurd. Everything Ryan said is factual and a fair reading of the record and prior events.</p>
<p>Let’s start with Medicare. Ryan’s critics are beside themselves that the Romney campaign has effectively pinned $716 billion in Medicare cuts on the Obama administration. Two arguments are made to defend the president. First, it is said that Ryan’s own budget cut Medicare by the same amount. But the Ryan budget not only repealed all of Obamacare’s spending, it also doesn’t specify the kinds of Medicare cuts Obamacare does: It calls for the same level of savings but doesn’t spend the money elsewhere and leaves room for Congress to pursue those savings in ways that don’t rely on price controls and the elimination of benefits. Moreover, both Romney and Ryan have said that they, in a Romney administration, would meet their budgetary goals without Obamacare’s Medicare cuts by trimming elsewhere in the budget. And it is certainly the case that Romney and Ryan will have much greater flexibility than Ryan did as House Budget Committee chairman to make cuts wherever they can find them.</p>
<p>Ryan’s critics also take exception to the implication that the Medicare “cuts” will do any harm to the health care provided to seniors, arguing that the savings come from “targeted cuts to providers,” not seniors. This is utter nonsense. Among the cuts in Obamacare is a deep and permanent reduction in payments to Medicare Advantage plans. <a href="http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/ReportsTrustFunds/Downloads/TR2012.pdf" type="external">According to the Medicare trustees</a>, that cut will force 4 million seniors out of their Medicare Advantage plans. There is no question that these seniors will lose thousands of dollars per year in health benefits because of these cuts. Moreover, the chief actuary for the Medicare program has projected that, by the end of this decade, 15 percent of facilities will have to stop taking Medicare patients because of Obamacare’s cuts. That will directly impair access to care for millions of seniors, and the percentage of hospitals and nursing homes dropping out of Medicare will grow to 25 percent by 2030.</p>
<p>Ryan’s critics are also up in arms over his mention of the closed GM plant in Janesville, Wis. They claim that Ryan blamed President Obama for the closing of the plant—but Ryan explicitly said that the plant was already closing when then-candidate Obama came to Janesville in 2008: “We were about to lose a major factory,” Ryan said last night. Second, it is worth recalling that Obama, in <a href="http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=205482#.UD-hat1lRcT" type="external">a June 2008 statement</a>, said that, if elected president, he would “lead an effort to retool plants like the GM facility in Janesville.” This is further confirmation of Ryan’s point that Obama essentially promised to find a way to keep the plant open after he became president—and did not deliver.</p>
<p>But let’s step back and look at Ryan’s larger point. He was making the argument that, even with the Obama bailout, the Obama economy is so bad that the plant is still closed and, what’s worse, there’s no prospect that other vibrant industries will take its place. That’s absolutely a fair indictment of the Obama record, especially so because Obama went to the plant and promised hope and change in 2008.</p>
<p>Then there is the business of the U.S. credit downgrade and the Bowles-Simpson commission. In his speech, Ryan properly excoriated the president for his profligate spending and for his indifference to the nation’s debt crisis. During the president’s term, the national debt will rise by more than $5 trillion. Ryan pinned S&amp;P’s decision to lower the credit rating for debt issued by the U.S. government on the president’s failure to lead on fiscal matters, and chastised him specifically for appointing the Bowles-Simpson commission and then doing nothing with the commission’s recommendations. Ryan’s critics say he is being hypocritical because Ryan himself also opposed the Bowles-Simpson recommendations.</p>
<p>But when Ryan opposed that plan (because it left in place Obamacare’s massive new entitlement spending), <a href="http://budget.house.gov/uploadedfiles/pathtoprosperityfy2012.pdf" type="external">he proposed an alternative</a>&#160;and passed it through the House of Representatives. What did President Obama do? Nothing. He appointed the commission to buy time during the 2010 campaign season, and then, in 2011, decided that leading on the deficit wasn’t in his political interest. So he proposed no plan of his own. And then when Ryan proposed his plan to actually head off a fiscal crisis, the president attacked it in the most partisan and demagogic terms possible. Is it any surprise, with this kind of behavior from the president, that the parties weren’t able to come to an amicable agreement? Any fair reading of the record shows that the president has abdicated his leadership responsibilities on fiscal matters. He richly deserves the blame for the downgrade.</p>
<p>Finally, Ryan’s critics cannot stomach the fact that Ryan refuses to play along with their caricatures of him as an uncaring Randian, obsessed with individualism and indifferent to the needs of the vulnerable. In his speech, Ryan specifically noted that a society should be measured by how well the strong protect the weak. That’s entirely consistent with the budget plan he favors. As usual, his critics want the world to equate more governmental programs and spending with improvement in the lives of the poor. And yet, after trillions in spending, poverty and dependence are on the rise under President Obama.</p>
<p>Under Romney and Ryan, there will be plenty of room for generous government spending on a safety net for those who are truly incapable of taking care of themselves. That’s as it should be. But what the poor really need is opportunity, for better-paying jobs and mobility up the wage scale. There is a mountain of evidence that what will help the poor more than anything else is a vibrant free-market economy. Moreover, the reason welfare reform was such a success in 1996 was not that it limited government spending (although it did do that) but that it improved the lives of millions of lower-income American families by emphasizing work over dependence. That’s a lesson that Ryan’s critics, the president included, still have not learned.</p>
<p>Paul Ryan’s acceptance speech was a tour de force, and a clear success. One measure of that success is t he intensity and emptiness of the attacks coming his way. The irony is that these attacks—intended to damage Ryan by undermining his credibility—are more likely to be seen by the electorate for what they really are: desperate and dishonest tactics from those willing to say and do anything to hang on to power.</p>
<p>James C. Capretta is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | false | 1 | paul ryans speech160accepting republican partys nomination vice president everything could hoped romney campaign made case president obama devastating termsusing humor memorable line memorable line drive home main point president miserable failure office speech likely lasting impact campaign perhaps explains panicky reaction mainstream press ryans liberal critics almost moment ryan finished speech apologists president including washington post come swinging quite plainly indignant ryan landed many punches usual media filters couldnt stop surprisingly apologists resorted usual kind smear tacticsaccusing ryan offering misleading arguments160and even lies criticisms ryans speech absurd everything ryan said factual fair reading record prior events lets start medicare ryans critics beside romney campaign effectively pinned 716 billion medicare cuts obama administration two arguments made defend president first said ryans budget cut medicare amount ryan budget repealed obamacares spending also doesnt specify kinds medicare cuts obamacare calls level savings doesnt spend money elsewhere leaves room congress pursue savings ways dont rely price controls elimination benefits moreover romney ryan said romney administration would meet budgetary goals without obamacares medicare cuts trimming elsewhere budget certainly case romney ryan much greater flexibility ryan house budget committee chairman make cuts wherever find ryans critics also take exception implication medicare cuts harm health care provided seniors arguing savings come targeted cuts providers seniors utter nonsense among cuts obamacare deep permanent reduction payments medicare advantage plans according medicare trustees cut force 4 million seniors medicare advantage plans question seniors lose thousands dollars per year health benefits cuts moreover chief actuary medicare program projected end decade 15 percent facilities stop taking medicare patients obamacares cuts directly impair access care millions seniors percentage hospitals nursing homes dropping medicare grow 25 percent 2030 ryans critics also arms mention closed gm plant janesville wis claim ryan blamed president obama closing plantbut ryan explicitly said plant already closing thencandidate obama came janesville 2008 lose major factory ryan said last night second worth recalling obama june 2008 statement said elected president would lead effort retool plants like gm facility janesville confirmation ryans point obama essentially promised find way keep plant open became presidentand deliver lets step back look ryans larger point making argument even obama bailout obama economy bad plant still closed whats worse theres prospect vibrant industries take place thats absolutely fair indictment obama record especially obama went plant promised hope change 2008 business us credit downgrade bowlessimpson commission speech ryan properly excoriated president profligate spending indifference nations debt crisis presidents term national debt rise 5 trillion ryan pinned sampps decision lower credit rating debt issued us government presidents failure lead fiscal matters chastised specifically appointing bowlessimpson commission nothing commissions recommendations ryans critics say hypocritical ryan also opposed bowlessimpson recommendations ryan opposed plan left place obamacares massive new entitlement spending proposed alternative160and passed house representatives president obama nothing appointed commission buy time 2010 campaign season 2011 decided leading deficit wasnt political interest proposed plan ryan proposed plan actually head fiscal crisis president attacked partisan demagogic terms possible surprise kind behavior president parties werent able come amicable agreement fair reading record shows president abdicated leadership responsibilities fiscal matters richly deserves blame downgrade finally ryans critics stomach fact ryan refuses play along caricatures uncaring randian obsessed individualism indifferent needs vulnerable speech ryan specifically noted society measured well strong protect weak thats entirely consistent budget plan favors usual critics want world equate governmental programs spending improvement lives poor yet trillions spending poverty dependence rise president obama romney ryan plenty room generous government spending safety net truly incapable taking care thats poor really need opportunity betterpaying jobs mobility wage scale mountain evidence help poor anything else vibrant freemarket economy moreover reason welfare reform success 1996 limited government spending although improved lives millions lowerincome american families emphasizing work dependence thats lesson ryans critics president included still learned paul ryans acceptance speech tour de force clear success one measure success intensity emptiness attacks coming way irony attacksintended damage ryan undermining credibilityare likely seen electorate really desperate dishonest tactics willing say anything hang power james c capretta fellow ethics public policy center 160 | 665 |
<p>For nearly 30 years, the Republican Party has increasingly resembled a religion, with Ronald Reagan is its deity. Party leaders endlessly quote him, and every GOP presidential nominee until Donald Trump ran on a platform they thought was barely changed from Reagan’s 1980 campaign. No wonder conservative talk radio icon Rush Limbaugh calls our 40th president “Ronaldus Magnus”: Ronald the Great.</p>
<p>This religion’s creed—let’s call it Reaganism—is simple. Government and taxes are bad, private entrepreneurship and supply-side economics is good. Social conservatism and unofficial endorsement of Christianity is essential to national well-being. Around the world, America should speak loudly, carry the biggest stick and never be afraid of using it. Proclaim and practice these truths and political success will be yours.</p>
<p>This canon has been repeated for so long that it seems self-evidently true to Republicans and movement conservatives. But it’s simply not the sum of what Reagan believed.</p>
<p>I discovered this while researching my new book on Reagan’s life and thought. I learned that election returns show Americans don’t want what Reaganism’s high priests are preaching. More crucially, I learned that everything I thought I knew about Reagan was wrong—that Reaganism misrepresents Reagan’s own views.</p>
<p>Reagan’s conservatism actually fit squarely within Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal consensus, not the anti-New Deal conservatism that forms Reaganism’s heart.</p>
<p>Heresy! some readers will cry. How can a man who backed Barry Goldwater, who said that “libertarianism is the heart of conservatism,” and who told America that “government is not the solution to the problem, it is the problem” be a New Deal conservative? The answer is that while all those statements are true, they exist in the context of a much more pro-government world view than Reaganism admits.</p>
<p>The young Reagan was an ardent devotee of FDR and the Democratic Party. His friends from that era say he memorized FDR’s “fireside chats” and incessantly prattled on about New Deal liberalism. Many assume that his political outlook changed so much as he moved to the right that he rejected FDR and the New Deal.But Reagan always said “I didn’t leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me.” Taking that line seriously is the first step to getting Reagan right.</p>
<p>Reagan’s early conservative talks before he rose to national fame during Goldwater’s bid for the presidency in October 1964 argued that certain government social programs weren’t needed to meet “humanitarian aims.” He would criticize bureaucrats who bossed people around or programs that gave aid to people who didn’t need it. He did not, however, join other conservatives and say New Deal programs were unconstitutional or an improper thing for government to do. Nor, if the programs genuinely met a legitimate need, did he criticize them for costing too much.</p>
<p>Quite the contrary. I just about fell off my chair in the Reagan Library when I heard him say this in a 1958 speech: “In the last few decades we have indulged in a great program of social progress with many welfare programs. I’m sure that most of us in spite of the cost wouldn’t buy many of these projects back at any price. They represented forward thinking on our part.”</p>
<p>He repeated similar sentiments in every speech I listened to, even saying in 1961, “Any person in the United State who requires medical attention and cannot provide for himself should have it provided for him.” That year, he supported an alternative to Medicare called the Kerr-Mills Act that gave federal funds to states so they could help poor senior citizens pay for medical care, even writing to a longtime friend that “if the money isn’t enough I think we should put up more.”</p>
<p>Reagan did not change his stripes as he became conservatism’s hero, and continued to preach his own unique conservative vision. He told viewers of the October 1964 “Time for Choosing” speech endorsing Goldwater, the speech that made him a national political star, that conservatives were for “telling our senior citizens that that no one in this country should be denied medical care for lack of funds.” He campaigned for governor of California saying talk “in America of left and right” was “disruptive talk, dividing us down the center.” He said his “Creative Society,” intended to be a non-bureaucratic alternative to Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society,” wasn’t “some glorified program for passing the buck and telling people to play Samaritan and solve their problems on their own while government stands by to hand out Good Conduct ribbons.” And when he became governor, he pushed through a then-record tax increase after his efforts to “cut, squeeze, and trim” government could not balance the budget.</p>
<p>He didn’t alter his views when he ran for and became president either. He often said, “Those who, through no fault of their own, must depend on the rest of us” would be exempt from budget cuts. He pushed through three tax increases as president, one of which made Social Security solvent for the last 35 years.</p>
<p>Reagan got these ideas from FDR, and often paraphrased lines uttered by his one-time idol. The line that government should support “those who, through no fault of their own,” could not support themselves came from FDR, who used that exact phrase frequently to describe who deserved government help. In the “Time for Choosing” speech, Reagan chastised liberals by saying “the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s that so much they know isn’t so.” Reagan had adapted that line from a nearly identical variant uttered by FDR in his seventh fireside chat. Even Reagan’s famous closing statement in the 1980 presidential debate against Jimmy Carter, when he asked Americans if they were better off than they were four years ago, was a direct paraphrase of a section of FDR’s fifth fireside chat.</p>
<p>Conservative Republicans who didn’t cotton to FDR didn’t notice this, but the blue-collar voters who became known as “Reagan Democrats” sure did. During his governor’s race, Reagan’s margins were an astounding 36-44 percent larger than those of the 1962 Republican gubernatorial nominee, Richard Nixon, in towns dominated by blue-collar whites. He did dramatically better than other Republican presidential nominees in similar counties and towns when he ran for president, too. As one person told Reagan biographer Lou Cannon in 1984, “He isn’t really like a Republican. He’s more like an American, which is what we really need.”</p>
<p>Republicans and conservatives have forgotten those elements to Reagan’s thought and appeal, and have suffered at the polls ever since. The Republican nominee for president has received a majority of the popular vote only once since 1988. Most tellingly, Republican nominees before Trump consistently lost the Reagan Democrat-dominated states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, winning only one of those states (Iowa) in one race (2004).</p>
<p>When Republicans have come out victorious, it’s been mainly because the Democratic alternative has been worse, or because those Republicans have tacitly rejected Reaganism’s creed. The current Congressional majority, for example, is due to the 2010 and 2014 waves, which were clearly a reflection of anger at President Barack Obama rather than an endorsement of Reaganism. And Republican domination of statehouses and state legislatures has resulted mainly because these representatives have rejected Reaganism. Republican governors and state legislatures have continued to increase the size of government, cutting taxes on the margin but largely following the real Reagan by keeping services strong first. Governors like Kansas’ Sam Brownback, who tried to buck this consensus by cutting services to make up for deficits caused by large tax cuts, have failed. Even deep red state voters like most of the big government set in motion by FDR’s New Deal.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Republicans on the national level are ignoring Reagan’s legacy by focusing too much on cutting popular programs and providing large tax cuts to people who are already doing quite well. House Speaker Paul Ryan’s insistence on making Medicare and Medicaid fiscally sustainable has led to plans that could end up denying medical care to the people who need these programs most. Texas Senator Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign put forth a tax plan that would have lowered the top rate paid by the richest taxpayers to a mere 10 percent, cutting federal revenues by over $8 trillion at a time when the aging of Baby Boomers would have started to significantly increase federal spending. It’s not that the Democrats’ solutions are any better, by the way, but the lesson of the 2012 election was that tired and stale Democratic proposals, even when pronounced by an unpopular standard bearer, beat Reaganism.</p>
<p>Trump is the most surprising and most recent example of Reaganism’s political failure. In 2016, he made active government in the service of the “forgotten American,” a phrase FDR and Reagan also used to describe working- and middle-class Americans, the centerpiece of his campaign. He trounced 16 GOP adversaries, most of whom (especially Cruz) campaigned on Reaganism’s principles. He then received an overwhelming swing vote from blue-collar whites—the same vote Reagan got, in exactly the regions of the country where Reagan did well—to capture the White House. He was the first Republican since Reagan to capture Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>Trump is far from Reagan’s second coming: His tenure in office is decidedly unlike the Gipper’s in his tone and his approach to Russia. And he has veered in the direction of Reaganism at times: For one, the president supported Ryan’s Obamacare replacement bill (even though he later called it “mean” and the bill will cost many of those Trump Democrats their health care). Trump’s tax reform principles also veer far toward the supply-side “cut taxes for the rich” approach Reaganisn advocates, providing little-to-no direct tax relief for the Trump Democrats who put him in the Oval Office. But even so, Trump remains the Republican leader least wedded to Reaganism in many years. In fact, his combination of support of an active government in service of the average worker with other traditional GOP concerns such as deregulation and support for the pro-life agenda more closely mimics what Reagan actually said and believed than any other GOP national leader since. No wonder the types of voters who went for Reagan voted for Trump, too.</p>
<p>Reagan’s campaign slogan in 1980 was simple, yet profound: “The Time is Now: Reagan.” That is as true today as it was then. Replace Reaganism with the real Reagan, and the Republican Party can become “the New Republican Party” he spoke of before CPAC’s 1977 annual meeting.</p>
<p>That party, he said, was the party of “the man and the woman in the factories, the farmer, the cop on the beat.” It was a party that shunned ideology and recognized that conservatives come in different stripes with different concerns and priorities. It was a party that would make certain that “working men and women” would “have a say in what goes on in the party.” Without saying it directly, he implied it would be a party that interprets rather than tacitly opposes FDR’s New Deal.</p>
<p>Reagan made that point clear toward the end of his career. On Columbus Day, 1988, he told a group of Italian-Americans in New Jersey that the “party of FDR and Harry Truman” wasn’t dead. Instead, “the party that represents people like you and me, the party that represents a majority of Americans,” was alive—in the GOP. “You see,” he told his audience, “the secret is when the left took over the Democratic Party, we took over the Republican Party.”</p>
<p>Conservatives face a rendezvous with destiny, a time for choosing. They can choose to follow the false prophets of Reaganism, and thereby hand power over to the left for decades to come. Or they can embrace the real Reagan and finally create the New Republican Party he dreamed of, a party that can make America the shining city on a hill he always knew we could be.</p>
<p>Henry Olsen is the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ronald-Reagan-New-Deal-Republican/dp/0062475266" type="external">The Working Class Republican: Ronald Reagan and the Return of Blue-Collar Conservatism</a> (HarperCollins). He is also a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | nearly 30 years republican party increasingly resembled religion ronald reagan deity party leaders endlessly quote every gop presidential nominee donald trump ran platform thought barely changed reagans 1980 campaign wonder conservative talk radio icon rush limbaugh calls 40th president ronaldus magnus ronald great religions creedlets call reaganismis simple government taxes bad private entrepreneurship supplyside economics good social conservatism unofficial endorsement christianity essential national wellbeing around world america speak loudly carry biggest stick never afraid using proclaim practice truths political success canon repeated long seems selfevidently true republicans movement conservatives simply sum reagan believed discovered researching new book reagans life thought learned election returns show americans dont want reaganisms high priests preaching crucially learned everything thought knew reagan wrongthat reaganism misrepresents reagans views reagans conservatism actually fit squarely within franklin delano roosevelts new deal consensus antinew deal conservatism forms reaganisms heart heresy readers cry man backed barry goldwater said libertarianism heart conservatism told america government solution problem problem new deal conservative answer statements true exist context much progovernment world view reaganism admits young reagan ardent devotee fdr democratic party friends era say memorized fdrs fireside chats incessantly prattled new deal liberalism many assume political outlook changed much moved right rejected fdr new dealbut reagan always said didnt leave democratic party democratic party left taking line seriously first step getting reagan right reagans early conservative talks rose national fame goldwaters bid presidency october 1964 argued certain government social programs werent needed meet humanitarian aims would criticize bureaucrats bossed people around programs gave aid people didnt need however join conservatives say new deal programs unconstitutional improper thing government programs genuinely met legitimate need criticize costing much quite contrary fell chair reagan library heard say 1958 speech last decades indulged great program social progress many welfare programs im sure us spite cost wouldnt buy many projects back price represented forward thinking part repeated similar sentiments every speech listened even saying 1961 person united state requires medical attention provide provided year supported alternative medicare called kerrmills act gave federal funds states could help poor senior citizens pay medical care even writing longtime friend money isnt enough think put reagan change stripes became conservatisms hero continued preach unique conservative vision told viewers october 1964 time choosing speech endorsing goldwater speech made national political star conservatives telling senior citizens one country denied medical care lack funds campaigned governor california saying talk america left right disruptive talk dividing us center said creative society intended nonbureaucratic alternative lyndon johnsons great society wasnt glorified program passing buck telling people play samaritan solve problems government stands hand good conduct ribbons became governor pushed thenrecord tax increase efforts cut squeeze trim government could balance budget didnt alter views ran became president either often said fault must depend rest us would exempt budget cuts pushed three tax increases president one made social security solvent last 35 years reagan got ideas fdr often paraphrased lines uttered onetime idol line government support fault could support came fdr used exact phrase frequently describe deserved government help time choosing speech reagan chastised liberals saying trouble liberal friends theyre ignorant much know isnt reagan adapted line nearly identical variant uttered fdr seventh fireside chat even reagans famous closing statement 1980 presidential debate jimmy carter asked americans better four years ago direct paraphrase section fdrs fifth fireside chat conservative republicans didnt cotton fdr didnt notice bluecollar voters became known reagan democrats sure governors race reagans margins astounding 3644 percent larger 1962 republican gubernatorial nominee richard nixon towns dominated bluecollar whites dramatically better republican presidential nominees similar counties towns ran president one person told reagan biographer lou cannon 1984 isnt really like republican hes like american really need republicans conservatives forgotten elements reagans thought appeal suffered polls ever since republican nominee president received majority popular vote since 1988 tellingly republican nominees trump consistently lost reagan democratdominated states wisconsin michigan iowa pennsylvania winning one states iowa one race 2004 republicans come victorious mainly democratic alternative worse republicans tacitly rejected reaganisms creed current congressional majority example due 2010 2014 waves clearly reflection anger president barack obama rather endorsement reaganism republican domination statehouses state legislatures resulted mainly representatives rejected reaganism republican governors state legislatures continued increase size government cutting taxes margin largely following real reagan keeping services strong first governors like kansas sam brownback tried buck consensus cutting services make deficits caused large tax cuts failed even deep red state voters like big government set motion fdrs new deal meanwhile republicans national level ignoring reagans legacy focusing much cutting popular programs providing large tax cuts people already quite well house speaker paul ryans insistence making medicare medicaid fiscally sustainable led plans could end denying medical care people need programs texas senator ted cruzs presidential campaign put forth tax plan would lowered top rate paid richest taxpayers mere 10 percent cutting federal revenues 8 trillion time aging baby boomers would started significantly increase federal spending democrats solutions better way lesson 2012 election tired stale democratic proposals even pronounced unpopular standard bearer beat reaganism trump surprising recent example reaganisms political failure 2016 made active government service forgotten american phrase fdr reagan also used describe working middleclass americans centerpiece campaign trounced 16 gop adversaries especially cruz campaigned reaganisms principles received overwhelming swing vote bluecollar whitesthe vote reagan got exactly regions country reagan wellto capture white house first republican since reagan capture ohio michigan wisconsin iowa pennsylvania trump far reagans second coming tenure office decidedly unlike gippers tone approach russia veered direction reaganism times one president supported ryans obamacare replacement bill even though later called mean bill cost many trump democrats health care trumps tax reform principles also veer far toward supplyside cut taxes rich approach reaganisn advocates providing littletono direct tax relief trump democrats put oval office even trump remains republican leader least wedded reaganism many years fact combination support active government service average worker traditional gop concerns deregulation support prolife agenda closely mimics reagan actually said believed gop national leader since wonder types voters went reagan voted trump reagans campaign slogan 1980 simple yet profound time reagan true today replace reaganism real reagan republican party become new republican party spoke cpacs 1977 annual meeting party said party man woman factories farmer cop beat party shunned ideology recognized conservatives come different stripes different concerns priorities party would make certain working men women would say goes party without saying directly implied would party interprets rather tacitly opposes fdrs new deal reagan made point clear toward end career columbus day 1988 told group italianamericans new jersey party fdr harry truman wasnt dead instead party represents people like party represents majority americans alivein gop see told audience secret left took democratic party took republican party conservatives face rendezvous destiny time choosing choose follow false prophets reaganism thereby hand power left decades come embrace real reagan finally create new republican party dreamed party make america shining city hill always knew could henry olsen author working class republican ronald reagan return bluecollar conservatism harpercollins also senior fellow ethics public policy center | 1,160 |
<p>WASHINGTON&#160;— There must be an answer.</p>
<p>Whatever is harming U.S. diplomats in Havana, it’s eluded the doctors, scientists and intelligence analysts scouring for answers. Investigators have chased many theories, including a sonic attack, electromagnetic weapon or flawed spying device.</p>
<p>Each explanation seems to fit parts of what’s happened, conflicting with others.</p>
<p>The United States doesn’t even know what to call it. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson used the phrase “health attacks.” The State Department prefers “incidents.”</p>
<p>Either way, suspicion has fallen on Cuba. But investigators also are examining whether a rogue faction of its security services, another country such as Russia, or some combination is to blame, more than a dozen U.S. officials familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press.</p>
<p>Those officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to publicly discuss the investigation. The AP also talked to scientists, physicians, acoustics and weapons experts, and others about the theories being pursued.</p>
<p>Perhaps the biggest mystery is why the symptoms, sounds and sensations vary so dramatically from person to person.</p>
<p>Of the 21 medically confirmed U.S. victims, some have permanent hearing loss or concussions, while others suffered nausea, headaches and ear-ringing. Some are struggling with concentration or common word recall, the AP has reported. Some felt vibrations or heard loud sounds mysteriously audible in only parts of rooms, and others heard nothing.</p>
<p>“These are very nonspecific symptoms. That’s why it’s difficult to tell what’s going on,” said Dr. H. Jeffrey Kim, a specialist on ear disorders at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital who isn’t involved with the investigation.</p>
<p>To solve the puzzle, investigators are sorting symptoms into categories, such as auditory and neurological, according to individuals briefed on the probe.</p>
<p>There can be a lag before victims discover or report symptoms, some of which are hard to diagnose. So investigators are charting the timeline of reported incidents to identify “clusters” to help solve the when, where and how of the Havana whodunit.</p>
<p>While Cuba has been surprisingly cooperative, even inviting the FBI to fly down to Havana, it’s not the same as an investigation with the U.S. government in full control.</p>
<p>“You’re on foreign soil,” said David Rubincam, a former FBI agent who served in Moscow. “The quality of the information and evidence you collect is limited to what the host government will allow you to see and hear and touch and do.”</p>
<p>Especially when you don’t even know what you’re looking for.</p>
<p>The first signs pointed to a sonic attack. But what kind?</p>
<p>Some victims heard things — signs that the sounds were in the audible spectrum. Loud noise can harm hearing, especially high-decibel sounds that can trigger ear-ringing tinnitus, ruptured ear drums, even permanent hearing loss.</p>
<p>But others heard nothing, and still became ill. So investigators considered inaudible sound: infrasound, too low for humans to hear, and ultrasound, too high.</p>
<p>Infrasound often is experienced as vibration, like standing near a subwoofer. Some victims reported feeling vibrations.</p>
<p>And it’s not impossible that infrasound could explain some of what diplomats thought they heard.</p>
<p>Though infrasound is usually inaudible, some people can detect it if the waves are powerful enough. For example, individuals living near infrasound-generating wind turbines have described pulsating hums that have left them dizzy, nauseous or with interrupted sleep. Such effects have prompted fierce scientific debate.</p>
<p>The balance problems reported in Havana? Possibly explained by infrasound, which may stimulate cells in the ear’s vestibular system that controls balance, scientists say.</p>
<p>But there’s little evidence infrasound can cause lasting damage once the sound stops.</p>
<p>And the pinpointed focus of the sound, reported by some? Infrasound waves travel everywhere, making them difficult to aim with precision.</p>
<p>“There’s no efficient way to focus infrasound to make it into a usable weapon,” said Mario Svirsky, an expert on ear disorders and neuroscience at New York University School of Medicine.</p>
<p>If not infrasound, maybe ultrasound?</p>
<p>At high-intensity, ultrasound can damage human tissue. That’s why doctors use it to destroy uterine fibroids and some tumors.</p>
<p>But ultrasound damage requires close contact between the device and the body. “You cannot sense ultrasound from long distances,” Svirsky said. No victim said they saw a weird contraption nearby.</p>
<p>None of these sound waves seems to explain the concussions. Usually, those follow a blow to the head or proximity to something like a bomb blast.</p>
<p>“I know of no acoustic effect or device that could produce traumatic brain injury or concussion-like symptoms,” said Juergen Altmann, an acoustic weapons expert and physicist at Germany’s Technische Universitaet Dortmund.</p>
<p>It may sound like Star Wars fantasy, but electromagnetic weapons have been around for years. They generally harm electronics, not humans.</p>
<p>The electromagnetic spectrum includes waves like the ones used by your cellphone, microwave and light bulbs.</p>
<p>And they can be easily pinpointed. Think lasers. Such waves can also travel through walls, so an electromagnetic attack could be plausibly concealed from afar.</p>
<p>There’s precedent. For more than a decade ending in the 1970s, the former Soviet Union bombarded the U.S. Embassy in Moscow with microwaves. The exact purpose was never clear.</p>
<p>What about the sounds people heard?</p>
<p>Microwave pulses — short, intense blasts — can cause people to “hear” clicking sounds. According to a two-decade-old U.S. Air Force patent, the American military has researched whether those blasts could be manipulated to “beam” voices or other sounds to someone’s head.</p>
<p>But when electromagnetic waves cause physical damage, it usually results from body tissue being heated. The diplomats in Cuba haven’t been reporting burning sensations.</p>
<p>The stress and anxiety about the disturbing incidents could be complicating the situation. Diplomats may be taking a closer look at mild symptoms they’d otherwise ignored.</p>
<p>After all, once symptoms emerged, the U.S. Embassy encouraged employees to report anything suspicious. Many of these symptoms can be caused by a lot of different things.</p>
<p>At least one other country, France, tested embassy staffers after an employee reported symptoms. The French then ruled out sonic-induced damage, the AP reported .</p>
<p>Not knowing what’s causing the crisis in Cuba has made it harder to find the culprit. If there is one at all.</p>
<p>It was only natural that American suspicion started with Cuba.</p>
<p>The attacks happened on Cuban soil. The two countries routinely harassed each other’s diplomats over a half-century of enmity. Despite eased tensions over the past couple of years, distrust lingers.</p>
<p>Diplomats reported incidents in their homes and in hotels. Cuban authorities would know who is staying in each.</p>
<p>But what’s the motive?</p>
<p>When symptoms emerged last November, Cuba was working feverishly with the U.S. to make progress on everything from internet access to immigration rules before President Barack Obama’s term ended. Officials still don’t understand why Havana would at the same time perpetrate attacks that could destroy its new relationship with Washington entirely.</p>
<p>Cuban President Raul Castro’s reaction deepened investigators’ skepticism, according to officials briefed on a rare, face-to-face discussion he had on the matter with America’s top envoy in Havana.</p>
<p>Predictably, Castro denied responsibility. But U.S. officials were surprised that Castro seemed genuinely rattled, and that Cuba offered to let the FBI come investigate.</p>
<p>Then, Canadians got ill. Why them?</p>
<p>The warm, long-standing ties between Cuba and Canada made it seem even less logical that Castro’s government was the culprit.</p>
<p>If not Castro, could elements of Cuba’s vast intelligence apparatus be to blame? Investigators haven’t ruled out that possibility, several U.S. officials said.</p>
<p>It’s no secret that some within Cuba’s government are uneasy about Raul Castro’s opening with Washington.</p>
<p>“It’s entirely possible that hard-line elements acted,” said Michael Parmly, who headed the U.S. mission in Havana until 2008.</p>
<p>But mounting unauthorized attacks, tantamount to aggression against a foreign power, would be a risky act of defiance in a country noted for its strong central control.</p>
<p>Cuba’s surveillance of U.S. diplomats in Havana is intense. The government tracks U.S. diplomats’ movements and conversations.</p>
<p>So at a minimum, if Americans were being attacked, it’s difficult to imagine Cuba’s spies being left in the dark.</p>
<p>Who else would dare?</p>
<p>U.S. investigators have focused on a small group of usual suspects: Russia, Iran, North Korea, China, Venezuela.</p>
<p>Russia, in particular, has harassed American diplomats aggressively in recent years.</p>
<p>Moscow even has a plausible motive: driving a wedge between the communist island and “the West” — nations such as the United States and Canada. Russia also has advanced, hard-to-detect weaponry the much of the world lacks and might not even know about.</p>
<p>None of officials interviewed for this story pointed to any evidence, however, linking Russia to the illnesses. The same goes for the other countries.</p>
<p>Maybe no one tried to hurt the Americans at all.</p>
<p>Several U.S. officials have emphasized the possibility the culprit merely surveilled the U.S. diplomats using some new, untested technology that caused unintended harm.</p>
<p>You might think eavesdropping devices simply receive signals. But the world of espionage is full of strange tales.</p>
<p>During the Cold War, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow discovered Russia listening to conversations through a wooden plaque that the American ambassador received as a gift. The plaque had a tiny “microphone” and antenna embedded, but no power source, making it hard to detect even when the room was swept for bugs.</p>
<p>The Russians had developed something novel. They remotely beamed electromagnetic waves to activate the device, which then transmitted sound back via radio frequencies.</p>
<p>Yet if the Cubans or anyone else were equally as innovative, it’s unclear why the incidents would have continued once the United States and Canada complained.</p> | false | 1 | washington160 must answer whatever harming us diplomats havana eluded doctors scientists intelligence analysts scouring answers investigators chased many theories including sonic attack electromagnetic weapon flawed spying device explanation seems fit parts whats happened conflicting others united states doesnt even know call secretary state rex tillerson used phrase health attacks state department prefers incidents either way suspicion fallen cuba investigators also examining whether rogue faction security services another country russia combination blame dozen us officials familiar investigation told associated press officials spoke condition anonymity werent authorized publicly discuss investigation ap also talked scientists physicians acoustics weapons experts others theories pursued perhaps biggest mystery symptoms sounds sensations vary dramatically person person 21 medically confirmed us victims permanent hearing loss concussions others suffered nausea headaches earringing struggling concentration common word recall ap reported felt vibrations heard loud sounds mysteriously audible parts rooms others heard nothing nonspecific symptoms thats difficult tell whats going said dr h jeffrey kim specialist ear disorders medstar georgetown university hospital isnt involved investigation solve puzzle investigators sorting symptoms categories auditory neurological according individuals briefed probe lag victims discover report symptoms hard diagnose investigators charting timeline reported incidents identify clusters help solve havana whodunit cuba surprisingly cooperative even inviting fbi fly havana investigation us government full control youre foreign soil said david rubincam former fbi agent served moscow quality information evidence collect limited host government allow see hear touch especially dont even know youre looking first signs pointed sonic attack kind victims heard things signs sounds audible spectrum loud noise harm hearing especially highdecibel sounds trigger earringing tinnitus ruptured ear drums even permanent hearing loss others heard nothing still became ill investigators considered inaudible sound infrasound low humans hear ultrasound high infrasound often experienced vibration like standing near subwoofer victims reported feeling vibrations impossible infrasound could explain diplomats thought heard though infrasound usually inaudible people detect waves powerful enough example individuals living near infrasoundgenerating wind turbines described pulsating hums left dizzy nauseous interrupted sleep effects prompted fierce scientific debate balance problems reported havana possibly explained infrasound may stimulate cells ears vestibular system controls balance scientists say theres little evidence infrasound cause lasting damage sound stops pinpointed focus sound reported infrasound waves travel everywhere making difficult aim precision theres efficient way focus infrasound make usable weapon said mario svirsky expert ear disorders neuroscience new york university school medicine infrasound maybe ultrasound highintensity ultrasound damage human tissue thats doctors use destroy uterine fibroids tumors ultrasound damage requires close contact device body sense ultrasound long distances svirsky said victim said saw weird contraption nearby none sound waves seems explain concussions usually follow blow head proximity something like bomb blast know acoustic effect device could produce traumatic brain injury concussionlike symptoms said juergen altmann acoustic weapons expert physicist germanys technische universitaet dortmund may sound like star wars fantasy electromagnetic weapons around years generally harm electronics humans electromagnetic spectrum includes waves like ones used cellphone microwave light bulbs easily pinpointed think lasers waves also travel walls electromagnetic attack could plausibly concealed afar theres precedent decade ending 1970s former soviet union bombarded us embassy moscow microwaves exact purpose never clear sounds people heard microwave pulses short intense blasts cause people hear clicking sounds according twodecadeold us air force patent american military researched whether blasts could manipulated beam voices sounds someones head electromagnetic waves cause physical damage usually results body tissue heated diplomats cuba havent reporting burning sensations stress anxiety disturbing incidents could complicating situation diplomats may taking closer look mild symptoms theyd otherwise ignored symptoms emerged us embassy encouraged employees report anything suspicious many symptoms caused lot different things least one country france tested embassy staffers employee reported symptoms french ruled sonicinduced damage ap reported knowing whats causing crisis cuba made harder find culprit one natural american suspicion started cuba attacks happened cuban soil two countries routinely harassed others diplomats halfcentury enmity despite eased tensions past couple years distrust lingers diplomats reported incidents homes hotels cuban authorities would know staying whats motive symptoms emerged last november cuba working feverishly us make progress everything internet access immigration rules president barack obamas term ended officials still dont understand havana would time perpetrate attacks could destroy new relationship washington entirely cuban president raul castros reaction deepened investigators skepticism according officials briefed rare facetoface discussion matter americas top envoy havana predictably castro denied responsibility us officials surprised castro seemed genuinely rattled cuba offered let fbi come investigate canadians got ill warm longstanding ties cuba canada made seem even less logical castros government culprit castro could elements cubas vast intelligence apparatus blame investigators havent ruled possibility several us officials said secret within cubas government uneasy raul castros opening washington entirely possible hardline elements acted said michael parmly headed us mission havana 2008 mounting unauthorized attacks tantamount aggression foreign power would risky act defiance country noted strong central control cubas surveillance us diplomats havana intense government tracks us diplomats movements conversations minimum americans attacked difficult imagine cubas spies left dark else would dare us investigators focused small group usual suspects russia iran north korea china venezuela russia particular harassed american diplomats aggressively recent years moscow even plausible motive driving wedge communist island west nations united states canada russia also advanced hardtodetect weaponry much world lacks might even know none officials interviewed story pointed evidence however linking russia illnesses goes countries maybe one tried hurt americans several us officials emphasized possibility culprit merely surveilled us diplomats using new untested technology caused unintended harm might think eavesdropping devices simply receive signals world espionage full strange tales cold war us embassy moscow discovered russia listening conversations wooden plaque american ambassador received gift plaque tiny microphone antenna embedded power source making hard detect even room swept bugs russians developed something novel remotely beamed electromagnetic waves activate device transmitted sound back via radio frequencies yet cubans anyone else equally innovative unclear incidents would continued united states canada complained | 971 |
<p>With seven entries on <a href="http://bit.ly/2zYLUqi" type="external">BuzzAngle’s Top 30 songs chart</a>, <a href="http://variety.com/t/republic-records/" type="external">Republic Records</a> is having a very good year. Or, as anyone working at the Universal Music Group imprint would tell you, another very good year. For the company’s achievements, Variety has recognized Republic as Hitmaker Label of the Year for 2017.</p>
<p>“We’re in the superstar business,” says chairman/CEO Monte Lipman who, along with his brother, president/COO Avery Lipman, founded the label in 1995. “I always say to artists contemplating signing with us: ‘If you want to be the biggest act in the world, you’re at the right place.’”</p>
<p>Republic is equally in step with hip-hop ( <a href="http://variety.com/t/post-malone/" type="external">Post Malone</a>’s “Congratulations,” <a href="http://variety.com/t/drake/" type="external">Drake</a>’s “Fake Love” and “Passionfruit”) as it is with pop ( <a href="http://variety.com/t/zayn/" type="external">Zayn</a> and <a href="http://variety.com/t/taylor-swift/" type="external">Taylor Swift</a>’s “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever,” <a href="http://variety.com/t/julia-michaels/" type="external">Julia Michaels</a>’ “Issues”). The label even claimed a Latin crossover hit in “Despacito” and the genre-defying “I Feel It Coming” by <a href="http://variety.com/t/the-weeknd/" type="external">the Weeknd</a>.</p>
<p>“For us, the core principles of every successful campaign start with expectations: we set the bar high,” notes Monte Lipman. “We don’t want to just break records, we want to shatter them.”</p>
<p>In the case of Post Malone, that’s resulted in the No. 5 track of the year. And the September release “Rock Star” has a potentially even longer tale. “Like <a href="http://variety.com/2017/music/news/drakes-more-life-is-not-eligible-for-2018-grammy-consideration-because-it-wasnt-submitted-1202600377/" type="external">Drake</a>’s ‘Hotline Bling,’ it came out of nowhere and kicked everybody’s ass,” boasts Monte Lipman.</p>
<p>Streaming is rewriting the rulebook by elevating songs that might not necessarily find their way to radio in the old promotion system, and it’s a welcome change. Says Lipman: “It’s track-based and song-based now. With artists like Post Malone, we’re not preoccupied with an album. All of that is taking us into uncharted waters.”</p>
<p>Of course, sometimes familiar terrain is the way to go, as Republic did with the <a href="http://variety.com/2016/music/news/taylor-swift-zayn-fifty-shades-darker-song-listen-1201938066/" type="external">Zayn</a> and Swift single from “Fifty Shades Darker.” The Weeknd’s “Earned It,” the track from the first “Fifty Shades” film, was nominated for an Oscar and a Grammy. Credit for the success of “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” is due in large part to Universal Film Music president Mike Knobloch, says Lipman, as well as Swift’s label Big Machine and chief executive Scott Borchetta. “I’ve always said that if Martians landed on Earth tomorrow and created the perfect artist, it’s <a href="http://variety.com/2017/music/news/taylor-swift-reputation-first-week-sales-final-1202618414/" type="external">Taylor Swift</a>,” Lipman adds.</p>
<p>Another feather in Republic’s cap: cracking the code on crossovers, as <a href="http://variety.com/2017/music/news/rod-stewart-dnce-da-ya-think-im-sexy-1202536347/" type="external">Republic Records</a> Group president Charlie Walk did twice — with Michaels, who transitioned from hit songwriter to solo artist this year, and Hailee Steinfeld, who added pop star to a resume that already includes Academy Award nominee. Says Lipman of Steinfeld: “[She’s] the hardest-working woman in show business.”</p>
<p>As with all the <a href="http://variety.com/t/hitmakers/" type="external">hitmakers</a> working in music today, the industry veteran has a motto: Take chances. “Every decision we make is a creative leap of faith, no matter the data and intel we’re surrounded by. A song starts with one person and a pen and paper — with an idea, a melody, a narrative. The business will continue to change, but one thing that never has in over 70 years is the impact music has on people.”</p>
<p>Read on for additional hitmaking insight from Monte Lipman.</p>
<p><a href="http://variety.com/t/luis-fonsi/" type="external">Luis Fonsi</a> and <a href="http://variety.com/t/daddy-yankee/" type="external">Daddy Yankee</a> feat. <a href="http://variety.com/t/justin-bieber/" type="external">Justin Bieber</a> – “Despacito” (No. 2): “I give tremendous credit to Universal Music Latin America because that record was massive already. The original version had generated hundreds of millions of views and streams. It was a genuine hit in the Latin space. And when I spoke with [UMLA chairman/CEO] Jesus Lopez about crossing it over to the mainstream and English market, it took a little bit of time to identify the best strategy. What’s great about technology is that [ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/music/news/scooter-braun-justin-bieber-manager-one-love-manchester-1202619937/" type="external">Justin Bieber</a> manager] Scooter Braun and I were on the phone on a Tuesday night, and within 48 hours that record went live in the streaming space and the rest is history. Back in the day you’d have to book [Justin], get him in the studio, mix the record, cut the record, produce the record — and here it was literally two days from idea to finished. It’s exciting. And now we’re seeing that because of&#160; how big and popular Latin music, Mexico has turned into a giant in terms of territories in the streaming world. Everybody’s got a phone and the subscription model makes sense, and now it’s one of our biggest markets.”</p>
<p>Post Malone – “Congratulations” (No. 5): “He represents a realness, an authenticity and something that no one’s ever seen before because he’s really his own person. None of it is calculated. None of it is rehearsed. It’s just Post Malone. There’s a sense of honesty to what this guys does, and it’s everything from the music to the performance to the interviews. He’s unlike any other artist that I’ve ever worked with. And that’s what’s cool about the streaming revolution. There’s no boundaries, no rules. …&#160;With ‘Rock Star’ we’re seeing the same thing we saw with Drake and “Hotline Bling.” When it first came out, it wasn’t attached to an album project. It just had everyone looking around like, ‘Where’d this come from?’&#160;All of that is taking us into uncharted waters. Post Malone is a genuine streaming superstar.”</p>
<p><a href="http://variety.com/2017/music/news/justin-tranter-julia-michaels-issues-believer-1202619889/" type="external">Julia Michaels</a> – “Issues” (No. 17):&#160; “Julia is such an extraordinary talent as a writer. It’s in her DNA. She has over 10 billion streams at this point for songs she’s co-written. And it’s interesting, because when you &#160;hear the original versions of those hits in demos, it gives you goosebumps because at its earliest stage you can hear the narrative and the melody and you just know it’s one of those. The first time Charlie brought Julia in and she played ‘Issues,’ I went, ‘F—, this record is big.’ So it was really no surprise to me. And I’m thrilled the global marketplace embraced her because it is one of those songs I believe is a candidate for a record of the year Grammy. I also believe she is a candidate for best new artist. There’s going to be a lot more from her. I consider Julia to be one of the best additions to the roster in the last 18 months.”</p>
<p>Zayn and Taylor Swift – “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” (No. 18): “The universe aligned and everyone came together. It was a shot heard around the world — No. 1 for 16 weeks on the Billboard chart. And following&#160;the first [‘Fifty Shades’] movie, when <a href="http://variety.com/2017/music/news/maverick-management-nick-jarjour-hollywood-new-leaders-music-1202592759/" type="external">The Weeknd</a>’s ‘Earned It’ picked up both the Oscar and the Grammy nomination, if I had to bet. this will be the same. ‘Fifty Shades’ has become a franchise. It’s a massive platform. Remember that the book sold 120 million copies — that’s a lot of books. There are fans out there. And when you talk about the movie, whether it’s Taylor or The Weeknd, it’s obviously racy and dark and strange, but at the core of it, it’s still a love story.”</p>
<p>Drake — “Fake Love” (No. 24) and “Passionfruit” (No. 28): “Drake is an artist’s artist. He operates in a very unique space. He is not soliciting. He is not making music for radio programmers. It wasn’t this crazy orchestrated campaign involving spending money and calculations. The music went into the marketplace and the people reacted. That’s the brilliance of Drake. He references ‘More Life’ as body of work and didn’t recognize it as an album. And with “Views,” he was also a pioneer as the first artist to sell a million copies as a digital release only between streaming and downloads. With him it’s never status quo. It’s always pushing himself creatively and pushing us as his strategic partner.”</p> | false | 1 | seven entries buzzangles top 30 songs chart republic records good year anyone working universal music group imprint would tell another good year companys achievements variety recognized republic hitmaker label year 2017 superstar business says chairmanceo monte lipman along brother presidentcoo avery lipman founded label 1995 always say artists contemplating signing us want biggest act world youre right place republic equally step hiphop post malones congratulations drakes fake love passionfruit pop zayn taylor swifts dont wan na live forever julia michaels issues label even claimed latin crossover hit despacito genredefying feel coming weeknd us core principles every successful campaign start expectations set bar high notes monte lipman dont want break records want shatter case post malone thats resulted 5 track year september release rock star potentially even longer tale like drakes hotline bling came nowhere kicked everybodys ass boasts monte lipman streaming rewriting rulebook elevating songs might necessarily find way radio old promotion system welcome change says lipman trackbased songbased artists like post malone preoccupied album taking us uncharted waters course sometimes familiar terrain way go republic zayn swift single fifty shades darker weeknds earned track first fifty shades film nominated oscar grammy credit success dont wan na live forever due large part universal film music president mike knobloch says lipman well swifts label big machine chief executive scott borchetta ive always said martians landed earth tomorrow created perfect artist taylor swift lipman adds another feather republics cap cracking code crossovers republic records group president charlie walk twice michaels transitioned hit songwriter solo artist year hailee steinfeld added pop star resume already includes academy award nominee says lipman steinfeld shes hardestworking woman show business hitmakers working music today industry veteran motto take chances every decision make creative leap faith matter data intel surrounded song starts one person pen paper idea melody narrative business continue change one thing never 70 years impact music people read additional hitmaking insight monte lipman luis fonsi daddy yankee feat justin bieber despacito 2 give tremendous credit universal music latin america record massive already original version generated hundreds millions views streams genuine hit latin space spoke umla chairmanceo jesus lopez crossing mainstream english market took little bit time identify best strategy whats great technology justin bieber manager scooter braun phone tuesday night within 48 hours record went live streaming space rest history back day youd book justin get studio mix record cut record produce record literally two days idea finished exciting seeing of160 big popular latin music mexico turned giant terms territories streaming world everybodys got phone subscription model makes sense one biggest markets post malone congratulations 5 represents realness authenticity something ones ever seen hes really person none calculated none rehearsed post malone theres sense honesty guys everything music performance interviews hes unlike artist ive ever worked thats whats cool streaming revolution theres boundaries rules 160with rock star seeing thing saw drake hotline bling first came wasnt attached album project everyone looking around like whered come from160all taking us uncharted waters post malone genuine streaming superstar julia michaels issues 17160 julia extraordinary talent writer dna 10 billion streams point songs shes cowritten interesting 160hear original versions hits demos gives goosebumps earliest stage hear narrative melody know one first time charlie brought julia played issues went f record big really surprise im thrilled global marketplace embraced one songs believe candidate record year grammy also believe candidate best new artist theres going lot consider julia one best additions roster last 18 months zayn taylor swift dont wan na live forever 18 universe aligned everyone came together shot heard around world 1 16 weeks billboard chart following160the first fifty shades movie weeknds earned picked oscar grammy nomination bet fifty shades become franchise massive platform remember book sold 120 million copies thats lot books fans talk movie whether taylor weeknd obviously racy dark strange core still love story drake fake love 24 passionfruit 28 drake artists artist operates unique space soliciting making music radio programmers wasnt crazy orchestrated campaign involving spending money calculations music went marketplace people reacted thats brilliance drake references life body work didnt recognize album views also pioneer first artist sell million copies digital release streaming downloads never status quo always pushing creatively pushing us strategic partner | 700 |
<p>From modern water cooler-moment dramas to groundbreaking late night comedy; from topical, transformative series in absorbing settings to taboo-busting stand-up comics and character-reflecting sitcom settings, the 24th Annual <a href="http://variety.com/t/television-academy/" type="external">Television Academy</a> Hall of Fame ceremony honored the crème de la&#160;crème from the past five decades of channel-surfing – and offered a few of its own water cooler moments along the way.</p>
<p>The 2017 inductees were a glittery and profoundly influential crop indeed: Writer-producer <a href="http://variety.com/t/shonda-rhimes/" type="external">Shonda Rhimes</a>, the creator and executive producer of zeitgeist-heavy series including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “How to Get Away With Murder”; writer-producer <a href="http://variety.com/t/john-wells/" type="external">John Wells</a>, whose groundbreaking series include “China Beach,” “ER” “The West Wing” and “Shameless”; the late comedian, talk show host and television personality Joan Rivers; production designer Roy Christopher, who crafted iconic environments for sitcoms like “Welcome Back, Kotter,” “Murphy Brown” and “Frasier,” along with many Academy Award and Emmy ceremonies; and the legendary original cast members of “Saturday Night Live,” Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Case, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman and, posthumously, Gilda Radner and John Belushi.</p>
<p>Wilmore presided over a fast-paced and decidedly heartfelt ceremony that started off big when he invited one of TV’s biggest icons, <a href="http://variety.com/t/oprah-winfrey/" type="external">Oprah Winfrey</a>, to take the stage to pay tribute to honoree Rhimes.</p>
<p>“She could not have come at another time, she could not have come to another place,” said Winfrey. “She belongs to this medium, and she belongs to this moment in a way that doesn’t so much defy the odds as redefine the odds. She is currently the most powerful show runner in television, period.”</p>
<p>“Shonda tells stories that reflect the wonderfully multicultural, multiracial, multi-everything world that we see all around us, and she writes about individuals from different backgrounds who defy stereotypes,” Winfrey added. “She doesn’t write about problems. She writes about people, and she makes us care about the people, and she makes us care about ourselves.”</p>
<p>When Rhimes took the stage to accept her award, her speech quickly turned to the topic of diversity, which she admits “bugs the crap out of me” whenever journalists ask her about it. “I am endlessly asked the diversity question in every interview, ‘Why is diversity so important?’ And we all know why I’m the one who’s asked: it’s the adjectives. You put an adjective in front of the word ‘writer’ – female writer, black writer – and suddenly all anyone asks about, all you are allowed to talk about, is the adjective, and not the ‘writer’ part.”</p>
<p>Rhimes admitted she never understood the constant focus on her various series’ approach to presenting a broad spectrum of characters and experiences. “I was always like, ‘Go ask someone who isn’t hiring any women or people of color.’ I loathe the question, and yet, because of this moment, because this moment is happening, I finally actually know the answer.”</p>
<p>But she promised to address the issue one last time, quipping that the evening’s circumstances were irresistibly definitive. “My answer is to be the world’s best humble brag: ‘I am so sorry, but when I was standing on stage with Oprah, at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, I answered that question for the final time in my career.’”</p>
<p>Rhimes recalled her 1970s-era upbringing in middle-class suburban Chicago when, thanks to concerted efforts by her parents, particularly her mother, she grew up “blissfully unaware” of the potential sexism and racism boundaries that could derail her dreams. But it was the example of another woman that truly sparked Rhimes’ belief in all that she might one day accomplish.</p>
<p>“One day I turned on the TV, and saw something that had never occurred to me to imagine,” Rhimes recalled. “I saw this woman on TV and she was smart, and funny, and emotionally honest, and she seemed unapologetically herself. She was in charge, comfortable, powerful, smart, real. It was her show, and she looked like me. She was a black woman on television, and then she was a black woman taking over the world, through television. She was Oprah.”</p>
<p>As Winfrey stood nearby, mouth agape, Rhimes continued. “ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/vpage/oprah-winfrey-ava-duvernay-queen-sugar-season-2-after-show-1202610057/" type="external">Oprah Winfrey</a> changed my imagination,” she recalled. “She changed what I found to be unimaginable, any limits to my success suddenly seemed, something clicked, and my imagination had no limits, the world got wider. It wasn’t overnight, and it wasn’t just Oprah, but Oprah was my first and most powerful example on TV of someone who looked like me.”</p>
<p>“I knew that that world, this world, could include me – so it’s important, this annoying question that I hate so very much,” Rhimes explained. “For some of our viewers, Olivia Pope was the first black woman they ever knew. First one they’ve ever empathized with, understood, rooted for, loved, or pride with. That wasn’t my plan, I’m telling a story. The side effect was creating empathy.”</p>
<p>Rhimes noted that “you cannot be what you cannot see, and the only limits to your success are your own imagination.” She implored anyone watching television, no matter where they were in the world, to be “any damn thing they want.” “And that is why diversity and inclusion on television is so important,” she said.</p>
<p>“Scandal” star Bellamy Young told&#160;Variety that Rhimes’ “Grey’s Anatomy” changed “everything” for her because when “everyone was represented.”</p>
<p>“I saw the world instead of a very whitewashed version of the world, a very cleaned-up, antiseptic version. I saw everybody and they were living messy lives and really talking to each other,” Young said. “There’s a truth in representing everyone instead of just representing a narrow story. You don’t feel like you can only bring out the acceptable parts of yourself, you really can bring your whole truth and it can be messy, it can be human, and it can be inspiring. There’s a place for it, there’s a place for everybody at her table.”</p>
<p>After Winfrey impressed and Rhimes inspired, the assembled audience – which included “Shameless” stars William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum and Shanola Hampton, “Scandal’s” Tony Goldwyn, Joe Morton, Darby Stanchfield, Scott Foley and Katie Lowes and “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Kim Raver, James Pickens, Jr., Jason George, Debbie Allen, Isaiah Washington and Sarah Drew, “Private Practice’s” Kate Walsh and KaDee Strickland, and TV icons Phylicia Rashad and Jimmy Smits – saved its most raucous response for when Lily Tomlin invited the original Not Ready for Primetime Players to take the stage.</p>
<p>Curtin, Chase, Newman, Aykroyd and Morris clowned in individual acceptance speeches that included fond nod to their late cohorts Belushi and Radner, as well as call backs to classic sketches like Land Shark and “Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead!”</p>
<p>Bill Murray made a surprise appearance in the audience, and was later invited onstage, admitting that because he didn’t formally join the “SNL” cast until its second season, he hadn’t been invited to attend the ceremony until Newman brought him as her guest. “It’s actually okay, I’m fine,” said Murray. “It really was a delight to sit there and to watch them, because the truth is that they are history, and I’m just lucky enough that I was the new guy, and I’m okay with being the new guy. I always was okay with that – except five minutes ago: I really was bitter.”</p>
<p>Of his time on “SNL,” Akroyd told&#160;Variety that was probably “the most exciting” part of his career. “We genuinely loved each other and we genuinely appreciated each other’s talent, and we were supportive of each other,” Aykroyd said. “Chevy was my biggest champion at ‘SNL,’ when I was trying things that other people might not think would work, ideas and stuff, Chevy was always like, ‘Go for it! Make it happen.’ He was my biggest cheerleader, and he was a huge star just right off the bat. Many of us were lesser-known then and he used his platform to support his fellow players, admire them in public, and bring focus to Jane, Laraine, myself, Garrett, Gilda, and John.”</p>
<p>Aykroyd also noted that he found a spiritual brother in co-star Belushi, with whom he famously performed as the Blues Brothers on the show, on stage and on film. “We had eight wonderful years together,” mused Aykroyd. “And today, 40 years later, I just did a concert in Minnesota as a Blues Brother, I still do that persona…and that’s pretty good, after 40 years to still get a paycheck for something we did in our 20s.”</p>
<p>Newman reminisced with&#160;Variety over her surprise at the original cast’s impact on popular culture, still one of “SNL’s” signature qualities. “Gilda and I would be walking down the street the next day and people would yell out lines that we had said the night before. That was like, ‘Hey – people are watching!’”</p>
<p>Murray, who only appeared in a handful of Season 1 sketched, didn’t realize how powerful the show was in re-runs, either. “I remember I had only done like a couple shows, and then we had the summer off, and I came back in the fall having done like a job somewhere, a movie somewhere, and everyone in New York knew who I was, it seemed like it. Just from re-runs, that’s when I knew it was over: life had changed,” he said.</p>
<p>Meanwhile Morris shared that in the early days of acclimating to his new role with the show, he just cared about paying his rent on a regular basis. “There was a lot of talent, lot of geniuses, around, but I wasn’t so much concerned with that as just trying to make sure that I did right! It was great to be around that kind of creativity, but at first I was just glad I got a job!” he said.</p>
<p>After an introduction by “ER’s” Noah Wylie, Wells admitted he’d missed the deadline to file a prepared speech for the TelePrompTer, but in his off-the-cuff speech he did cite some impressive numbers about the deep bench of collaborators who’ve worked with him throughout his long career, “because it takes a very large village to raise a writer.”</p>
<p>“I started to make a list of people I wanted to thank tonight, and then realized how many people there were that are deserving of my gratitude for all their hard work on my behalf,” said Wells. “I’ve had the great, good fortune to work with 8,048 actors over the last 25 years, 139 writers, 172 directors – all of us working together to make over 900 hours of television, most of which we’re pretty proud of. And nobody does that by themselves.”</p>
<p>“Most of all, I hope I get to keep doing this for awhile longer,” he added. “Working with the people I love, telling stories we care about.”</p>
<p>Bradley Whitford, who starred on Wells’ “The West Wing,” said after spending “the better part of a decade” on his sets, he has found Wells is incredibly inclusive with storytelling.</p>
<p>“There are a lot of people that kiss the actor’s asses and treat other people with contempt, but the first thing John says when you’re doing a TV show with him is that ‘In success this is a family, so let’s take care of each other,’” Whitford said.&#160;“He’s always saying ‘Don’t put a category on you – we’re all storytellers.’”</p>
<p>Accepting the induction on behalf of her late mother following an introduction by Rivers’ friend Chris Hardwick, the comic’s daughter Melissa Rivers unveiled an acceptance speech she said her mother had penned before her passing in the expectation that could be read posthumously.</p>
<p>“She said to me, ‘They’ll never give me an award while I’m alive and I don’t know why,’” said Melissa. “I told her it was because she had alienated half the town and insulted the other half. So she left a generic acceptance speech so she could accept and award from anyone, any time, anywhere.”</p>
<p>But turning more serious, Rivers noted, “Ever since she was a child, my mother felt out of place, that she didn’t belong, and spent her life feeling like she was on the outside looking in, until she got into television, where she found her place, her people – her home.”</p>
<p>Rivers felt the Hall of Fame honor would have filled her mother’s heart “with pride and brought a tear to her eye – assuming she had not had Botox the day before and her tear ducts were not totally frozen.”</p>
<p>Christopher, who was introduced by “Frasier” co-creator David Lee and actually handled the production design for the very first Hall of Fame ceremony in 1984, said he never expected to receive such an award but “if this my 15 minutes, I’m enjoying it immensely.”</p>
<p>“Tonight I’d like to think in some small way I represent all of the production designers, art directors, assistant art directors, set decorators, lighting designers,” Christopher added. “All those amazing people that give our productions their sense of place, character and style, and I’m proud to be among them.”</p> | false | 1 | modern water coolermoment dramas groundbreaking late night comedy topical transformative series absorbing settings taboobusting standup comics characterreflecting sitcom settings 24th annual television academy hall fame ceremony honored crème de la160crème past five decades channelsurfing offered water cooler moments along way 2017 inductees glittery profoundly influential crop indeed writerproducer shonda rhimes creator executive producer zeitgeistheavy series including greys anatomy scandal get away murder writerproducer john wells whose groundbreaking series include china beach er west wing shameless late comedian talk show host television personality joan rivers production designer roy christopher crafted iconic environments sitcoms like welcome back kotter murphy brown frasier along many academy award emmy ceremonies legendary original cast members saturday night live dan aykroyd chevy case jane curtin garrett morris laraine newman posthumously gilda radner john belushi wilmore presided fastpaced decidedly heartfelt ceremony started big invited one tvs biggest icons oprah winfrey take stage pay tribute honoree rhimes could come another time could come another place said winfrey belongs medium belongs moment way doesnt much defy odds redefine odds currently powerful show runner television period shonda tells stories reflect wonderfully multicultural multiracial multieverything world see around us writes individuals different backgrounds defy stereotypes winfrey added doesnt write problems writes people makes us care people makes us care rhimes took stage accept award speech quickly turned topic diversity admits bugs crap whenever journalists ask endlessly asked diversity question every interview diversity important know im one whos asked adjectives put adjective front word writer female writer black writer suddenly anyone asks allowed talk adjective writer part rhimes admitted never understood constant focus various series approach presenting broad spectrum characters experiences always like go ask someone isnt hiring women people color loathe question yet moment moment happening finally actually know answer promised address issue one last time quipping evenings circumstances irresistibly definitive answer worlds best humble brag sorry standing stage oprah hall fame induction ceremony answered question final time career rhimes recalled 1970sera upbringing middleclass suburban chicago thanks concerted efforts parents particularly mother grew blissfully unaware potential sexism racism boundaries could derail dreams example another woman truly sparked rhimes belief might one day accomplish one day turned tv saw something never occurred imagine rhimes recalled saw woman tv smart funny emotionally honest seemed unapologetically charge comfortable powerful smart real show looked like black woman television black woman taking world television oprah winfrey stood nearby mouth agape rhimes continued oprah winfrey changed imagination recalled changed found unimaginable limits success suddenly seemed something clicked imagination limits world got wider wasnt overnight wasnt oprah oprah first powerful example tv someone looked like knew world world could include important annoying question hate much rhimes explained viewers olivia pope first black woman ever knew first one theyve ever empathized understood rooted loved pride wasnt plan im telling story side effect creating empathy rhimes noted see limits success imagination implored anyone watching television matter world damn thing want diversity inclusion television important said scandal star bellamy young told160variety rhimes greys anatomy changed everything everyone represented saw world instead whitewashed version world cleanedup antiseptic version saw everybody living messy lives really talking young said theres truth representing everyone instead representing narrow story dont feel like bring acceptable parts really bring whole truth messy human inspiring theres place theres place everybody table winfrey impressed rhimes inspired assembled audience included shameless stars william h macy emmy rossum shanola hampton scandals tony goldwyn joe morton darby stanchfield scott foley katie lowes greys anatomys kim raver james pickens jr jason george debbie allen isaiah washington sarah drew private practices kate walsh kadee strickland tv icons phylicia rashad jimmy smits saved raucous response lily tomlin invited original ready primetime players take stage curtin chase newman aykroyd morris clowned individual acceptance speeches included fond nod late cohorts belushi radner well call backs classic sketches like land shark generalissimo francisco franco still dead bill murray made surprise appearance audience later invited onstage admitting didnt formally join snl cast second season hadnt invited attend ceremony newman brought guest actually okay im fine said murray really delight sit watch truth history im lucky enough new guy im okay new guy always okay except five minutes ago really bitter time snl akroyd told160variety probably exciting part career genuinely loved genuinely appreciated others talent supportive aykroyd said chevy biggest champion snl trying things people might think would work ideas stuff chevy always like go make happen biggest cheerleader huge star right bat many us lesserknown used platform support fellow players admire public bring focus jane laraine garrett gilda john aykroyd also noted found spiritual brother costar belushi famously performed blues brothers show stage film eight wonderful years together mused aykroyd today 40 years later concert minnesota blues brother still personaand thats pretty good 40 years still get paycheck something 20s newman reminisced with160variety surprise original casts impact popular culture still one snls signature qualities gilda would walking street next day people would yell lines said night like hey people watching murray appeared handful season 1 sketched didnt realize powerful show reruns either remember done like couple shows summer came back fall done like job somewhere movie somewhere everyone new york knew seemed like reruns thats knew life changed said meanwhile morris shared early days acclimating new role show cared paying rent regular basis lot talent lot geniuses around wasnt much concerned trying make sure right great around kind creativity first glad got job said introduction ers noah wylie wells admitted hed missed deadline file prepared speech teleprompter offthecuff speech cite impressive numbers deep bench collaborators whove worked throughout long career takes large village raise writer started make list people wanted thank tonight realized many people deserving gratitude hard work behalf said wells ive great good fortune work 8048 actors last 25 years 139 writers 172 directors us working together make 900 hours television pretty proud nobody hope get keep awhile longer added working people love telling stories care bradley whitford starred wells west wing said spending better part decade sets found wells incredibly inclusive storytelling lot people kiss actors asses treat people contempt first thing john says youre tv show success family lets take care whitford said160hes always saying dont put category storytellers accepting induction behalf late mother following introduction rivers friend chris hardwick comics daughter melissa rivers unveiled acceptance speech said mother penned passing expectation could read posthumously said theyll never give award im alive dont know said melissa told alienated half town insulted half left generic acceptance speech could accept award anyone time anywhere turning serious rivers noted ever since child mother felt place didnt belong spent life feeling like outside looking got television found place people home rivers felt hall fame honor would filled mothers heart pride brought tear eye assuming botox day tear ducts totally frozen christopher introduced frasier cocreator david lee actually handled production design first hall fame ceremony 1984 said never expected receive award 15 minutes im enjoying immensely tonight id like think small way represent production designers art directors assistant art directors set decorators lighting designers christopher added amazing people give productions sense place character style im proud among | 1,175 |
<p>The Dreamlife of Angels (in French La Vie Revée des Anges) by Érick Zonca is by far the best picture I have seen this year and one of the best I have ever seen. I can’t remember the last time I came staggering out of a movie, as I did out of this one, literally breathless with emotion. This is an astonishing, a transcendent, a miraculous achievement which gives the lie to my recent lament that contemporary French movies all seem boringly and uniformly nihilistic in character. Where was now, I asked, the life-affirming joie de vivre of a Truffaut, a Rohmer or even, on his now much-diminished good days, a Chabrol? Only Cédric Klappisch seemed to have anything approaching that kind of spirit, and he is only (so far) a middling good filmmaker. With the advent of Mr Zonca in this his first feature (produced at age 43), we must say as Robert Schuman wrote on first hearing the works of Chopin, “Hats off, gentleman: a genius.”</p>
<p>His film begins with a hand-held camera tagging along behind twenty-one year-old Isa (Elodie Bouchez), a young street person carrying everything she owns in a colorful backpack that dwarfs her. She knocks at a door in Lille, a bleak industrial town in the northeast of France, and the old woman who answers tells her that someone called Alain has moved to Belgium and left no forwarding address. Here and in what follows—scenes of Isa sleeping rough and making little cards out of colored paper and pictures cut from magazines that she then tries to sell on the street—we are encouraged to jump to exactly the wrong conclusions: that she has been seduced and abandoned, for instance, or that she is going to be a political statement first and a character only (if at all) second. Zonca is playing with our expectations partly because he knows that we know how easily such images can be made to suggest another heaping helping of the kind of nihilism which is in the prevailing spirit of French cinema.</p>
<p>This beginning is also a challenge to us to look beyond our social expectations—and it is far from the last such challenge we are given. Isa takes a job in a Yugoslav-run garment factory, though she has obviously never operated a sewing machine before. She is no good at it and after a couple of days is fired for sewing a whole batch inside out. But during her brief period of employment she meets another girl of about her own age called Marie (Natacha Regnier) who is much less warm and friendly than Isa and in fact rather stand-offish to her, but who is prevailed upon to allow Isa, who has no place to go, to come home with her. Gradually, the two become friends, though rather because Isa’s charm and warm-heartedness are irresistible, even to someone as self-absorbed as we soon learn Marie to be, than because the latter has any wish for friendship.</p>
<p>Marie is living in the apartment of someone else, a woman and her daughter who have been in a car accident and are both, according to Marie who does not even know them (she has got the job of housesitting their apartment through her mother), in a comatose state. She takes no further interest in them, though living among their things soon begins to pique the interest and curiosity of Isa. She soon learns that the mother has been dead for some time and that only the daughter, Sandrine, survives in her coma. She begins visiting Sandrine in hospital and reading Sandrine’s schoolgirl diary, sometimes to Sandrine herself as a way of coaxing her back to consciousness. After some hesitation she begins to write in the diary herself. In one memorable scene she takes a long time to write, as if it were a letter to Sandrine, that “your mother is dead”—and then she furiously scores it out. Somehow, the diary is not the place for such information—or Isa is not the person to write it there.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Marie takes no interest in such matters and is instead preoccupied with her romantic life. At first she takes up with a fat, leather-clad biker called Charly (Patrick Mercado) who works as a bouncer. Once again expectations are defeated: Charly for all his rough looks is a decent, wise, even a humble man who knows that someone like Marie is unlikely to retain her interest in him for long. Sure enough, before long she is picked up, unbeknownst to Charly, by Charly’s boss, Chris (Grégoire Colin), a spoilt rich kid (as Marie calls him at first) whose father owns the club where Charly works and another one. Part of the fascination of the film comes from watching the sexual relationship between these two very similar people, each of whom hungers almost shockingly for the other but who, when they come together, seem unable to decide whether they hate or love the more.</p>
<p>It would have been easy for Zonca to make Chris a monster, but he doesn’t. Again, our expectations are frustrated. Chris is merely thoughtless. To him, as Isa notes, Marie is “just another girl.” That to Isa is the ultimate blasphemy against a human being. But it is actually rather like Marie’s own thoughtlessness about other people. That is why she and Chris make such a good couple. Neither one of them is quite convinced of the full reality of other people, and one of many possible interpretations of the movie’s enigmatic title has to do with the trancelike state in which they both seem to stumble through their lonely existences. Also, Marie and Isa are living in poor Sandrine’s house while she dreams of God-knows-what in her hospital bed. In a sense they are living her life for her—which is also dreamlife in the sense that each of them is living more in imagination than reality, Isa with her speculations about Sandrine and Marie with her unrealistic hopes of Chris.</p>
<p>To us it is as clear as it is to Isa that Chris has no intention of making his relationship with Marie a permanent one. Even Marie seems not to expect very much. One of the film’s most heart-rending moments comes as Marie returns from the nearest thing she has ever had to a genuinely romantic day or two alone with Chris—whom she knows has casually cheated on her—and announces happily to Isa that she might be going to get a job as a waitress in Chris’s father’s bar—and may be, eventually, a barmaid. The lowness of her expectations is breathtaking. Nor can Isa begin to persuade her that she has been deceived even in this. When Chris comes over to ask Isa to tell Marie it is over between them (Isa belts him one), she refuses to believe it. The two of them fight about this and about Isa’s inability to understand Marie’s indifference to Sandrine: “You’re living in her home and you don’t even know who she is!” Isa says incredulously.</p>
<p>Isa leaves. They both are soon to have to leave in any case, as the apartment is being sold by a brother of the dead woman who also doesn’t much care about Sandrine. “Whatever happens to her she won’t come back here,” he says. Isa takes to sleeping in the hospital chapel where Sandrine still languishes, while showing signs of improvement. Finally, the nurse tells her that Sandrine is positively coming around and beginning to recognize people. We see Isa go up to her room as usual and put her hand on the doorknob before turning around and going away again. She cannot bear the thought of Sandrine’s waking up and asking: “Who are you?” It would mean the end of a second intimate relationship. Instead she returns to the flat to reassure Marie, whom she finds sleeping and to whom she writes a note of elegant Gallic simplicity. “You sleep. I don’t wake you. I want to say good-bye. Every day, every moment your friend, Isa.”</p>
<p>I don’t know why those words affected and still affect me so powerfully, nor even why the terrible but not unpredictable event which follows did and does. From this point on, the reality of everything we see his heightened, as if we were looking at it through Isa’s eyes. Not, that is, “reality” in the debased popular sense of grossness or violence or hard-edged, unloving sex or cynicism and betrayal. Those things indeed are real, but to the nihilist sensibility they are the only reality. Zonca reminds us that reality lies also and perhaps supremely in individuality—and in the ability to comprehend the individuality and thus the reality of other people. At one point in their furious quarrel, exasperated Isa says to Marie: “I’d like to see you when you realize you need other people.” Marie replies contemptuously, “I’ll send you a photo.”</p>
<p>This is both the end of their friendship, the moment they realize that they’re not going to be together when and if this putative event happens, and also sums up the reason for the split. To Isa it is incomprehensible that their closeness to poor Sandrine should not affect her friend: “This girl’s almost dead! You should be glad to be alive, and you run after this jerk?” To Marie, on the other hand, it seems merely perverse to be interested in someone who can be no use to you. “Go to the dead girl, then,” she taunts her. “That’s all you care about: cadavers.” To her, who has as few expectations of friendship as she does of love, it is Isa as much as Chris who has betrayed her by preferring the friendship of the unconscious Sandrine to her own. It is impossible not to feel excruciatingly her self-lacerations as she is left alone in the apartment of “the dead girl.”</p>
<p>And yet it is not an unhappy film. For all its emotional power and the very unhappy events that take place in it, we come away from it with a sense of Zonca’s optimism as expressed in the remarkable resilience of the remarkable Isa. In the film’s final shots, Isa is working at yet another mindless factory job, matching colored wires to holes in assembling computer cables. The camera pulls back to search the faces of Isa’s co-workers in the factory—as if, one of my fellow critics noted, “it could have been any of them.” But this is not what I see here. On the contrary, Isa’s uniqueness is affirmed by the camera’s having been trained (as it were) to look at people the way she does—that is for the individual humanity among those whose existences are otherwise defined, like assembly-line workers, by their generic, uniform quality. For all the dreamlife we have seen going on around us, Isa is the only obvious angel, fully in touch with reality.</p> | false | 1 | dreamlife angels french la vie revée des anges Érick zonca far best picture seen year one best ever seen cant remember last time came staggering movie one literally breathless emotion astonishing transcendent miraculous achievement gives lie recent lament contemporary french movies seem boringly uniformly nihilistic character asked lifeaffirming joie de vivre truffaut rohmer even muchdiminished good days chabrol cédric klappisch seemed anything approaching kind spirit far middling good filmmaker advent mr zonca first feature produced age 43 must say robert schuman wrote first hearing works chopin hats gentleman genius film begins handheld camera tagging along behind twentyone yearold isa elodie bouchez young street person carrying everything owns colorful backpack dwarfs knocks door lille bleak industrial town northeast france old woman answers tells someone called alain moved belgium left forwarding address followsscenes isa sleeping rough making little cards colored paper pictures cut magazines tries sell streetwe encouraged jump exactly wrong conclusions seduced abandoned instance going political statement first character second zonca playing expectations partly knows know easily images made suggest another heaping helping kind nihilism prevailing spirit french cinema beginning also challenge us look beyond social expectationsand far last challenge given isa takes job yugoslavrun garment factory though obviously never operated sewing machine good couple days fired sewing whole batch inside brief period employment meets another girl age called marie natacha regnier much less warm friendly isa fact rather standoffish prevailed upon allow isa place go come home gradually two become friends though rather isas charm warmheartedness irresistible even someone selfabsorbed soon learn marie latter wish friendship marie living apartment someone else woman daughter car accident according marie even know got job housesitting apartment mother comatose state takes interest though living among things soon begins pique interest curiosity isa soon learns mother dead time daughter sandrine survives coma begins visiting sandrine hospital reading sandrines schoolgirl diary sometimes sandrine way coaxing back consciousness hesitation begins write diary one memorable scene takes long time write letter sandrine mother deadand furiously scores somehow diary place informationor isa person write meanwhile marie takes interest matters instead preoccupied romantic life first takes fat leatherclad biker called charly patrick mercado works bouncer expectations defeated charly rough looks decent wise even humble man knows someone like marie unlikely retain interest long sure enough long picked unbeknownst charly charlys boss chris grégoire colin spoilt rich kid marie calls first whose father owns club charly works another one part fascination film comes watching sexual relationship two similar people hungers almost shockingly come together seem unable decide whether hate love would easy zonca make chris monster doesnt expectations frustrated chris merely thoughtless isa notes marie another girl isa ultimate blasphemy human actually rather like maries thoughtlessness people chris make good couple neither one quite convinced full reality people one many possible interpretations movies enigmatic title trancelike state seem stumble lonely existences also marie isa living poor sandrines house dreams godknowswhat hospital bed sense living life herwhich also dreamlife sense living imagination reality isa speculations sandrine marie unrealistic hopes chris us clear isa chris intention making relationship marie permanent one even marie seems expect much one films heartrending moments comes marie returns nearest thing ever genuinely romantic day two alone chriswhom knows casually cheated herand announces happily isa might going get job waitress chriss fathers barand may eventually barmaid lowness expectations breathtaking isa begin persuade deceived even chris comes ask isa tell marie isa belts one refuses believe two fight isas inability understand maries indifference sandrine youre living home dont even know isa says incredulously isa leaves soon leave case apartment sold brother dead woman also doesnt much care sandrine whatever happens wont come back says isa takes sleeping hospital chapel sandrine still languishes showing signs improvement finally nurse tells sandrine positively coming around beginning recognize people see isa go room usual put hand doorknob turning around going away bear thought sandrines waking asking would mean end second intimate relationship instead returns flat reassure marie finds sleeping writes note elegant gallic simplicity sleep dont wake want say goodbye every day every moment friend isa dont know words affected still affect powerfully even terrible unpredictable event follows point reality everything see heightened looking isas eyes reality debased popular sense grossness violence hardedged unloving sex cynicism betrayal things indeed real nihilist sensibility reality zonca reminds us reality lies also perhaps supremely individualityand ability comprehend individuality thus reality people one point furious quarrel exasperated isa says marie id like see realize need people marie replies contemptuously ill send photo end friendship moment realize theyre going together putative event happens also sums reason split isa incomprehensible closeness poor sandrine affect friend girls almost dead glad alive run jerk marie hand seems merely perverse interested someone use go dead girl taunts thats care cadavers expectations friendship love isa much chris betrayed preferring friendship unconscious sandrine impossible feel excruciatingly selflacerations left alone apartment dead girl yet unhappy film emotional power unhappy events take place come away sense zoncas optimism expressed remarkable resilience remarkable isa films final shots isa working yet another mindless factory job matching colored wires holes assembling computer cables camera pulls back search faces isas coworkers factoryas one fellow critics noted could see contrary isas uniqueness affirmed cameras trained look people way doesthat individual humanity among whose existences otherwise defined like assemblyline workers generic uniform quality dreamlife seen going around us isa obvious angel fully touch reality | 891 |
<p>When ABC announced in May that it had closed a deal to return “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/american-idol/" type="external">American Idol</a>” to television, it did so with the help of a high-priced star. The network announced that pop singer Katy Perry would anchor the judge’s table on the rebooted unscripted juggernaut.Perry, it was soon learned, would make $25 million for her work on the first season of the new “Idol.” The move to secure her set off a scramble for talent in the unscripted arena that would see A-listers such as Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend and Scooter Braun courted to launch or reinvigorate unscripted franchises to compete with the new version of one of television’s most successful shows.</p>
<p>When “American Idol” originally launched in 2001, the most famous name attached was that of Paula Abdul — a second-rung pop singer whose biggest hits were a decade behind her. But as ABC and producer FremantleMedia prep the new “Idol,” they do so at a time when top-tier talent is more available and more in demand than ever in the unscripted space.</p>
<p>“I think competition for talent in many ways is at an all-time high with the vast amount of real estate and new platforms,” says Brent Montgomery, CEO of ITV America.</p>
<p>That competition is most evident in the sudden resurgence in popularity of musical talent competition series. After Perry joined “Idol,” NBC moved quickly to secure Hudson and Clarkson — both “Idol” alums — to serve as coaches on its own music competition “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/the-voice/" type="external">The Voice</a>.” Fox then fast-tracked its music competition, “The Four,” and has been courting Scooter Braun with an offer to executive produce and serve in an on-camera role. Braun has also spoken with ABC about joining “American Idol” and with CBS about launching a possible talent competition show there.</p>
<p>Netflix is developing a hip-hop competition show, “Rhythm &amp; Flow,” with executive producer Legend, who could yet opt into an on-camera role.</p>
<p>The “Idol” pickup also set off a lengthy and ultimately fruitful negotiation with omnipresent host Ryan Seacrest, who will return to the show that made him a household name — though this time with far greater cachet and negotiating leverage.</p>
<p>“There is heavy, heavy competition when you have two or three big musical competitions going on simultaneously,” Montgomery says. “The talent is spread thin.”</p>
<p>Even prior to ABC’s “Idol” play, big-name talent had been migrating to unscripted — Jamie Foxx on Fox’s “Beat Shazam,” Mike Myers on ABC’s “The Gong Show,” Alec Baldwin on ABC’s “Match Game.” The days in which a series could be sold based solely on the strength of a format and with an unproven talent hosting, as Seacrest was when “Idol” launched, are long gone.</p>
<p>“I think the networks want talent-based shows, talent-driven shows,” says Amber Mazzola, CEO of Machete Prods. “Very rarely are you bringing a group of nobodies to a network these days. They want a familiar face.”</p>
<p>The primary motivator for pursuing top talent is competition in the peak TV era. With more shows on more channels and platforms than ever before, the networks are looking for any advantage they can claim when launching a new series.</p>
<p>“From a buyer perspective, due to the fact that there is so much competition in the marketplace, and because you have such a fragmented market where so much of your viewership is online, it makes sense to attach a name talent to their shows,” says Gil Goldschein, CEO of Bunim-Murray Prods. “A lot of these A-list celebrities have a large following and any time you launch a new show that those outside the industry may not be familiar with, you want to bring as many eyeballs as possible. A good way to do that may be to have an established brand with a celebrity.”</p>
<p>But Montgomery cites another, less-attractive possible motivator. “Everybody, certainly in cable and broadcast, is operating out of a position of fear,” he says. “People don’t lose their jobs when they put, say, Steve Harvey, into a show.”</p>
<p>Yet as the “Idol” and “Voice” deals demonstrate, such talent does not come cheap. Perry’s agreement ties her with “Today” host Matt Lauer as the third highest-paid on-camera talent in television, behind Ellen DeGeneres and “Judge Judy” Sheindlin. Foxx, Myers and Baldwin are each making $3 million per season. Seacrest will make $15 million per season for “Idol.” Those costs are shouldered by networks, and raise the stakes of their unscripted programming decisions.</p>
<p>“As far as how much is too much, I think that’s the analysis that has to be done by the buyer,” Goldschein says. “But I think there are probably certain instances where they’ve paid too much and they should have relied on the creative of the show.”</p>
<p>In the past, securing talent on the level of Foxx would have been near-impossible for a broadcast unscripted series. But in the current climate, it is possible to get a recent Academy Award winner to host a summer game show. The increased fees being demanded by unscripted talent is one carrot. Another is the workload, which is typically light compared to that of a feature film or unscripted series.</p>
<p>“When people get into their 30s and 40s, the idea of travelling to Vancouver or Toronto for six weeks may not necessarily be the end-all be-all,” Montgomery says. “The idea that they can have what people in television have always realized, a little more continuity in their lives, I would assume that that’s a driving force.”</p>
<p>And with A-listers willing to do the work, it’s a given that producers and networks will be in pursuit.</p>
<p>“I think more than ever, name value and brands are important,” says Rob Smith, head of unscripted for Endemol Shine North America. “You see that in so many shows right now. Whether it be someone like Michael Strahan or Alec Baldwin, getting a host who can cut through that clutter is so much more important for broadcasters than ever before.”</p> | false | 1 | abc announced may closed deal return american idol television help highpriced star network announced pop singer katy perry would anchor judges table rebooted unscripted juggernautperry soon learned would make 25 million work first season new idol move secure set scramble talent unscripted arena would see alisters kelly clarkson jennifer hudson john legend scooter braun courted launch reinvigorate unscripted franchises compete new version one televisions successful shows american idol originally launched 2001 famous name attached paula abdul secondrung pop singer whose biggest hits decade behind abc producer fremantlemedia prep new idol time toptier talent available demand ever unscripted space think competition talent many ways alltime high vast amount real estate new platforms says brent montgomery ceo itv america competition evident sudden resurgence popularity musical talent competition series perry joined idol nbc moved quickly secure hudson clarkson idol alums serve coaches music competition voice fox fasttracked music competition four courting scooter braun offer executive produce serve oncamera role braun also spoken abc joining american idol cbs launching possible talent competition show netflix developing hiphop competition show rhythm amp flow executive producer legend could yet opt oncamera role idol pickup also set lengthy ultimately fruitful negotiation omnipresent host ryan seacrest return show made household name though time far greater cachet negotiating leverage heavy heavy competition two three big musical competitions going simultaneously montgomery says talent spread thin even prior abcs idol play bigname talent migrating unscripted jamie foxx foxs beat shazam mike myers abcs gong show alec baldwin abcs match game days series could sold based solely strength format unproven talent hosting seacrest idol launched long gone think networks want talentbased shows talentdriven shows says amber mazzola ceo machete prods rarely bringing group nobodies network days want familiar face primary motivator pursuing top talent competition peak tv era shows channels platforms ever networks looking advantage claim launching new series buyer perspective due fact much competition marketplace fragmented market much viewership online makes sense attach name talent shows says gil goldschein ceo bunimmurray prods lot alist celebrities large following time launch new show outside industry may familiar want bring many eyeballs possible good way may established brand celebrity montgomery cites another lessattractive possible motivator everybody certainly cable broadcast operating position fear says people dont lose jobs put say steve harvey show yet idol voice deals demonstrate talent come cheap perrys agreement ties today host matt lauer third highestpaid oncamera talent television behind ellen degeneres judge judy sheindlin foxx myers baldwin making 3 million per season seacrest make 15 million per season idol costs shouldered networks raise stakes unscripted programming decisions far much much think thats analysis done buyer goldschein says think probably certain instances theyve paid much relied creative show past securing talent level foxx would nearimpossible broadcast unscripted series current climate possible get recent academy award winner host summer game show increased fees demanded unscripted talent one carrot another workload typically light compared feature film unscripted series people get 30s 40s idea travelling vancouver toronto six weeks may necessarily endall beall montgomery says idea people television always realized little continuity lives would assume thats driving force alisters willing work given producers networks pursuit think ever name value brands important says rob smith head unscripted endemol shine north america see many shows right whether someone like michael strahan alec baldwin getting host cut clutter much important broadcasters ever | 554 |
<p>Fooling most of the people most of the time is what American politics are about—even when it comes to the threat of nuclear war.</p>
<p>I read a column recently imbued with hopeful thinking about America’s political establishment dealing with its constituents concerning the now increasing threat of nuclear catastrophe.</p>
<p>The author said the piece was intended as “Drano” to clear the political pipes, but I am afraid that much as I sometimes enjoy the same author’s pieces, this one for me had to be characterized as illusion. It may have a lot to do with the author not being a native of the United States, and I do think my background in that country and having studied its history removes any possibility of illusion ever seriously taking hold.</p>
<p>When did America’s establishment ever discuss, in elections or at other times, issues of war and peace for the people’s understanding and consent?</p>
<p>Virtually never.</p>
<p>There was no mandate for Vietnam, Cambodia, Iraq, Libya, Syria, or a dozen other conflicts.</p>
<p>Of course, once a war gets going, there is a tendency for Americans to close ranks with flags and ribbons and slogans such as “Support our troops” and “Love it or leave it.”</p>
<p>The senior leaders know this psychological pattern, and they count on it, every time.</p>
<p>The fundamental problem in America’s government is an elaborate political structure much resembling democracy but with actual rule by a powerful establishment and a set of special interests—all supported by a monstrous security apparatus and a huge, lumbering military, which wouldn’t even know what to do with itself in peace.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I don’t think there is any apparent solution to this horrible political reality, and, while once it affected primarily Americans themselves, today it affects the planet.</p>
<p>There is an intense new element that has been added to America’s governing establishment: the drive of the neo-cons for American supremacy everywhere, for complete global dominance, and it is something which is frighteningly similar to past drives by fascist governments which brought only human misery on a vast scale.</p>
<p>The neo-cons’ underlying motive, I believe, is absolute security for America’s colony in the Middle East, Israel—put another way, their concern is for Israel’s hegemony over its entire region with no room for anyone else to act in their own interests. It is only if the United States is deeply engaged all over the planet that Israel can constantly benefit from its strange relationship with America.</p>
<p>It did not require the neo-cons to interest America’s establishment with interfering in other people’s affairs. America has a long history of doing so, stretching back to the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, the brazen seizure of Hawaii from its people and going right up to the pointless War in Vietnam and Cambodia in the hope of keeping the Pacific Ocean effectively an American lake. But the neo-cons have added a new force, a new impulse to something which would be better left alone, and they are very influential in American affairs.</p>
<p>Ordinary Americans are not interested in world affairs, and there is a great deal of evidence to support that statement. American Imperialists of earlier times disparaged this tendency to just want peace at home with the pejorative name, isolationism, and avoiding isolationism became an excuse for a whole series of wars and interventions.</p>
<p>So, Americans today cannot be allowed to fall back into their natural tendency of not caring. Thus we have the drive of the neo-cons and, tragically, thus we have America being driven into direct confrontation with Russia. And with China, too, of course, but Russia is my focus since Russia is the only country in the world literally capable of obliterating the United States. There is unquestionably a sense here of Rome wanting to go after Carthage, although cavalry, swords, spears, and catapults no longer can settle such conflicts.</p>
<p>The situation is compounded by the American establishment’s dawning realization that its days of largely unquestioned supremacy in the world are fading into memory, as other countries grow and develop and have important interests in world affairs. In many respects, it has been a long downhill slide for the average American since the economic heyday of the 1950s. Decline in real incomes, decline in good job opportunities at home, the export of American industries abroad to areas of less costly labor, and the virtual collapse of American towns and cities in many places, Detroit being perhaps the most sorrowful case of many—all these are evident year-in and year-out.</p>
<p>I do think the American establishment simply does not know how to handle its role in a brave new world, but do something it clearly thinks it must, and that is an extremely dangerous state of mind. It is armed with vast armies and terrible weapons so that it retains a sense of being able to act in some way to permanently reclaim its place, an illusion if ever there was one.</p>
<p>We know from scholars of the past the role that the mere existence of terrible military power can play in disaster. Huge standing armies were one of the major underlying causes of the First World War, a conflict in which twenty millions perished. Germany repeated the effort with Hitler’s government working tirelessly to create what was to become the finest and most advanced army the world had ever seen until that time, but it, too, ended in disaster, and of even greater proportions. America has not discovered the secret to making itself invulnerable, although I fear that its establishment believes that it can do so, and that represents the most dangerous possible thinking.</p>
<p>Contrary to political speeches, America’s establishment has never shown great concern over the welfare of ordinary Americans, and today its lack of concern is almost palpable. Washington’s white-maned, over-fed, crinkly-faced Senators spend virtually every ounce of effort in two activities: raising funds from special interests for re-election (estimated at two-thirds of an average Senator’s time) and conspiring on how to keep America dominant in the world. Anything else is just piffle. America’s unique place in the world of 1950 took care of ordinary Americans, not any effort by government. Again, the utter contempt for ordinary Americans perhaps offers a dark element in the thinking of America’s establishment when it comes to possible nuclear war.</p>
<p>Russia is not, of course, a direct threat to neo-con interests, except when it comes to matters like Syria, a deliberately-engineered horror to bring down the last independent-minded leader in the Middle East and to smash and Balkanize his country, parts of which, Israel has always lusted after in its vision of Greater Israel. The coup in Ukraine, which borders along a great stretch of Russia, represented a direct challenge to Russia’s security, offering a place ultimately to be filled with hostile forces and missiles and American advisors—all of which was expected to silence Russia’s independent voice in the world and its ability to in any way thwart neo-con adventures, if not, in the longer-range, savage dreams of some, to provide a platform for the ultimate destruction or overthrow of Russia herself.</p>
<p>Russia’s effective countering with skillful moves in its own interests both in Syria and Ukraine has driven some of America’s establishment to the edge of madness, and that madness is what we see and hear in Europe. Europe is once again being turned into a vast armed camp, and it is now seething with anti-Russian rhetoric, threats, and activities such as huge war games, the largest of which occurred around the anniversary of Hitler’s invasion of Russia, the single most destructive event in all of human history.</p>
<p>America has created deliberately a situation almost as dangerous as the days of the Cuban missile crisis, which itself arose from the American establishment’s belief that it had every right to interfere in Cuba’s affairs.</p>
<p>We have another element, now compounding the danger, in a far greater variety and level of sophistication of weapons, including some nuclear weapons whose controlled yields are regarded by America’s military as being perhaps “usable” in a theater like Europe. The installation of anti-missile systems near Russia is very much part of this threat since these systems not only are intended to neutralize Russia’s capacity for response to a sudden, massive attack but to provide a cover for future covert, easily-done substitution of other kinds of missiles into the launchers, faster-arriving, nuclear-armed missiles which would indeed be an element in such an attack.</p>
<p>Russia, a country twice invaded with all the might of Germany and before that by Napoleon’s Grande Armeé, cannot be expected just to sit and do nothing. It won’t. It cannot.</p>
<p>The world must not forget that America’s military, a number of times in the past, created complete plans for a massive, surprise nuclear attack on what was then the Soviet Union, the last of which I am aware was in the early 1960s, and it was presented as being feasible to President Kennedy, who is said to have left the Pentagon briefing sick to his stomach.</p>
<p>Nuclear war, just as with any other kind of war, can happen almost by accident through blunders and careless acts and overly-aggressive postures. Just let the blood of two sides get up enough, and an utter disaster could quickly overtake us. Constantly decreasing the possibilities for accidents and misunderstandings is a prime responsibility of every major world leader, and right now the United States is pretty close to having completely abdicated its responsibility.</p> | false | 1 | fooling people time american politics abouteven comes threat nuclear war read column recently imbued hopeful thinking americas political establishment dealing constituents concerning increasing threat nuclear catastrophe author said piece intended drano clear political pipes afraid much sometimes enjoy authors pieces one characterized illusion may lot author native united states think background country studied history removes possibility illusion ever seriously taking hold americas establishment ever discuss elections times issues war peace peoples understanding consent virtually never mandate vietnam cambodia iraq libya syria dozen conflicts course war gets going tendency americans close ranks flags ribbons slogans support troops love leave senior leaders know psychological pattern count every time fundamental problem americas government elaborate political structure much resembling democracy actual rule powerful establishment set special interestsall supported monstrous security apparatus huge lumbering military wouldnt even know peace unfortunately dont think apparent solution horrible political reality affected primarily americans today affects planet intense new element added americas governing establishment drive neocons american supremacy everywhere complete global dominance something frighteningly similar past drives fascist governments brought human misery vast scale neocons underlying motive believe absolute security americas colony middle east israelput another way concern israels hegemony entire region room anyone else act interests united states deeply engaged planet israel constantly benefit strange relationship america require neocons interest americas establishment interfering peoples affairs america long history stretching back mexican war spanishamerican war philippineamerican war brazen seizure hawaii people going right pointless war vietnam cambodia hope keeping pacific ocean effectively american lake neocons added new force new impulse something would better left alone influential american affairs ordinary americans interested world affairs great deal evidence support statement american imperialists earlier times disparaged tendency want peace home pejorative name isolationism avoiding isolationism became excuse whole series wars interventions americans today allowed fall back natural tendency caring thus drive neocons tragically thus america driven direct confrontation russia china course russia focus since russia country world literally capable obliterating united states unquestionably sense rome wanting go carthage although cavalry swords spears catapults longer settle conflicts situation compounded american establishments dawning realization days largely unquestioned supremacy world fading memory countries grow develop important interests world affairs many respects long downhill slide average american since economic heyday 1950s decline real incomes decline good job opportunities home export american industries abroad areas less costly labor virtual collapse american towns cities many places detroit perhaps sorrowful case manyall evident yearin yearout think american establishment simply know handle role brave new world something clearly thinks must extremely dangerous state mind armed vast armies terrible weapons retains sense able act way permanently reclaim place illusion ever one know scholars past role mere existence terrible military power play disaster huge standing armies one major underlying causes first world war conflict twenty millions perished germany repeated effort hitlers government working tirelessly create become finest advanced army world ever seen time ended disaster even greater proportions america discovered secret making invulnerable although fear establishment believes represents dangerous possible thinking contrary political speeches americas establishment never shown great concern welfare ordinary americans today lack concern almost palpable washingtons whitemaned overfed crinklyfaced senators spend virtually every ounce effort two activities raising funds special interests reelection estimated twothirds average senators time conspiring keep america dominant world anything else piffle americas unique place world 1950 took care ordinary americans effort government utter contempt ordinary americans perhaps offers dark element thinking americas establishment comes possible nuclear war russia course direct threat neocon interests except comes matters like syria deliberatelyengineered horror bring last independentminded leader middle east smash balkanize country parts israel always lusted vision greater israel coup ukraine borders along great stretch russia represented direct challenge russias security offering place ultimately filled hostile forces missiles american advisorsall expected silence russias independent voice world ability way thwart neocon adventures longerrange savage dreams provide platform ultimate destruction overthrow russia russias effective countering skillful moves interests syria ukraine driven americas establishment edge madness madness see hear europe europe turned vast armed camp seething antirussian rhetoric threats activities huge war games largest occurred around anniversary hitlers invasion russia single destructive event human history america created deliberately situation almost dangerous days cuban missile crisis arose american establishments belief every right interfere cubas affairs another element compounding danger far greater variety level sophistication weapons including nuclear weapons whose controlled yields regarded americas military perhaps usable theater like europe installation antimissile systems near russia much part threat since systems intended neutralize russias capacity response sudden massive attack provide cover future covert easilydone substitution kinds missiles launchers fasterarriving nucleararmed missiles would indeed element attack russia country twice invaded might germany napoleons grande armeé expected sit nothing wont world must forget americas military number times past created complete plans massive surprise nuclear attack soviet union last aware early 1960s presented feasible president kennedy said left pentagon briefing sick stomach nuclear war kind war happen almost accident blunders careless acts overlyaggressive postures let blood two sides get enough utter disaster could quickly overtake us constantly decreasing possibilities accidents misunderstandings prime responsibility every major world leader right united states pretty close completely abdicated responsibility | 838 |
<p>After getting over the shock of the Obama administration’s unilateral decision to delay the employer mandate for a year, supporters of the law have taken to downplaying the significance of the step.&#160;Jonathan Chait and Ezra Klein, among others, have said it is just not that big of a deal to delay a provision that they claim affects so few employers.&#160;After all, they argue, most employers offer coverage today without the mandate, so it can’t be true that imposing the mandate is essential to making the rest of the law work well.&#160;Klein goes even further and&#160; <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/02/obamacares-employer-mandate-shouldnt-be-delayed-it-should-be-repealed/" type="external">says</a>&#160;it would be best&#160;just&#160;to get rid of the employer mandate altogether because its perverse employment incentives outweigh whatever positive role the provision plays in the rest of the law.</p>
<p>In his first public comments on the mandate delay, President Obama picked up on this “it’s no big deal” theme in an interview with the&#160;New York Times,&#160; <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/us/politics/interview-with-president-obama.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0" type="external">stating, among other things</a>, that “the number of employers who are potentially subject to the employer mandate is relatively small,” thus echoing the argument that the mandate is not a central provision of Obamacare.</p>
<p>It’s certainly a welcome development that some defenders of the law are willing to publicly admit that the employer mandate is already having disastrous consequences for employment, especially for workers from low income households, and therefore should not be allowed to go into effect.&#160;They are right.&#160;It is terrible policy for sure, and needs to be repealed for that reason, along with the rest of the law.</p>
<p>But it is&#160;not&#160;true that the employer mandate is a minor provision in Obamacare.&#160;In fact, the assertion that it is inconsequential is shameless revisionist history. For instance, Klein, now pooh-poohing the mandate’s significance,&#160; <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/07/cbo_gives_us_the_key_to_health.html" type="external">previously wrote about its crucial role in getting a favorable cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)</a>.&#160;And he was right the first time.</p>
<p>One of the keys to understanding how Obamacare works is the so-called “firewall.”&#160;This is the provision that is supposed to prevent widespread dumping by employers of their workers into the Obamacare exchanges.&#160;The “firewall” precludes workers who receive an “affordable” offer of insurance coverage from their employers from getting premium assistance in the exchanges.</p>
<p>This is important because these subsidies are worth much more to lower-wage workers than the implicit federal tax subsidy associated with employer-paid insurance premiums (employer-paid health insurance is non-taxable compensation for workers).&#160;For instance, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)&#160; <a href="http://c/Users/Mike/Downloads/cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/03-15-ACA_and_Insurance_2.pdf" type="external">has estimated</a>&#160;that, in 2016, a family of four with household income of $50,000 would be better off by more than $11,000 if they got their insurance through an Obamacare exchange instead of from an employer.&#160;Without the firewall, and the related employer mandate, this large differential in federal support would be a magnet drawing lower-wage workers out of job-based health insurance.&#160;In short, the employer mandate–and the firewall it supports–is highly consequential not because it forces large numbers of employers that do not offer insurance today to do so in the future but because it prevents large numbers of employers now offering coverage&#160;from dropping what they offer today..</p>
<p>CBO’s estimates make clear how important the employer mandate is to Obamacare.&#160;Today, the agency provided&#160; <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/44465-ACA.pdf" type="external">updated projections</a>&#160;of what the administration’s one-year delay (as well as related changes in the administrative process for adjudicating claims for federal subsidies) would mean for costs and coverage in coming years.&#160;CBO concluded that the administration’s decisions will increase the federal budget deficit over the coming decade by $12 billion.&#160;(Incidentally, the&#160; <a href="http://www.treasury.gov/connect/blog/pages/continuing-to-implement-the-aca-in-a-careful-thoughtful-manner-.aspx" type="external">blog post</a>&#160;from the Treasury Department announcing the mandate delay contained 478 words, so that’s about $25 million per word.)&#160;CBO also says the delay and related actions will mean one million people won’t get employer-sponsored health insurance in 2014, and about half of them will be left uninsured as a result.&#160;Even by Obamacare standards, these are not minor consequences unless one cares nothing about federal deficits or how many people don’t have health insurance.</p>
<p>More importantly, CBO’s release today made it clear that the budget and coverage numbers would be far, far worse if the mandate delay extended beyond one year because employers and workers could adjust their plans without fear of having to undo them in a matter of months.&#160;As matters stand, CBO took the administration’s word for it and assumed that the full employer mandate will be imposed in 2015, thus minimizing the dumping that would occur in 2014.</p>
<p>But is it a safe assumption that the employer mandate will get imposed in 2015?&#160;That would mean imposing the highly controversial 30-hour limit on part-time workers, and costly data reporting requirements for just about every employer in the country.&#160;These were the reasons the administration flinched in 2013.&#160;What are the chances they can withstand the pressure for delay that will inevitably build in the run-up to the 2014 mid-term election? If anything, businesses have been emboldened by what has transpired this year and likely to believe they can push the mandate back again next year if they apply enough pressure.</p>
<p>The employer mandate is one of the central provisions of Obamacare.&#160;Without it, the legislation would never have passed Congress because CBO would have tagged it with much higher spending and large-scale migration out of employer coverage.&#160;That would have been enough to sink the entire legislative effort.</p>
<p>By unilaterally delaying the enforcement of such an important provision because of political pressure, the administration has tacitly admitted that the law rests on a very shaky foundation.&#160;This should be taken by the law’s opponents as a clear signal to keep the pressure on.</p>
<p>James C. Capretta is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.</p> | false | 1 | getting shock obama administrations unilateral decision delay employer mandate year supporters law taken downplaying significance step160jonathan chait ezra klein among others said big deal delay provision claim affects employers160after argue employers offer coverage today without mandate cant true imposing mandate essential making rest law work well160klein goes even and160 says160it would best160just160to get rid employer mandate altogether perverse employment incentives outweigh whatever positive role provision plays rest law first public comments mandate delay president obama picked big deal theme interview the160new york times160 stating among things number employers potentially subject employer mandate relatively small thus echoing argument mandate central provision obamacare certainly welcome development defenders law willing publicly admit employer mandate already disastrous consequences employment especially workers low income households therefore allowed go effect160they right160it terrible policy sure needs repealed reason along rest law is160not160true employer mandate minor provision obamacare160in fact assertion inconsequential shameless revisionist history instance klein poohpoohing mandates significance160 previously wrote crucial role getting favorable cost estimate congressional budget office cbo160and right first time one keys understanding obamacare works socalled firewall160this provision supposed prevent widespread dumping employers workers obamacare exchanges160the firewall precludes workers receive affordable offer insurance coverage employers getting premium assistance exchanges important subsidies worth much lowerwage workers implicit federal tax subsidy associated employerpaid insurance premiums employerpaid health insurance nontaxable compensation workers160for instance congressional budget office cbo160 estimated160that 2016 family four household income 50000 would better 11000 got insurance obamacare exchange instead employer160without firewall related employer mandate large differential federal support would magnet drawing lowerwage workers jobbased health insurance160in short employer mandateand firewall supportsis highly consequential forces large numbers employers offer insurance today future prevents large numbers employers offering coverage160from dropping offer today cbos estimates make clear important employer mandate obamacare160today agency provided160 updated projections160of administrations oneyear delay well related changes administrative process adjudicating claims federal subsidies would mean costs coverage coming years160cbo concluded administrations decisions increase federal budget deficit coming decade 12 billion160incidentally the160 blog post160from treasury department announcing mandate delay contained 478 words thats 25 million per word160cbo also says delay related actions mean one million people wont get employersponsored health insurance 2014 half left uninsured result160even obamacare standards minor consequences unless one cares nothing federal deficits many people dont health insurance importantly cbos release today made clear budget coverage numbers would far far worse mandate delay extended beyond one year employers workers could adjust plans without fear undo matter months160as matters stand cbo took administrations word assumed full employer mandate imposed 2015 thus minimizing dumping would occur 2014 safe assumption employer mandate get imposed 2015160that would mean imposing highly controversial 30hour limit parttime workers costly data reporting requirements every employer country160these reasons administration flinched 2013160what chances withstand pressure delay inevitably build runup 2014 midterm election anything businesses emboldened transpired year likely believe push mandate back next year apply enough pressure employer mandate one central provisions obamacare160without legislation would never passed congress cbo would tagged much higher spending largescale migration employer coverage160that would enough sink entire legislative effort unilaterally delaying enforcement important provision political pressure administration tacitly admitted law rests shaky foundation160this taken laws opponents clear signal keep pressure james c capretta senior fellow ethics public policy center visiting fellow american enterprise institute | 528 |
<p>For interested viewers who attempted the first two seasons of Netflix’s celebrated cartel drama “Narcos” but felt it lacked a crucial touch of telenovela, “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/loving-pablo/" type="external">Loving Pablo</a>” should do the trick in just over two hours. Long, loud and lurid, with a distinct whiff of week-old&#160;quesito colombiano,&#160; <a href="http://variety.com/t/fernando-leon-de-aranoa/" type="external">Fernando Leon de Aranoa</a>’s pulpy Pablo Escobar biopic promises an alternative spin on familiar material by taking the perspective of the drug kingpin’s glamorous journalist lover Virginia Vallejo. Yet she turns out to be as stock a presence as anyone else in this blood-spattered chunk of cartoon history, which reduces her life and Escobar’s alike to bullet points punctuated by bullet holes, strung together by her excessive, over-explanatory narration. The enlivening presence of Spanish cinema’s real-life first couple,&#160;Penélope Cruz and <a href="http://variety.com/t/javier-bardem/" type="external">Javier Bardem</a>, in the leads gives “Loving Pablo” a clear international selling point, though both are colorfully slumming it.</p>
<p>“Colombians don’t switch on their TVs to see me, but what I’m wearing,” says Vallejo, a once-popular investigative anchorwoman whose career was ultimately brought down by her association with Escobar at the zenith of the Medellin Cartel’s grisly reign. It’s an admission that inadvertently encapsulates the chief appeal of “Loving Pablo” as an exercise in garish true-crime dress-up: From the second Cruz appears on screen in the first of the film’s 1993-set bookends, pristinely spritzed and coiffed and shoulder-padded in a yellow-checked power suit, the project’s camp potential is immediately realized. Leon de Aranoa’s script follows suit, feeding her the lines of a soap-opera empress: “This is the first time I ever had to leave a country because of a man,” she muses wistfully off-camera as she flees to the U.S. under the DEA’s protection, presumably between nonchalant swigs of Cristal.</p>
<p>Leon de Aranoa lifts much of this material from Vallejo’s 2007 memoir “Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar,” a Spanish-language bestseller on which he leans rather too heavily, excerpting entire passages as needless voiceover to self-explanatory scenes. “Pablo introduces me to his associates in the cartel,” she helpfully explains as we see Escobar introducing her to his associates in the cartel, shortly after they meet and are instantly drawn to each other at a glittering party on the Escobar estate in 1981. “He shows me off like a trophy,” she continues, as he shows her off like a trophy. Such prosaic writing is further flattened by frequently stilted translation, as accented English dialogue dominates the bilingual proceedings — a questionable decision given the pic’s primarily Spanish and Latin American commercial appeal, and its somewhat ersatz effect on the stars’ otherwise brash, lively performances.</p>
<p>Vallejo and Escobar’s cash-cushioned affair at the cocaine lord’s high-rolling peak is depicted in largely surface-level terms of material excess and smoldering flirtation, but we’re rarely given any insight into more intimate realities of their relationship. (“If you’re going to cry over a man, better to do it on a private jet than on a bus,” she advises us, and this is about as close as the film gets to her emotional truth.) The obvious natural resource of Cruz and Bardem’s tinderbox chemistry is thus only superficially plundered.</p>
<p>Otherwise, “Loving Pablo” has little genuine interest in a feminine perspective on grimily masculine criminal games. Much of the film requires Vallejo to be an omniscient narrator to chapters of Escobar lore in which she played no direct part. The film’s middle act delves into his ill-fated foray into politics and the state of national emergency that follows his congressional downfall, as the cartel and the government engage in a massacre-level exchange of power plays — all material that we’ve seen detailed more substantially elsewhere, not least in the aforementioned, still-fresh “Narcos.”</p>
<p>A montage of policemen and adolescents being alternately shot in the head &#160;may bring a stomach-churning degree of reality to proceedings, for example, but doesn’t really mesh with the glossier saga of Vallejo’s growing endangerment, nor the sketchily developed subplot of her long-term courting by DEA agent Shepard (Peter Sarsgaard). The script would have us believe that their eventual collaboration was fueled by an underlying sexual attraction, though nothing in the way it plays out between Cruz and Sarsgaard supports such a notion, with the latter’s papery, by-the-book character giving the actor little scope for inspired riffing.</p>
<p>He’s certainly no match for the menacing brute charisma of an extravagantly paunch-laden Bardem — also one of the film’s producers — who may not give the most nuanced reading of Escobar out there, but for the film’s broad purposes, plays a suitably carnal, corrupt beast to Cruz’s increasingly terrorized, Thierry Mugler-clad beauty. Neither, it has to be said, gives the best performance in the film: That distinction goes to Julieth Restrepo as Escobar’s significantly less diva-tastic glitzy wife Victoria, a bastion of quiet, frayed-nerved feeling amid the larger gesticulating around her.</p>
<p>Working in a far less refined, humane register than in his and Bardem’s acclaimed 2002 collaboration “Mondays in the Sun,” Leon de Aranoa’s predominantly functional direction comes most alive in his handling of the film’s big-ticket action sequences: a deafening, panic-inducing helicopter raid on a gone-underground Escobar’s jungle hideout, climaxing in Bardem’s stark-naked flight into the foliage, or a spectacular highway hijacking and airplane cocaine drop that wouldn’t be out of place in Doug Liman’s recent, incidentally Escobar-themed adventure “American Made.” Fast on its feet and cranking up the hot Colombian colors to eleven,&#160;Alex Catalán’s cinematography embraces the comic-book tone of the entire enterprise, though first honors in that department go to Ma Dolores García Galeán and&#160;Wanda Morales eye-searingly fabulous costumes, which ensure that even at the film’s most fraught interludes, Vallejo never has to run for her life in substandard heels.</p>
<p>Reviewed at Venice Film Festival (noncompeting), Sept. 5, 2017. (Also in Toronto Film Festival — Special Presentations.) Running time:&#160;128 MIN.</p>
<p>(Spain-Bulgaria) An Escobar Films, B2Y EOOD production. (International sales: Nu Image, Los Angeles.) Producers: Dean Nichols, Javier Bardem, Miguel Menendez de Zubillaga, Kalina Kottas. Executive producer: Andrew Calderon.</p>
<p>Director, screenplay: Fernando Leon de Aranoa, adapted from the book “Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar” by Virginia Vallejo. Camera (color, widescreen): Alex Catalán. Editor: Nacho Ruiz Capillas. Music: Federico Jusid.</p>
<p>Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, Julieth Restrepo.</p> | false | 1 | interested viewers attempted first two seasons netflixs celebrated cartel drama narcos felt lacked crucial touch telenovela loving pablo trick two hours long loud lurid distinct whiff weekold160quesito colombiano160 fernando leon de aranoas pulpy pablo escobar biopic promises alternative spin familiar material taking perspective drug kingpins glamorous journalist lover virginia vallejo yet turns stock presence anyone else bloodspattered chunk cartoon history reduces life escobars alike bullet points punctuated bullet holes strung together excessive overexplanatory narration enlivening presence spanish cinemas reallife first couple160penélope cruz javier bardem leads gives loving pablo clear international selling point though colorfully slumming colombians dont switch tvs see im wearing says vallejo oncepopular investigative anchorwoman whose career ultimately brought association escobar zenith medellin cartels grisly reign admission inadvertently encapsulates chief appeal loving pablo exercise garish truecrime dressup second cruz appears screen first films 1993set bookends pristinely spritzed coiffed shoulderpadded yellowchecked power suit projects camp potential immediately realized leon de aranoas script follows suit feeding lines soapopera empress first time ever leave country man muses wistfully offcamera flees us deas protection presumably nonchalant swigs cristal leon de aranoa lifts much material vallejos 2007 memoir loving pablo hating escobar spanishlanguage bestseller leans rather heavily excerpting entire passages needless voiceover selfexplanatory scenes pablo introduces associates cartel helpfully explains see escobar introducing associates cartel shortly meet instantly drawn glittering party escobar estate 1981 shows like trophy continues shows like trophy prosaic writing flattened frequently stilted translation accented english dialogue dominates bilingual proceedings questionable decision given pics primarily spanish latin american commercial appeal somewhat ersatz effect stars otherwise brash lively performances vallejo escobars cashcushioned affair cocaine lords highrolling peak depicted largely surfacelevel terms material excess smoldering flirtation rarely given insight intimate realities relationship youre going cry man better private jet bus advises us close film gets emotional truth obvious natural resource cruz bardems tinderbox chemistry thus superficially plundered otherwise loving pablo little genuine interest feminine perspective grimily masculine criminal games much film requires vallejo omniscient narrator chapters escobar lore played direct part films middle act delves illfated foray politics state national emergency follows congressional downfall cartel government engage massacrelevel exchange power plays material weve seen detailed substantially elsewhere least aforementioned stillfresh narcos montage policemen adolescents alternately shot head 160may bring stomachchurning degree reality proceedings example doesnt really mesh glossier saga vallejos growing endangerment sketchily developed subplot longterm courting dea agent shepard peter sarsgaard script would us believe eventual collaboration fueled underlying sexual attraction though nothing way plays cruz sarsgaard supports notion latters papery bythebook character giving actor little scope inspired riffing hes certainly match menacing brute charisma extravagantly paunchladen bardem also one films producers may give nuanced reading escobar films broad purposes plays suitably carnal corrupt beast cruzs increasingly terrorized thierry muglerclad beauty neither said gives best performance film distinction goes julieth restrepo escobars significantly less divatastic glitzy wife victoria bastion quiet frayednerved feeling amid larger gesticulating around working far less refined humane register bardems acclaimed 2002 collaboration mondays sun leon de aranoas predominantly functional direction comes alive handling films bigticket action sequences deafening panicinducing helicopter raid goneunderground escobars jungle hideout climaxing bardems starknaked flight foliage spectacular highway hijacking airplane cocaine drop wouldnt place doug limans recent incidentally escobarthemed adventure american made fast feet cranking hot colombian colors eleven160alex cataláns cinematography embraces comicbook tone entire enterprise though first honors department go dolores garcía galeán and160wanda morales eyesearingly fabulous costumes ensure even films fraught interludes vallejo never run life substandard heels reviewed venice film festival noncompeting sept 5 2017 also toronto film festival special presentations running time160128 min spainbulgaria escobar films b2y eood production international sales nu image los angeles producers dean nichols javier bardem miguel menendez de zubillaga kalina kottas executive producer andrew calderon director screenplay fernando leon de aranoa adapted book loving pablo hating escobar virginia vallejo camera color widescreen alex catalán editor nacho ruiz capillas music federico jusid javier bardem penélope cruz peter sarsgaard julieth restrepo | 645 |
<p>The modern history of the Catholic Church has rarely followed the historical arc imagined for it.</p>
<p>In the early 19th century, the Church in France was awash in Jacobin-drawn blood, and the Church throughout Europe was reeling from two papal kidnappings by Napoleon. No one imagined that, in the decades just ahead, Catholicism would flourish in the new United States and that the Church’s mission to sub-Saharan Africa would begin in earnest, led by new religious orders founded in the aftermath of the French Revolution.</p>
<p>In 1870, when Piux IX retreated behind the Leonine Wall and became the “prisoner of the Vatican,” Europe’s great and good thought the papacy a spent force in world affairs. Eight years later, Leo XIII, Pius IX’s successor, elected as an elderly placeholder, redefined the papacy as an office of moral persuasion and gave it new salience during the third-longest reign in recorded history.</p>
<p>When Pius XII died on October 9, 1958, the character and practice of Catholicism seemed fixed, permanent, even immutable. Less than three months later, Pius’s successor, John XXIII, announced his intention to summon a new ecumenical council. That council would, among other things, unleash decades of instability in Catholic life unimaginable in the mid-1950s.</p>
<p>In 1962, as Pope John’s council began its work, the Swiss theologian Hans Küng was riding high; his international bestseller, <a href="" type="external">The Council: Reform and Reunion</a>, seemed poised to define much of Vatican II’s agenda, and the previously obscure Tübingen theology professor was an international media star. Fifty years later, no serious observer of the Catholic scene imagines Hans Küng to be a serious theologian; meanwhile, Küng rants on in the world press, denouncing the world’s bishops as “almost as extreme” as those German generals who swore “an oath of allegiance to Hitler,” comparing St. Peter’s Square and the millions of pilgrims who flock there to a “Potemkin village” replete with “fanatical people,” and telling that nuanced theological organ, Britain’s Guardian, that “the Vatican is no different from the Kremlin,” for “just as Putin as a secret service agent became the head of Russia, so Ratzinger, as head of the Catholic Church’s secret services, became head of the Vatican.” (One may safely assume that the quondam Wunderkind of theological dissent never imagined this outcome when he engineered Joseph Ratzinger’s appointment to the Tübingen faculty shortly after Vatican II concluded.)</p>
<p>At the council’s opening, hopes for a new era of ecumenical comity ran high, and the healing of the breach between the Church of Rome and the Church of England, created by Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Elizabeth I, seemed close at hand. Fifty years later, the Episcopal bishop of California, Marc Andrus, wrote a letter to the people of his diocese denouncing the new Catholic archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, for Cordileone’s support of California Proposition 8 and his defense of marriage rightly understood. The Episcopal Church, Andrus bleated, would “make no peace with oppression,” for the “recognition of the . . . rights . . . of lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgendered people . . . [is] as core to our proclamation of the Gospel as our solidarity with . . . the Earth.” (One may safely assume that the archbishop of Canterbury in 1962, Arthur Michael Ramsey, an Anglo-Catholic, could not have imagined a churchman remotely resembling Marc Andrus, a neo-gnostic.)</p>
<p>At the council’s conclusion, the Catholic Church looked forward to a new dialogue with modernity, exemplified by the open, if secular, humanism of an Albert Camus or a Roger Garaudy. Three years later, the upheavals of 1968 ushered in the era of what the Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor dubbed “exclusive humanism,” and over the next four decades, much of Western high culture declared itself interested, not in dialogue with Catholicism, but in driving the Catholic Church (and its allegedly oppressive teachings on the nature and ethics of human love) out of public life entirely.</p>
<p>All of which will remind the biblically alert that the first (and revealed) history of the Church, the Acts of the Apostles, ends with an unexpected shipwreck — which becomes, in turn, a surprising opening to a new phase of the Church’s mission.</p>
<p>Things rarely turn out as one might expect in the Una Sancta.</p>
<p>Every ecumenical council in the history of the Catholic Church has been preceded by controversy, conducted in controversy, and followed by controversy. That perhaps helps to explain why there have been just 21 such exercises over two millennia. Thus, in a sense, that controversy would follow Vatican II ought to have been expected. But Vatican II was different in a unique way, and that difference explains something of the character of the discord that followed.</p>
<p>Every other ecumenical council had provided the Church with keys to its authentic interpretation: doctrinal definitions, creeds, legislation, or the anathematizing of heresies. If you want to know what the Nicene Creed taught about the Trinity, you read the Nicene Creed (or recite it, as Catholics do every Sunday). If you want to know what the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon taught about the Incarnation, you ponder Ephesus’s definition of the Virgin Mary as the Theotokos (God-bearer) and Chalcedon’s definition of the two natures in the one divine Person of Christ, who is homoousios (consubstantial) with the Father. If you want to know what Trent taught about the Reformation and about authentic Catholic reform, you study its condemnations and the Catechism it authorized. If you want to know what Vatican I taught about the way the Holy Spirit continues to teach the Church through the teaching office of the papacy, you reflect on its definition of the character (and limits) of papal infallibility.</p>
<p>Vatican II did none of this: It defined no doctrine, condemned no heresies, legislated no new canons for the Church’s law. What Vatican II did do was write 16 documents of divergent doctrinal weight, the interpretation of which set off an ungodly row that lasted for the better part of four decades. That row frequently centered on “Who’s in charge?” issues, which, intersecting with a much-advertised (although rarely defined) “spirit of Vatican II,” produced forms of do-it-yourself Catholicism that would have stunned John XXIII. For while it is true that “Good Pope John” wanted his council to offer the world what he called, in his opening address, the “medicine of mercy, rather than that of severity,” it is also true that, in formally convening the council 50 years ago, on October 11, 1962, Blessed John XXIII also said that “the greatest concern of the Ecumenical Council is this: that the sacred deposit of Christian doctrine should be guarded and taught more efficaciously.” And while the pope’s allocution 50 years ago noted that “the substance of the ancient doctrine of the deposit of faith is one thing, and the way in which it is presented is another,” it is also true that the pope lifted up “the Church’s solicitude to promote and defend the truth,” a notion that seems quaint to many (and dangerous to others) in a post-modern cultural environment in which there may be your truth and my truth, but nothing properly describable as the truth.</p>
<p>Thus the truths that Vatican II taught remained bitterly contested in the 15 years immediately following the Council. Then, in yet another unexpected twist in the story-line, two men of genius, both men of the Council, arose to provide the Church with authoritative keys for properly interpreting the documents of Vatican II. That, history will likely show, was the great task taken on by the unexpected Polish pope, John Paul II (who as a hitherto-obscure young bishop helped develop several council documents), and the even more unexpected Bavarian pope, Benedict XVI (who as a theologian in his mid-30s played a major role in articulating several of the council’s most important teachings on the nature of the Church as centered on the Gospel).</p>
<p>Although neither Hans Küng nor Marc Andrus (nor the Nuns on the Bus) seems to have gotten the message, both these scholar-popes have taught, correctly, that what was innovative in the teaching of Vatican II must be understood in continuity with, and as a development of, the tradition of the Church. The Catholic Church did not begin on October 11, 1962. And what happened in the four sessions of the council that followed must be pondered and understood in terms of that secure “deposit of faith” of which John XXIII spoke a half-century ago. Thus, what was truly innovative at Vatican II — its repositioning of the Gospel at the center of the Church, understood as a “communion” of disciples; its reform of the Church’s worship; its insistence on the baptismal dignity and vocational responsibility of all Catholics, lay as well as ordained; its openness to new methods in theology; its teaching on religious freedom, on church-and-state, and on the Church’s ongoing debt to Judaism — has to be understood as securely grounded in the Church’s tradition. For without that grounding and that continuity, those welcome innovations would be so much flotsam and jetsam, adrift in the cultural whitewater of post-modernity.</p>
<p>In the retrospect of today’s golden jubilee, however, perhaps we can now see that the council was one dramatic event in a much longer “moment” in Catholic history: a moment that stretches over more than a century and a quarter; a moment in which the Church underwent a deep and difficult process of reform; a moment in which the curtain slowly fell on the form of Catholicism that was born in the 16th-century Counter-Reformation, and the curtain slowly rose on the Catholicism of the Third Millennium — the Catholicism of what John Paul II and Benedict XVI have called the “New Evangelization.”</p>
<p>This Evangelical Catholicism, which you can see and touch wherever the Catholic Church is vibrant and growing today, has nothing to do with the low-church Protestantism of Hans Küng’s revolution-that-never-was; nor does it have anything to do with Marc Andrus’s gnostic Church of Lifestyle Libertinism, or with the Nuns on the Bus and their Church of Obama. Rather, as Vatican II taught in its central theological document, the Constitution on Divine Revelation, the Church is formed by the Gospel and the Church exists for the proclamation of the Gospel. Every Catholic is baptized into a missionary vocation, and every Catholic enters mission territory every day. That sense of evangelical possibility and responsibility, which is the indispensable foundation of the Church’s work for justice and the Church’s works of charity, is the true “spirit of Vatican II” — and a faithful response to perhaps the most important challenge that Blessed John XXIII laid before the Church and the world 50 years ago today:</p>
<p>The great problem confronting the world today after almost 2,000 years remains unchanged. Christ is ever resplendent at the center of history and of life. Men are either with Him and His Church, and then they enjoy light, goodness, order, and peace. Or else they are without Him, or against Him, and deliberately opposed to His Church, and then they give rise to confusion, to bitterness in human relations, and to the constant danger of fratricidal wars. . . .</p>
<p>To mankind, oppressed by so many difficulties, the Church says, as Peter said to the poor who begged for alms from him: “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise and walk” (Acts 3.6). . . . [The] Church does not offer to the men of today riches that pass, nor does she promise them merely earthly happiness. But she distributes to them the goods of divine grace which, raising men to the dignity of sons of God, are the most efficacious safeguards and aids toward a more human life. She opens the fountain of her life-giving doctrine, which allows men, enlightened by the light of Christ, to understand well what they really are, what their lofty dignity and their purpose are, and finally, through her children, she spreads everywhere the fullness of Christian charity, than which nothing is more effective in eradicating the seeds of discord, nothing more efficacious in promoting concord, just peace, and brotherly unity of all.</p>
<p>John XXIII concluded his opening address at Vatican II by evoking the image of a council that “rises in the Church like daybreak, a forerunner of most splendid light.” It was, the Pope concluded, “now only dawn.” What would come, after no little travail and darkness, was something unexpected and unimagined by most Catholics 50 years ago: the end of the Counter-Reformation and the emergence of Evangelical Catholicism — a culture-forming counterculture that offers the world friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the deepest aspirations of the human heart; a Church that is the world’s premier institutional defender of the dignity of the human person and of fundamental human rights.</p>
<p>George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. and holds EPPC’s William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.</p> | false | 1 | modern history catholic church rarely followed historical arc imagined early 19th century church france awash jacobindrawn blood church throughout europe reeling two papal kidnappings napoleon one imagined decades ahead catholicism would flourish new united states churchs mission subsaharan africa would begin earnest led new religious orders founded aftermath french revolution 1870 piux ix retreated behind leonine wall became prisoner vatican europes great good thought papacy spent force world affairs eight years later leo xiii pius ixs successor elected elderly placeholder redefined papacy office moral persuasion gave new salience thirdlongest reign recorded history pius xii died october 9 1958 character practice catholicism seemed fixed permanent even immutable less three months later piuss successor john xxiii announced intention summon new ecumenical council council would among things unleash decades instability catholic life unimaginable mid1950s 1962 pope johns council began work swiss theologian hans küng riding high international bestseller council reform reunion seemed poised define much vatican iis agenda previously obscure tübingen theology professor international media star fifty years later serious observer catholic scene imagines hans küng serious theologian meanwhile küng rants world press denouncing worlds bishops almost extreme german generals swore oath allegiance hitler comparing st peters square millions pilgrims flock potemkin village replete fanatical people telling nuanced theological organ britains guardian vatican different kremlin putin secret service agent became head russia ratzinger head catholic churchs secret services became head vatican one may safely assume quondam wunderkind theological dissent never imagined outcome engineered joseph ratzingers appointment tübingen faculty shortly vatican ii concluded councils opening hopes new era ecumenical comity ran high healing breach church rome church england created henry viii edward vi elizabeth seemed close hand fifty years later episcopal bishop california marc andrus wrote letter people diocese denouncing new catholic archbishop san francisco salvatore cordileone cordileones support california proposition 8 defense marriage rightly understood episcopal church andrus bleated would make peace oppression recognition rights lesbian bisexual gay transgendered people core proclamation gospel solidarity earth one may safely assume archbishop canterbury 1962 arthur michael ramsey anglocatholic could imagined churchman remotely resembling marc andrus neognostic councils conclusion catholic church looked forward new dialogue modernity exemplified open secular humanism albert camus roger garaudy three years later upheavals 1968 ushered era canadian philosopher charles taylor dubbed exclusive humanism next four decades much western high culture declared interested dialogue catholicism driving catholic church allegedly oppressive teachings nature ethics human love public life entirely remind biblically alert first revealed history church acts apostles ends unexpected shipwreck becomes turn surprising opening new phase churchs mission things rarely turn one might expect una sancta every ecumenical council history catholic church preceded controversy conducted controversy followed controversy perhaps helps explain 21 exercises two millennia thus sense controversy would follow vatican ii ought expected vatican ii different unique way difference explains something character discord followed every ecumenical council provided church keys authentic interpretation doctrinal definitions creeds legislation anathematizing heresies want know nicene creed taught trinity read nicene creed recite catholics every sunday want know councils ephesus chalcedon taught incarnation ponder ephesuss definition virgin mary theotokos godbearer chalcedons definition two natures one divine person christ homoousios consubstantial father want know trent taught reformation authentic catholic reform study condemnations catechism authorized want know vatican taught way holy spirit continues teach church teaching office papacy reflect definition character limits papal infallibility vatican ii none defined doctrine condemned heresies legislated new canons churchs law vatican ii write 16 documents divergent doctrinal weight interpretation set ungodly row lasted better part four decades row frequently centered whos charge issues intersecting muchadvertised although rarely defined spirit vatican ii produced forms doityourself catholicism would stunned john xxiii true good pope john wanted council offer world called opening address medicine mercy rather severity also true formally convening council 50 years ago october 11 1962 blessed john xxiii also said greatest concern ecumenical council sacred deposit christian doctrine guarded taught efficaciously popes allocution 50 years ago noted substance ancient doctrine deposit faith one thing way presented another also true pope lifted churchs solicitude promote defend truth notion seems quaint many dangerous others postmodern cultural environment may truth truth nothing properly describable truth thus truths vatican ii taught remained bitterly contested 15 years immediately following council yet another unexpected twist storyline two men genius men council arose provide church authoritative keys properly interpreting documents vatican ii history likely show great task taken unexpected polish pope john paul ii hithertoobscure young bishop helped develop several council documents even unexpected bavarian pope benedict xvi theologian mid30s played major role articulating several councils important teachings nature church centered gospel although neither hans küng marc andrus nuns bus seems gotten message scholarpopes taught correctly innovative teaching vatican ii must understood continuity development tradition church catholic church begin october 11 1962 happened four sessions council followed must pondered understood terms secure deposit faith john xxiii spoke halfcentury ago thus truly innovative vatican ii repositioning gospel center church understood communion disciples reform churchs worship insistence baptismal dignity vocational responsibility catholics lay well ordained openness new methods theology teaching religious freedom churchandstate churchs ongoing debt judaism understood securely grounded churchs tradition without grounding continuity welcome innovations would much flotsam jetsam adrift cultural whitewater postmodernity retrospect todays golden jubilee however perhaps see council one dramatic event much longer moment catholic history moment stretches century quarter moment church underwent deep difficult process reform moment curtain slowly fell form catholicism born 16thcentury counterreformation curtain slowly rose catholicism third millennium catholicism john paul ii benedict xvi called new evangelization evangelical catholicism see touch wherever catholic church vibrant growing today nothing lowchurch protestantism hans küngs revolutionthatneverwas anything marc andruss gnostic church lifestyle libertinism nuns bus church obama rather vatican ii taught central theological document constitution divine revelation church formed gospel church exists proclamation gospel every catholic baptized missionary vocation every catholic enters mission territory every day sense evangelical possibility responsibility indispensable foundation churchs work justice churchs works charity true spirit vatican ii faithful response perhaps important challenge blessed john xxiii laid church world 50 years ago today great problem confronting world today almost 2000 years remains unchanged christ ever resplendent center history life men either church enjoy light goodness order peace else without deliberately opposed church give rise confusion bitterness human relations constant danger fratricidal wars mankind oppressed many difficulties church says peter said poor begged alms neither silver gold give name jesus nazareth rise walk acts 36 church offer men today riches pass promise merely earthly happiness distributes goods divine grace raising men dignity sons god efficacious safeguards aids toward human life opens fountain lifegiving doctrine allows men enlightened light christ understand well really lofty dignity purpose finally children spreads everywhere fullness christian charity nothing effective eradicating seeds discord nothing efficacious promoting concord peace brotherly unity john xxiii concluded opening address vatican ii evoking image council rises church like daybreak forerunner splendid light pope concluded dawn would come little travail darkness something unexpected unimagined catholics 50 years ago end counterreformation emergence evangelical catholicism cultureforming counterculture offers world friendship lord jesus christ fulfillment deepest aspirations human heart church worlds premier institutional defender dignity human person fundamental human rights george weigel distinguished senior fellow ethics public policy center washington dc holds eppcs william e simon chair catholic studies | 1,192 |
<p>WASHINGTON — After Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff, 30, lost the most expensive House election ever to Republican Karen Handel, 55, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to celebrate.</p>
<p>“Well, the Special Elections are over and those that want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN are 5 and 0! All the Fake News, all the money spent = 0,” read one of the president’s Tweets.</p>
<p>Aide Kellyanne Conway got into the spirit when she tweeted, “Laughing my #Ossoff.”</p>
<p>In fact, Republicans have won four out of the four special elections held to fill seats vacated by GOP House members recruited by the Trump administration. Handel won the seat vacated by now Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price on the same day Republican Ralph Norman defeated Democrat Archie Parnell in the race to fill the South Carolina congressional seat formerly held by budget director Mick Mulvaney.</p>
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<p>“The president is obviously happy with both of the wins,” Trump spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said. “This just shows that the American people are resonating with the president’s agenda, and that they want to advance the president’s agenda.”</p>
<p>The wins in Georgia and South Carolina followed similar victories in special House elections in Kansas and Montana.</p>
<p>According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the campaigns in Georgia spent “a staggering $56.7 million” — easily overtaking a 2012 Florida special election that cost $29.5 million. Handel won by a margin of 52-48.</p>
<p>The outcome in South Carolina was closer, which had some Democrats wondering if the party should have steered more money there. Henry Olsen of the Ethics and Public Policy Center doesn’t think it would have helped.</p>
<p>“The way you win a seat like that is stealth,” Olsen opined. Handel won the Georgia seat in part because the glut of out-of-state donations to Ossof attracted the kind of attention that boosts GOP turnout.</p>
<p>Olsen’s takeaway from the four GOP victories: “There is nothing that has moved the core Trump voter one iota.”</p>
<p>Democratic operatives had been hyping the Georgia seat as the start of a wave to help the party win back the House in 2018.</p>
<p>Before the voting began, the New York Times described the race as “possibly the most consequential special election since Watergate.” After Handel won, the Times credited the opposition’s success in tying Ossoff to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.</p>
<p>Rep. Tim Ryan, D.-Ohio, who challenged Pelosi for the minority leader position after November’s disastrous losses, told The Hill, “We’d better take a good, long strong look in the mirror and realize that the problem is us; it’s the party.” Ryan called Ossof a “great” candidate who “couldn’t carry the national baggage of the Democratic Party.”</p>
<p>Democratic pollster Paul Maslin doesn’t see Ossoff’s loss as a referendum on Pelosi or a sign of what will happen in November 2018. “I think they coalesced their vote” in an historically Republican district, he said. “We were probably too optimistic.”</p>
<p>Maslin noted that Democrats won most special elections in 2009, only to see Republicans take the House with a 63-seat gain in 2010.</p>
<p>“I don’t think it proves anything about next year,” he said. By next summer, it will be clear if voters are clamoring for change. Then Maslin laughed and added, “If we had won, by the way, it would have been an earthquake.”</p>
<p>Tea Party Express chief strategist Sal Russo thinks the Democrats’ agenda is the problem.</p>
<p>“Their national narrative is so full of Trump, the Russians, impeachment, and that’s not what’s on voters’ minds,” he said. “They are completely disconnected. They are connected to their base, but their base is not the majority.”</p>
<p>As a result, Russo said, Democrats are reduced to using “horseshoe analogies” about how great it is to come close.</p>
<p>Russo scoffed at the notion of an about-face for Democrats in the 2018 election. “It would have to be a wave election. I think we’re far from seeing a wave. The way you get a wave is you have to get momentum.”</p>
<p>Trump basked in victory Wednesday night at a Make America Great Again rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Trump told the enthusiastic crowd that the two latest victories are likely to help him pass his health care bill and tax reform — as well as to argue that Democrats should try to work with him on areas of interest.</p>
<p>Referring to the Senate draft of his health care plan that will be released Thursday, Trump said, “I’ve been talking about a plan with heart” — and he told lawmakers “add some money to it.”</p>
<p>“If we had even a little bit of Democrat support,” Trump added, they could cut a deal, but “they just want to obstruct.”</p>
<p>Before he harkened back to his June 2015 campaign announcement that started with a theatrical descent on a Trump Tower escalator, the president savored Tuesday night’s victories a final time.</p>
<p>“Their plan isn’t working,” he said of Democrats. “They thought they were going to win last night in Atlanta” by spending $30 million “on this kid who forgot to live in the community.”</p>
<p>Contact Debra J. Saunders at [email protected] or 202-662-7391. Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/@DebraJSaunders" type="external">@DebraJSaunders</a> on Twitter.</p>
<p>House special elections</p>
<p>— Republican Karen Handel won Georgia’s 6th congressional district on Tuesday.</p>
<p>— Republican Ralph Norman won South Carolina’s 5th congressional district on Tuesday.</p>
<p>— Republican Ron Estes won Kansas’ 4th district on April 11.</p>
<p>— Republican Greg Gianforte won Montana’s lone congressional district on May 25.</p>
<p /> | false | 1 | washington democratic candidate jon ossoff 30 lost expensive house election ever republican karen handel 55 president donald trump took twitter celebrate well special elections want make america great 5 0 fake news money spent 0 read one presidents tweets aide kellyanne conway got spirit tweeted laughing ossoff fact republicans four four special elections held fill seats vacated gop house members recruited trump administration handel seat vacated health human services secretary tom price day republican ralph norman defeated democrat archie parnell race fill south carolina congressional seat formerly held budget director mick mulvaney president obviously happy wins trump spokeswoman lindsay walters said shows american people resonating presidents agenda want advance presidents agenda wins georgia south carolina followed similar victories special house elections kansas montana according center responsive politics campaigns georgia spent staggering 567 million easily overtaking 2012 florida special election cost 295 million handel margin 5248 outcome south carolina closer democrats wondering party steered money henry olsen ethics public policy center doesnt think would helped way win seat like stealth olsen opined handel georgia seat part glut outofstate donations ossof attracted kind attention boosts gop turnout olsens takeaway four gop victories nothing moved core trump voter one iota democratic operatives hyping georgia seat start wave help party win back house 2018 voting began new york times described race possibly consequential special election since watergate handel times credited oppositions success tying ossoff house minority leader nancy pelosi rep tim ryan dohio challenged pelosi minority leader position novembers disastrous losses told hill wed better take good long strong look mirror realize problem us party ryan called ossof great candidate couldnt carry national baggage democratic party democratic pollster paul maslin doesnt see ossoffs loss referendum pelosi sign happen november 2018 think coalesced vote historically republican district said probably optimistic maslin noted democrats special elections 2009 see republicans take house 63seat gain 2010 dont think proves anything next year said next summer clear voters clamoring change maslin laughed added way would earthquake tea party express chief strategist sal russo thinks democrats agenda problem national narrative full trump russians impeachment thats whats voters minds said completely disconnected connected base base majority result russo said democrats reduced using horseshoe analogies great come close russo scoffed notion aboutface democrats 2018 election would wave election think far seeing wave way get wave get momentum trump basked victory wednesday night make america great rally cedar rapids iowa trump told enthusiastic crowd two latest victories likely help pass health care bill tax reform well argue democrats try work areas interest referring senate draft health care plan released thursday trump said ive talking plan heart told lawmakers add money even little bit democrat support trump added could cut deal want obstruct harkened back june 2015 campaign announcement started theatrical descent trump tower escalator president savored tuesday nights victories final time plan isnt working said democrats thought going win last night atlanta spending 30 million kid forgot live community contact debra j saunders dsaundersreviewjournalcom 2026627391 follow debrajsaunders twitter house special elections republican karen handel georgias 6th congressional district tuesday republican ralph norman south carolinas 5th congressional district tuesday republican ron estes kansas 4th district april 11 republican greg gianforte montanas lone congressional district may 25 | 532 |
<p>CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Usually the rushing attack is a good foundation for the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Carolina_Panthers/" type="external">Carolina Panthers</a>.</p>
<p>So, rediscovering that element for the offense is one of the main orders of business as the team faces a quick turnaround before Thursday night’s home game against the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Philadelphia-Eagles/" type="external">Philadelphia Eagles</a>.</p>
<p>Head coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ron_Rivera/" type="external">Ron Rivera</a> said the team’s 28 rushing yards in Sunday’s victory at Detroit reflected a puzzling number. Most of the trouble came because of negative-yardage plays when defenders charged into the backfield to drop running backs.</p>
<p>With that, the offensive line will need to show improvement.</p>
<p>“We have young men who are more than capable of making those blocks,” Rivera said Monday after studying the footage.</p>
<p>With a 4-1 record, the Panthers have the luxury of singling out certain areas in need of improvement. Rivera said despite winning the game 27-24 against the Lions, the lack of a better rushing attack isn’t something that the Panthers can overcome all the time.</p>
<p>“To be successful, you’ve got to run the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Walker/" type="external">football</a>,” he said. “We were fortunate that we had some guys make plays for us.”</p>
<p>Rivera said the Panthers became too one-dimensional because of the lack of the rushing attack. They were the beneficiaries, he said, of a big enough lead and that quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Cam_Newton/" type="external">Cam Newton</a> had another strong outing.</p>
<p>The Panthers were held to one field goal over the game’s final 25 minutes.</p>
<p>“You can’t kick field goals and expect to win,” Rivera said. “If you’re in the red zone, you’ve got to score touchdowns.”</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>The sack attack for the Carolina defense is impressive in several regards, but it might be most notable because of the variety of players reaching the quarterback.</p>
<p>Even cornerback Captain <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Munnerlyn/" type="external">Munnerlyn</a> posted a sack against Detroit.</p>
<p>But it’s the defensive front that’s most responsible, with defensive end <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Julius_Peppers/" type="external">Julius Peppers</a> now at 5.5 sacks for the season.</p>
<p>But the most impressive rusher might be defensive tackle Kawann Short, who notched two sacks of Lions quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Matthew_Stafford/" type="external">Matthew Stafford</a>.</p>
<p>“One thing we’ve done very well is we’ve been aggressive,” head coach Ron Rivera said.</p>
<p>Short has 20 sacks since 2015, putting him tied for the second-most sacks among defensive tackles in that span.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>Now the Panthers might be wondering why they held back tight end Ed Dickson the past few years.</p>
<p>He had his second clutch game, though this one at Detroit came with huge results. He caught five passes for 175 yards, eclipsing his total yardage from any of the past three seasons.</p>
<p>All this was made possible because of a Week 2 broken foot suffered by All-Pro tight end <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Greg_Olsen/" type="external">Greg Olsen</a>.</p>
<p>“I’m just holding it down for him,” Dickson said.</p>
<p>He might be doing more than that. Dickson’s emergence as an offensive weapon has coincided with wide receiver Kevin Funchess becoming a bigger impact player in the offense as well.</p>
<p>“Ed showed that he’s a more-than-capable player in this league,” head coach Ron Rivera said.</p>
<p>NOTES: CB Daryl Worley returned after missing the New England game with what was described as a pectoral injury. He was hobbled by an ankle injury against Detroit, but nothing that has been described as serious. … K Graham Gano missed a field goal for the first time this season when he was wide from 55 yards at Detroit. He’s 12-for-13 this season on field goals. … C <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ryan-Kalil/" type="external">Ryan Kalil</a> was on the inactive list for the fourth game in a row. He has made progress, but with a Thursday night game this week that might be too soon for his return. … DT <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Vernon-Butler/" type="external">Vernon Butler</a> was inactive for the Detroit game. That took some observers off guard because he appeared to be solid in three games since missing the opener with an injury. Head coach Ron Rivera said Monday it was because it was a better fit to have an extra defensive end available rather than Butler.</p>
<p>REPORT CARD VS. LIONS</p>
<p>—PASSING OFFENSE: A – The Panthers moved the ball through the air, including a game-clinching third-down pass from QB Cam Newton to WR Kelvin Benjamin. It was another solid outing for WR Devin Funchess, who had an impressive homecoming to his home state. But the biggest plus came from TE Ed Dickson, who gained 175 yards on five catches for his first 100-yard receiving game as a pro. Newton threw for 335 yards (with no interceptions), with 237 yards through the air in the first half, which was only nine yards shy of his career best in an opening half.</p>
<p>—RUSHING OFFENSE: D – The Panthers didn’t produce much on the ground, with several rushing plays going for negative yards. All told, it was 28 rushing yards on 28 carries. But at least the threat of RB <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jonathan_Stewart/" type="external">Jonathan Stewart</a> probably counted for something and he did have a few carries when he gained yards after initial contact.</p>
<p>—PASS DEFENSE: B-plus – Much of the credit here goes to the pass rush that resulted in six sacks and numerous hurries. The Panthers gave up only 192 yards through the air, so that was a good sign. The fourth-quarter approach was a bit concerning as the Lions had the Panthers off balance and scored touchdowns on their last two possessions. Given that there were some new combinations in place in the secondary this had to be encouraging on several levels.</p>
<p>—RUSH DEFENSE: B-plus – There were some cracks at the point of attack several times, but those were pretty much fixed by the second half. Even with the Lions appearing that they might have found something that was going to work on the ground, the Panthers seemed to provide solutions before too much damage was done.</p>
<p>—SPECIAL TEAMS: B-plus – K Graham Gano was 2-for-3 on field goals and otherwise it was a rather ordinary, not-much-happening game on special teams. The Panthers had to punt from their own end zone late in the game and that worked out despite heavy pressure (drawing a running-into-the-punter penalty that was declined because it wouldn’t have been enough for a first down). There was a bit of a curious decision by rookie WR <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Curtis-Samuel/" type="external">Curtis Samuel</a> to take a knee after running for a few yards with a fourth-quarter kickoff, but making sure there wasn’t a turnover might have been his wise thinking.</p>
<p>—COACHING: B-plus – The Panthers were in good shape on offense for most of the game and that could be in part to the play-calling that had numerous players involved on offense. The Panthers dialed up pressure on QB Matthew Stafford, which was necessary with what was a makeshift secondary at times. For a team that had been rarely penalized the past few weeks (and thus a good grade here on that topic), the Panthers were tortured by flags, especially in the first quarter. By game’s end, they twice were called for having 12 players in the huddle as part of an 11-penalty game that cost the Panthers 100 yards.</p> | false | 1 | charlotte nc usually rushing attack good foundation carolina panthers rediscovering element offense one main orders business team faces quick turnaround thursday nights home game philadelphia eagles head coach ron rivera said teams 28 rushing yards sundays victory detroit reflected puzzling number trouble came negativeyardage plays defenders charged backfield drop running backs offensive line need show improvement young men capable making blocks rivera said monday studying footage 41 record panthers luxury singling certain areas need improvement rivera said despite winning game 2724 lions lack better rushing attack isnt something panthers overcome time successful youve got run football said fortunate guys make plays us rivera said panthers became onedimensional lack rushing attack beneficiaries said big enough lead quarterback cam newton another strong outing panthers held one field goal games final 25 minutes cant kick field goals expect win rivera said youre red zone youve got score touchdowns sack attack carolina defense impressive several regards might notable variety players reaching quarterback even cornerback captain munnerlyn posted sack detroit defensive front thats responsible defensive end julius peppers 55 sacks season impressive rusher might defensive tackle kawann short notched two sacks lions quarterback matthew stafford one thing weve done well weve aggressive head coach ron rivera said short 20 sacks since 2015 putting tied secondmost sacks among defensive tackles span panthers might wondering held back tight end ed dickson past years second clutch game though one detroit came huge results caught five passes 175 yards eclipsing total yardage past three seasons made possible week 2 broken foot suffered allpro tight end greg olsen im holding dickson said might dicksons emergence offensive weapon coincided wide receiver kevin funchess becoming bigger impact player offense well ed showed hes morethancapable player league head coach ron rivera said notes cb daryl worley returned missing new england game described pectoral injury hobbled ankle injury detroit nothing described serious k graham gano missed field goal first time season wide 55 yards detroit hes 12for13 season field goals c ryan kalil inactive list fourth game row made progress thursday night game week might soon return dt vernon butler inactive detroit game took observers guard appeared solid three games since missing opener injury head coach ron rivera said monday better fit extra defensive end available rather butler report card vs lions passing offense panthers moved ball air including gameclinching thirddown pass qb cam newton wr kelvin benjamin another solid outing wr devin funchess impressive homecoming home state biggest plus came te ed dickson gained 175 yards five catches first 100yard receiving game pro newton threw 335 yards interceptions 237 yards air first half nine yards shy career best opening half rushing offense panthers didnt produce much ground several rushing plays going negative yards told 28 rushing yards 28 carries least threat rb jonathan stewart probably counted something carries gained yards initial contact pass defense bplus much credit goes pass rush resulted six sacks numerous hurries panthers gave 192 yards air good sign fourthquarter approach bit concerning lions panthers balance scored touchdowns last two possessions given new combinations place secondary encouraging several levels rush defense bplus cracks point attack several times pretty much fixed second half even lions appearing might found something going work ground panthers seemed provide solutions much damage done special teams bplus k graham gano 2for3 field goals otherwise rather ordinary notmuchhappening game special teams panthers punt end zone late game worked despite heavy pressure drawing runningintothepunter penalty declined wouldnt enough first bit curious decision rookie wr curtis samuel take knee running yards fourthquarter kickoff making sure wasnt turnover might wise thinking coaching bplus panthers good shape offense game could part playcalling numerous players involved offense panthers dialed pressure qb matthew stafford necessary makeshift secondary times team rarely penalized past weeks thus good grade topic panthers tortured flags especially first quarter games end twice called 12 players huddle part 11penalty game cost panthers 100 yards | 644 |
<p>By Sarah Marsh and Nelson Acosta</p>
<p>HAVANA (Reuters) – Boxy Russian-built Lada automobiles still rattle around Cuba, growing more decrepit by the year, a reminder of vanished Soviet patronage for the Communist-led island.</p>
<p>But next month, more than 300 shiny new Ladas are slated to roll onto Havana’s potholed streets, the first in more than a decade. Their manufacturer Avtovaz (MM:), Russia’s biggest carmaker, says it hopes to ramp up exports, thanks to financing from Russian government development bank VEB.</p>
<p>Flush with state funding, Avtovaz and other Russian companies are once again increasing sales to the Caribbean isle. It is part of a broader move by Moscow to renew commercial, military and political ties just as the U.S. government is retreating from Cuba under Republican President Donald Trump.</p>
<p>Russian exports to Cuba jumped 81 percent on the year to $225 million in the January-September period, official Russian data shows. That is just a quarter of the exports of Cuba’s chief merchandise trading partner, China, but growing fast.</p>
<p>Russian state oil major Rosneft (MM:) in May resumed fuel shipments to Cuba for the first time this century. The company’s head met with Cuban President Raul Castro in Havana on Saturday, the latest sign the two countries are readying a major energy agreement. The nations in the past have discussed increased deliveries of Russian oil to the island and development of Cuba’s offshore oil fields.</p>
<p>That would be a major assist for Cuba amid slumping shipments of cheap fuel from its troubled socialist ally Venezuela.[nL8N1MI0BU] [nL1N1I51IU]</p>
<p>Last month, private Russian company Sinara delivered the first of 75 locomotives worth $190 million ordered by Cuba in 2016. Russia’s largest truck maker KAMAZ (MM:) has also stepped up exports to Cuba.</p>
<p>Negotiations for rail lines and other infrastructure are in the works.</p>
<p>“We can call this period a renaissance,” Aleksandr Bogatyr, Russia’s trade representative in Cuba, said in an interview. He forecast bilateral trade could grow to $350 million to $400 million this year, one of its highest levels in nearly two decades, up from $248 million in 2016.</p>
<p>Russia’s Cuba offensive comes as Trump has halted efforts by his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama to normalize U.S.-Cuba ties and ease the decades-old U.S. trade embargo.</p>
<p>In June, Trump ordered tighter travel and commercial restrictions again, disappointing U.S. businesses that had hoped to capitalize on the detente. In September, his administration slashed U.S. embassy staffing in Cuba.</p>
<p>Moscow is seizing on that rollback as a way to undermine U.S. influence in its own backyard, some foreign policy experts say.</p>
<p>“Russia sees it as a moment to further its own relationship with Cuba,” said Jason Marczak, Director at the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center.</p>
<p>“The more the Russian footprint increase in Cuba, the more that will reinforce hardened anti-U.S. attitudes and shut out U.S. businesses from eventually doing greater business in Cuba.”</p>
<p>MONEY SPEAKS</p>
<p>Throughout the Cold War, Moscow propped up Fidel Castro’s revolutionary government, providing it with billions of dollars worth of cheap grain, machinery and other goods. Those subsidies disappeared with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Trade plunged.</p>
<p>Under Russian President Vladimir Putin, who longs to return his nation to superpower status, Moscow over the past decade has sought to revive relations with Latin America, particularly with countries wary of U.S. influence.</p>
<p>The turnaround with Cuba got a boost in 2014 when Russia forgave 90 percent of Cuba’s $35 billion Soviet-era debt. It also started providing export financing to Russian companies looking to sell to the cash-strapped island.</p>
<p>The help has been cheered in Cuba, where Raul Castro is due to step down next year, marking the departure of the generation that led the 1959 Cuban Revolution.</p>
<p>Russia may lie half a world away from Cuba, but traces of its historic ties with the Caribbean’s largest island are everywhere. Older generations learned Russian and studied in the Soviet Union. At a recent trade fair in the capital, Cubans spontaneously sung along to the folk music played at the opening of Russia’s pavilion.</p>
<p>Moskvich and Lada cars, Ural motor-bikes and Kamaz trucks chug along the streets. Most Cuban farm equipment is from the former Soviet Union. That legacy alone has sustained some Russian trade.</p>
<p>“We sell spare parts for ground transport, some planes, agriculture, construction,” said Russian businessman Igor Leonov. He set up his import company, Ces Co. Ltd, in Cuba nearly thirty years ago and says there is plenty of demand.</p>
<p>The decades-old U.S. trade embargo has also forced Cuba to remain loyal to some Russian manufacturers. The island upgraded its Soviet-era fleet in the 2000s with Russian-built Tupolev, Antonov and Ilyushin planes.</p>
<p>Nadezhda Lesova, an executive at the Russian Export Center in Moscow, said her organization regarded Cuba as a “strategic region.” She said the center is providing support for exports to Cuba, including insurance, loans and subsidies, worth around 430 million euros ($508.60 million).</p>
<p>HIGH SPEED TRAIN</p>
<p>Some major deals are under discussion.</p>
<p>State-owned monopoly Russian Railways (RZD) is negotiating to upgrade more than 1000 km of Cuban railroads and install a high-speed link between Havana and the beach resort of Varadero, in what would be Cuba’s biggest infrastructure project in decades.</p>
<p>“It is expected the deal will be worth 1.9 billion euros ($2.26 billion) and will be signed by the end of the year,” Oleg Nikolaev, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the RZD subsidiary RZD International, told Reuters.</p>
<p>In October, oil firm Rosneft said it was looking at modernizing the island’s Cienfuegos oil refinery.</p>
<p>But the optimistic talk could be overblown. Venezuela and China have announced investments in Cuba that came to naught, largely due to the complications of doing business in Cuba.</p>
<p>Some Russian companies are already smarting from Cuba’s cash crunch. Ces Co. Ltd, the parts importer, said Cuba was behind on $9 million in payments.</p>
<p>And it is unclear how long Russia will continue to finance exports, with its own economy struggling amid low oil prices and Western sanctions.</p>
<p>Russia’s economic constraints are one reason analysts are dubious that Moscow will make good on recent proposals to re-open a former base in Cuba. Shuttered in 2001, the so-called Lourdes base was used for electronic surveillance of the United States.</p>
<p>Still, U.S. military experts are concerned that Russia could leverage increased economic influence in Cuba to step up its military and espionage activities on the island.</p>
<p>Sixteen high-ranking military officers wrote an open letter to the Trump administration in April asking it to continue Obama’s opening with Cuba for national security reasons.</p>
<p>“If Russia is willing to offset oil supplies from Venezuela and some other things, maybe Cuba doesn’t have much of a choice but to let them re-establish political warfare operations there,” retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David L. McGinnis, one of the signatories, said in an interview with Reuters.</p>
<p>Paul Hare, a former British ambassador to Cuba, sees Russia’s renewed interest in Cuba as geostrategic.</p>
<p>“It’s hard to see a business interest, as Cuba can’t pay,” said Hare, who now lectures at Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies. “The Russians will do just as much as they want to prop up Cuba so as to be a nuisance to the United States.”</p>
<p>($1=0.8455 euros)</p> | false | 1 | sarah marsh nelson acosta havana reuters boxy russianbuilt lada automobiles still rattle around cuba growing decrepit year reminder vanished soviet patronage communistled island next month 300 shiny new ladas slated roll onto havanas potholed streets first decade manufacturer avtovaz mm russias biggest carmaker says hopes ramp exports thanks financing russian government development bank veb flush state funding avtovaz russian companies increasing sales caribbean isle part broader move moscow renew commercial military political ties us government retreating cuba republican president donald trump russian exports cuba jumped 81 percent year 225 million januaryseptember period official russian data shows quarter exports cubas chief merchandise trading partner china growing fast russian state oil major rosneft mm may resumed fuel shipments cuba first time century companys head met cuban president raul castro havana saturday latest sign two countries readying major energy agreement nations past discussed increased deliveries russian oil island development cubas offshore oil fields would major assist cuba amid slumping shipments cheap fuel troubled socialist ally venezuelanl8n1mi0bu nl1n1i51iu last month private russian company sinara delivered first 75 locomotives worth 190 million ordered cuba 2016 russias largest truck maker kamaz mm also stepped exports cuba negotiations rail lines infrastructure works call period renaissance aleksandr bogatyr russias trade representative cuba said interview forecast bilateral trade could grow 350 million 400 million year one highest levels nearly two decades 248 million 2016 russias cuba offensive comes trump halted efforts democratic predecessor barack obama normalize uscuba ties ease decadesold us trade embargo june trump ordered tighter travel commercial restrictions disappointing us businesses hoped capitalize detente september administration slashed us embassy staffing cuba moscow seizing rollback way undermine us influence backyard foreign policy experts say russia sees moment relationship cuba said jason marczak director adrienne arsht latin america center russian footprint increase cuba reinforce hardened antius attitudes shut us businesses eventually greater business cuba money speaks throughout cold war moscow propped fidel castros revolutionary government providing billions dollars worth cheap grain machinery goods subsidies disappeared 1991 collapse soviet union trade plunged russian president vladimir putin longs return nation superpower status moscow past decade sought revive relations latin america particularly countries wary us influence turnaround cuba got boost 2014 russia forgave 90 percent cubas 35 billion sovietera debt also started providing export financing russian companies looking sell cashstrapped island help cheered cuba raul castro due step next year marking departure generation led 1959 cuban revolution russia may lie half world away cuba traces historic ties caribbeans largest island everywhere older generations learned russian studied soviet union recent trade fair capital cubans spontaneously sung along folk music played opening russias pavilion moskvich lada cars ural motorbikes kamaz trucks chug along streets cuban farm equipment former soviet union legacy alone sustained russian trade sell spare parts ground transport planes agriculture construction said russian businessman igor leonov set import company ces co ltd cuba nearly thirty years ago says plenty demand decadesold us trade embargo also forced cuba remain loyal russian manufacturers island upgraded sovietera fleet 2000s russianbuilt tupolev antonov ilyushin planes nadezhda lesova executive russian export center moscow said organization regarded cuba strategic region said center providing support exports cuba including insurance loans subsidies worth around 430 million euros 50860 million high speed train major deals discussion stateowned monopoly russian railways rzd negotiating upgrade 1000 km cuban railroads install highspeed link havana beach resort varadero would cubas biggest infrastructure project decades expected deal worth 19 billion euros 226 billion signed end year oleg nikolaev deputy chief executive officer rzd subsidiary rzd international told reuters october oil firm rosneft said looking modernizing islands cienfuegos oil refinery optimistic talk could overblown venezuela china announced investments cuba came naught largely due complications business cuba russian companies already smarting cubas cash crunch ces co ltd parts importer said cuba behind 9 million payments unclear long russia continue finance exports economy struggling amid low oil prices western sanctions russias economic constraints one reason analysts dubious moscow make good recent proposals reopen former base cuba shuttered 2001 socalled lourdes base used electronic surveillance united states still us military experts concerned russia could leverage increased economic influence cuba step military espionage activities island sixteen highranking military officers wrote open letter trump administration april asking continue obamas opening cuba national security reasons russia willing offset oil supplies venezuela things maybe cuba doesnt much choice let reestablish political warfare operations retired us army brig gen david l mcginnis one signatories said interview reuters paul hare former british ambassador cuba sees russias renewed interest cuba geostrategic hard see business interest cuba cant pay said hare lectures boston universitys pardee school global studies russians much want prop cuba nuisance united states 108455 euros | 770 |
<p>Like many other political autodidacts,&#160; <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/05/04/us/elections/ben-carson.html?inline=nyt-per" type="external">Ben Carson</a>&#160;has an odd obsession with Nazi Germany.</p>
<p>On several occasions, the pediatric-neurosurgeon-turned-Republican-presidential-candidate has compared the United States to the Third Reich. Mr. Carson has warned that a Hitler-like figure could rise in America. To understand what is happening in the Obama era, he recommended that people read “Mein Kampf.” And he won’t let go of&#160; <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/opinion/ben-carson-is-wrong-on-guns-and-the-holocaust.html?_r=0" type="external">the myth</a>&#160;that the Holocaust would have been “ <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/08/politics/ben-carson-gun-control-2016-election/" type="external">greatly diminished</a>” if Jews in Nazi Germany had been allowed to possess guns.</p>
<p>To declare the United States to be “very much like Nazi Germany” is a special kind of libel, yet Mr. Carson is clearly drawn to it. Part of the explanation may be that people who want to impress sometimes invoke imbecilic historical analogies, with the default one often being Nazi Germany. Some part of the answer has to do with his staggering ignorance when it comes to the unique malevolence of Hitler’s Germany. And for still others, it’s a way to convey alarm and mobilize supporters. In the case of Mr. Carson, it also appears to be based on the belief that progressive ideas share intellectual roots with fascism, with Nazism — the National&#160;Socialist German Workers’ Party — being an extreme version of progressivism.</p>
<p>One might expect a fringe presidential candidate to resort to the Nazi analogy. But what is disturbing is that in this case the person making the comparison is polling second in the Republican race for president. In the&#160; <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/10/13/fox-news-poll-carson-giving-trump-run-for-his-money-in-gop-race/" type="external">most recent Fox News national poll</a>, Donald J. Trump drew 24 percent support while Mr. Carson had 23 percent. Between them, then, they are pulling in just under half of the support among Republicans.</p>
<p>In one respect, Mr. Carson is the antithesis of the crude and boisterous Mr. Trump. In tone and style, Mr. Carson comes across as calm, reasonable and agreeable. But in fact he is more rhetorically intemperate than even Mr. Trump.</p>
<p>For example, Mr. Carson has referred to the Affordable Care Act as “the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery” and compared it to&#160;slavery. He has implied that President Obama’s pledge to transform America was modeled after Cuba, Russia and other “places that have a Socialist/Communist base.”</p>
<p>Mr. Carson had expressed concern that if Republicans didn’t win control of the Senate in 2014, “there may be so much anarchy going on” that the 2016 elections couldn’t be held. He has endorsed the work of W. Cleon Skousen, a conspiracy-minded author and supporter of the John Birch Society. (Mr. Carson views Mr. Skousen’s work, especially “The Naked Communist,” as an interpretive key to America today.) He has also said that a Muslim should not be president of the United States, although he later insisted he had in mind Muslims who wanted to impose Shariah law on America.</p>
<p>Such rhetorical recklessness damages our political culture as well as conservatism, a philosophy that should be grounded in prudence, moderation and self-restraint. That doesn’t mean that conservatives should not use language that inspires people to act. But they should respect certain rhetorical boundaries. There are some places they shouldn’t go.</p>
<p>Mr. Carson doesn’t abide by such niceties, and he may be accurately gauging the mood of many Republicans. The Times&#160; <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/13/us/politics/aides-find-ben-carsons-inflammatory-remarks-are-helping-him.html" type="external">reports</a>&#160;that advisers who once fretted about his inflammatory rhetoric have now decided to “let Carson be Carson.”&#160; <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/256687-carson-i-wont-be-silenced" type="external">Mr. Carson has said</a>&#160;that the message he’s receiving from supporters is, “Don’t stop. Don’t give in to the left-wing media. Go ahead and be yourself and talk about what we the people want to hear about.”</p>
<p>We hear similar expressions from supporters of Mr. Trump. Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Carson provide evidence that, for now at least, a large percentage of Republican voters are in a fiercely anti-political mood. As a result, the&#160; <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/opinion/sunday/peter-wehner-seeking-president-no-experience-necessary.html" type="external">usual ways</a>&#160;voters judge a candidate — experience, governing achievements, mastery of issues — have been devalued. People are looking for candidates not only to give voice to their anger but to amplify it. Reason has given way to demagogy. In a political context, Mr. Trump and Mr. Carson represent the id rather than the superego, not just in what they say but in how they perceive the world around them.</p>
<p>For the Republican Party to overcome this will require its presidential candidates to inspire voters to believe in the large purposes of politics. But it will also require Republican voters to lift their sights and raise their expectations about the goals of politics, which are to improve the lives of our fellow citizens in concrete ways; to advance, even imperfectly, liberty, opportunity and a more decent and just society.</p>
<p>Self-government requires more of people than pounding sand. There is vital work that needs to be done, including addressing sluggish economic growth, a widening opportunity gap and an unsustainable entitlement system. Because these things are hard doesn’t mean we can give up, and we certainly don’t need conspiracy-minded amateurs like Mr. Carson and Mr. Trump distracting our attention from them.</p>
<p>Politics isn’t meant to be a catharsis. Yet for many of my fellow conservatives, raging against the system — the much-maligned “establishment” — is just that. I get that it may be emotionally satisfying to cheer on careless rhetoric, to portray every political difference as a “give me liberty or give me death” moment, and to imply that America under Barack Obama is like Germany under Adolf Hitler. But it is also intellectually discrediting, politically self-defeating and unworthy of those who are citizens of a great republic.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/peter_wehner.html" type="external">Peter Wehner,</a>&#160;a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, served in the last three Republican administrations and is a contributing opinion writer.</p> | false | 1 | like many political autodidacts160 ben carson160has odd obsession nazi germany several occasions pediatricneurosurgeonturnedrepublicanpresidentialcandidate compared united states third reich mr carson warned hitlerlike figure could rise america understand happening obama era recommended people read mein kampf wont let go of160 myth160that holocaust would greatly diminished jews nazi germany allowed possess guns declare united states much like nazi germany special kind libel yet mr carson clearly drawn part explanation may people want impress sometimes invoke imbecilic historical analogies default one often nazi germany part answer staggering ignorance comes unique malevolence hitlers germany still others way convey alarm mobilize supporters case mr carson also appears based belief progressive ideas share intellectual roots fascism nazism national160socialist german workers party extreme version progressivism one might expect fringe presidential candidate resort nazi analogy disturbing case person making comparison polling second republican race president the160 recent fox news national poll donald j trump drew 24 percent support mr carson 23 percent pulling half support among republicans one respect mr carson antithesis crude boisterous mr trump tone style mr carson comes across calm reasonable agreeable fact rhetorically intemperate even mr trump example mr carson referred affordable care act worst thing happened nation since slavery compared to160slavery implied president obamas pledge transform america modeled cuba russia places socialistcommunist base mr carson expressed concern republicans didnt win control senate 2014 may much anarchy going 2016 elections couldnt held endorsed work w cleon skousen conspiracyminded author supporter john birch society mr carson views mr skousens work especially naked communist interpretive key america today also said muslim president united states although later insisted mind muslims wanted impose shariah law america rhetorical recklessness damages political culture well conservatism philosophy grounded prudence moderation selfrestraint doesnt mean conservatives use language inspires people act respect certain rhetorical boundaries places shouldnt go mr carson doesnt abide niceties may accurately gauging mood many republicans times160 reports160that advisers fretted inflammatory rhetoric decided let carson carson160 mr carson said160that message hes receiving supporters dont stop dont give leftwing media go ahead talk people want hear hear similar expressions supporters mr trump mr trump mr carson provide evidence least large percentage republican voters fiercely antipolitical mood result the160 usual ways160voters judge candidate experience governing achievements mastery issues devalued people looking candidates give voice anger amplify reason given way demagogy political context mr trump mr carson represent id rather superego say perceive world around republican party overcome require presidential candidates inspire voters believe large purposes politics also require republican voters lift sights raise expectations goals politics improve lives fellow citizens concrete ways advance even imperfectly liberty opportunity decent society selfgovernment requires people pounding sand vital work needs done including addressing sluggish economic growth widening opportunity gap unsustainable entitlement system things hard doesnt mean give certainly dont need conspiracyminded amateurs like mr carson mr trump distracting attention politics isnt meant catharsis yet many fellow conservatives raging system muchmaligned establishment get may emotionally satisfying cheer careless rhetoric portray every political difference give liberty give death moment imply america barack obama like germany adolf hitler also intellectually discrediting politically selfdefeating unworthy citizens great republic peter wehner160a senior fellow ethics public policy center served last three republican administrations contributing opinion writer | 525 |
<p>Half of the showrunners of the programs in the list below are women. Women are 51% of the population of this country.</p>
<p>This is not boring math. What’s finally occurring in TV is a long-overdue revolution.</p>
<p><a href="http://variety.com/2016/tv/opinion/peak-tv-2006-lost-battlestar-galactica-deadwood-1201756925/" type="external">A decade ago</a>, I would have been hard-pressed to find a single female showrunner within shouting distance of my end-of-year best-of list. Not because there weren’t women who had stories to tell and the skills to bring them to life. There have always been plenty of those women around. But the precincts of ambitious, adventurous TV — and all too often, huge sections of regular, meat-and-potatoes TV — were pretty much a dude-fest. (It’s still usually this way in TV; <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/women-on-tv-diversity-little-progress-boxed-in-study-1202555785/" type="external">look at the stats</a>.)</p>
<p>But as I perused my very long list of possible Best TV contenders, it was heartening to see that women were not only making a lot of incredible, funny, gripping, provocative programs, but also that female characters predominated in so many of the shows.&#160;</p>
<p>More than a dozen programs on my Top 20 roster are about groups of women, and these programs frequently depicted how women relate to each other, to the world and to the men in their lives. For decades — with a few exceptions, of course — it often felt like nobody who had real power in TV cared all that much about female friendship (and enemy-ship, and mentorship, etc.). Again, it’s a systemic thing, because <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/new-2017-18-tv-shows-no-diversity-1202436493/" type="external">most creators and showrunners are men</a>, who are of course capable of making good and great TV, but a sizable percentage aren’t all that interested in relationships among realistically complicated women. As much as I loved “Mad Men,” “Deadwood,” “Breaking Bad” and shows like it, they rarely depicted bonds among women with any kind of sustained depth or dazzling complexity.</p>
<p>But look at the year’s most buzzworthy, acclaimed TV shows: Many of them, from “Big Little Lies” to “Handmaid’s Tale” to “Insecure” to “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” were fantastically curious about the interior and exterior lives of women. Solitary women and groups of women. Women driven by an enormous array of motivations, dreams and ambitions. There were any number of ways in which these varied programs depicted women’s friendships, commitments and challenges, and the compromises women — especially women of color and queer women — have to make in order to fit into the narrow categories society has prepared for them.</p>
<p>The evolutions didn’t stop there. One of the neatest spectacles of the last few years was watching “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/the-leftovers/" type="external">The Leftovers</a>’” and “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/halt-and-catch-fire/" type="external">Halt and Catch Fire</a>’s” showrunners — white guys! — realize that the most interesting arcs on their shows belonged to the women who had been more or less on the sidelines at first. The sagas wanted to go there, and the storytellers followed.</p>
<p>We’re not in the promised land, of course. The parade of sludgy, derivative prestige imitators continues, and when it comes to that kind of fare, allow me one mini-rant: I remain generally unimpressed by TV episodes that run more than about 50 minutes. (If I had a nickel for every 2017 episode that dragged on for more than an hour and actually justified that running time, I would have… three nickels. Five at the most.)</p>
<p>A much more important gripe: Only a few shows below were created or run by people of color, and only one is run by a LGBT creator. We need more voices, more stories, more perspectives, more of the fresh and vital excitement that comes from examining points of view that are typically ignored, minimized or depicted in stereotypical ways.&#160;</p>
<p>There’s still much work to be done. As we now know, <a href="http://variety.com/t/harvey-weinstein-scandal/" type="external">with brutal accuracy and heartbreaking specificity</a>, much of Hollywood gives free reign to powerful <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/columns/harvey-weinstein-myth-bully-hollywood-culture-1202599389/" type="external">men who abuse without consequence</a>, and <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/columns/harvey-weinstein-hollywood-culture-change-1202583844/" type="external">many reforms need to be made</a> before most or all employees in the industry will routinely feel physically and psychologically safe from <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/columns/harvey-weinstein-sexual-assault-me-too-television-hollywood-1202591406/" type="external">assault</a>, harassment and bias. As hard as it is, we need to keep thinking about what it cost for these <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/warner-bros-sexual-harassment-andrew-kreisberg-1202612522/" type="external">women and men to come forward</a> and <a href="http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/matt-lauer-accused-sexual-harassment-multiple-women-1202625959/" type="external">tell their stories</a>, and <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/opinion/hollywood-weinstein-scandal-apologies-change-1202630223/" type="external">what actions will help in a sustained, meaningful manner</a>. We can either get to the root of the interlocking problems arising from the rampant abuse of power, and we can make sure that promising creative people are not driven out by predators, toxic bullies and harassers. Or we can give in to the way things have always been. That’s simply not an option.</p>
<p>The best programs contain small but sturdy beacons of hope in their core DNA. In a year that was often demoralizing, and in which stories of predation, exclusion and oppression dominated the news — in a year in which Americans often felt ground down even on the non-terrifying days — these shows found joy in heartbreak, and vice versa. As I looked at my final list, it felt good to realize that, all year long and well before that, a hardy band of men and women with bold ideas and big hearts were in writers’ rooms, on sets and in the world, doing their best to fight an enormous tide of cruelty, rage and stupidity. We got a Tasmanian sex boat, the Trolley Problem (twice!), a musical about Juneteenth and the best quinceañera ever. If there is a culture war raging, it is being fought with solid jokes, with specific and memorable characters, with spectacular visions, with daring ideas executed with care and precision, with minds and passions and inspirations.</p>
<p>These shows gave me food for thought and sustenance for the soul in a tough time, and there were belly laughs too. I’m grateful for all of it.</p>
<p>A couple of housekeeping notes: If something you really liked isn’t on my main list or in my rosters of Honorable Mentions, you can assume I didn’t get to it (there’s too much TV!). Or you can assume I did not like it as much as you did. Go with whichever assumption prevents you from “but what about”-ing&#160;me on Twitter. Also, I have not finished “Twin Peaks,” but what I’ve seen so far was suitably destabilizing. (And, per a recent online debate, “Twin Peaks” is not a movie. It is a TV show. Long live television.)&#160;</p>
<p>20. “Mary Kills People,” Lifetime</p>
<p>You may not have heard of this show, which is one reason I included it. It’s on Hulu now, and it’s a smart, empathic take on end-of-life choices, and it’s a pretty nifty mystery story too. Caroline Dhavernas anchors this brisk and surprisingly entertaining — if occasionally dark — story with charisma, skill and a very deft touch. My <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/uncategorized/mary-kills-people-lifetime-caroline-dhavernas-1202029437/" type="external">review of “Mary Kills People.”</a></p>
<p>19. “One Mississippi,” Amazon</p>
<p>As those of us who cover pop culture struggled with the outpouring of stories about sexual harassment, assault and predatory behavior, many rightly pointed to “One Mississippi’s” sensitive portrayal of the ways in which its core characters grappled with both childhood sexual abuse and an arrogant harasser in the workplace. The latter storyline, which had clear echoes of the facts that have come to light about executive producer Louis C.K.’s behavior, was extraordinarily well done. But “One Mississippi” is a quiet show that contains multitudes: It continued to be an honest but loving portrayal of the political and social fault lines one particular town, and a portrait of the limits and comforts of family loyalty. I love John Rothman’s Bill so very much, and watching Bill and Tig Notaro’s lead character find love after a profound loss was just lovely.&#160; My <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/reviews/tig-notaro-one-mississippi-season-2-review-amazon-1202549256/" type="external">review of the second season of “One Mississippi.”</a></p>
<p>18. “Wynonna Earp,” Syfy</p>
<p>An ad-hoc family fighting demons? Check. Witty, rapier-sharp dialogue? Check. Fierce and committed performances, especially from a multi-talented leading lady? Check. All those elements were quite rewarding, but “Wynonna Earp,” the best comedic horror-Western on the TV prairie, also fit in meditations on motherhood, duty, friendship, romance and community. Every week, “Wynonna Earp” is quippy, big-hearted, highly enjoyable fun, and I can ask no more of a TV show. My <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/reviews/wynonna-earp-season-2-review-syfy-1202456792/" type="external">review of the second season of “Wynonna Earp.”</a></p>
<p>17. “Black-ish,” ABC</p>
<p>Another year, another array of “Black-ish” installments taking on important issues, but doing it in ways that were both acerbic and thoughtful. This show deserves to be on the list for “Juneteenth” alone, but “Lemons,” “Mother Nature” and “Sprinkles,” among other episodes, were also outstanding. A <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/features/black-ish-abc-trump-election-anthony-anderson-kenya-barris-1201953622/" type="external">story on the election episode of “Black-ish,”</a> and <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/features/black-ish-postpartum-depression-tracee-ellis-ross-1202586104/" type="external">another on the origins of “Mother Nature.”</a>&#160;</p>
<p>16. “Top of the Lake: China Girl,” SundanceTV</p>
<p>Elisabeth Moss’ 2017 one-two punch has few TV equals in recent memory. Her character in “Top of the Lake” was less collected and focused than Offred, but Moss once again depicted the complicated depths of a woman’s anger, pain and professional dedication. Creator Jane Campion and Moss were perfectly in sync, just as they were in the first season, and despite one supporting character who didn’t really work, the ensemble as a whole, and the show’s meditations on sexuality, motherhood and exploitation, made each installment raw, deep and mesmerizing. My <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/uncategorized/top-of-the-lake-china-girl-review-sundancetv-jane-campion-elisabeth-moss-nicole-kidman-1202544564/" type="external">review of “Top of the Lake: China Girl.”</a></p>
<p>15. “Big Little Lies,” HBO</p>
<p>This miniseries expertly combined elements of a high-gloss soap opera with a series of laser-sharp character studies. What else can be said about the sensational cast, aside from the fact that they and director Jean-Marc Vallée made this drama addictive in all the best ways. (I mean, the real-estate envy alone!)</p>
<p>14. “Insecure,” HBO</p>
<p>Growing more confident in its second season, this insightful and hilarious show delivered the goods, week after week. Dating, race, career goals, ambition, class and friendship — “Insecure” depicted all these topics and the ways in which they can awkwardly collide with a skilled, lively approach. Issa and Molly have one the best, most realistic friendships on TV, and seeing the development of the supporting cast was highly enjoyable as well. My <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/uncategorized/tv-review-insecure-season-2-hbo-issa-rae-1202498798/" type="external">review of Season Two of “Insecure.”</a></p>
<p>13. “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Hulu</p>
<p>There were times this show meandered a little more than I would have liked. But that is a relatively minor issue, and the pleasures of watching Elisabeth Moss, Ann Dowd and this intensely dedicated cast give their all to the material made the drama frequently gripping. We may not be living in Gilead, but few shows captured the dislocating, surreal landscape of 2017 with more psychological accuracy than “The Handmaid’s Tale.” My <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/features/handmaids-tale-hulu-bruce-miller-interview-1202408436/" type="external">interview with Bruce Miller, executive producer/showrunner of “The Handmaid’s Tale.”</a></p>
<p>12. “Superstore,” NBC</p>
<p>This reliably funny show has continued to build on the strengths of its cast, and it’s kept on addressing hot-button issues, but not in dumb or exploitative ways. This is character-driven comedy at its best, set among an extremely varied group of people who live in fear of downward mobility. In other words, “Superstore”&#160;is not just reliably fun to watch, it&#160;might be the most timely and relevant network comedy on the air.</p>
<p>11. “Into the Badlands,” AMC</p>
<p>This is a post-apocalyptic story that doesn’t ignore the challenges its characters face, but it also doesn’t sink into dull gloom or repetitive storytelling ruts. It’s a lot of engaging, badass fun, and it has proven to be an excellent showcase for its game cast. If that isn’t enough, it’s easily one of the most gorgeously filmed shows on television, and it has the best martial arts and action anywhere on the small screen. Five reasons <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/features/into-the-badlands-amc-exclusive-clip-daniel-wu-emily-beecham-five-reasons-terrific-1202433701/" type="external">why “Into the Badlands” is awesome.</a></p>
<p>10. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Fox</p>
<p>Few comedies were as consistently amusing and funny as this cop show was this year. The sharp and versatile ensemble continued to gel and to prove that they’re one of the most engaging casts on TV, and the writers were more than up to the task of giving this excellent group very good material. It’s a delight.&#160;</p>
<p>9. “American Vandal,” Netflix</p>
<p>Perhaps because I watched them the same week, “American Vandal” and “Alias Grace” reminded me of each other: Both were about the excavation of memory and the secrets and lies that exist under the surface of seemingly ordinary lives. “American Vandal” was, on one level, about who drew a series of dicks on some cars in a school parking lot, and as a satire of earnest true-crime documentaries, it was hilariously spot-on. But it evolved into one of the best high-school TV stories in recent memory, and a gently honest and thorough one at that. Though I was gripped by the question of #WhoDrewTheDicks, I was, in the end, even more captivated by the fact that this show worked so subtly and so well on an impressive number of layers. “American Vandal” was about a lot of things, but often, it was a wry, honest meditation on the stories we tell each other about who we are, and how even the most well-intentioned members of the media can be just as fallible as those they cover.</p>
<p>8. “Alias Grace,” Netflix</p>
<p>Everyone loves a good crime whodunit, and this adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s fascinating tale was top-flight in every respect. It was set more than 150 years ago, but the drama’s explorations of female autonomy and oppression were about as topical as they could be. Sarah Gadon was a stunning revelation in the lead role, and the creative team of Sarah Polley and Mary Harron turned this mystery tale into something gripping, prickly and lyrical all at once.</p>
<p>7. “Better Things,” FX</p>
<p>The second season of this half-hour delivered a unique combination of contemplative ambiguity and brash honesty, and its clarity, wit and deeply felt emotions will stay with me for a long time. “Better Things” is an empathic, realistic look at what it’s like to be a mother, a woman, a working professional and a person who doesn’t have all the answers, but who tries, when she can, to fully experience life’s possibilities and live in the moment. I have thought for weeks about what to say here about Louis C.K.’s involvement with this show. I have so many things to say, yet I have nothing to say, because, when it comes to this topic, I remain mentally mired in circular thought patterns. I have many questions and no real answers. Two things I do know: I watched the first seven episodes of the second season in August, and I was intensely moved by what I saw then (and during the rest of the season), and what Pamela Adlon accomplished as the sole director of a show based on her life is truly impressive. That’s not an answer to all the questions I have, but that’s what I have right now. &#160; <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/uncategorized/better-things-season-2-review-pamela-adlon-fx-1202557374/" type="external">My review of the second season</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>6. “Jane the Virgin,” CW</p>
<p>One of TV’s finest and most ambitious offerings took on grief, pulled off a time jump and introduced new characters, but “JTV” never lost sight of its many strengths. I hoard episodes of this show and break them out at low points, when I really need to visit and be comforted by the world the Villanueva women live in. Week after week, “Jane the Virgin” makes me laugh and cry, and provides comfort, smart meta-narratives and clear-eyed character journeys with effortless grace. An emotionally acute and innately intelligent show that remains must-see viewing.</p>
<p>5. “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” CW</p>
<p>It’s a fantastic ensemble piece about mental illness — with singing and dancing! One of TV’s most audacious shows is also one of its funniest and most smartly put-together. “CEG” smartly skewers rom-com tropes and TV cliches even as it provides an honest, fascinating look at a woman who’s unable to be truthful about the foundations of her pain and self-sabotage. From the day it began, “CEG” has continually upped its game, and in Season Three, the writers, songsmiths and ensemble cast brought the comedy to a whole new level of awesome. “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is a treasure.</p>
<p>4. “ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/halt-and-catch-fire-series-finale-recap-amc-lee-pace-mackenzie-davis-1202590139/" type="external">Halt and Catch Fire</a>,” AMC</p>
<p>On the surface, this was a story about breakthroughs in technology, but it was really about the evolution of business ventures and personal relationships among a group of the compelling core characters. Actually, at its heart, it was a show that loved delving into the creative partnership of two very different women, who clashed and diverged and fought and came back together again, because they believed in each other’s creativity and drive so very much. This highly enjoyable and moving drama, which boasted a first-class cast capable of many wonders, upgraded every season until it was absolutely perfect in its final year. <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/features/halt-and-catch-fire-series-finale-recap-amc-lee-pace-mackenzie-davis-1202590139/" type="external">My piece on the series finale</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>3. “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/the-good-place/" type="external">The Good Place</a>,” NBC</p>
<p>This brilliant, audacious exploration of heaven, hell, morality and ethics is blessed with an exceptional cast, who work wonders with the writers’ witty, insightful work. “ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/the-good-place-season-two-preview-1202564193/" type="external">The Good Place</a>” is smart, compassionate and about something — but it’s also really goofy and fun. This sitcom is fizzy, earnest combination of things that shouldn’t work together, but somehow do. Fab. Some <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/features/the-good-place-season-finale-ted-danson-kristen-bell-1201964528/" type="external">thoughts on the show’s progress almost a year ago</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>2. “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/one-day-at-a-time/" type="external">One Day at a Time</a>,” Netflix</p>
<p>Never let it be said that the multi-cam sitcom is a thing of the past, or that reboots are usually bad. This return to the Norman Lear library proved both generalities wrong. This delightful show allowed Justina Machado to show off her exceptional dramatic and comedic ranges, Rita Moreno proved once again that she is a national treasure, and the rest of the cast rose to these women’s exceptional levels. It’s one of the best-written, smartest and most-warmhearted shows around, and I’m so glad it exists.&#160;</p>
<p>1. “ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/awards/ann-dowd-handmaids-tale-leftovers-golden-globes-interview-1202594541/" type="external">The Leftovers</a>,” HBO</p>
<p>How is it that a show about grief, loss, pain and dislocation ended up being such an absolute joy? It’s a mystery — which is apt, given that “The Leftovers” is about how ambivalence and confusing questions can lead to both deep sorrow and the possibility of profound connection. This show didn’t just connect with me, it changed my life and possibly my DNA. This was an all-time great, Hall of Fame season of television. My review of <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/features/the-leftovers-series-finale-review-carrie-coon-justin-theroux-damon-lindelof-christopher-eccleston-mimi-leder-1202453079/" type="external">the series finale is here</a>, and a <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/columns/leftovers-hbo-damon-lindelof-justin-theroux-life-death-time-travel-1202449486/" type="external">personal essay about the intersection of “The Leftovers” and my life is here</a>.</p>
<p>Honorable Mentions</p>
<p>Returning shows: “The Americans,” “Better Call Saul,” “The Carmichael Show,” “Catastrophe,” “Dark Matter,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” “Game of Thrones,” “Girls,” “iZombie,” “Killjoys,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” “Master of None,” “Mr. Robot,” “Outlander,” “People of Earth,” “Review,” “Silicon Valley,” “Speechless,” “Stranger Things,” “Survivor’s Remorse,” “Twin Peaks,” “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Underground,” “You’re the Worst.”</p>
<p>New shows:&#160;“American Gods,” “The Bold Type,” “Crashing,” “Dear White People,” “The Deuce,” “GLOW,” “I Love Dick,” “The Keepers,” “The Last Tycoon,” “Legion,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “National Treasure,” “Shots Fired,” “13 Reasons Why,”&#160; “To Walk Invisible,” “Witness for the Prosecution,” “The Young Pope.”</p>
<p>Be sure to check out my fellow <a href="http://variety.com/author/sonia-saraiya/" type="external">TV critic Sonia Saraiya’s end-of-year lists</a>, as well as <a href="http://variety.com/t/best-of-2017/" type="external">all of Variety’s 2017 Best and Worst lists</a>.&#160;</p> | false | 1 | half showrunners programs list women women 51 population country boring math whats finally occurring tv longoverdue revolution decade ago would hardpressed find single female showrunner within shouting distance endofyear bestof list werent women stories tell skills bring life always plenty women around precincts ambitious adventurous tv often huge sections regular meatandpotatoes tv pretty much dudefest still usually way tv look stats perused long list possible best tv contenders heartening see women making lot incredible funny gripping provocative programs also female characters predominated many shows160 dozen programs top 20 roster groups women programs frequently depicted women relate world men lives decades exceptions course often felt like nobody real power tv cared much female friendship enemyship mentorship etc systemic thing creators showrunners men course capable making good great tv sizable percentage arent interested relationships among realistically complicated women much loved mad men deadwood breaking bad shows like rarely depicted bonds among women kind sustained depth dazzling complexity look years buzzworthy acclaimed tv shows many big little lies handmaids tale insecure crazy exgirlfriend fantastically curious interior exterior lives women solitary women groups women women driven enormous array motivations dreams ambitions number ways varied programs depicted womens friendships commitments challenges compromises women especially women color queer women make order fit narrow categories society prepared evolutions didnt stop one neatest spectacles last years watching leftovers halt catch fires showrunners white guys realize interesting arcs shows belonged women less sidelines first sagas wanted go storytellers followed promised land course parade sludgy derivative prestige imitators continues comes kind fare allow one minirant remain generally unimpressed tv episodes run 50 minutes nickel every 2017 episode dragged hour actually justified running time would three nickels five much important gripe shows created run people color one run lgbt creator need voices stories perspectives fresh vital excitement comes examining points view typically ignored minimized depicted stereotypical ways160 theres still much work done know brutal accuracy heartbreaking specificity much hollywood gives free reign powerful men abuse without consequence many reforms need made employees industry routinely feel physically psychologically safe assault harassment bias hard need keep thinking cost women men come forward tell stories actions help sustained meaningful manner either get root interlocking problems arising rampant abuse power make sure promising creative people driven predators toxic bullies harassers give way things always thats simply option best programs contain small sturdy beacons hope core dna year often demoralizing stories predation exclusion oppression dominated news year americans often felt ground even nonterrifying days shows found joy heartbreak vice versa looked final list felt good realize year long well hardy band men women bold ideas big hearts writers rooms sets world best fight enormous tide cruelty rage stupidity got tasmanian sex boat trolley problem twice musical juneteenth best quinceañera ever culture war raging fought solid jokes specific memorable characters spectacular visions daring ideas executed care precision minds passions inspirations shows gave food thought sustenance soul tough time belly laughs im grateful couple housekeeping notes something really liked isnt main list rosters honorable mentions assume didnt get theres much tv assume like much go whichever assumption prevents abouting160me twitter also finished twin peaks ive seen far suitably destabilizing per recent online debate twin peaks movie tv show long live television160 20 mary kills people lifetime may heard show one reason included hulu smart empathic take endoflife choices pretty nifty mystery story caroline dhavernas anchors brisk surprisingly entertaining occasionally dark story charisma skill deft touch review mary kills people 19 one mississippi amazon us cover pop culture struggled outpouring stories sexual harassment assault predatory behavior many rightly pointed one mississippis sensitive portrayal ways core characters grappled childhood sexual abuse arrogant harasser workplace latter storyline clear echoes facts come light executive producer louis cks behavior extraordinarily well done one mississippi quiet show contains multitudes continued honest loving portrayal political social fault lines one particular town portrait limits comforts family loyalty love john rothmans bill much watching bill tig notaros lead character find love profound loss lovely160 review second season one mississippi 18 wynonna earp syfy adhoc family fighting demons check witty rapiersharp dialogue check fierce committed performances especially multitalented leading lady check elements quite rewarding wynonna earp best comedic horrorwestern tv prairie also fit meditations motherhood duty friendship romance community every week wynonna earp quippy bighearted highly enjoyable fun ask tv show review second season wynonna earp 17 blackish abc another year another array blackish installments taking important issues ways acerbic thoughtful show deserves list juneteenth alone lemons mother nature sprinkles among episodes also outstanding story election episode blackish another origins mother nature160 16 top lake china girl sundancetv elisabeth moss 2017 onetwo punch tv equals recent memory character top lake less collected focused offred moss depicted complicated depths womans anger pain professional dedication creator jane campion moss perfectly sync first season despite one supporting character didnt really work ensemble whole shows meditations sexuality motherhood exploitation made installment raw deep mesmerizing review top lake china girl 15 big little lies hbo miniseries expertly combined elements highgloss soap opera series lasersharp character studies else said sensational cast aside fact director jeanmarc vallée made drama addictive best ways mean realestate envy alone 14 insecure hbo growing confident second season insightful hilarious show delivered goods week week dating race career goals ambition class friendship insecure depicted topics ways awkwardly collide skilled lively approach issa molly one best realistic friendships tv seeing development supporting cast highly enjoyable well review season two insecure 13 handmaids tale hulu times show meandered little would liked relatively minor issue pleasures watching elisabeth moss ann dowd intensely dedicated cast give material made drama frequently gripping may living gilead shows captured dislocating surreal landscape 2017 psychological accuracy handmaids tale interview bruce miller executive producershowrunner handmaids tale 12 superstore nbc reliably funny show continued build strengths cast kept addressing hotbutton issues dumb exploitative ways characterdriven comedy best set among extremely varied group people live fear downward mobility words superstore160is reliably fun watch it160might timely relevant network comedy air 11 badlands amc postapocalyptic story doesnt ignore challenges characters face also doesnt sink dull gloom repetitive storytelling ruts lot engaging badass fun proven excellent showcase game cast isnt enough easily one gorgeously filmed shows television best martial arts action anywhere small screen five reasons badlands awesome 10 brooklyn ninenine fox comedies consistently amusing funny cop show year sharp versatile ensemble continued gel prove theyre one engaging casts tv writers task giving excellent group good material delight160 9 american vandal netflix perhaps watched week american vandal alias grace reminded excavation memory secrets lies exist surface seemingly ordinary lives american vandal one level drew series dicks cars school parking lot satire earnest truecrime documentaries hilariously spoton evolved one best highschool tv stories recent memory gently honest thorough one though gripped question whodrewthedicks end even captivated fact show worked subtly well impressive number layers american vandal lot things often wry honest meditation stories tell even wellintentioned members media fallible cover 8 alias grace netflix everyone loves good crime whodunit adaptation margaret atwoods fascinating tale topflight every respect set 150 years ago dramas explorations female autonomy oppression topical could sarah gadon stunning revelation lead role creative team sarah polley mary harron turned mystery tale something gripping prickly lyrical 7 better things fx second season halfhour delivered unique combination contemplative ambiguity brash honesty clarity wit deeply felt emotions stay long time better things empathic realistic look like mother woman working professional person doesnt answers tries fully experience lifes possibilities live moment thought weeks say louis cks involvement show many things say yet nothing say comes topic remain mentally mired circular thought patterns many questions real answers two things know watched first seven episodes second season august intensely moved saw rest season pamela adlon accomplished sole director show based life truly impressive thats answer questions thats right 160 review second season160 6 jane virgin cw one tvs finest ambitious offerings took grief pulled time jump introduced new characters jtv never lost sight many strengths hoard episodes show break low points really need visit comforted world villanueva women live week week jane virgin makes laugh cry provides comfort smart metanarratives cleareyed character journeys effortless grace emotionally acute innately intelligent show remains mustsee viewing 5 crazy exgirlfriend cw fantastic ensemble piece mental illness singing dancing one tvs audacious shows also one funniest smartly puttogether ceg smartly skewers romcom tropes tv cliches even provides honest fascinating look woman whos unable truthful foundations pain selfsabotage day began ceg continually upped game season three writers songsmiths ensemble cast brought comedy whole new level awesome crazy exgirlfriend treasure 4 halt catch fire amc surface story breakthroughs technology really evolution business ventures personal relationships among group compelling core characters actually heart show loved delving creative partnership two different women clashed diverged fought came back together believed others creativity drive much highly enjoyable moving drama boasted firstclass cast capable many wonders upgraded every season absolutely perfect final year piece series finale160 3 good place nbc brilliant audacious exploration heaven hell morality ethics blessed exceptional cast work wonders writers witty insightful work good place smart compassionate something also really goofy fun sitcom fizzy earnest combination things shouldnt work together somehow fab thoughts shows progress almost year ago160 2 one day time netflix never let said multicam sitcom thing past reboots usually bad return norman lear library proved generalities wrong delightful show allowed justina machado show exceptional dramatic comedic ranges rita moreno proved national treasure rest cast rose womens exceptional levels one bestwritten smartest mostwarmhearted shows around im glad exists160 1 leftovers hbo show grief loss pain dislocation ended absolute joy mystery apt given leftovers ambivalence confusing questions lead deep sorrow possibility profound connection show didnt connect changed life possibly dna alltime great hall fame season television review series finale personal essay intersection leftovers life honorable mentions returning shows americans better call saul carmichael show catastrophe dark matter fresh boat full frontal samantha bee game thrones girls izombie killjoys last week tonight john oliver master none mr robot outlander people earth review silicon valley speechless stranger things survivors remorse twin peaks unbreakable kimmy schmidt underground youre worst new shows160american gods bold type crashing dear white people deuce glow love dick keepers last tycoon legion marvelous mrs maisel national treasure shots fired 13 reasons why160 walk invisible witness prosecution young pope sure check fellow tv critic sonia saraiyas endofyear lists well varietys 2017 best worst lists160 | 1,717 |
<p>From Sri Lanka to Syria, the inaction of the world community resulted in loss of precious lives</p>
<p>Riding the tiger is an art that isn’t easy to master in the best of circumstances. While a tiger’s back may be the safest place to be when you are riding it, you should be ready for what comes when the ride inevitably ends.</p>
<p>There was a time when many in India, including the Tamil, identified with Tamil Tigers with the establishment and Indian agencies offering every possible support to “our boys.” The LTTE training camps in Tamil Nadu were a secret that no one bothered to hide.</p>
<p>This support proved crucial in the Tigers’ transformation into one of the deadliest and successful insurgent forces in recent history. Their breathtaking exploits on land and on high seas over an organized army became the stuff of legends. Many a Tamil filmmaker modeled his potbellied heroes on LTTE chief Prabhakaran.</p>
<p>More important, LTTE managed to get its goal of a separate homeland for the Tamils.&#160; It didn’t stop there. Sri Lanka was turned into a living hell with daredevil assassinations and suicide bombings – LTTE practically invented it – targeting top Lankan leadership, security forces, and ordinary people for nearly two decades.</p>
<p>Ironically, India had a price to pay, too. Former premier Rajiv Gandhi lost his life for his apparent sincerity in trying to end the interminable cycle of violence in the island. Dispatching Indian forces to Sri Lanka, however, proved a spectacular disaster with the country losing 1,155 soldiers to the ragtag army trained on Indian soil – a figure that outweighs the toll in wars with Pakistan.</p>
<p>The civil war claimed more than 100,000 lives, including 28,000 LTTE cadres and 23,330 Lankan troops, not to mention the economic costs of the long conflict in a country dependent on tourism.</p>
<p>Prabhakaran was notorious for his murderous ruthlessness and cruelty, which was experienced not just by Sinhalas and Muslims, but also by fellow Tamils.&#160; While the Tamil revolt had been a response to long years of dispossession, its methods to get justice were far from just.</p>
<p>Yet nothing justifies the appalling savagery and all-out war that was launched against the entire Tamil population in the name of fighting Tigers’ terror.&#160;&#160; Independent estimates suggest more than 40,000 Tamils were killed and hundreds of thousands were driven from their homes in the long and bloody campaign.</p>
<p>Prabhakaran, who loved to pose in his military fatigues, was eventually captured and killed and paraded like a prized trophy.&#160; And it now turns out they didn’t even spare his 12 year-old-son Balachandran. A recent documentary on UK’s Channel 4 showed the bullet-riddled, naked body of a young boy identified as Prabhakaran’s son.&#160; There were five bullet holes in the young torso, fired point blank.&#160; The image of the boy sleeping the eternal sleep is incredibly moving and disturbing. What was his crime except being Prabhakaran’s son?</p>
<p>Last year, the Channel 4 created a storm with its first documentary detailing the extent and epic proportions of crimes against humanity committed by both sides. This month, it followed up with more horrifying documentary evidence of war crimes and state sanctioned abuse and terror.</p>
<p>Of course, Prabhakaran routinely visited such savagery on his victims.&#160; But is there no difference between a group of desperate militants and organized army representing a nation governed by laws and international conventions?</p>
<p>The Sri Lankans had heaved a collective sigh of relief when the island nation was rid of three decades of Tiger terror three years ago.&#160; My Lankan friends say today there’s total peace and security in the country and tourists are returning in big numbers. But at what price comes peace and security? Are there no laws and no fair rules of engagement as nations tackle terror and insurgency?</p>
<p>These questions demand answers from the world community and Lankan leadership. The UN Human Rights Council resolution last week was therefore the right thing to do and a belated recognition of the horrific crimes committed in the picture perfect island.&#160; And one is proud that India added its voice, albeit at gunpoint by the DMK, to the global chorus against the Lankan war crimes.</p>
<p>But what cruel irony that the UN resolution was moved by a country which has repeatedly blocked all attempts to confront Israel on its seven decades of crimes against the Palestinians!&#160; Besides, try as you might, it’s a tad difficult to look beyond the shock and awe of Iraq and Afghanistan and take lectures in human rights from folks responsible for Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, and the continuing drone strikes at faceless targets in distant lands. A million people paid with their lives for a lie in Iraq. But, of course, you can’t expect the world body to ever take on the empire.</p>
<p>Besides, the eternal proxy battlefield that the UN is, there’s more to the UNHCR vote than meets the eye. Washington hasn’t been too pleased with the growing Lankan proximity to Beijing and massive Chinese investment and influence in the neighborhood.&#160; This is precisely why India wasn’t too keen on the UNHCR vote fearing it would force Lanka into the welcoming Chinese arms.</p>
<p>Indian foreign policy establishment and ever-vigilant media warriors also obsessed over the UN vote opening the door to similar calls on Kashmir. Tellingly, Pakistan and many of India’s neighbors voted against the Lanka vote because of their close ties to Colombo.&#160; As they say, one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter and vice versa.</p>
<p>But regardless of all the cynical politics and diplomatic shadowboxing over this issue, it’s a shame if appalling crimes like these go unaccounted for. Desperate people resort to desperate measures.&#160; The Tamils took to arms only when they had had enough of persecution and injustice at the hands of the Sinhala majority.</p>
<p>While injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, as Martin Luther King would insist, it’s all the more unacceptable when the dispossessed groups and vulnerable minorities are at the receiving end.&#160; There comes a time when in the life of a nation as well as individuals, you have to rise above your narrow national interests and petty tribal loyalties to speak the truth, and more important, show which side you are on with your actions; especially when silence and inaction could endanger precious lives.</p>
<p>We have seen it happen repeatedly in the case of Palestinians over the past seven decades.&#160; Armed with the US-issued license, Israel has killed and killed with impunity, incarcerating and torturing a whole nation.&#160; And these are the folks who claim to have suffered the same fate not long ago.</p>
<p>In recent times, international inaction cost nearly a million lives in Rwanda.&#160; Tens of thousands perished in the Balkans.&#160; Ten years ago, more than 2,000 people were butchered and burnt and women raped in Gujarat for three months while the moderate, peace-loving prime minister in Delhi wrote poetry.</p>
<p>Thousands have been done to death in Syria and are still getting killed right now at the hands of their government because of the silence and overriding geopolitical interests of some world powers.</p>
<p>While the past has passed and perhaps there’s little anyone can do about it, it’s a disgrace if in today’s globalized, interconnected times the world with its fine institutions stands and stares while governments and despots kill people in the name of peace and security.&#160; Every time we remain silent and shut our eyes and ears, we send innocents to their death. Silence kills. Literally.</p> | false | 1 | sri lanka syria inaction world community resulted loss precious lives riding tiger art isnt easy master best circumstances tigers back may safest place riding ready comes ride inevitably ends time many india including tamil identified tamil tigers establishment indian agencies offering every possible support boys ltte training camps tamil nadu secret one bothered hide support proved crucial tigers transformation one deadliest successful insurgent forces recent history breathtaking exploits land high seas organized army became stuff legends many tamil filmmaker modeled potbellied heroes ltte chief prabhakaran important ltte managed get goal separate homeland tamils160 didnt stop sri lanka turned living hell daredevil assassinations suicide bombings ltte practically invented targeting top lankan leadership security forces ordinary people nearly two decades ironically india price pay former premier rajiv gandhi lost life apparent sincerity trying end interminable cycle violence island dispatching indian forces sri lanka however proved spectacular disaster country losing 1155 soldiers ragtag army trained indian soil figure outweighs toll wars pakistan civil war claimed 100000 lives including 28000 ltte cadres 23330 lankan troops mention economic costs long conflict country dependent tourism prabhakaran notorious murderous ruthlessness cruelty experienced sinhalas muslims also fellow tamils160 tamil revolt response long years dispossession methods get justice far yet nothing justifies appalling savagery allout war launched entire tamil population name fighting tigers terror160160 independent estimates suggest 40000 tamils killed hundreds thousands driven homes long bloody campaign prabhakaran loved pose military fatigues eventually captured killed paraded like prized trophy160 turns didnt even spare 12 yearoldson balachandran recent documentary uks channel 4 showed bulletriddled naked body young boy identified prabhakarans son160 five bullet holes young torso fired point blank160 image boy sleeping eternal sleep incredibly moving disturbing crime except prabhakarans son last year channel 4 created storm first documentary detailing extent epic proportions crimes humanity committed sides month followed horrifying documentary evidence war crimes state sanctioned abuse terror course prabhakaran routinely visited savagery victims160 difference group desperate militants organized army representing nation governed laws international conventions sri lankans heaved collective sigh relief island nation rid three decades tiger terror three years ago160 lankan friends say today theres total peace security country tourists returning big numbers price comes peace security laws fair rules engagement nations tackle terror insurgency questions demand answers world community lankan leadership un human rights council resolution last week therefore right thing belated recognition horrific crimes committed picture perfect island160 one proud india added voice albeit gunpoint dmk global chorus lankan war crimes cruel irony un resolution moved country repeatedly blocked attempts confront israel seven decades crimes palestinians160 besides try might tad difficult look beyond shock awe iraq afghanistan take lectures human rights folks responsible abu ghraib guantanamo bay continuing drone strikes faceless targets distant lands million people paid lives lie iraq course cant expect world body ever take empire besides eternal proxy battlefield un theres unhcr vote meets eye washington hasnt pleased growing lankan proximity beijing massive chinese investment influence neighborhood160 precisely india wasnt keen unhcr vote fearing would force lanka welcoming chinese arms indian foreign policy establishment evervigilant media warriors also obsessed un vote opening door similar calls kashmir tellingly pakistan many indias neighbors voted lanka vote close ties colombo160 say one mans terrorist another mans freedom fighter vice versa regardless cynical politics diplomatic shadowboxing issue shame appalling crimes like go unaccounted desperate people resort desperate measures160 tamils took arms enough persecution injustice hands sinhala majority injustice anywhere threat justice everywhere martin luther king would insist unacceptable dispossessed groups vulnerable minorities receiving end160 comes time life nation well individuals rise narrow national interests petty tribal loyalties speak truth important show side actions especially silence inaction could endanger precious lives seen happen repeatedly case palestinians past seven decades160 armed usissued license israel killed killed impunity incarcerating torturing whole nation160 folks claim suffered fate long ago recent times international inaction cost nearly million lives rwanda160 tens thousands perished balkans160 ten years ago 2000 people butchered burnt women raped gujarat three months moderate peaceloving prime minister delhi wrote poetry thousands done death syria still getting killed right hands government silence overriding geopolitical interests world powers past passed perhaps theres little anyone disgrace todays globalized interconnected times world fine institutions stands stares governments despots kill people name peace security160 every time remain silent shut eyes ears send innocents death silence kills literally | 712 |
<p>It has been a week unlike most others in NFL history. A league that often has a variety of headline-grabbing stories on off-field issues saw it up-ramped to unprecedented levels following comments made by President <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Donald_Trump/" type="external">Donald Trump</a> at an Alabama rally on the evening of Sept. 22 when he called for NFL players to be suspended or fired for not standing for the playing of the national anthem.</p>
<p>The response was overwhelming by the league’s teams, with players, owners and other club personnel linked arm in arm during the anthem while some players kneeled or sat in protest of racial inequality and police brutality. Several teams — Pittsburgh, Seattle and Tennessee — stayed in the locker room for the anthem, although one player from the Steelers, tackle Alejandro Villanueva, left the locker room and stood for the anthem at the end of the tunnel leading from the locker room to the field. Villanueva served three tours in <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/War_in_Afghanistan/" type="external">Afghanistan</a>.</p>
<p>President Trump continued his comments on the divisive issue in the days after the game, while television news shows debated the actions by players and CNN conducted a Town Hall on the subject.</p>
<p>Most players were discouraged that the intent of those who kneeled was not addressed and that the discussion by those in disagreement considered it a lack of respect for the military and the anthem despite numerous players saying that isn’t the issue and noting that many players have family members that have served. The latter has been a consistent theme since the protests began in 2016 when then-49ers quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Colin_Kaepernick/" type="external">Colin Kaepernick</a> first sat for the anthem and then later kneeled.</p>
<p>Titans tight end <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Delanie-Walker/" type="external">Delanie Walker</a>, who revealed he received death threats since the team avoided the anthem last Sunday, said, “We’re not disrespecting the military, the men and women that serve. That’s not what it’s all about. I’ve been (on USO tours). I support the troops. This is not about that. It’s about equal rights, and that’s all everyone is trying to show, is that we all care about each other.”</p>
<p>Still, the volume from critics increased with Trump’s words, which were met with hearty cheers from those attending the rally. It became clear the nation was split, which shined the light even more on what players would do going forward.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, several owners and players met in New York with commissioner <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Roger_Goodell/" type="external">Roger Goodell</a> and league executive vice president/football operations <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Troy_Vincent/" type="external">Troy Vincent</a>, a former player.</p>
<p>Owners included John Mara of the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/New_York_Giants/" type="external">New York Giants</a>; <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Robert_Kraft/" type="external">Robert Kraft</a>, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/New_England_Patriots/" type="external">New England Patriots</a>; <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Art_Rooney/" type="external">Art Rooney</a> II, Steelers; <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jeffrey_Lurie/" type="external">Jeffrey Lurie</a>, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Philadelphia-Eagles/" type="external">Philadelphia Eagles</a>; Jimmy and Dee Haslam, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Cleveland-Browns/" type="external">Cleveland Browns</a>; <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Stephen_Ross/" type="external">Stephen Ross</a>, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Miami-Dolphins/" type="external">Miami Dolphins</a>; and Shahid Khan, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jacksonville-Jaguars/" type="external">Jacksonville Jaguars</a>.</p>
<p>Representing the players were Eagles defensive end <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chris-Long/" type="external">Chris Long</a>, Giants linebacker Jonathan Casillas, wide receiver Matthew Slater and safety <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Devin-McCourty/" type="external">Devin McCourty</a> of the Patriots and cornerback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jason-McCourty/" type="external">Jason McCourty</a> and linebacker Christian Kirksey of the Browns.</p>
<p>Casillas said afterward, “We were basically talking about what we’re going to do to move forward and how we’re going to approach the whole kneeling situation. It was a whole bunch of opinions shared. There was nothing we decided we’re going to do collectively.”</p>
<p>Devin McCourty said, “I think the biggest thing is as players, we’ve got to keep in the forefront of what we want to get (across), the inequality. I think that’s what’s important. We’ve got to make sure this whole thing doesn’t turn into the NFL vs. Donald Trump. As players, obviously, he is whatever he is. We can probably have an hour of trying to describe that and everything he is. But I think as players, we have an agenda of what we think can be done better and we’re trying to use our platform, and I think we have to stick to that.”</p>
<p>Thursday night in Green Bay, each team stood for the anthem arm in arm, and a smattering of fans also did in response to Packers quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Aaron_Rodgers/" type="external">Aaron Rodgers</a>‘ request.</p>
<p>Prior to that game, a statement on the team website said, “Those of us joining arms on Thursday will be different in so many ways, but one thing that binds us together is that we are all individuals who want to help make our society, our country and our world a better place. Intertwined, we represent the many people who helped build this country, and we are joining together to show that we are ready to continue to build.”</p>
<p>Now, with another full schedule of games Sunday and Monday night, the spotlight will again be on the anthem to see what teams do.</p>
<p>Numerous teams have not revealed their plans, but one that did is significant because the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/New-Orleans-Saints/" type="external">New Orleans Saints</a> are playing in London in early morning United States time against the Dolphins.</p>
<p>Last Sunday, Khan stood with his players arm in arm in London, and the fact that game began three-and-half hours before other games kicked off set the stage for what happened in stadiums throughout the league.</p>
<p>Then, last Monday night, the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Dallas-Cowboys/" type="external">Dallas Cowboys</a>, led by owner <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jerry_Jones/" type="external">Jerry Jones</a>, walked onto the field before the anthem, kneeled as a team arm in arm and then walked back to the sideline and stood with arms interlocked for the anthem.</p>
<p>That is what the Saints will do Sunday following their game last Sunday on the road against the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Carolina_Panthers/" type="external">Carolina Panthers</a> where 10 players sat on the bench during the anthem.</p>
<p>In a statement, Saints owner <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tom_Benson/" type="external">Tom Benson</a> said, “As an owner in the NFL and NBA for years, I have met many players, coaches and staff from seemingly every background possible. But as this week has demonstrated, there are very sensitive, difficult and emotional matters affecting this country. Now more than ever we must find solutions that unite and don’t divide us.</p>
<p>“Today, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Drew_Brees/" type="external">Drew Brees</a> and team leadership stated that our team will stand for the national anthem. Regarding the issues of social injustice, I stand ready to offer our organizations, our players, and our community meaningful support and resources to move from protest to solution. We have spoken to our state leadership in Governor Jon Bel Edwards – he is also ready to do what he can with us to affect positive change.”</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Atlanta-Falcons/" type="external">Atlanta Falcons</a> have also asked fans to lock arms during the anthem Sunday when the team hosts the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Buffalo-Bills/" type="external">Buffalo Bills</a>.</p>
<p>Head coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Dan_Quinn/" type="external">Dan Quinn</a> said, “For us, we will lock arms together during that time, and we would encourage our fans to do the same. I think that would be kind of a nice tribute as we’re getting started. It’s an important time in our world. There are a lot of issues that are really important to talk about, and we’ll spend some time and we have as a team talking through some of those.”</p>
<p>Quinn said he had talked to defensive tackles Grady Jarrett and Dontari Poe, who kneeled in last Sunday’s game, and he doesn’t expect anyone to kneel this week.</p>
<p>Poe said, “I know people (in the military). I have a girl friend who’s in the Air Force. She’s in the reserves now. I’m not disrespecting that at all. I wouldn’t disrespect her like that. At the same time, I felt it wasn’t disrespecting the flag, but I was just standing up for what I believe in.”</p>
<p>Poe also relayed what Falcons defensive end <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Adrian-Clayborn/" type="external">Adrian Clayborn</a> said to the team about diversity, and explained how many in the country could learn from it.</p>
<p>“He put it in such great words,” Poe said. “It was something that I paid close attention to. It was all truth in it. Basically, he wishes the outside world was like our locker room, with people of all different colors and creeds … we’re fighting together. We are a Brotherhood.</p>
<p>“We don’t look at nothing else but that. He said he wished the world was like that and that it would be much better place. I totally agree with him.”</p>
<p>Of course, what is done on a Thursday, or Sunday, or Monday on an NFL sideline is just a gesture. It’s why <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Seattle-Seahawks/" type="external">Seattle Seahawks</a> wide receiver <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Doug-Baldwin/" type="external">Doug Baldwin</a> talked about a program the players are starting with club support.</p>
<p>Baldwin said, “In an effort to create lasting change and build a more compassionate and inclusive society, we are launching the Seahawks Players Equality &amp; Justice for All Action Fund to support education and leadership programs addressing equality and justice. We invite you to join us in donating and taking action.”</p>
<p>Baldwin said the players started talking about ideas when they would be asked by those not with the organization what could be done to truly impact a community.</p>
<p>Concluded Baldwin, “I think that was really important, because for the longest time now, we’ve been trying to figure out, what can we do as a team to impact change? And this is something that’s really tangible to all of us. And again, we really wanted this to be a unified effort. We’ve been trying to make a unified demonstration, a unified message, and now this is a unified action we can all take. And now we’re going to be able to incorporate people outside of the building.”</p> | false | 1 | week unlike others nfl history league often variety headlinegrabbing stories offfield issues saw upramped unprecedented levels following comments made president donald trump alabama rally evening sept 22 called nfl players suspended fired standing playing national anthem response overwhelming leagues teams players owners club personnel linked arm arm anthem players kneeled sat protest racial inequality police brutality several teams pittsburgh seattle tennessee stayed locker room anthem although one player steelers tackle alejandro villanueva left locker room stood anthem end tunnel leading locker room field villanueva served three tours afghanistan president trump continued comments divisive issue days game television news shows debated actions players cnn conducted town hall subject players discouraged intent kneeled addressed discussion disagreement considered lack respect military anthem despite numerous players saying isnt issue noting many players family members served latter consistent theme since protests began 2016 then49ers quarterback colin kaepernick first sat anthem later kneeled titans tight end delanie walker revealed received death threats since team avoided anthem last sunday said disrespecting military men women serve thats ive uso tours support troops equal rights thats everyone trying show care still volume critics increased trumps words met hearty cheers attending rally became clear nation split shined light even players would going forward tuesday several owners players met new york commissioner roger goodell league executive vice presidentfootball operations troy vincent former player owners included john mara new york giants robert kraft new england patriots art rooney ii steelers jeffrey lurie philadelphia eagles jimmy dee haslam cleveland browns stephen ross miami dolphins shahid khan jacksonville jaguars representing players eagles defensive end chris long giants linebacker jonathan casillas wide receiver matthew slater safety devin mccourty patriots cornerback jason mccourty linebacker christian kirksey browns casillas said afterward basically talking going move forward going approach whole kneeling situation whole bunch opinions shared nothing decided going collectively devin mccourty said think biggest thing players weve got keep forefront want get across inequality think thats whats important weve got make sure whole thing doesnt turn nfl vs donald trump players obviously whatever probably hour trying describe everything think players agenda think done better trying use platform think stick thursday night green bay team stood anthem arm arm smattering fans also response packers quarterback aaron rodgers request prior game statement team website said us joining arms thursday different many ways one thing binds us together individuals want help make society country world better place intertwined represent many people helped build country joining together show ready continue build another full schedule games sunday monday night spotlight anthem see teams numerous teams revealed plans one significant new orleans saints playing london early morning united states time dolphins last sunday khan stood players arm arm london fact game began threeandhalf hours games kicked set stage happened stadiums throughout league last monday night dallas cowboys led owner jerry jones walked onto field anthem kneeled team arm arm walked back sideline stood arms interlocked anthem saints sunday following game last sunday road carolina panthers 10 players sat bench anthem statement saints owner tom benson said owner nfl nba years met many players coaches staff seemingly every background possible week demonstrated sensitive difficult emotional matters affecting country ever must find solutions unite dont divide us today drew brees team leadership stated team stand national anthem regarding issues social injustice stand ready offer organizations players community meaningful support resources move protest solution spoken state leadership governor jon bel edwards also ready us affect positive change atlanta falcons also asked fans lock arms anthem sunday team hosts buffalo bills head coach dan quinn said us lock arms together time would encourage fans think would kind nice tribute getting started important time world lot issues really important talk well spend time team talking quinn said talked defensive tackles grady jarrett dontari poe kneeled last sundays game doesnt expect anyone kneel week poe said know people military girl friend whos air force shes reserves im disrespecting wouldnt disrespect like time felt wasnt disrespecting flag standing believe poe also relayed falcons defensive end adrian clayborn said team diversity explained many country could learn put great words poe said something paid close attention truth basically wishes outside world like locker room people different colors creeds fighting together brotherhood dont look nothing else said wished world like would much better place totally agree course done thursday sunday monday nfl sideline gesture seattle seahawks wide receiver doug baldwin talked program players starting club support baldwin said effort create lasting change build compassionate inclusive society launching seahawks players equality amp justice action fund support education leadership programs addressing equality justice invite join us donating taking action baldwin said players started talking ideas would asked organization could done truly impact community concluded baldwin think really important longest time weve trying figure team impact change something thats really tangible us really wanted unified effort weve trying make unified demonstration unified message unified action take going able incorporate people outside building | 816 |
<p>Sixty years ago today, on June 29, 1951, Cardinal Michael Faulhaber of Munich and Freising laid hands on a 24-year-old deacon named Joseph Ratzinger, ordaining him a priest—an event the future Pope Benedict XVI once described in a memoir as “the most important event of my life.” In his homily at Mass on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29, 2011, the diamond jubilarian reflected on just what happened to him six decades ago in words that combine remarkable theological depth with equally remarkable rhetorical simplicity:</p>
<p>Dear Brothers and Sisters,</p>
<p>“Non iam dicam servos, sed amicos“—”I no longer call you servants, but friends” (John 15:15).</p>
<p>Sixty years on from the day of my priestly ordination, I hear once again deep within me these words of Jesus that were addressed to us new priests at the end of the ordination ceremony by the archbishop, Cardinal Faulhaber, in his slightly frail yet firm voice. According to the liturgical practice of that time, these words conferred on the newly ordained priests the authority to forgive sins. “No longer servants, but friends”: At that moment I knew deep down that these words were no mere formality, nor were they simply a quotation from Scripture. I knew that, at that moment, the Lord himself was speaking to me in a very personal way.</p>
<p>In baptism and confirmation he had already drawn us close to him, he had already received us into God’s family. But what was taking place now was something greater still. He calls me his friend. He welcomes me into the circle of those he had spoken to in the upper room, into the circle of those whom he knows in a very special way, and who thereby come to know him in a very special way. He grants me the almost frightening faculty to do what only he, the Son of God, can legitimately say and do: I forgive you your sins. He wants me—with his authority—to be able to speak, in his name (“I” forgive), words that are not merely words, but an action, changing something at the deepest level of being.</p>
<p>I know that behind these words lies his suffering for us and on account of us. I know that forgiveness comes at a price: In his Passion he went deep down into the sordid darkness of our sins. He went down into the night of our guilt, for only thus can it be transformed. And by giving me authority to forgive sins, he lets me look down into the abyss of man, into the immensity of his suffering for us men, and this enables me to sense the immensity of his love. He confides in me: “No longer servants, but friends.” He entrusts to me the words of consecration in the Eucharist. He trusts me to proclaim his word, to explain it aright, and to bring it to the people of today. He entrusts himself to me. “You are no longer servants, but friends”: These words bring great inner joy, but at the same time, they are so awe-inspiring that one can feel daunted as the decades go by amid so many experiences of one’s own frailty and his inexhaustible goodness.</p>
<p>It has been a hard decade for the Catholic priesthood and for Catholic priests, the best of whom have been deeply shamed by the conduct of a small minority of their brothers in the ministry. Pope Benedict’s homily on his diamond jubilee reminds the Catholic Church, and especially its priests and bishops, of just what is at stake in the ongoing reform of the priesthood, which was begun by Blessed John Paul II during his 26-year pontificate and which has been continued by his successor: What is at stake is nothing less than deepening a sense of the ordained priest as an icon of Christ—a human being who, through being configured to the Risen Lord in a unique way by his ordination, makes Christ present to the world in a unique way.</p>
<p>The crisis of priestly life that was made unmistakably clear in the past decade’s revelations of sexually abusive clergy had many causes, not the least of which was a toxic ambient culture to which the Church and its ordained ministers proved all too vulnerable. But if we look inside the Church’s self-understanding for reasons why priests betrayed their unique ministry in such an awful way, what we find, if we look hard enough, is a changed understanding of the very nature of the priesthood. When seminarians, 30 or 40 years ago, spoke of learning “priestcraft,” something was, it now seems clear, deeply awry. For the Catholic Church has never understood the ordained priesthood as essentially a matter of functions, nor has it understood ordination as a kind of licensing ceremony that authorizes a man to conduct certain kinds of ecclesiastical business. But that was the misunderstanding of priesthood that swept through too much of the Church around the world, and the relationship between that desperately deficient theology and the abuse crisis should now be beyond serious dispute.</p>
<p>A man who has truly understood himself as an icon of the priesthood of Jesus Christ does not abuse anyone, in any way. A man who has taken into himself the meaning of the Lord’s words, “I now call you friends,” does not imagine that his ordination confers membership in a caste. A man who has, like Joseph Ratzinger 60 years ago, felt the Spirit move within him knows that his ministry is not about himself, but about the pouring out of his life in service to others.</p>
<p>Which includes, as the Pope reflected in his jubilee homily, looking into the many hearts of darkness in the human condition, and being unafraid of confronting evil with the power of the Cross. Bishops contending with recalcitrant politicians who defy both reason and revelation in their legislating and governing might well reflect on that, as they ponder how it is that one calls these men and women to real conversion.</p>
<p>Throughout the Catholic world, a happy new custom has arisen of congratulating celibate priests on Father’s Day for the gift of their own unique spiritual paternity and fecundity. In part, this is a reaction to the shame that the abuse crisis has visited on those who have lived faithful lives of priestly witness, a way of saying “thank you” to the overwhelming majority of priests who have lived lives of fidelity. In that simple act of saluting spiritual fathers as well as natural fathers, the Catholic Church may also be demonstrating, however, that it has relearned some of the essential truths about the priesthood after a difficult season. Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, never forgot those truths, nor did his predecessor. That is why, when the history of this period of the Church’s life is written, Benedict XVI and John Paul II will be remembered as great reformers of the priesthood, who modeled for others the meaning of entering into a unique form of friendship with Christ through the laying on of hands in priestly ordination—and who, like their Lord, spent their lives in priestly service to others.</p>
<p>Happy jubilee, Your Holiness. And thank you.</p>
<p>George Weigel is distinguished senior fellow of Washington’s Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he holds the William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.</p> | false | 1 | sixty years ago today june 29 1951 cardinal michael faulhaber munich freising laid hands 24yearold deacon named joseph ratzinger ordaining priestan event future pope benedict xvi described memoir important event life homily mass solemnity saints peter paul june 29 2011 diamond jubilarian reflected happened six decades ago words combine remarkable theological depth equally remarkable rhetorical simplicity dear brothers sisters non iam dicam servos sed amicosi longer call servants friends john 1515 sixty years day priestly ordination hear deep within words jesus addressed us new priests end ordination ceremony archbishop cardinal faulhaber slightly frail yet firm voice according liturgical practice time words conferred newly ordained priests authority forgive sins longer servants friends moment knew deep words mere formality simply quotation scripture knew moment lord speaking personal way baptism confirmation already drawn us close already received us gods family taking place something greater still calls friend welcomes circle spoken upper room circle knows special way thereby come know special way grants almost frightening faculty son god legitimately say forgive sins wants mewith authorityto able speak name forgive words merely words action changing something deepest level know behind words lies suffering us account us know forgiveness comes price passion went deep sordid darkness sins went night guilt thus transformed giving authority forgive sins lets look abyss man immensity suffering us men enables sense immensity love confides longer servants friends entrusts words consecration eucharist trusts proclaim word explain aright bring people today entrusts longer servants friends words bring great inner joy time aweinspiring one feel daunted decades go amid many experiences ones frailty inexhaustible goodness hard decade catholic priesthood catholic priests best deeply shamed conduct small minority brothers ministry pope benedicts homily diamond jubilee reminds catholic church especially priests bishops stake ongoing reform priesthood begun blessed john paul ii 26year pontificate continued successor stake nothing less deepening sense ordained priest icon christa human configured risen lord unique way ordination makes christ present world unique way crisis priestly life made unmistakably clear past decades revelations sexually abusive clergy many causes least toxic ambient culture church ordained ministers proved vulnerable look inside churchs selfunderstanding reasons priests betrayed unique ministry awful way find look hard enough changed understanding nature priesthood seminarians 30 40 years ago spoke learning priestcraft something seems clear deeply awry catholic church never understood ordained priesthood essentially matter functions understood ordination kind licensing ceremony authorizes man conduct certain kinds ecclesiastical business misunderstanding priesthood swept much church around world relationship desperately deficient theology abuse crisis beyond serious dispute man truly understood icon priesthood jesus christ abuse anyone way man taken meaning lords words call friends imagine ordination confers membership caste man like joseph ratzinger 60 years ago felt spirit move within knows ministry pouring life service others includes pope reflected jubilee homily looking many hearts darkness human condition unafraid confronting evil power cross bishops contending recalcitrant politicians defy reason revelation legislating governing might well reflect ponder one calls men women real conversion throughout catholic world happy new custom arisen congratulating celibate priests fathers day gift unique spiritual paternity fecundity part reaction shame abuse crisis visited lived faithful lives priestly witness way saying thank overwhelming majority priests lived lives fidelity simple act saluting spiritual fathers well natural fathers catholic church may also demonstrating however relearned essential truths priesthood difficult season joseph ratzinger pope benedict xvi never forgot truths predecessor history period churchs life written benedict xvi john paul ii remembered great reformers priesthood modeled others meaning entering unique form friendship christ laying hands priestly ordinationand like lord spent lives priestly service others happy jubilee holiness thank george weigel distinguished senior fellow washingtons ethics public policy center holds william e simon chair catholic studies | 607 |
<p>For Connecticut’s pensions, investment forecasting is the triumph of hope over experience.</p>
<p>The state’s $17 billion teachers pension returned&#160;an average of 3.2 percentage point less than its 8.5 percent assumed annual rate of return between fiscal 2001 and 2015, the sixth-widest gap among 112 state retirement funds over the period, according to data compiled by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. The difference between assumed and actual returns of Connecticut’s municipal employee and state workers pensions wasn’t much better, ranking eighth and 15th-widest, respectively.</p>
<p>The failure to meet such targets is significant because governments need to boost contributions to make up the difference. Doing so would worsen the financial squeeze on Connecticut, which was downgraded by all three major credit-rating companies this year because of its budget deficit.</p>
<p>“Plans are aiming to hit their assumed return and so when they fall short, there’s something wrong with the system,” said Jean-Pierre Aubry, associate director of state and local research at the Center for Retirement Research. “Either someone is telling them to set it too high or the investment manager isn’t hitting his goals.”&#160;</p>
<p>Connecticut’s pensions had less than half the assets needed to pay its $63.7 billion of pension promises, according to the most recent audited figures. In 2015, its retirement system was the fourth-worst among U.S. states behind New Jersey, Kentucky and Illinois, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.</p>
<p>Public pensions from California to New York have been lowering their return goals, adopting a more modest outlook after being roiled by last decade’s booms and busts and a long period of historically low interest rates. Of almost 130 public retirement funds, about three-fourths have reduced their targets since fiscal 2010, resulting in a decline in the average return assumption to 7.5 percent from 7.9 percent, according to the National Association of State Retirement Administrators.</p>
<p>Connecticut’s teachers pension reduced its projected return to 8 percent from 8.5 percent in November 2015. The state employees fund cut its to 6.9 percent from 8 percent this year.&#160;</p>
<p>“Eight-point-five is delusional, 8 is still delusional, in the 6s is a bit more realistic,” said Richard Warr, a professor of finance at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management.</p>
<p>Connecticut’s teachers fund didn’t lower its assumption deeper because&#160;of conditions in a $2 billion pension bond issued in 2008 that require the state to pay 100 percent of its required contribution annually and eliminate the unfunded liability by 2032. Lowering the return below 8 percent would have caused those contributions to jump.</p>
<p>To ease the burden on the state, which is facing a $5 billion two-year budget deficit, Governor Dannel P. Malloy has proposed shifting some of the teachers pension costs to cities and towns, which don’t contribute to the fund. Local elected officials panned the proposal, saying it would force them to raise property taxes.</p>
<p>Denise Nappier, a Democrat who has served as Connecticut’s treasurer since 1999, says she’s not willing to take on extra risk to exceed the return target.</p>
<p>“I have never designed an asset allocation plan in the last eight or nine years to beat eight-and-half percent, because it’s unrealistic,” Nappier said.</p>
<p>In Connecticut, the pensions’ goal is set by board members appointed by the governor and public employees.</p>
<p>Between fiscal 2001 and fiscal 2015, Connecticut’s teachers fund returned an average of about 5.3 percent, while the state employees pension returned an average 5.2 percent. The much smaller municipal pension returned about 5 percent. The median state pension returned 5.6 percent, according to the retirement research center’s data.</p>
<p>Comparing Connecticut’s returns to other states is&#160;misleading because it doesn’t account for the state’s need to have more cash on hand to cover pension checks, given its “significant” liabilities, Nappier said.</p>
<p>The pensions also missed out on outsize returns generated by private equity and real estate investments because of a moratorium on those asset classes in the early 2000s, she said. She also pointed to data from the Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service showing that Connecticut’s pensions performed better than 58 percent of those with assets greater than $10 billion during her tenure.</p>
<p>Investment performance isn’t the only factor underlying Connecticut’s $35 billion pension funding gap.&#160;</p>
<p>Connecticut&#160;didn’t begin setting aside money to pay retirement benefits promised to state employees and teachers until 1971 and 1982, respectively. And elected officials from both parties&#160;later compounded the problem by failing to make the government’s full annually required contribution.</p>
<p>“The system would actually be relatively well-funded if you could remove the liability associated with benefits earned before they were pre-funded,” said Aubry.</p>
<p>To contact the reporter on this story: Martin Z. Braun in New York at [email protected].</p>
<p>To contact the editors responsible for this story: Christopher Maloney at [email protected], William Selway, Mark Tannenbaum</p>
<p>©2017 Bloomberg L.P.</p> | false | 1 | connecticuts pensions investment forecasting triumph hope experience states 17 billion teachers pension returned160an average 32 percentage point less 85 percent assumed annual rate return fiscal 2001 2015 sixthwidest gap among 112 state retirement funds period according data compiled center retirement research boston college difference assumed actual returns connecticuts municipal employee state workers pensions wasnt much better ranking eighth 15thwidest respectively failure meet targets significant governments need boost contributions make difference would worsen financial squeeze connecticut downgraded three major creditrating companies year budget deficit plans aiming hit assumed return fall short theres something wrong system said jeanpierre aubry associate director state local research center retirement research either someone telling set high investment manager isnt hitting goals160 connecticuts pensions less half assets needed pay 637 billion pension promises according recent audited figures 2015 retirement system fourthworst among us states behind new jersey kentucky illinois according data compiled bloomberg public pensions california new york lowering return goals adopting modest outlook roiled last decades booms busts long period historically low interest rates almost 130 public retirement funds threefourths reduced targets since fiscal 2010 resulting decline average return assumption 75 percent 79 percent according national association state retirement administrators connecticuts teachers pension reduced projected return 8 percent 85 percent november 2015 state employees fund cut 69 percent 8 percent year160 eightpointfive delusional 8 still delusional 6s bit realistic said richard warr professor finance north carolina state universitys poole college management connecticuts teachers fund didnt lower assumption deeper because160of conditions 2 billion pension bond issued 2008 require state pay 100 percent required contribution annually eliminate unfunded liability 2032 lowering return 8 percent would caused contributions jump ease burden state facing 5 billion twoyear budget deficit governor dannel p malloy proposed shifting teachers pension costs cities towns dont contribute fund local elected officials panned proposal saying would force raise property taxes denise nappier democrat served connecticuts treasurer since 1999 says shes willing take extra risk exceed return target never designed asset allocation plan last eight nine years beat eightandhalf percent unrealistic nappier said connecticut pensions goal set board members appointed governor public employees fiscal 2001 fiscal 2015 connecticuts teachers fund returned average 53 percent state employees pension returned average 52 percent much smaller municipal pension returned 5 percent median state pension returned 56 percent according retirement research centers data comparing connecticuts returns states is160misleading doesnt account states need cash hand cover pension checks given significant liabilities nappier said pensions also missed outsize returns generated private equity real estate investments moratorium asset classes early 2000s said also pointed data wilshire trust universe comparison service showing connecticuts pensions performed better 58 percent assets greater 10 billion tenure investment performance isnt factor underlying connecticuts 35 billion pension funding gap160 connecticut160didnt begin setting aside money pay retirement benefits promised state employees teachers 1971 1982 respectively elected officials parties160later compounded problem failing make governments full annually required contribution system would actually relatively wellfunded could remove liability associated benefits earned prefunded said aubry contact reporter story martin z braun new york mbraun6bloombergnet contact editors responsible story christopher maloney cmaloney16bloombergnet william selway mark tannenbaum 2017 bloomberg lp | 513 |
<p>If Powell had discovered that he was given a bogus translation in 2003, we might not be facing a devastated Middle East and ISIS today.</p>
<p>In 1520, the word ‘evacuate’ was a <a href="http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=evacuate&amp;allowed_in_frame=0" type="external">medical term</a> for “empty, make void, nullify.” Then as now, surgeons ‘evacuated’ tumors and patients ‘evacuated’ their bowels. In both cases, the ‘evacuated’ material was not sequestered for safekeeping. It was discarded as waste, and the formal definition of ‘evacuate’ remains ‘to make null and void by expelling as waste’. The first military meaning of ‘evacuate’, to sequester munitions for safekeeping, arrived in 1710.</p>
<p>On February 5, 2003, then US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, made the pivotal case for invading Iraq. His opening salvo to the General Assembly of the United Nations was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/feb/05/iraq.usa" type="external">a translation</a> of an intercepted conversation. General Powell’s understanding of that conversation hinged upon his military understanding of ‘evacuated’:</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">&lt;img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26177" src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/colin-powell-anthrax-iraq-war-300x209.jpg" alt="At the UN, Colin Powell holds a model vial of anthrax, while arguing that Iraq is likely to possess WMDs. 5 February 2003. (Wikimedia Commons)" width="300" height="209" srcset="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/colin-powell-anthrax-iraq-war-300x209.jpg 300w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/colin-powell-anthrax-iraq-war-150x104.jpg 150w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/colin-powell-anthrax-iraq-war.jpg 410w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;</a>POWELL: Let me begin by playing a tape for you. What you’re about to hear is a conversation that my government monitored. It takes place on November 26 of last year, on the day before <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/unitednations" type="external">United Nations</a> teams resumed inspections in Iraq.</p>
<p>The conversation involves two senior officers, a colonel and a brigadier general, from Iraq’s elite military unit, the Republican Guard.</p>
<p>[Plays audio tape of conversation in Arabic.]</p>
<p>POWELL: Let me pause and review some of the key elements of this conversation that you just heard between these two officers.</p>
<p>First, they acknowledge that our colleague, Mohamed El Baradei, is coming, and they know what he’s coming for, and they know he’s coming the next day. He’s coming to look for things that are prohibited. He is expecting these gentlemen to cooperate with him and not hide things.</p>
<p>But they’re worried. “We have this modified vehicle. What do we say if one of them sees it?” What is their concern? Their concern is that it’s something they should not have, something that should not be seen.</p>
<p>The [brigadier] general is incredulous:</p>
<p>[POWELL showing and reading translation of intercept]</p>
<p>“You didn’t get a modified. You don’t have one of those, do you?”</p>
<p>“I have one.”</p>
<p>“Which, from where?”</p>
<p>“From the workshop, from the al-Kindi company?”</p>
<p>“What?”</p>
<p>“From al-Kindi.”</p>
<p>“I’ll come to see you in the morning. I’m worried. You all have something left.”</p>
<p>“We evacuated everything. We don’t have anything left.”</p>
<p>Note what he says: “We evacuated everything.” We didn’t destroy it. We didn’t line it up for inspection. We didn’t turn it into the inspectors. We evacuated it to make sure it was not around when the inspectors showed up.</p>
<p>On February 6, 2003, I sent Powell an email via the Department of State website, with a copy by postal mail, asking whether he might have misinterpreted the word or words translated as ‘evacuated’, explaining that translators for whom English is a second language often use formal definitions of English words, such that “We evacuated everything. We don’t have anything left” may have meant what Saddam Hussein’s Foreign minister, Tariq Aziz, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2014/10/15/iraq-wmd-does-the-new-york-times-probe-reflect-what-administration-officials-claimed/" type="external">had been saying for months</a> … that Iraq had gotten rid of, made null and void, made non-weaponizable, its weapons of mass destruction (WMD).</p>
<p>On February 7 the Department of State emailed a generic, boilerplate response thanking me for my interest.</p>
<p>Over the ensuing decade I tried and failed to persuade several Arabic-speaking acquaintances to independently translate <a href="http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/wariniraq/colinpowellunsecuritycouncil.htm" type="external">the audio tape of the conversation</a> between the Iraqi colonel and his brigadier general.</p>
<p>Then I discovered the US government’s quintessential source for authoritative translations from Arabic to English, Marine Corps University Professor of Arabic Studies, <a href="http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/people.cfm?authorID=768" type="external">Norman Cigar</a>. On January 4, 2013, I sent an email to Professor Cigar with the transcript of Powell’s presentation and a link to the audio recording, asking him to forward his interpretation of the Arabic word or words translated to English as “evacuated.”</p>
<p>On February 4, Professor Cigar replied (his emphasis):</p>
<p>Interesting question. The audio is not always clear, but I focused on the “evacuated” (in the English translation), and that is NOT what is said. Literally, the tape says “We did all that was necessary, and we informed them of everything, everything [is OK]” (sawayna al-lazim, wa-khabbarnahum wa-kull shay’; kull shay’). I have no idea why “evacuated” is used.</p>
<p>Two days later, I thanked Professor Cigar for his reply, clarifying that</p>
<p>My sense of General Powell is that if he had known that ‘evacuated’ ‘is NOT what is said’ in the intercepted communication, and that what WAS said indicates the opposite … that nothing was being covered up … he would not have used that intercepted communication in his presentation to the U.N. (let alone as the heaviest salvo in his list of evidence), he would have had his suspicions markedly raised regarding the rest of the evidence supplied to him and so would have had that evidence vetted more thoroughly, and in the end, thereby, he may not have agreed to argue in favor of invading Iraq.</p>
<p>Professor Cigar replied the same day with:</p>
<p>The entire translation of that text is shoddy.&#160; It’s an interesting point, which no one has looked at (I certainly never thought of it)—you might get a native Iraqi to provide his/her independent version of the translation for the entire text (or someone should, as it would make an interesting article).&#160; You could put in a FOIA request.&#160; However, just that one Arabic text would make for a good short article!&#160; I certainly don’t have any contact with him, but an article in an academic publication would get people’s attention.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Professor Cigar had no more ability to contact Secretary Powell than I had, and I have not, thus far, persuaded him to complete and present his findings on “The entire translation of that text” (for which I suggested the title “Babel From Babylon” or “A War That Hinged On A Word”). &#160;What remains is that the insertion of the word ‘evacuated’ into the translation of the intercepted conversation begs for explanation.</p>
<p>Was the translator an Iraqi dissident who wanted the US to invade Iraq? If so, was he or she hoping that ‘evacuated’ would be misunderstood in the manner that it was understandably misunderstood by General Powell, and yet provide plausible deniability of intention to deceive because ‘evacuated’ could be claimed, if questioned, to have been a somewhat supercilious way of saying that Iraq’s WMD had been made null and void … expelled as waste … the formal definition of ‘evacuated’ … i.e., that the Iraqis actually had done “all that was necessary”? Or was “We did all that was necessary” translated as “We evacuated everything” by a too-cute neocon to accomplish the same objective? Perhaps a collusion of both?</p>
<p>Is deliberate deception excusable if it is done with what the deceiver perceives to be good intentions? C.S. Lewis <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/526469-of-all-tyrannies-a-tyranny-sincerely-exercised-for-the-good" type="external">warned</a> us about the phenomenon that <a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Tyranny-Good-Intentions-Constitution/dp/0307396061" type="external">Roberts and Stratton</a> coined “The Tyranny of Good Intentions”:</p>
<p>Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be “cured” against one’s will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.</p>
<p>All of us so classed by the insertion of the word ‘evacuated’ should be angry. Colin Powell should be furious. In addition to being a senior player in an administration <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-man-who-knew-14-10-2003/" type="external">that was</a> “blind and deaf to any kind of countervailing information,” he violated his own Leadership Rule #8: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Powell#Views_on_the_Iraq_War" type="external">Check small things</a>. And if Powell becomes furious, the burden of being more responsible than any other person for enabling ‘The Coalition of the Willing’ to invade Iraq will weigh on his conscience, and so deter him from being, ever again, a moral busybody who brings more Hell to earth.</p>
<p>We need a leader who has really been through the wringer … not the kind of wringer that John McCain went through … not the kind of wringer that instills self-righteousness and adds an alluring confidence to the lunacy of warmongering … but the kind of wringer that favors skepticism over confidence when faced with lies and propaganda aimed at Iran. If this ‘evacuated’ debacle serves as the straw that breaks the camel’s back … the straw that convinces Powell that his UN presentation was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Powell#Views_on_the_Iraq_War" type="external">built on</a> “faith-based intelligence” … if it brings Powell around to the view that he was horribly misled and so became horribly misleading, whether as a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent, he should run for President. His <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/colin-powell-sees-dark-vein-intolerance-gop/story?id=29482208" type="external">recent interview</a> with George Stephanopoulos shows that he is still articulate and wise—perhaps wiser than ever, and certainly wiser than the other viable candidates who have announced their candidacy.</p>
<p>President Powell with Vice President Jill Stein might be the least likely of all American politicians to pursue tyranny “with the approval of their own conscience.” They would not be perfect … but ‘perfect’ is the enemy of ‘good’ … and we desperately need ‘good’.</p> | false | 1 | powell discovered given bogus translation 2003 might facing devastated middle east isis today 1520 word evacuate medical term empty make void nullify surgeons evacuated tumors patients evacuated bowels cases evacuated material sequestered safekeeping discarded waste formal definition evacuate remains make null void expelling waste first military meaning evacuate sequester munitions safekeeping arrived 1710 february 5 2003 us secretary state colin powell made pivotal case invading iraq opening salvo general assembly united nations translation intercepted conversation general powells understanding conversation hinged upon military understanding evacuated ltimg classalignright sizemedium wpimage26177 srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201504colinpowellanthraxiraqwar300x209jpg altat un colin powell holds model vial anthrax arguing iraq likely possess wmds 5 february 2003 wikimedia commons width300 height209 srcsethttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201504colinpowellanthraxiraqwar300x209jpg 300w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201504colinpowellanthraxiraqwar150x104jpg 150w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201504colinpowellanthraxiraqwarjpg 410w sizesmaxwidth 300px 100vw 300px gtpowell let begin playing tape youre hear conversation government monitored takes place november 26 last year day united nations teams resumed inspections iraq conversation involves two senior officers colonel brigadier general iraqs elite military unit republican guard plays audio tape conversation arabic powell let pause review key elements conversation heard two officers first acknowledge colleague mohamed el baradei coming know hes coming know hes coming next day hes coming look things prohibited expecting gentlemen cooperate hide things theyre worried modified vehicle say one sees concern concern something something seen brigadier general incredulous powell showing reading translation intercept didnt get modified dont one one workshop alkindi company alkindi ill come see morning im worried something left evacuated everything dont anything left note says evacuated everything didnt destroy didnt line inspection didnt turn inspectors evacuated make sure around inspectors showed february 6 2003 sent powell email via department state website copy postal mail asking whether might misinterpreted word words translated evacuated explaining translators english second language often use formal definitions english words evacuated everything dont anything left may meant saddam husseins foreign minister tariq aziz saying months iraq gotten rid made null void made nonweaponizable weapons mass destruction wmd february 7 department state emailed generic boilerplate response thanking interest ensuing decade tried failed persuade several arabicspeaking acquaintances independently translate audio tape conversation iraqi colonel brigadier general discovered us governments quintessential source authoritative translations arabic english marine corps university professor arabic studies norman cigar january 4 2013 sent email professor cigar transcript powells presentation link audio recording asking forward interpretation arabic word words translated english evacuated february 4 professor cigar replied emphasis interesting question audio always clear focused evacuated english translation said literally tape says necessary informed everything everything ok sawayna allazim wakhabbarnahum wakull shay kull shay idea evacuated used two days later thanked professor cigar reply clarifying sense general powell known evacuated said intercepted communication said indicates opposite nothing covered would used intercepted communication presentation un let alone heaviest salvo list evidence would suspicions markedly raised regarding rest evidence supplied would evidence vetted thoroughly end thereby may agreed argue favor invading iraq professor cigar replied day entire translation text shoddy160 interesting point one looked certainly never thought ityou might get native iraqi provide hisher independent version translation entire text someone would make interesting article160 could put foia request160 however one arabic text would make good short article160 certainly dont contact article academic publication would get peoples attention unfortunately professor cigar ability contact secretary powell thus far persuaded complete present findings entire translation text suggested title babel babylon war hinged word 160what remains insertion word evacuated translation intercepted conversation begs explanation translator iraqi dissident wanted us invade iraq hoping evacuated would misunderstood manner understandably misunderstood general powell yet provide plausible deniability intention deceive evacuated could claimed questioned somewhat supercilious way saying iraqs wmd made null void expelled waste formal definition evacuated ie iraqis actually done necessary necessary translated evacuated everything toocute neocon accomplish objective perhaps collusion deliberate deception excusable done deceiver perceives good intentions cs lewis warned us phenomenon roberts stratton coined tyranny good intentions tyrannies tyranny sincerely exercised good victims may oppressive would better live robber barons omnipotent moral busybodies robber barons cruelty may sometimes sleep cupidity may point satiated torment us good torment us without end approval conscience may likely go heaven yet time likelier make hell earth kindness stings intolerable insult cured ones cured states may regard disease put level yet reached age reason never classed infants imbeciles domestic animals us classed insertion word evacuated angry colin powell furious addition senior player administration blind deaf kind countervailing information violated leadership rule 8 check small things powell becomes furious burden responsible person enabling coalition willing invade iraq weigh conscience deter ever moral busybody brings hell earth need leader really wringer kind wringer john mccain went kind wringer instills selfrighteousness adds alluring confidence lunacy warmongering kind wringer favors skepticism confidence faced lies propaganda aimed iran evacuated debacle serves straw breaks camels back straw convinces powell un presentation built faithbased intelligence brings powell around view horribly misled became horribly misleading whether republican democrat independent run president recent interview george stephanopoulos shows still articulate wiseperhaps wiser ever certainly wiser viable candidates announced candidacy president powell vice president jill stein might least likely american politicians pursue tyranny approval conscience would perfect perfect enemy good desperately need good | 841 |
<p>This essay is an edited excerpt from the 2015 Mercatus Research study, “The Budget Act at Forty: Time for Budget Process Reform,” which reviewed process reforms that can help facilitate agreement between Congress and the president and can focus attention on long-term spending commitments. ( <a href="http://mercatus.org/sites/default/files/Capretta-Joint-Budget-Resolution-MOP-v1.pdf" type="external">Click here to download a PDF version of this essay</a>.)</p>
<p>The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 established the modern federal budget process. All signs indicate that the act, now four decades old, is not working.</p>
<p>The fundamental problem with the nation’s finances—and thus the problem our budgetary procedures should focus on solving—is the runaway expense of entitlement programs, often described as “mandatory spending.” The current budget process does not force policymakers to confront the pressure that these massive programs exert on the federal budget. The process also lacks a ready mechanism for bridging the predictable conflicts that occur between the president and Congress.</p>
<p>A joint budget resolution (JBR) could provide a partial antidote for the problems of budgetary drift, rising entitlement spending, and endless inertia in current federal budgeting practices. While today’s congressional budget resolution (CBR) applies restrictions only to consideration of legislation in Congress, the JBR is signed by the president and becomes law. It would thus have the potential to facilitate an agreement between the executive and legislative branches on key budgetary provisions that would govern decisions later in the budget process, and it could provide more structure and stability to government finances.</p>
<p>THE ORIGINS OF TODAY’S BUDGET PROCESS</p>
<p>The Budget Act of 1974 was enacted to turn back executive branch overreach in budgeting and to increase the legislative branch’s role in policymaking by creating an organized congressional process for budget development.</p>
<p>The Budget Act’s most important institutional change was the creation of the House and Senate budget committees and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). With the help of CBO’s independent and nonpartisan budgetary analyses, the budget committees develop a congressional budget resolution that serves as a counter or response to the president’s annual budget submission.</p>
<p>Under the Budget Act, the CBR is not a law. Rather, it is a concurrent resolution, which means it is only relevant for Congress—the president is in no way bound by the CBR. If there is an ongoing disagreement between the branches, the anticipation of a veto is usually enough to bring the entire budget process to a standstill. This is an important reason why there are regular, drawn-out budget fights between Congress and the president.</p>
<p>MOVING TO A JOINT BUDGET RESOLUTION</p>
<p>A joint budget resolution may provide a better way forward. As a JBR must be signed into law, it has the potential to facilitate—and perhaps even pressure—agreement between the legislative and executive branches on key budgetary provisions that would govern decisions made by both branches later in the year.</p>
<p>While today’s process allows for ad hoc negotiations on multiyear budgets, there is no expectation of regular legislative-executive engagement on a budget framework. This is one reason why the two branches engage so infrequently, allowing both branches to put off pressing fiscal issues like entitlement reform.</p>
<p>The JBR would address each of the main decision points of a federal budget: discretionary spending (perhaps with separate limitations on defense and nondefense spending), entitlement programs, and revenue. Constructing the JBR in this way would help policymakers think more clearly about tradeoffs between the key budget categories and about projected deficit spending and debt. For instance, Congress and the president could choose to put more pressure on entitlement programs to ease pressure on discretionary accounts (or vice versa). They could also authorize higher levels of spending, but that would also mean larger deficits and higher debt. And proposals that cut deficit spending with tax hikes would be clearly identified in the budget plan.</p>
<p>THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM</p>
<p>The purpose of establishing an enforceable budgetary framework in a JBR is to set in motion additional legislation in Congress to bring programs and taxes in line with budget totals. Presumably, large changes in entitlement spending and taxes contained in a JBR would be assigned to the authorizing committees in the form of reconciliation instructions. This would allow fast-track consideration of the reforms implied in the JBR’s top-line numbers.</p>
<p>Congress will only feel the pressure to act on tough legislative reforms if the budgetary caps in the JBR are binding in some way. It is critical, therefore, that the JBR have the capacity to trigger discipline in mandatory spending, along with enforceable caps on discretionary expenditures. Indeed, the primary advantage of the JBR over the CBR is that budgetary limits can be coupled with enforcement actions if they are combined in a law signed by the president.</p>
<p>Budget sequestration—automatically triggered spending reduction—has been effective at controlling discretionary spending and could be continued in its current form in a JBR. Sequestration eliminates spending above the agreed-upon cap by applying a uniform, across-the-board cut to all nonexempt programs at a rate sufficient to eliminate the breach.</p>
<p>Restraining mandatory spending will require additional features. Spending could be cut by canceling future spending increases and planned program liberalizations. Those changes could be coupled with other predetermined mechanisms of restraint.</p>
<p>The process for enforcing mandatory spending levels should be recalibrated periodically so that actual spending is brought in line with the JBR levels based on revised estimates. In addition, spending restraint should be implemented over several years, perhaps as many as five, to avoid abrupt annual adjustments.</p>
<p>Some programs for very low-income Americans, such as Supplemental Security Income, should be exempted from an enforcement mechanism for mandatory spending, but it is not unreasonable to include some income-support programs within the parameters of an enforcement approach. For instance, if spending breached an upper limit, eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program might be lowered modestly for the highest-income participants. Similar adjustments could be made to other programs.</p>
<p>Medicare and Medicaid should be explicitly included in the enforcement mechanism. For example, Medicaid matching payments to states should be reduced as needed to help keep total spending on mandatory programs below the cap. States will rightly complain that this move will burden their budgets. They should be granted relief from existing federal Medicaid mandates to provide them with flexibility when coping with this cut.</p>
<p>Automatic cuts to Medicare should be designed to promote reform rather than hinder it, meaning cuts should focus on adding much-needed cost consciousness to the program’s design. For example, higher-income beneficiaries should be required to pay more for their services, and all beneficiaries should be required to pay something when they receive care.</p>
<p>Finally, an effective sequester design would preclude any automatic increases if spending came in below the budget resolution caps. Any new spending would require legislation.</p>
<p>IMPLEMENTING THE JOINT BUDGET RESOLUTION</p>
<p>The Budget Act should be amended to allow an optional JBR “spin-off” from any CBR agreed to by both the House and Senate. Congress would not have to pursue a JBR, but if it chose to do so, the legislation would automatically be sent to the president upon adoption of a CBR. The JBR would reflect the key budgetary aggregates: total discretionary spending, total mandatory spending, revenues, deficits, and debt. The president could then approve or veto the bill.</p>
<p>If the president vetoed the JBR, the process would revert back to the process that is in place today under the Budget Act. Congress could proceed under the terms of the budget resolution, and engagement with the executive branch would be postponed until later in the year when the spending and tax bills flowing from that budget move to the president. If, however, the president agreed to the JBR, the budget framework contained within it would be law, and both branches would be bound by it.</p>
<p>CONCLUSION</p>
<p>Reforming the congressional budget process cannot make up for a lack of political will, nor can it substitute for the policy changes necessary to correct the government’s fiscal problems. Yet the right reforms to the process, including the JBR, can open up new potential for agreements between Congress and the president and can focus attention on long-term spending commitments. Even in times of divided government, the JBR would allow for engagement between the branches that might, under some circumstances, facilitate compromise and agreement.</p>
<p>James C. Capretta is a Mercatus Center affiliated scholar, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He studies and provides commentary on a wide range of public policy and economic issues, with a focus on health care and entitlement reform, US fiscal policy, and global population aging.</p> | false | 1 | essay edited excerpt 2015 mercatus research study budget act forty time budget process reform reviewed process reforms help facilitate agreement congress president focus attention longterm spending commitments click download pdf version essay congressional budget impoundment control act 1974 established modern federal budget process signs indicate act four decades old working fundamental problem nations financesand thus problem budgetary procedures focus solvingis runaway expense entitlement programs often described mandatory spending current budget process force policymakers confront pressure massive programs exert federal budget process also lacks ready mechanism bridging predictable conflicts occur president congress joint budget resolution jbr could provide partial antidote problems budgetary drift rising entitlement spending endless inertia current federal budgeting practices todays congressional budget resolution cbr applies restrictions consideration legislation congress jbr signed president becomes law would thus potential facilitate agreement executive legislative branches key budgetary provisions would govern decisions later budget process could provide structure stability government finances origins todays budget process budget act 1974 enacted turn back executive branch overreach budgeting increase legislative branchs role policymaking creating organized congressional process budget development budget acts important institutional change creation house senate budget committees congressional budget office cbo help cbos independent nonpartisan budgetary analyses budget committees develop congressional budget resolution serves counter response presidents annual budget submission budget act cbr law rather concurrent resolution means relevant congressthe president way bound cbr ongoing disagreement branches anticipation veto usually enough bring entire budget process standstill important reason regular drawnout budget fights congress president moving joint budget resolution joint budget resolution may provide better way forward jbr must signed law potential facilitateand perhaps even pressureagreement legislative executive branches key budgetary provisions would govern decisions made branches later year todays process allows ad hoc negotiations multiyear budgets expectation regular legislativeexecutive engagement budget framework one reason two branches engage infrequently allowing branches put pressing fiscal issues like entitlement reform jbr would address main decision points federal budget discretionary spending perhaps separate limitations defense nondefense spending entitlement programs revenue constructing jbr way would help policymakers think clearly tradeoffs key budget categories projected deficit spending debt instance congress president could choose put pressure entitlement programs ease pressure discretionary accounts vice versa could also authorize higher levels spending would also mean larger deficits higher debt proposals cut deficit spending tax hikes would clearly identified budget plan enforcement mechanism purpose establishing enforceable budgetary framework jbr set motion additional legislation congress bring programs taxes line budget totals presumably large changes entitlement spending taxes contained jbr would assigned authorizing committees form reconciliation instructions would allow fasttrack consideration reforms implied jbrs topline numbers congress feel pressure act tough legislative reforms budgetary caps jbr binding way critical therefore jbr capacity trigger discipline mandatory spending along enforceable caps discretionary expenditures indeed primary advantage jbr cbr budgetary limits coupled enforcement actions combined law signed president budget sequestrationautomatically triggered spending reductionhas effective controlling discretionary spending could continued current form jbr sequestration eliminates spending agreedupon cap applying uniform acrosstheboard cut nonexempt programs rate sufficient eliminate breach restraining mandatory spending require additional features spending could cut canceling future spending increases planned program liberalizations changes could coupled predetermined mechanisms restraint process enforcing mandatory spending levels recalibrated periodically actual spending brought line jbr levels based revised estimates addition spending restraint implemented several years perhaps many five avoid abrupt annual adjustments programs lowincome americans supplemental security income exempted enforcement mechanism mandatory spending unreasonable include incomesupport programs within parameters enforcement approach instance spending breached upper limit eligibility supplemental nutrition assistance program might lowered modestly highestincome participants similar adjustments could made programs medicare medicaid explicitly included enforcement mechanism example medicaid matching payments states reduced needed help keep total spending mandatory programs cap states rightly complain move burden budgets granted relief existing federal medicaid mandates provide flexibility coping cut automatic cuts medicare designed promote reform rather hinder meaning cuts focus adding muchneeded cost consciousness programs design example higherincome beneficiaries required pay services beneficiaries required pay something receive care finally effective sequester design would preclude automatic increases spending came budget resolution caps new spending would require legislation implementing joint budget resolution budget act amended allow optional jbr spinoff cbr agreed house senate congress would pursue jbr chose legislation would automatically sent president upon adoption cbr jbr would reflect key budgetary aggregates total discretionary spending total mandatory spending revenues deficits debt president could approve veto bill president vetoed jbr process would revert back process place today budget act congress could proceed terms budget resolution engagement executive branch would postponed later year spending tax bills flowing budget move president however president agreed jbr budget framework contained within would law branches would bound conclusion reforming congressional budget process make lack political substitute policy changes necessary correct governments fiscal problems yet right reforms process including jbr open new potential agreements congress president focus attention longterm spending commitments even times divided government jbr would allow engagement branches might circumstances facilitate compromise agreement james c capretta mercatus center affiliated scholar senior fellow ethics public policy center visiting fellow american enterprise institute studies provides commentary wide range public policy economic issues focus health care entitlement reform us fiscal policy global population aging | 840 |
<p>Israel's ongoing illegal siege of Gaza is hindering human development for an entire generation of Palestinians.</p>
<p>Yousef Aljamal contributed reporting for this article from Gaza.</p>
<p>Whenever Mariam Aljamal’s children hear the sound of thunder at night, they wet their beds. Their reaction is almost instinctive and is <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/09/where-accountability-gaza-children-20149973438619725.html" type="external">shared by a large number of children</a> throughout the Gaza Strip.</p>
<p>Mariam’s three children—Jamal, Lina and Sarah—were all born a few years after the Gaza siege was first imposed in 2006, and all of them have experienced at least one Israeli war.</p>
<p>“My kids feel scared when the electricity goes off, which is most of the time,” says the 33-year-old mother from Nuseirat Refugee Camp, who has a degree in Communications and is currently pursuing her MA. “They are still living the trauma of the 2014 offensive. War is still haunting my family, and life has become so hard for us.”</p>
<p>Indeed, after years of trying, Mariam is yet to find work. Unemployment in Gaza is the highest in the world, <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.657712" type="external">according to the World Bank</a>.</p>
<p>The siege on Gaza was imposed in stages, starting January 2006, when the Hamas movement won the legislative elections in the Occupied Territories. Donors’ money was immediately withheld, so the new Government could not pay the salaries of its employees. The conventional wisdom, then, was the new Government would soon collapse, and Hamas’ rival, Fatah, would quickly resume its control over the Palestinian Authority (PA).</p>
<p>The Israeli hope, which was reinforced by the US and also <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/fatah-asked-israel-to-help-attack-hamas-during-gaza-coup-wikileaks-cable-shows-1.331654" type="external">shared by PA President Mahmoud Abbas and many in his party</a>, never came to fruition. To speed up the projected collapse, Israel began sporadic bombardment of Gaza and carried out a sweeping campaign to arrest many of its elected MPs, coupled with a Fatah and Hamas dispute, which eventually turned into street battles in the <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-22902880" type="external">summer of 2007</a>.</p>
<p>It was then that the siege became complete, now ongoing for ten years. During this time, Fatah resumed its control over the PA in the West Bank, reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah largely failed, the Rafah border has been mostly sealed, and Israel has launched three major wars that have killed thousands.</p>
<p>The destruction in Gaza as a result of three consecutive wars (2008-9, 2012, and 2014) has been so severe, it has affected almost every aspect of the Strip’s already dilapidated infrastructure. Power outages, for example, have become part of life in Gaza. If all goes according to plan, Palestinians here have only 8-10 hours, per day, to utilize electricity, and for the rest of the day they suffer in darkness. The UN had already declared that <a href="http://time.com/4019509/gaza-uninhabitable-unctad/" type="external">life in Gaza will become ‘uninhabitable’ by 2020</a>.</p>
<p>But there are aspects of this drama that do not receive a fair share of attention, such as how the siege is hindering human development for an entire generation.</p>
<p>When the siege was imposed, Ahmad Ghazal was only 13-years-old. Now, he is 23 and works at a local library in Gaza City. “Life here is not pleasant,” he says. “In the last ten years my family has suffered the lack of food, clean water, proper medical care and the most basic of human needs. But what frustrates me most is the fact that I am not able to move freely. The Israeli-Egyptian shut down of border crossings has brought our life to a standstill. I feel trapped.”</p>
<p>Maher Azzam is 21 years of age and he, too, feels imprisoned. He teaches English at Smart International Centre for Languages and Development and aspires to be a writer. However, he sees life in Gaza as a slow death.</p>
<p>“The number of martyrs in the Strip over the course of 10 years has exceeded 4,000, but those innocent people only died once,” he says. “People who are still alive in Gaza, have been dying every day for a whole decade. But we must stay optimistic and hopeful. We have learned to be creative to survive, to express ourselves and to carry on without submitting, despite Israel’s ongoing crimes and the silence of the international community.”</p>
<p>Heba Zaher, a 21-year-old graduate from the Islamic University, also understands the centrality of hope to the Gaza narrative. She says, “We have survived all of these years without losing hope, we certainly can’t lose it now. Ten years of hardship have taught us to be stronger, to cope with life and to defeat the siege.”</p>
<p>But defeating the siege is not an easy endeavor, as it has “affected all aspects of our life,” according to Heba. “Many students have lost their opportunities of studying abroad. Many patients have died, waiting for the crossings to open so that they may get proper treatment. Construction is tied to the crossings, and life is now more expensive than ever.”</p>
<p>The consequences of the siege are far-reaching to the extent that Anas Almassri, a student-intern at the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor in Deir al Balah, says that whatever remained of Gaza’s middle class is now dwindling. “The middle class in Gaza continues to shrink as a result of the diminishing economic opportunities, and this affects the income of families terribly, who cannot send their kids to universities and, therefore, cannot maintain their standard of living.”</p>
<p>For Ghada Abu Msabeh, 20, also from Deir Al-Balah, the siege has now become so rooted in the collective psyche of Gazans that it has grown to become the new norm. “I think that we have come to the point that the siege has become a part of our daily life and routine,” she argues. “I honestly cannot imagine what life would be if we are able to move freely or even go for an entire day without power outage.&#160; It is honestly difficult to remember how life used to be before the siege.”</p>
<p>Hana Salah, 25, a writer and humanitarian worker with Oxfam Italy, tried to seek an opportunity outside Gaza, but she was not successful. “I didn’t try again because seeing others’ attempt and fail was enough to depress me,” she says. “I feel that we are living in a cage and have no idea what is transpiring outside this cage. I don’t know what will happen, but can only hope and pray for God’s mercy.”</p>
<p>Some of those who were able to leave to pursue their education outside Gaza, were stuck when they attempted to return for a visit.&#160; Rafaat Alareer, a writer and lecturer, embarked on his PhD studies at Universiti Purra Malaysia in 2012, but has been trapped in Gaza since 2014.&#160; He came to visit his family as the 2014 offensive destroyed their home and killed his brother. “It’s been a year and a half now, and I cannot go back because of the siege and the closure of the Rafah crossing,” which has been <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/22336-rafah-border-closed-for-300-days-this-year" type="external">practically shut down for a year</a>.</p>
<p>The same was experienced by Belal Dabour, a young doctor at the Shifa Hospital, who is unable to leave Gaza to gain more experience and attend conferences, which he had hoped could bolster his academic qualifications. “I had just graduated when the 2014 war started,” he says. “It was very traumatic. What I have experienced in one month at Al-Shifa is more than what other doctors would experience in many years of their practice. But now I have no job and like many of my colleagues have no source of income.”</p>
<p>Walaa Al-Ghussein, a 23-year-old student at Al-Azhar University, concludes that, although more people now acknowledge the existence of a cruel siege on Gaza, life for Gazans remains the same. “We need more than just protests; real pressure needs to be exerted on Israel so that this siege ends. Hundreds of patients are dying, students are losing their opportunities of studying abroad and a whole people are stranded.”</p> | false | 1 | israels ongoing illegal siege gaza hindering human development entire generation palestinians yousef aljamal contributed reporting article gaza whenever mariam aljamals children hear sound thunder night wet beds reaction almost instinctive shared large number children throughout gaza strip mariams three childrenjamal lina sarahwere born years gaza siege first imposed 2006 experienced least one israeli war kids feel scared electricity goes time says 33yearold mother nuseirat refugee camp degree communications currently pursuing still living trauma 2014 offensive war still haunting family life become hard us indeed years trying mariam yet find work unemployment gaza highest world according world bank siege gaza imposed stages starting january 2006 hamas movement legislative elections occupied territories donors money immediately withheld new government could pay salaries employees conventional wisdom new government would soon collapse hamas rival fatah would quickly resume control palestinian authority pa israeli hope reinforced us also shared pa president mahmoud abbas many party never came fruition speed projected collapse israel began sporadic bombardment gaza carried sweeping campaign arrest many elected mps coupled fatah hamas dispute eventually turned street battles summer 2007 siege became complete ongoing ten years time fatah resumed control pa west bank reconciliation hamas fatah largely failed rafah border mostly sealed israel launched three major wars killed thousands destruction gaza result three consecutive wars 20089 2012 2014 severe affected almost every aspect strips already dilapidated infrastructure power outages example become part life gaza goes according plan palestinians 810 hours per day utilize electricity rest day suffer darkness un already declared life gaza become uninhabitable 2020 aspects drama receive fair share attention siege hindering human development entire generation siege imposed ahmad ghazal 13yearsold 23 works local library gaza city life pleasant says last ten years family suffered lack food clean water proper medical care basic human needs frustrates fact able move freely israeliegyptian shut border crossings brought life standstill feel trapped maher azzam 21 years age feels imprisoned teaches english smart international centre languages development aspires writer however sees life gaza slow death number martyrs strip course 10 years exceeded 4000 innocent people died says people still alive gaza dying every day whole decade must stay optimistic hopeful learned creative survive express carry without submitting despite israels ongoing crimes silence international community heba zaher 21yearold graduate islamic university also understands centrality hope gaza narrative says survived years without losing hope certainly cant lose ten years hardship taught us stronger cope life defeat siege defeating siege easy endeavor affected aspects life according heba many students lost opportunities studying abroad many patients died waiting crossings open may get proper treatment construction tied crossings life expensive ever consequences siege farreaching extent anas almassri studentintern euromediterranean human rights monitor deir al balah says whatever remained gazas middle class dwindling middle class gaza continues shrink result diminishing economic opportunities affects income families terribly send kids universities therefore maintain standard living ghada abu msabeh 20 also deir albalah siege become rooted collective psyche gazans grown become new norm think come point siege become part daily life routine argues honestly imagine life would able move freely even go entire day without power outage160 honestly difficult remember life used siege hana salah 25 writer humanitarian worker oxfam italy tried seek opportunity outside gaza successful didnt try seeing others attempt fail enough depress says feel living cage idea transpiring outside cage dont know happen hope pray gods mercy able leave pursue education outside gaza stuck attempted return visit160 rafaat alareer writer lecturer embarked phd studies universiti purra malaysia 2012 trapped gaza since 2014160 came visit family 2014 offensive destroyed home killed brother year half go back siege closure rafah crossing practically shut year experienced belal dabour young doctor shifa hospital unable leave gaza gain experience attend conferences hoped could bolster academic qualifications graduated 2014 war started says traumatic experienced one month alshifa doctors would experience many years practice job like many colleagues source income walaa alghussein 23yearold student alazhar university concludes although people acknowledge existence cruel siege gaza life gazans remains need protests real pressure needs exerted israel siege ends hundreds patients dying students losing opportunities studying abroad whole people stranded | 679 |
<p>The 2018 NFL Draft class is prepared for formal introductions. In a word, this draft is loaded.</p>
<p>And it starts at the top, with several prospects to watch at football’s most important position.</p>
<p>Southern California’s Sam Darnold and cross-town rival Josh Rosen from UCLA plus Wyoming’s bazooka-armed Josh Allen all rate in my top five prospects overall.</p>
<p>This is but the intro to the 2018 draft class.</p>
<p>The rise of last year’s top quarterback, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mitchell-Trubisky/" type="external">Mitchell Trubisky</a>, from second-stringer at the University of North Carolina to No. 2 overall selection by the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chicago_Bears/" type="external">Chicago Bears</a> proves yet again how much can change in a year of college football.</p>
<p>Based on film review over the summer, however, these are the top 32 NFL prospects (potentially eligible for the 2018 draft) in college football.</p>
<p>1. Sam Darnold, QB, Southern Cal, 6-3, 225, 4.74, Redshirt Sophomore</p>
<p>Darnold wowed us all last year, showing all of the physical traits — including a strong, accurate arm, mobility and the stout frame necessary to hold up to punishment — that scouts are looking for in a quarterback. It was the poise and polish of a quarterback much more mature than his years, however, which really helped Darnold separate from his peers last season. With USC losing many of its offensive line and receiving corps last year to graduation and the NFL, Darnold will have to be even better this season to match the start-to-finish perch atop the Big Board that soon-to-be-star for the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Cleveland-Browns/" type="external">Cleveland Browns</a> <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Myles-Garrett/" type="external">Myles Garrett</a> enjoyed last year.</p>
<p>2. Derwin James, SS, Florida State, 6-2, 211, 4.52, Redshirt Sophomore</p>
<p>A moveable chess piece capable of playing defensive back, linebacker or even edge rusher, James stood out as a true freshman on a defense loaded with NFL stars in 2015, recording 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks to go along with five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. James has to prove his health after missing all but the first two games following surgery to repair a torn meniscus. When healthy, he’s a proven difference-maker with the versatility and explosiveness scouts crave.</p>
<p>3. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State, 5-11, 223, 4.49, Jr</p>
<p>Given the number of quality running backs drafted into the NFL in 2017, some were surprised to see the most gifted runner in the country — Barkley – return to Penn State. Bigger than Christian McCaffrey and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Dalvin-Cook/" type="external">Dalvin Cook</a>, more dynamic in the open field than <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Leonard-Fournette/" type="external">Leonard Fournette</a> and without the off-field concerns which dogged <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Joe-Mixon/" type="external">Joe Mixon</a>, Barkley is a rare bell-cow running back worthy of top five consideration.</p>
<p>4. Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA, 6-3, 220, 4.97, Junior</p>
<p>Past injuries and an outspoken personality may scare off some but no one in this class spins the ball better than Rosen, who reminds of a young <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jay_Cutler/" type="external">Jay Cutler</a>. Recall Rosen had scouts most excited at this time a year ago, before Rosen’s year was cut short due to an injury to his throwing (right) shoulder which required season-ending surgery.</p>
<p>5. Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming, 6-4, 233, 4.76, Redshirt Junior</p>
<p>Based on only raw traits, Allen is a level above his peers. He is bigger, has a stronger arm and is more athletic and aggressive with the ball in his hands as any passer in the nation not named <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Lamar-Jackson/" type="external">Lamar Jackson</a>. For all of his exciting tools, Allen comes with obvious level of competition questions and is also the more sporadic passer of the top quarterbacks, struggling especially with passes that require putting some touch on the ball.</p>
<p>6. Arden Key, DE, LSU, 6-5, 238, 4.74, Jr</p>
<p>Key is not yet as polished as some of the other top edge rushers in this class but the combination of length and speed off the corner intrigues, not to mention he is stronger at the point of attack than he appears. A big-play specialist still growing into his frame, with some refined technique Key could be even more effective in the pass-happy NFL than in the SEC; a scary thought considering he recorded 14.5 tackles for loss, including 12 sacks a year ago.</p>
<p>7. Connor Williams, OT, Texas, 6-5, 320, 5.31, Jr</p>
<p>The Longhorns have not produced a single first-round pick on offense since <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Vince_Young/" type="external">Vince Young</a> was selected No. 3 overall by Tennessee back in 2006. Williams is a strong bet to end that dubious streak. A bit of a throwback, Williams pairs power and aggression as a run blocker that scouts covet with the athleticism, balance and girth to stone pass rushers.</p>
<p>8. Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS/CB, Alabama, 6-0, 201, 4.52, Jr</p>
<p>Looking for the next top 10 NFL draft pick for Alabama? Focus on Fitzpatrick. While bouncing back and forth between starting at cornerback and safety over the past two seasons for the Tide, he already set the school record with four touchdowns scored off of interceptions. Fitzpatrick is athletic enough to handle corner duties in the NFL but his build, instincts and physical, reliable tackling project even better to safety.</p>
<p>9. Vita Vea, DT, Washington, 6-4, 344, 5.34, rJr</p>
<p>In terms of raw ability, Vea competes with only Houston true sophomore Ed Oliver as the most exciting defensive line prospect in the country. As his size suggests, Vea can dominate as a run-stuffer. He is also incredibly athletic for a man his size, surprising opponents with his initial burst and speed in pursuit.</p>
<p>10. Christian Kirk, WR, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Texas_A&amp;M/" type="external">Texas A&amp;M</a>, 5-11, 200, 4.39, Jr</p>
<p>The NFL’s thirst for playmakers has never been more obvious and Kirk is this year’s most dynamic pass-catcher. Kirk possesses the squatty frame of a running back, using terrific lateral agility, balance and pure speed to be a threat to score any time he touches the ball as a receiver or returner. Kirk led the country with three punt returns for touchdowns last year, giving him five in just two seasons.</p>
<p>11. Derrius Guice, RB, LSU, 5-11, 212, 4.52, Jr</p>
<p>Guice is not the freakish combination of size and speed that his predecessor Leonard Fournette is but he may prove an even more effective all-around back, a theory supported by the fact that he led the SEC with 1,387 rushing yards (averaging 7.6 yards per carry) and 15 touchdowns despite splitting carries. Guice has a squatty, powerful frame as well as excellent balance and a determined running style, which help him consistently bounce off would-be tacklers.</p>
<p>12. Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson, 6-3, 310, 5.04, Jr</p>
<p>From his off-beat personality to his versatility along the defensive line, Wilkins is one of the more intriguing prospects in this class. He earned All-American honors at defensive tackle as a true freshman, recording an eye-popping 84 tackles before moving out to defensive end last season and boosting his big plays, registering 13 tackles for loss (among 56 total stops) and setting a new school record among defensive linemen with 10 passes broken up. Wilkins projects best inside as a penetrating three-technique at the next level.</p>
<p>13. Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama, 6-1, 190, 4.50, Jr</p>
<p>Expectations were huge for Ridley last season after breaking <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Julio-Jones/" type="external">Julio Jones</a>‘ school record for receptions and receiving yards as a true freshman (89 for 1,045). A stacked roster and the development of young Alabama quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jalen-Hurts/" type="external">Jalen Hurts</a> resulted in less production (72 for 769 yards) for Ridley last season but his polished routes, deceptive speed and strong hands remain just as impressive on tape. A late enrollee at Alabama, Ridley is a bit older than most of the top prospects, turning 23 in December.</p>
<p>14. Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma, 6-7, 358, 5.47, rJr</p>
<p>The son of the late Orlando “Zeus” Brown (a 13-year veteran who played with the Cleveland Browns and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Baltimore-Ravens/" type="external">Baltimore Ravens</a>), the Sooners’ behemoth blocker’s sheer size and strength make referring to him as “junior” almost laughable. While lacking the nimble feet to likely remain at left tackle in the NFL (where he’s started the past two years for the Sooners), Brown’s rare arm length, powerful base and surprising balance make him a quality pass protector and not just the bulldozer in the running game that his bulk suggests.</p>
<p>15. DaRon Payne, DT, Alabama, 6-2, 308, 5.38, Jr</p>
<p>Payne may lack the imposing size and burst of some of the other top defensive linemen but his pure strength (including a 545 pound bench press) and motor stand out, even amongst the NFL junior varsity team that is the Alabama Crimson Tide. As his statistics last season (36 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks) suggest, however, Payne’s value lies with his ability to be a two-gap run stuffer not a consistent pass rush threat.</p>
<p>16. Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State, 6-1, 198, 4.49, Jr</p>
<p>After losing <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jalen-Ramsey/" type="external">Jalen Ramsey</a> early to the NFL and Derwin James (my top-rated defender in 2017) to injury, any question about the depth and talent in the Seminoles’ secondary was emphatically answered by McFadden last year, who simply tied for the national lead with eight interceptions in his first starting season. McFadden offers an exciting upside with the quick feet, instincts and soft hands scouts covet, though his focus as a tackler and in coverage can wane.</p>
<p>17. Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College, 6-2, 250, 4.76, Sr</p>
<p>Landry led the country with 16.5 sacks a season ago, surprising many with his decision to return for his senior campaign. Landry lacks elite length but he possesses terrific burst and bend off the edge, showing the balance, core strength and athleticism to handle either stand-up or hand-down rush duties in the NFL.</p>
<p>18. Billy Price, OG, Ohio State, 6-3, 312, 5.19, rSr</p>
<p>A three-year starter and reigning All-American guard, Price is about as safe as it gets in preseason NFL draft prognostication. He could have made the NFL jump a year ago and been one of the first interior offensive linemen selected but should only improve his stock by returning and proving his versatility, making the switch to center this season. Built like a cinder block (and just as tough), Price’s initial quickness and power play a key role in the Buckeyes’ offensive attack.</p>
<p>19. Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State, 6-3, 275, 4.84, Sr</p>
<p>Ranked 11 spots higher than his cousin, Nick (the star running back at Georgia), Chubb deserves family bragging rights after a breakout 2016 campaign in which he recorded career-highs in tackles (58), tackles for loss (22) and sacks (10.5). Named a captain as a true junior after the former linebacker gained 25 pounds of muscle in the off-season, Chubb has the work ethic to go along with his strength and tenacity.</p>
<p>20. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville, 6-2, 200, 4.42, Jr</p>
<p>Jackson quite literally ran away from the competition for the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Heisman_Trophy/" type="external">Heisman Trophy</a> a season ago, showing off the raw speed and playmaking ability that has earned him plenty of comparisons to 2001 No. 1 overall selection <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Michael_Vick/" type="external">Michael Vick</a>. Like Vick at Virginia Tech, Jackson — the youngest Heisman Trophy winner in history — remains a work in progress as a passer, needing to show greater recognition and precision in the pocket for most NFL offenses.</p>
<p>21. Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State, 6-4, 265, 4.76, rJr</p>
<p>Powerful, fundamentally sound and tenacious against the run and pass, alike, Hubbard is one of the better all-around defensive ends in the country and comes with relatively high floor. That said, Hubbard does not possess the quick-twitch explosiveness to consistently threaten the edge, recording just 3.5 sacks a season ago.</p>
<p>22. Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan, 6-2, 282, 4.93, rSr</p>
<p>With today’s focus on the quick passing game in the NFL, “undersized” defensive tackles who can collapse the pocket from the interior are much more valuable than in previous years. Hurst, the son of the former <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/New_England_Patriots/" type="external">New England Patriots</a> cornerback of the same name, saw his tackles for loss jump from 6.5 in 2015 to 11.5 last season. Another big jump could be in the cards this season.</p>
<p>23. DaShawn Hand, DE, Alabama, 6-3, 282, 4.87, Senior</p>
<p>With just six combined sacks over his first three seasons at Alabama, Hand has been unable to live up to the lofty expectations of recruiting experts, many of whom tabbed him as the No. 1 prep edge rusher in 2013. Hand looks the part of an NFL player with a powerful, well-proportioned physique, long arms and impressive timed speed for his size. Unfortunately, while fast in pursuit downfield or on the track, Hand shows below average initial quickness off the ball, thus far limiting his effectiveness as a rusher.</p>
<p>24. Mike McGlinchey, OT, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Notre_Dame/" type="external">Notre Dame</a>, 6-7, 312, 5.27, rSr</p>
<p>With a full season of starts at both left tackle (2016) and right tackle (2015) already under his belt in Notre Dame’s pro-style attack, McGlinchey enters his final season of college football as one of the more established blockers in the country. He is not in the same class of athlete as his former teammate and 2016 first round pick, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ronnie-Stanley/" type="external">Ronnie Stanley</a> (Baltimore Ravens), but NFL offensive line coaches will appreciate his experience, versatility and technique.</p>
<p>25. Courtland Sutton, WR, Southern Methodist, 6-3, 218, 4.58, rJr</p>
<p>The Mustangs have not churned out a top 50 NFL selection since 1986 but clubs on the lookout for a prototype split end will certainly be intrigued by Sutton, a physically imposing receiver with the height, strength and aggression to beat NFL defensive backs for contested passes. Sutton has averaged nearly 17 yards per reception over the past two seasons with 19 combined touchdowns grabs over that time.</p>
<p>26. Mitch Hyatt, OT, Clemson, 6-5, 295, 5.08, Jr</p>
<p>Skill position superstars earned most of the hype on the Clemson offense a year ago but Hyatt played a key cog in the Tigers’ national championship run. Hyatt is well suited to Clemson’s spread offense, showing light feet and good balance for a nearly 300 pound offensive lineman. To boost his NFL stock, he’ll need to continue to get stronger at the point of attack.</p>
<p>27. Ronnie Harrison, SS, Alabama, 6-2, 214, 4.57, Jr</p>
<p>A major question mark heading into his first season as a starting safety, Harrison emerged as a legitimate star by year’s end, finishing second only to Butkus Award winning linebacker <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Reuben-Foster/" type="external">Reuben Foster</a> for the team lead in tackles (86) and proving to be a big play magnet. When under control, Harrison can also be a weapon as a hitter, specializing in cleaning up the play with a stiff shoulder to stop a ball-carrier in his tracks, though risky pursuit angles and grabby hands in coverage must be improved in 2017.</p>
<p>28. Malik Jefferson, OLB, Texas, 6-2, 240, 4.66, Jr</p>
<p>A Texas native, Jefferson signed with the Longhorns amid great fanfare and seemed to justify it in his first season, earning Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors with 61 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks at outside linebacker. Jefferson posted slightly better numbers last year (62-8.5-5.5) after being moved inside but looked out of position, rarely playing with the fast-flowing reckless abandon that characterized his freshman season. Placed back outside by new Texas head coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tom-Herman/" type="external">Tom Herman</a> in a more aggressive scheme, Jefferson could be on the verge of a big comeback season.</p>
<p>29. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia, 5-10, 228, 4.54, Sr</p>
<p>Chubb surprised many with the decision to return to Georgia for the 2017 season after proving the health of his surgically-repaired knee with 1,130 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. As his squatty frame suggests, Chubb is powerful. He also shows excellent vision, balance and lateral cuts to elude defenders. With 562 career touches already, however, there will be questions as to how much punishment his body has absorbed at the college level.</p>
<p>30. Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan, 6-5, 330, 5.39, Sr</p>
<p>A year ago it was Broncos’ right tackle Taylor Moton (selected No. 64 overall by Carolina) who captured scouts attention at the Senior Bowl. Okorafor, bigger and more athletic than his former teammate, has the potential to go even higher with a big final season.</p>
<p>31. Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State, 5-10, 191, 4.43, Jr</p>
<p>Ward served as the nickel corner alongside 2017 first round picks <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Marshon-Lattimore/" type="external">Marshon Lattimore</a> and Gareon Conley last season, tying with Lattimore for the team lead with nine passes broken up. Ward lacks the starting experience and length scouts would prefer but he is a superb athlete who plays bigger than his size.</p>
<p>32. Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah, 6-1, 320, 5.22, Sr</p>
<p>Like his older brother, Star, with the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Carolina_Panthers/" type="external">Carolina Panthers</a>, Lotulelei’s vending machine-like frame and awesome power make him tough to move off the ball, helping him to project as a run-stuffing interior defensive tackle. While effective in this role, Lotulelei does not offer much in terms of a pass rush, recording just 8.5 combined sacks over the first 38 games of his career.</p>
<p>Just Missed The Cut:</p>
<p>Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville, 5-11, 192, 4.45, Jr</p>
<p>Jerome Baker, OLB, Ohio State, 6-1, 225, 4.62, Jr</p>
<p>Cameron Smith, ILB, Southern California, 6-1, 245, 4.76, Jr</p>
<p>James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State, 6-0, 205, 4.50, Sr</p>
<p>Trey Adams, OT, Washington, 6-7, 320, 5.30, Jr</p>
<p>–Rob Rang is a senior analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, owned and distributed by The Sports Xchange.</p> | false | 1 | 2018 nfl draft class prepared formal introductions word draft loaded starts top several prospects watch footballs important position southern californias sam darnold crosstown rival josh rosen ucla plus wyomings bazookaarmed josh allen rate top five prospects overall intro 2018 draft class rise last years top quarterback mitchell trubisky secondstringer university north carolina 2 overall selection chicago bears proves yet much change year college football based film review summer however top 32 nfl prospects potentially eligible 2018 draft college football 1 sam darnold qb southern cal 63 225 474 redshirt sophomore darnold wowed us last year showing physical traits including strong accurate arm mobility stout frame necessary hold punishment scouts looking quarterback poise polish quarterback much mature years however really helped darnold separate peers last season usc losing many offensive line receiving corps last year graduation nfl darnold even better season match starttofinish perch atop big board soontobestar cleveland browns myles garrett enjoyed last year 2 derwin james ss florida state 62 211 452 redshirt sophomore moveable chess piece capable playing defensive back linebacker even edge rusher james stood true freshman defense loaded nfl stars 2015 recording 91 tackles 95 tackles loss 45 sacks go along five pass breakups two forced fumbles two fumble recoveries james prove health missing first two games following surgery repair torn meniscus healthy hes proven differencemaker versatility explosiveness scouts crave 3 saquon barkley rb penn state 511 223 449 jr given number quality running backs drafted nfl 2017 surprised see gifted runner country barkley return penn state bigger christian mccaffrey dalvin cook dynamic open field leonard fournette without offfield concerns dogged joe mixon barkley rare bellcow running back worthy top five consideration 4 josh rosen qb ucla 63 220 497 junior past injuries outspoken personality may scare one class spins ball better rosen reminds young jay cutler recall rosen scouts excited time year ago rosens year cut short due injury throwing right shoulder required seasonending surgery 5 josh allen qb wyoming 64 233 476 redshirt junior based raw traits allen level peers bigger stronger arm athletic aggressive ball hands passer nation named lamar jackson exciting tools allen comes obvious level competition questions also sporadic passer top quarterbacks struggling especially passes require putting touch ball 6 arden key de lsu 65 238 474 jr key yet polished top edge rushers class combination length speed corner intrigues mention stronger point attack appears bigplay specialist still growing frame refined technique key could even effective passhappy nfl sec scary thought considering recorded 145 tackles loss including 12 sacks year ago 7 connor williams ot texas 65 320 531 jr longhorns produced single firstround pick offense since vince young selected 3 overall tennessee back 2006 williams strong bet end dubious streak bit throwback williams pairs power aggression run blocker scouts covet athleticism balance girth stone pass rushers 8 minkah fitzpatrick fscb alabama 60 201 452 jr looking next top 10 nfl draft pick alabama focus fitzpatrick bouncing back forth starting cornerback safety past two seasons tide already set school record four touchdowns scored interceptions fitzpatrick athletic enough handle corner duties nfl build instincts physical reliable tackling project even better safety 9 vita vea dt washington 64 344 534 rjr terms raw ability vea competes houston true sophomore ed oliver exciting defensive line prospect country size suggests vea dominate runstuffer also incredibly athletic man size surprising opponents initial burst speed pursuit 10 christian kirk wr texas aampm 511 200 439 jr nfls thirst playmakers never obvious kirk years dynamic passcatcher kirk possesses squatty frame running back using terrific lateral agility balance pure speed threat score time touches ball receiver returner kirk led country three punt returns touchdowns last year giving five two seasons 11 derrius guice rb lsu 511 212 452 jr guice freakish combination size speed predecessor leonard fournette may prove even effective allaround back theory supported fact led sec 1387 rushing yards averaging 76 yards per carry 15 touchdowns despite splitting carries guice squatty powerful frame well excellent balance determined running style help consistently bounce wouldbe tacklers 12 christian wilkins dt clemson 63 310 504 jr offbeat personality versatility along defensive line wilkins one intriguing prospects class earned allamerican honors defensive tackle true freshman recording eyepopping 84 tackles moving defensive end last season boosting big plays registering 13 tackles loss among 56 total stops setting new school record among defensive linemen 10 passes broken wilkins projects best inside penetrating threetechnique next level 13 calvin ridley wr alabama 61 190 450 jr expectations huge ridley last season breaking julio jones school record receptions receiving yards true freshman 89 1045 stacked roster development young alabama quarterback jalen hurts resulted less production 72 769 yards ridley last season polished routes deceptive speed strong hands remain impressive tape late enrollee alabama ridley bit older top prospects turning 23 december 14 orlando brown ot oklahoma 67 358 547 rjr son late orlando zeus brown 13year veteran played cleveland browns baltimore ravens sooners behemoth blockers sheer size strength make referring junior almost laughable lacking nimble feet likely remain left tackle nfl hes started past two years sooners browns rare arm length powerful base surprising balance make quality pass protector bulldozer running game bulk suggests 15 daron payne dt alabama 62 308 538 jr payne may lack imposing size burst top defensive linemen pure strength including 545 pound bench press motor stand even amongst nfl junior varsity team alabama crimson tide statistics last season 36 tackles including 35 loss 15 sacks suggest however paynes value lies ability twogap run stuffer consistent pass rush threat 16 tarvarus mcfadden cb florida state 61 198 449 jr losing jalen ramsey early nfl derwin james toprated defender 2017 injury question depth talent seminoles secondary emphatically answered mcfadden last year simply tied national lead eight interceptions first starting season mcfadden offers exciting upside quick feet instincts soft hands scouts covet though focus tackler coverage wane 17 harold landry olb boston college 62 250 476 sr landry led country 165 sacks season ago surprising many decision return senior campaign landry lacks elite length possesses terrific burst bend edge showing balance core strength athleticism handle either standup handdown rush duties nfl 18 billy price og ohio state 63 312 519 rsr threeyear starter reigning allamerican guard price safe gets preseason nfl draft prognostication could made nfl jump year ago one first interior offensive linemen selected improve stock returning proving versatility making switch center season built like cinder block tough prices initial quickness power play key role buckeyes offensive attack 19 bradley chubb de north carolina state 63 275 484 sr ranked 11 spots higher cousin nick star running back georgia chubb deserves family bragging rights breakout 2016 campaign recorded careerhighs tackles 58 tackles loss 22 sacks 105 named captain true junior former linebacker gained 25 pounds muscle offseason chubb work ethic go along strength tenacity 20 lamar jackson qb louisville 62 200 442 jr jackson quite literally ran away competition heisman trophy season ago showing raw speed playmaking ability earned plenty comparisons 2001 1 overall selection michael vick like vick virginia tech jackson youngest heisman trophy winner history remains work progress passer needing show greater recognition precision pocket nfl offenses 21 sam hubbard de ohio state 64 265 476 rjr powerful fundamentally sound tenacious run pass alike hubbard one better allaround defensive ends country comes relatively high floor said hubbard possess quicktwitch explosiveness consistently threaten edge recording 35 sacks season ago 22 maurice hurst dt michigan 62 282 493 rsr todays focus quick passing game nfl undersized defensive tackles collapse pocket interior much valuable previous years hurst son former new england patriots cornerback name saw tackles loss jump 65 2015 115 last season another big jump could cards season 23 dashawn hand de alabama 63 282 487 senior six combined sacks first three seasons alabama hand unable live lofty expectations recruiting experts many tabbed 1 prep edge rusher 2013 hand looks part nfl player powerful wellproportioned physique long arms impressive timed speed size unfortunately fast pursuit downfield track hand shows average initial quickness ball thus far limiting effectiveness rusher 24 mike mcglinchey ot notre dame 67 312 527 rsr full season starts left tackle 2016 right tackle 2015 already belt notre dames prostyle attack mcglinchey enters final season college football one established blockers country class athlete former teammate 2016 first round pick ronnie stanley baltimore ravens nfl offensive line coaches appreciate experience versatility technique 25 courtland sutton wr southern methodist 63 218 458 rjr mustangs churned top 50 nfl selection since 1986 clubs lookout prototype split end certainly intrigued sutton physically imposing receiver height strength aggression beat nfl defensive backs contested passes sutton averaged nearly 17 yards per reception past two seasons 19 combined touchdowns grabs time 26 mitch hyatt ot clemson 65 295 508 jr skill position superstars earned hype clemson offense year ago hyatt played key cog tigers national championship run hyatt well suited clemsons spread offense showing light feet good balance nearly 300 pound offensive lineman boost nfl stock hell need continue get stronger point attack 27 ronnie harrison ss alabama 62 214 457 jr major question mark heading first season starting safety harrison emerged legitimate star years end finishing second butkus award winning linebacker reuben foster team lead tackles 86 proving big play magnet control harrison also weapon hitter specializing cleaning play stiff shoulder stop ballcarrier tracks though risky pursuit angles grabby hands coverage must improved 2017 28 malik jefferson olb texas 62 240 466 jr texas native jefferson signed longhorns amid great fanfare seemed justify first season earning big 12 defensive freshman year honors 61 tackles seven tackles loss 25 sacks outside linebacker jefferson posted slightly better numbers last year 628555 moved inside looked position rarely playing fastflowing reckless abandon characterized freshman season placed back outside new texas head coach tom herman aggressive scheme jefferson could verge big comeback season 29 nick chubb rb georgia 510 228 454 sr chubb surprised many decision return georgia 2017 season proving health surgicallyrepaired knee 1130 rushing yards eight touchdowns squatty frame suggests chubb powerful also shows excellent vision balance lateral cuts elude defenders 562 career touches already however questions much punishment body absorbed college level 30 chukwuma okorafor ot western michigan 65 330 539 sr year ago broncos right tackle taylor moton selected 64 overall carolina captured scouts attention senior bowl okorafor bigger athletic former teammate potential go even higher big final season 31 denzel ward cb ohio state 510 191 443 jr ward served nickel corner alongside 2017 first round picks marshon lattimore gareon conley last season tying lattimore team lead nine passes broken ward lacks starting experience length scouts would prefer superb athlete plays bigger size 32 lowell lotulelei dt utah 61 320 522 sr like older brother star carolina panthers lotuleleis vending machinelike frame awesome power make tough move ball helping project runstuffing interior defensive tackle effective role lotulelei offer much terms pass rush recording 85 combined sacks first 38 games career missed cut jaire alexander cb louisville 511 192 445 jr jerome baker olb ohio state 61 225 462 jr cameron smith ilb southern california 61 245 476 jr james washington wr oklahoma state 60 205 450 sr trey adams ot washington 67 320 530 jr rob rang senior analyst nfldraftscoutcom owned distributed sports xchange | 1,867 |
<p>FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Atlanta-Falcons/" type="external">Atlanta Falcons</a>, who stumbled through the first half of the season, finally are showing a pulse after reaching the Super Bowl last season.</p>
<p>The Falcons (6-4) have posted wins over Dallas and Seattle to remain within striking distance of the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/New-Orleans-Saints/" type="external">New Orleans Saints</a> (8-2) and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Carolina_Panthers/" type="external">Carolina Panthers</a> (7-3) in the NFC South race.</p>
<p>“If we want to go where we want to go, we have got to start stringing some wins together,” defensive end Derrick Shelby said. “This was definitely a good step in the right direction getting two in a row. We just have to come back next week with the same hunger to fight.”</p>
<p>The Falcons are trailing the Saints by two games with six to play. The Falcons are also one game behind Carolina, which is 7-3.</p>
<p>If the playoffs started today, the Falcons would be the sixth seed.</p>
<p>The Falcons needed the win over the Seahawks in order to gain the all-important head-to-head tiebreaker for possible wild-card scenarios. The Falcons also have the tiebreaker over Detroit, Dallas and Green Bay.</p>
<p>“It was big,” cornerback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Desmond-Trufant/" type="external">Desmond Trufant</a> said. “They are a great team. They are very resilient. They never give up.”</p>
<p>The Falcons, who are set to host 4-6 Tampa Bay on Sunday, know the race in the NFC South is heating up.</p>
<p>“All the games are important, but these division games are big,” said Trufant, who had a big first-quarter interception against the Seahawks. “We just have to keep preparing, keep working and we’ll be good.”</p>
<p>The Falcons wanted to build on their 27-7 win over a Dallas team that was playing without running back <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ezekiel-Elliott/" type="external">Ezekiel Elliott</a> and left tackle <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tyron-Smith/" type="external">Tyron Smith</a>.</p>
<p>The Seahawks were without cornerback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Richard-Sherman/" type="external">Richard Sherman</a> and strong safety Kam Chancellor, but nobody is going to remember that come playoff time.</p>
<p>The Falcons knew quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Russell_Wilson/" type="external">Russell Wilson</a> was going to make his share of plays. He rushed seven times for 86 yards and put some open-field moves on <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Vic-Beasley/" type="external">Vic Beasley</a> Jr. and De’Vondre Campbell among others.</p>
<p>“That guy is kind of a magician back there,” Shelby said. “But for the most part, we held him under wraps. He still had his plays, but for the most part we executed the game plan.”</p>
<p>The Falcons, the defending NFC champs, believe they have indeed turned the corner and are set to move on to bigger and better things with three straight home games.</p>
<p>After the Bucs, they host the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Minnesota-Vikings/" type="external">Minnesota Vikings</a> followed by their first meeting with the Saints on Thursday, Dec. 7.</p>
<p>But the win over Seattle on the road served notice to the rest of the NFC South that they don’t plan to give up their title without a major rumble.</p>
<p>“That we can play with anybody,” Clayborn said the win of Seattle shows to the rest of the league. “We can stop guys. We can get stops and we can hold our own.”</p>
<p>REPORT CARD VS. SEATTLE</p>
<p>—PASSING OFFENSE: B – The Seahawks were determined to defend Falcons All-Pro wide receiver <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Julio-Jones/" type="external">Julio Jones</a> and that left things open for <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mohamed-Sanu/" type="external">Mohamed Sanu</a> and Justin Hardy to do some damage early. Sanu drew a pass interference call on cornerback Jeremy Lane to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tevin-Coleman/" type="external">Tevin Coleman</a> on the opening drive. It was just the third time this season the Falcons scored on their opening drive and first time since the third game of the season against the Lions. After cornerback Desmond Trufant intercepted Russell Wilson, Ryan tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Sanu. It became the first time this season the Falcons scored touchdowns on their first two drives of the game. Tight end Levine Toilolo made a nice catch for a 25-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Ryan completed 19 of 27 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Jones had five catches for 71 yards.</p>
<p>—RUSHING OFFENSE: C-minus – Running backs Tevin Coleman and Terron Ward were stuffed for most of the game, but came up with some tough yards in the fourth quarter. Ward had a dazzling 17-yard run and Coleman nearly scored from three yards out to ice the game. He was ruled stopped at the half-yard line and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Matt_Bryant/" type="external">Matt Bryant</a> followed with a 19-yard field goal to make it a two-score game with under four minutes to play. Early, the Falcons kept running toss sweeps, but Seattle’s defense slipped the cut blocks and pummeled the ball carriers. Coleman, who was making his fourth NFL start, was held to nine yards on 10 carries in the first half. Ward had two carries for one yard. It was only the 10th time in 35 NFL games that Coleman carried the ball 10 or more times in a game. In the end, Coleman rushed 20 times for 43 yards. Ward rushed six times for 31 yards.</p>
<p>—PASS DEFENSE: B-plus – The Falcons had two big turnovers in the first half from their pass defense. CB Desmond Trufant intercepted a wild pass from Russell Wilson on the Seahawks’ first possession. Early in the second quarter, rookie defensive end Takkarist McKinley sacked Wilson, defensive tackle Courtney Upshaw popped him to force a fumble and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Adrian-Clayborn/" type="external">Adrian Clayborn</a> scooped it up and raced in for a 10-yard touchdown. While playing a dime defense, defensive back C.J. Goodwin was called for tripping on third down to keep Seattle’s first touchdown drive alive. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Robert-Alford/" type="external">Robert Alford</a> was called for a pass interference call in the third quarter. The Falcons gave up a five-play, 75-yard drive and two-point conversion. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Doug-Baldwin/" type="external">Doug Baldwin</a> was wide open on a 29-yard touchdown pass. Baldwin caught the touchdown between Alford and Neal.</p>
<p>—RUSH DEFENSE: B – The run defense was stout, but received a scare when safety <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Keanu-Neal/" type="external">Keanu Neal</a> temporarily left the game in the first quarter. He returned on the following series. The Seahawks used <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mike_Davis/" type="external">Mike Davis</a>, <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Eddie-Lacy/" type="external">Eddie Lacy</a> and J.D. McKissic to run the ball. Davis had a 13-yard gain before leaving with a groin injury. Russell Wilson did some damage on his scrambles.</p>
<p>—SPECIAL TEAMS: B-minus – With the score 21-10, Andre Roberts muffed the kickoff and it was recovered by Seattle’s Tedric Thompson at Atlanta’s 11-yard line. The Seahawks turned the miscue into a touchdown to make it 21-17. Matt Bryant added a 44-yard field. Grady Jarrett sniffed out a fake field goal with seven seconds left in the first half. The kickoff coverage unit had a hard time with <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tyler-Lockett/" type="external">Tyler Lockett</a>. He had kickoff returns of 57, 37, 39, 39 and 25 yards.</p>
<p>—COACHING: A – For a key game, the Falcons came out on fire. The offense scored on its first two drives for the first time this season. They scored on their first drive of the third quarter for the second week in a row. The defense created two turnovers and scored on one. The Falcons didn’t adjust quickly enough in the run game and kept running toss sweeps that they were not able to execute the blocking. Also, the specials teams knew Lockett was perhaps the most dangerous returner in the league, but they kept kicking the ball to him.</p> | false | 1 | flowery branch ga atlanta falcons stumbled first half season finally showing pulse reaching super bowl last season falcons 64 posted wins dallas seattle remain within striking distance new orleans saints 82 carolina panthers 73 nfc south race want go want go got start stringing wins together defensive end derrick shelby said definitely good step right direction getting two row come back next week hunger fight falcons trailing saints two games six play falcons also one game behind carolina 73 playoffs started today falcons would sixth seed falcons needed win seahawks order gain allimportant headtohead tiebreaker possible wildcard scenarios falcons also tiebreaker detroit dallas green bay big cornerback desmond trufant said great team resilient never give falcons set host 46 tampa bay sunday know race nfc south heating games important division games big said trufant big firstquarter interception seahawks keep preparing keep working well good falcons wanted build 277 win dallas team playing without running back ezekiel elliott left tackle tyron smith seahawks without cornerback richard sherman strong safety kam chancellor nobody going remember come playoff time falcons knew quarterback russell wilson going make share plays rushed seven times 86 yards put openfield moves vic beasley jr devondre campbell among others guy kind magician back shelby said part held wraps still plays part executed game plan falcons defending nfc champs believe indeed turned corner set move bigger better things three straight home games bucs host minnesota vikings followed first meeting saints thursday dec 7 win seattle road served notice rest nfc south dont plan give title without major rumble play anybody clayborn said win seattle shows rest league stop guys get stops hold report card vs seattle passing offense b seahawks determined defend falcons allpro wide receiver julio jones left things open mohamed sanu justin hardy damage early sanu drew pass interference call cornerback jeremy lane set 1yard touchdown run tevin coleman opening drive third time season falcons scored opening drive first time since third game season lions cornerback desmond trufant intercepted russell wilson ryan tossed 2yard touchdown pass sanu became first time season falcons scored touchdowns first two drives game tight end levine toilolo made nice catch 25yard touchdown third quarter ryan completed 19 27 passes 195 yards two touchdowns jones five catches 71 yards rushing offense cminus running backs tevin coleman terron ward stuffed game came tough yards fourth quarter ward dazzling 17yard run coleman nearly scored three yards ice game ruled stopped halfyard line matt bryant followed 19yard field goal make twoscore game four minutes play early falcons kept running toss sweeps seattles defense slipped cut blocks pummeled ball carriers coleman making fourth nfl start held nine yards 10 carries first half ward two carries one yard 10th time 35 nfl games coleman carried ball 10 times game end coleman rushed 20 times 43 yards ward rushed six times 31 yards pass defense bplus falcons two big turnovers first half pass defense cb desmond trufant intercepted wild pass russell wilson seahawks first possession early second quarter rookie defensive end takkarist mckinley sacked wilson defensive tackle courtney upshaw popped force fumble adrian clayborn scooped raced 10yard touchdown playing dime defense defensive back cj goodwin called tripping third keep seattles first touchdown drive alive robert alford called pass interference call third quarter falcons gave fiveplay 75yard drive twopoint conversion doug baldwin wide open 29yard touchdown pass baldwin caught touchdown alford neal rush defense b run defense stout received scare safety keanu neal temporarily left game first quarter returned following series seahawks used mike davis eddie lacy jd mckissic run ball davis 13yard gain leaving groin injury russell wilson damage scrambles special teams bminus score 2110 andre roberts muffed kickoff recovered seattles tedric thompson atlantas 11yard line seahawks turned miscue touchdown make 2117 matt bryant added 44yard field grady jarrett sniffed fake field goal seven seconds left first half kickoff coverage unit hard time tyler lockett kickoff returns 57 37 39 39 25 yards coaching key game falcons came fire offense scored first two drives first time season scored first drive third quarter second week row defense created two turnovers scored one falcons didnt adjust quickly enough run game kept running toss sweeps able execute blocking also specials teams knew lockett perhaps dangerous returner league kept kicking ball | 707 |
<p>By Jorge Silva</p>
<p>COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh (Reuters) – The two Rohingya Muslim brothers, six-year-old Mohamed Heron and four-year-old Akhter, held each other as they showed burns on their arms and torsos that their uncle says resulted from Myanmar’s armed forces firing rockets at their village.</p>
<p>Two of their siblings, one seven years old and the other a 10-month-old infant, died in the attack, according to their uncle, Mohamed Inus. Their father was held by the military and has not been heard of since.</p>
<p>“These two children survived when our village was fired on with rockets,” Inus told Reuters at Kutupalong refugee camp, near Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.</p>
<p>They were among a number of Rohingya who showed their wounds to a Reuters photographer who visited Kutupalong and the nearby camps at Balukhali, Leda and Nayapara.</p>
<p>(Click http://reut.rs/2hBZZoK to view the photo essay)</p>
<p>Fleeing along with other villagers who abandoned their scorched homes, the boys reached Bangladesh after a three-day trek. At Kutupalong, they were treated for three weeks for their burns at a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic.</p>
<p>Since the ethnic violence erupted in late August, thousands of Rohingya have crossed the border each week, often travelling for days and even weeks, trekking through forests and over mountains, with many making a hazardous river or sea crossing on the last leg of their flight to fellow-Muslim Bangladesh.</p>
<p>Bangladeshi hospitals and international aid agencies are struggling to provide medical care for all the refugees, many of whom have suffered horrific injuries and psychological trauma.</p>
<p>Since the crisis began, Chittagong Medical College Hospital has received 261 casualties suffering wounds from gunshots or explosions, according to its director, Brigadier General Jalal Uddin.</p>
<p>Sixteen have died from their wounds and some have been crippled.</p>
<p>“We have had to amputate the limbs of some patients,” Jalal Uddin said.</p>
<p>Sadar Hospital in Cox’s Bazar had treated 1,467 Rohingya since the exodus began for injuries including bullet wounds, broken bones, and cuts inflicted by knives or machetes, residential medical officer Shaheen Abdur Rahman Chowdhury said.</p>
<p>More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since Myanmar’s military launched what it described as “clearance operations” following a series of attacks by Rohingya militants on security posts in Rakhine state in late August.</p>
<p>Rights monitors and fleeing Rohingya say the army and Rakhine Buddhist vigilantes have mounted a campaign of arson aimed at driving out the Muslim population.</p>
<p>The U.N. rights agency said it was “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing”. Myanmar, an overwhelmingly Buddhist nation, rejects the charge, saying its forces targeted insurgents of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, whom it has accused of setting fires and attacking civilians.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; At the camps in Bangladesh, other Rohingya victims of the violence recounted the horrors they had lived through.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;ANWARA BEGUM &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Anwara Begum, 36, said she woke to find her home in Maungdaw township, in the northernmost part of Rakhine state, in flames. Before she could get out the burning roof caved in on her and her nylon clothes melted onto her arms.</p>
<p>Her husband carried her for eight days to reach the Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;“I thought I was going to die. I tried to stay alive for my children,” she said, adding she was still waiting for treatment for her burns.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;IMAM HOSSAIN</p>
<p>His right arm swathed in bandages from the knuckles of his hand to well above the elbow, Imam Hossain, 42, lay exhausted on the roadside near the Kutupalong camp.</p>
<p>He was returning home after teaching at a madrassa in his village when three men attacked him with knives.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; The next day, he made his wife and two children leave with other villagers fleeing to Bangladesh. He reached Cox’s Bazar later. He was still searching for his family.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;“I want to ask the Myanmar government why they are harming the Rohingya,” he said. “Why do Buddhists hate us? Why do you torture us? What is wrong with us?”</p>
<p>MOHAMED JABAIR</p>
<p>Suffering burns to his limbs and torso, Mohamed Jabair, 21, had feared that he had also lost his sight in an explosion that ripped through his village home.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; Knocked unconscious and badly burned, Jabair was carried by his brother and others for four days to Cox’s Bazar.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; “I was blind for many weeks and admitted to a government hospital in Cox’s Bazar for 23 days. I was frightened that I would be blind forever,” he said.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; Jabair said money sent by relatives in Malaysia had run out and he could no longer afford treatment.</p>
<p>NUR KAMAL</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; Bowing to show deep cuts arcing across his scalp, 17-year-old Nur Kamal described how soldiers assaulted him after they found the young shopkeeper hiding in his home in Kan Hpu village in Maungdaw.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; “They hit me with a rifle butt on my head first and then with a knife,” Kamal said.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160; &#160;His uncle found him unconscious in a pool of blood. It took them two weeks to get to Bangladesh.&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;“We want justice,” Kamal said. “We want the international community to help us obtain justice.”</p>
<p>KALABAROW</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; Her husband, daughter and one son were killed when soldiers fired on Kalabarow’s village in Maungdaw. The 50-year-old woman was hit in her right foot. For several hours, she lay where she fell, pretending to be dead, before a grandson found her.</p>
<p>During their 11-day journey to Bangladesh, a village doctor amputated her infected foot and four men carried her on a stretcher made of bamboo and a bedsheet.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;“As we walked through the forest, we saw burnt villages and dead bodies. I thought we would never be safe,” she said.</p>
<p>ABDUR RAHAMAN</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; Abdur Rahaman, a 73-year-old merchant from Maungdaw, was ambushed while walking on a mountain path with other refugees.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;A machete thrown at his feet severed three toes as he ran from his attackers. With his foot bleeding through a tourniquet made from his longyi, or sarong, Rahaman walked for two more hours, before his nephew and friends carried him across the border.</p>
<p>“Our future is not good,” he said. “Allah must help us. The international community has to do something.”</p>
<p>ANSAR ALLAH</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; Curled up in a ball, 11-year-old Ansar Allah shows a large, livid scar on his right thigh – the result of a gunshot wound.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;“They sprayed us with bullets, as our house was burning,” his mother Samara said.</p>
<p>“It was a bullet half the size of my index finger,” she said, before adding, “I can’t stop thinking, why did God put us in that dangerous situation?”</p>
<p>SETARA BEGUM</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; Setara Begum, 12, was among nine siblings in their home in Maungdaw when it was hit by a rocket.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; “I saved eight of my nine children from the burning house, but Setara was trapped inside,” said her mother, Arafa.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; “I could see her crying in the middle of the fire, but it was difficult to save her. By the time we could reach her, she was badly burned,” Arafa said.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; Setara’s father carried her for two days to Bangladesh.&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;The young girl received no treatment for the severe burns to her feet. Her feet healed. But she has no toes.</p>
<p>The trauma has scarred her psychologically.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; “She has been mute from that day, and doesn’t speak to anyone,” her mother said. “She only cries silently.”</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;MOMTAZ BEGUM&#160;</p>
<p>Her face heavily bandaged, Momtaz Begum told how soldiers came to her village demanding valuables.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; “I told them I was poor and had nothing. One of them started beating me saying, ‘If you have no money, then we will kill you’.”</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; After beating her, they locked her in her home and set fire to the roof. She escaped to find her three sons dead and her daughter beaten and bleeding.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Momtaz fled to Bangladesh, where she spent 20 days at the MSF clinic being treated for burns to her face and body.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; “What can I say about the future, if now we have no food, no house, no family. We cannot think about the future. They have killed that as well.”</p> | false | 1 | jorge silva coxs bazar bangladesh reuters two rohingya muslim brothers sixyearold mohamed heron fouryearold akhter held showed burns arms torsos uncle says resulted myanmars armed forces firing rockets village two siblings one seven years old 10monthold infant died attack according uncle mohamed inus father held military heard since two children survived village fired rockets inus told reuters kutupalong refugee camp near coxs bazar bangladesh among number rohingya showed wounds reuters photographer visited kutupalong nearby camps balukhali leda nayapara click httpreutrs2hbzzok view photo essay fleeing along villagers abandoned scorched homes boys reached bangladesh threeday trek kutupalong treated three weeks burns médecins sans frontières msf clinic since ethnic violence erupted late august thousands rohingya crossed border week often travelling days even weeks trekking forests mountains many making hazardous river sea crossing last leg flight fellowmuslim bangladesh bangladeshi hospitals international aid agencies struggling provide medical care refugees many suffered horrific injuries psychological trauma since crisis began chittagong medical college hospital received 261 casualties suffering wounds gunshots explosions according director brigadier general jalal uddin sixteen died wounds crippled amputate limbs patients jalal uddin said sadar hospital coxs bazar treated 1467 rohingya since exodus began injuries including bullet wounds broken bones cuts inflicted knives machetes residential medical officer shaheen abdur rahman chowdhury said 600000 rohingya fled bangladesh since myanmars military launched described clearance operations following series attacks rohingya militants security posts rakhine state late august rights monitors fleeing rohingya say army rakhine buddhist vigilantes mounted campaign arson aimed driving muslim population un rights agency said textbook example ethnic cleansing myanmar overwhelmingly buddhist nation rejects charge saying forces targeted insurgents arakan rohingya salvation army accused setting fires attacking civilians 160160160 camps bangladesh rohingya victims violence recounted horrors lived 160160160160anwara begum 160160160160160 160160160160anwara begum 36 said woke find home maungdaw township northernmost part rakhine state flames could get burning roof caved nylon clothes melted onto arms husband carried eight days reach kutupalong camp bangladesh 160160160160i thought going die tried stay alive children said adding still waiting treatment burns 160160160160imam hossain right arm swathed bandages knuckles hand well elbow imam hossain 42 lay exhausted roadside near kutupalong camp returning home teaching madrassa village three men attacked knives 160160160 next day made wife two children leave villagers fleeing bangladesh reached coxs bazar later still searching family 160160160160i want ask myanmar government harming rohingya said buddhists hate us torture us wrong us mohamed jabair suffering burns limbs torso mohamed jabair 21 feared also lost sight explosion ripped village home 160160160 knocked unconscious badly burned jabair carried brother others four days coxs bazar 160160160 blind many weeks admitted government hospital coxs bazar 23 days frightened would blind forever said 160160160 jabair said money sent relatives malaysia run could longer afford treatment nur kamal 160160160 bowing show deep cuts arcing across scalp 17yearold nur kamal described soldiers assaulted found young shopkeeper hiding home kan hpu village maungdaw 160160160 hit rifle butt head first knife kamal said 160160 160his uncle found unconscious pool blood took two weeks get bangladesh160 160160160160we want justice kamal said want international community help us obtain justice kalabarow 160160160 husband daughter one son killed soldiers fired kalabarows village maungdaw 50yearold woman hit right foot several hours lay fell pretending dead grandson found 11day journey bangladesh village doctor amputated infected foot four men carried stretcher made bamboo bedsheet 160160160160as walked forest saw burnt villages dead bodies thought would never safe said abdur rahaman 160160160 abdur rahaman 73yearold merchant maungdaw ambushed walking mountain path refugees 160160160160a machete thrown feet severed three toes ran attackers foot bleeding tourniquet made longyi sarong rahaman walked two hours nephew friends carried across border future good said allah must help us international community something ansar allah 160160160 curled ball 11yearold ansar allah shows large livid scar right thigh result gunshot wound 160160160160they sprayed us bullets house burning mother samara said bullet half size index finger said adding cant stop thinking god put us dangerous situation setara begum 160160160 setara begum 12 among nine siblings home maungdaw hit rocket 160160160 saved eight nine children burning house setara trapped inside said mother arafa 160160160 could see crying middle fire difficult save time could reach badly burned arafa said 160160160 setaras father carried two days bangladesh160 160160160160the young girl received treatment severe burns feet feet healed toes trauma scarred psychologically 160160160 mute day doesnt speak anyone mother said cries silently 160160160160momtaz begum160 face heavily bandaged momtaz begum told soldiers came village demanding valuables 160160160 told poor nothing one started beating saying money kill 160160160 beating locked home set fire roof escaped find three sons dead daughter beaten bleeding 160160160160momtaz fled bangladesh spent 20 days msf clinic treated burns face body 160160160 say future food house family think future killed well | 781 |
<p>By David Shepardson</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday unveiled plans to repeal a landmark 2015 order that barred internet service providers from blocking or slowing down consumer access to web content, and said the regulator will prevent states and cities from adopting similar protections.</p>
<p>FCC chief Ajit Pai, a Republican appointed by President Donald Trump in January, said the commission will vote at a Dec. 14 meeting on rescinding the so-called net neutrality rules championed by Democratic former President Barack Obama that treated internet service providers like public utilities.</p>
<p>With three Republican and two Democratic commissioners, the move is all but certain to be approved. Trump, a Republican, expressed his opposition to net neutrality in 2014 before the regulations were even implemented, calling it a “power grab” by Obama.</p>
<p>“The FCC will no longer be in the business of micromanaging business models and preemptively prohibiting services and applications and products that could be pro-competitive,” Pai said in an interview, adding that the Obama administration had sought to pick winners and losers and exercised “heavy-handed” regulation of the internet.</p>
<p>“We should simply set rules of the road that let companies of all kinds in every sector compete and let consumers decide who wins and loses,” Pai added.</p>
<p>The net neutrality rules, aimed at giving consumers equal access to web content, also forbade broadband providers from charging consumers more for certain content, a practice called “paid prioritization.”</p>
<p>Pai said state and local governments “need to be preempted” from imposing their own net neutrality rules because broadband internet service is “inherently an interstate service.” The preemption is most likely to handcuff Democratic-governed states and localities that could have considered their own plans to protect consumers’ equal access to internet content.</p>
<p>The FCC’s planned action represents a victory for internet service providers including AT&amp;T Inc (NYSE:), Comcast Corp (NASDAQ:) and Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:), which had urged the FCC to revoke the rules. The companies have said that repealing the could lead to billions of dollars in additional broadband investment and eliminate the possibility that a future presidential administration could regulate internet pricing.</p>
<p>In July, a group representing major technology firms including Google parent Alphabet (NASDAQ:) Inc and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:) had urged Pai to drop plans to rescind the rules.</p>
<p>At the December meeting, the FCC will vote on Pai’s proposal to require internet service providers to disclose whether they allow blocking or slowing down of consumer web access or permit so-called internet fast lanes to facilitate paid prioritization. Such disclosure will make it easier for another agency, the Federal Trade Commission, to act against internet service providers that fail to disclose such conduct to consumers, Pai said.</p>
<p>The FCC under Obama regulated internet service providers like public utilities under a section of federal law that gave the agency sweeping oversight over the conduct of these companies.</p>
<p>A federal appeals court last year upheld the legality of the net neutrality regulations, which were challenged in a lawsuit led by a telecommunications industry trade association.</p>
<p>‘GONE FOR GOOD’</p>
<p>The FCC’s repeal is certain to draw a legal challenge from advocates of net neutrality. Many Democrats and some internet firms argue that without the rules, internet providers will threaten the openness of the internet.</p>
<p>New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter, “The internet is the public square of the 21st century. Unless we all speak out against the @FCC’s efforts to gut #netneutrality, the free and open internet we know today could be gone for good.”</p>
<p>The planned repeal represents the latest example of a legacy achievement of Obama being erased since Trump, a businessman-turned-politician, took office in January. Trump has abandoned international trade deals, the landmark Paris climate accord and environmental protections, taken aim at the Iran nuclear accord and closer relations with Cuba, and sought repeal Obama’s signature healthcare law.</p>
<p>The new order will reclassify internet providers as “information services” rather than a “telecommunication service,” which means the FCC has significantly less authority to oversee the web. The FCC granted initial approval to Pai’s plan in May, but had left open many key questions including whether to retain any legal requirements limiting internet providers conduct.</p>
<p>Pai, who has moved quickly to undo numerous regulatory actions since taking over as chairman, is mounting a broad deregulatory agenda and has pledged to take a “weed whacker” to unneeded regulations. Pai said he had not shared his plans on the rollback with the White House in advance or been directed to undo the order by White House officials.</p>
<p>Pai said the FCC is adopting a “market-based deregulatory approach.” The FCC also will vote to eliminate the “internet conduct standard,” which gives the FCC far-reaching discretion to prohibit any internet service provider practice that it believes violates a long list of factors and sought to address future discriminatory conduct.</p>
<p>Pai said his goal is to use a “light-touch market-based” regulatory approach, arguing the internet operated well before the rules were adopted in 2015. The internet “is the greatest free market innovation in history,” Pai said, adding that government regulations could hinder that.</p> | false | 1 | david shepardson washington reuters chairman federal communications commission tuesday unveiled plans repeal landmark 2015 order barred internet service providers blocking slowing consumer access web content said regulator prevent states cities adopting similar protections fcc chief ajit pai republican appointed president donald trump january said commission vote dec 14 meeting rescinding socalled net neutrality rules championed democratic former president barack obama treated internet service providers like public utilities three republican two democratic commissioners move certain approved trump republican expressed opposition net neutrality 2014 regulations even implemented calling power grab obama fcc longer business micromanaging business models preemptively prohibiting services applications products could procompetitive pai said interview adding obama administration sought pick winners losers exercised heavyhanded regulation internet simply set rules road let companies kinds every sector compete let consumers decide wins loses pai added net neutrality rules aimed giving consumers equal access web content also forbade broadband providers charging consumers certain content practice called paid prioritization pai said state local governments need preempted imposing net neutrality rules broadband internet service inherently interstate service preemption likely handcuff democraticgoverned states localities could considered plans protect consumers equal access internet content fccs planned action represents victory internet service providers including atampt inc nyse comcast corp nasdaq verizon communications inc nyse urged fcc revoke rules companies said repealing could lead billions dollars additional broadband investment eliminate possibility future presidential administration could regulate internet pricing july group representing major technology firms including google parent alphabet nasdaq inc facebook inc nasdaq urged pai drop plans rescind rules december meeting fcc vote pais proposal require internet service providers disclose whether allow blocking slowing consumer web access permit socalled internet fast lanes facilitate paid prioritization disclosure make easier another agency federal trade commission act internet service providers fail disclose conduct consumers pai said fcc obama regulated internet service providers like public utilities section federal law gave agency sweeping oversight conduct companies federal appeals court last year upheld legality net neutrality regulations challenged lawsuit led telecommunications industry trade association gone good fccs repeal certain draw legal challenge advocates net neutrality many democrats internet firms argue without rules internet providers threaten openness internet new york attorney general eric schneiderman democrat wrote twitter internet public square 21st century unless speak fccs efforts gut netneutrality free open internet know today could gone good planned repeal represents latest example legacy achievement obama erased since trump businessmanturnedpolitician took office january trump abandoned international trade deals landmark paris climate accord environmental protections taken aim iran nuclear accord closer relations cuba sought repeal obamas signature healthcare law new order reclassify internet providers information services rather telecommunication service means fcc significantly less authority oversee web fcc granted initial approval pais plan may left open many key questions including whether retain legal requirements limiting internet providers conduct pai moved quickly undo numerous regulatory actions since taking chairman mounting broad deregulatory agenda pledged take weed whacker unneeded regulations pai said shared plans rollback white house advance directed undo order white house officials pai said fcc adopting marketbased deregulatory approach fcc also vote eliminate internet conduct standard gives fcc farreaching discretion prohibit internet service provider practice believes violates long list factors sought address future discriminatory conduct pai said goal use lighttouch marketbased regulatory approach arguing internet operated well rules adopted 2015 internet greatest free market innovation history pai said adding government regulations could hinder | 553 |
<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Wednesday despite intense Arab, Muslim and European opposition to a move that would upend decades of U.S. policy and risk potentially violent protests.</p>
<p>Trump will instruct the State Department to begin the multi-year process of moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city, U.S. officials said Tuesday. It remains unclear, however, when he might take that physical step, which is required by U.S. law but has been waived on national security grounds for more than two decades.</p>
<p>The officials said numerous logistical and security details, as well as site determination and construction, will need to be finalized first. Because of those issues, the embassy is not likely to move for at least 3 or 4 years, presuming there is no future change in U.S. policy.</p>
<p>To that end, the officials said Trump will sign a waiver delaying the embassy move, which is required by U.S. law every six months. He will continue to sign the waiver until preparations for the embassy move are complete.</p>
<p>The officials said recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital will be an acknowledgement of “historical and current reality” rather than a political statement and said the city’s physical and political borders will not be compromised. They noted that almost all of Israel’s government agencies and parliament are in Jerusalem, rather than Tel Aviv, where the U.S. and other countries maintain embassies.</p>
<p>The U.S. officials spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity Tuesday because they were not authorized to publicly preview Trump’s Wednesday announcement. Their comments mirrored those of officials who spoke on the issue last week.</p>
<p>Consequences may be dangerous</p>
<p>The declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is a rhetorical volley that could have its own dangerous consequences. The United States has never endorsed the Jewish state’s claim of sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem and has insisted its status be resolved through Israeli-Palestinian negotiation.</p>
<p>The mere consideration of Trump changing the status quo sparked a renewed U.S. security warning on Tuesday. America’s consulate in Jerusalem ordered U.S. personnel and their families to avoid visiting Jerusalem’s Old City or the West Bank, and urged American citizens in general to avoid places with increased police or military presence.</p>
<p>Trump, as a presidential candidate, repeatedly promised to move the U.S. embassy. However, U.S. leaders have routinely and unceremoniously delayed such a move since President Bill Clinton signed a law in 1995 stipulating that the United States must relocate its diplomatic presence to Jerusalem unless the commander in chief issues a waiver on national security grounds.</p>
<p>Key national security advisers — including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis — have urged caution, according to the officials, who said Trump has been receptive to some of their concerns.</p>
<p>The concerns are real: Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital could be viewed as America discarding its longstanding neutrality and siding with Israel at a time that the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has been trying to midwife a new peace process into existence. Trump, too, has spoken of his desire for a “deal of the century” that would end Israeli-Palestinian conflict.</p>
<p>U.S. officials, along with an outside adviser to the administration, said they expected a broad statement from Trump about Jerusalem’s status as the “capital of Israel.” The president isn’t planning to use the phrase “undivided capital,” according to the officials. Such terminology is favored by Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and would imply Israel’s sovereignty over east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians seek for their own future capital.</p>
<p>Jerusalem includes the holiest ground in Judaism. But it’s also home to Islam’s third-holiest shrine and major Christian sites, and forms the combustible center of the Israeli-Arab conflict. Any perceived harm to Muslim claims to the city has triggered volatile protests in the past, both in the Holy Land and across the Muslim world.</p>
<p>Warnings and peace efforts</p>
<p>Within the Trump administration, officials on Tuesday fielded a flood of warnings from allied governments.</p>
<p>The Jerusalem declaration notwithstanding, one official said Trump would insist that issues of sovereignty and borders must be negotiated by Israel and the Palestinians. The official said Trump would call for Jordan to maintain its role as the legal guardian of Jerusalem’s Muslim holy places, and reflect Israel and Palestinian wishes for a two-state peace solution.</p>
<p>Still, any U.S. declaration on Jerusalem’s status ahead of a peace deal “would harm peace negotiation process and escalate tension in the region,” Saudi Arabia’s King Salman told Trump Tuesday, according to a Saudi readout of their telephone conversation. Declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the king said, “would constitute a flagrant provocation to all Muslims, all over the world.”</p>
<p>In his calls to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Trump delivered what appeared to be identical messages of intent. Both leaders warned Trump that moving the embassy would threaten Mideast peace efforts and security and stability in the Middle East and the world, according to statements from their offices. The statements didn’t speak to Trump’s plans for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.</p>
<p>Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, the head of the Arab League, urged the U.S. to reconsider any recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, warning of “repercussions.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Parliament such recognition was a “red line” and that Turkey could respond by cutting diplomatic ties with Israel.</p>
<p>French President Emmanuel Macron said he reminded Trump in a phone call Monday that Jerusalem should be determined through negotiations on setting up an independent Palestine alongside Israel. Meeting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said actions undermining peace efforts “must be absolutely avoided.”</p>
<p>Despite Trump’s comments to world leaders, U.S. officials said an embassy announcement wasn’t seen as imminent. Instead, they said Trump on Wednesday would likely sign a waiver pushing off any announcement of moving the embassy to Jerusalem for another six months.</p>
<p>Trump also will give wide latitude to his ambassador in Israel, David Friedman, to make a determination on when a Jerusalem embassy would be appropriate, according to the officials. Friedman has spoken in favor of the move.</p>
<p>Majdi Khaldi, Abbas’ diplomatic adviser, said Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital could end Washington’s role as mediator.</p>
<p>“This would mean they decided, on their own, to distance themselves from efforts to make peace,” Khaldi told The Associated Press in perhaps the most sharply worded reaction by a Palestinian official. He said such recognition would lead the Palestinians to eliminate contacts with the United States.</p>
<p>Changing Jerusalem’s status would be “a stab in the back,” Husam Zomlot, the Palestinians’ chief delegate to Washington, told the AP.</p>
<p>Palestinian political factions led by Abbas’ Fatah movement called for daily protest marches this week, starting Wednesday. East Jerusalem, now home to more than 300,000 Palestinians, was captured by Israel in 1967 and then annexed in a move most of the international community has not recognized.</p> | false | 1 | washington president donald trump recognize jerusalem israels capital wednesday despite intense arab muslim european opposition move would upend decades us policy risk potentially violent protests trump instruct state department begin multiyear process moving american embassy tel aviv holy city us officials said tuesday remains unclear however might take physical step required us law waived national security grounds two decades officials said numerous logistical security details well site determination construction need finalized first issues embassy likely move least 3 4 years presuming future change us policy end officials said trump sign waiver delaying embassy move required us law every six months continue sign waiver preparations embassy move complete officials said recognition jerusalem israels capital acknowledgement historical current reality rather political statement said citys physical political borders compromised noted almost israels government agencies parliament jerusalem rather tel aviv us countries maintain embassies us officials spoke reporters condition anonymity tuesday authorized publicly preview trumps wednesday announcement comments mirrored officials spoke issue last week consequences may dangerous declaration jerusalem israels capital rhetorical volley could dangerous consequences united states never endorsed jewish states claim sovereignty part jerusalem insisted status resolved israelipalestinian negotiation mere consideration trump changing status quo sparked renewed us security warning tuesday americas consulate jerusalem ordered us personnel families avoid visiting jerusalems old city west bank urged american citizens general avoid places increased police military presence trump presidential candidate repeatedly promised move us embassy however us leaders routinely unceremoniously delayed move since president bill clinton signed law 1995 stipulating united states must relocate diplomatic presence jerusalem unless commander chief issues waiver national security grounds key national security advisers including secretary state rex tillerson defense secretary jim mattis urged caution according officials said trump receptive concerns concerns real trumps recognition jerusalem israels capital could viewed america discarding longstanding neutrality siding israel time presidents soninlaw jared kushner trying midwife new peace process existence trump spoken desire deal century would end israelipalestinian conflict us officials along outside adviser administration said expected broad statement trump jerusalems status capital israel president isnt planning use phrase undivided capital according officials terminology favored israeli officials including prime minister benjamin netanyahu would imply israels sovereignty east jerusalem palestinians seek future capital jerusalem includes holiest ground judaism also home islams thirdholiest shrine major christian sites forms combustible center israeliarab conflict perceived harm muslim claims city triggered volatile protests past holy land across muslim world warnings peace efforts within trump administration officials tuesday fielded flood warnings allied governments jerusalem declaration notwithstanding one official said trump would insist issues sovereignty borders must negotiated israel palestinians official said trump would call jordan maintain role legal guardian jerusalems muslim holy places reflect israel palestinian wishes twostate peace solution still us declaration jerusalems status ahead peace deal would harm peace negotiation process escalate tension region saudi arabias king salman told trump tuesday according saudi readout telephone conversation declaring jerusalem israels capital king said would constitute flagrant provocation muslims world calls palestinian president mahmoud abbas jordans king abdullah ii trump delivered appeared identical messages intent leaders warned trump moving embassy would threaten mideast peace efforts security stability middle east world according statements offices statements didnt speak trumps plans recognizing jerusalem israels capital ahmed aboulgheit head arab league urged us reconsider recognition jerusalem israels capital warning repercussions turkish president recep tayyip erdogan told parliament recognition red line turkey could respond cutting diplomatic ties israel french president emmanuel macron said reminded trump phone call monday jerusalem determined negotiations setting independent palestine alongside israel meeting us secretary state rex tillerson brussels eu foreign policy chief federica mogherini said actions undermining peace efforts must absolutely avoided despite trumps comments world leaders us officials said embassy announcement wasnt seen imminent instead said trump wednesday would likely sign waiver pushing announcement moving embassy jerusalem another six months trump also give wide latitude ambassador israel david friedman make determination jerusalem embassy would appropriate according officials friedman spoken favor move majdi khaldi abbas diplomatic adviser said trumps recognition jerusalem israels capital could end washingtons role mediator would mean decided distance efforts make peace khaldi told associated press perhaps sharply worded reaction palestinian official said recognition would lead palestinians eliminate contacts united states changing jerusalems status would stab back husam zomlot palestinians chief delegate washington told ap palestinian political factions led abbas fatah movement called daily protest marches week starting wednesday east jerusalem home 300000 palestinians captured israel 1967 annexed move international community recognized | 727 |
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