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Tuesday, 17 March 2015

News headlines - 03/16/2015

Netanyahu: If I'm elected, there will be no Palestinian state




In a definitive disavowal of his Bar-Ilan two-state speech, prime minister makes last-minute attempt to draw voters from Bennett's Habayit Hayeudi.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau said Monday that if he were to be reelected, a Palestinian state would not be created, in a definite disavowal of his 2009 speech, in which he had voiced support for the principle of two states for two peoples.

Netanyahu's remarks in an interview with the NRG website - which is owned by casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and tied with the settler newspaper Makor Rishon - were a last-minute attempt to pull right-wing voters away from Habayit Hayehudi.

"I think that anyone who moves to establish a Palestinian state and evacuate territory gives territory away to radical Islamist attacks against Israel," Netanyahu said. "The left has buried its head in the sand time and after time and ignores this, but we are realistic and understand."



South Africa Rebuffs US Attempts to Take Over its Nuclear Materials


The United States wants South Africa to get rid of several hundred pounds of uranium, but Pretoria is saying not a chance.

South Africa has enough nuclear fuel for about six bombs – each of them would wipe out Washington, DC, or large sections of New York City. After apartheid officially ended with the 1994 election of Nelson Mandela as president, South Africa started extracting the uranium from the apartheid government’s cache of nuclear weapons. Some of that has been used to make medical isotopes, but close to 485 pounds remain.

Israeli intelligence agency Mossad obtained, then returned, missile blueprints that were stolen from South Africa.

That means South Africa could conceivably develop nuclear weapons again, but Washington says it is most worried that the uranium could be stolen and used by militants or terrorists. In 2007, thieves managed to break into the site where the uranium is stored and got pretty far until they were finally stopped by a guard who called for reinforcements.

Pretoria calls it nothing more than a minor robbery attempt, but US officials tell the watchdog group Center for Public Integrity that the thieves appeared to know what they were doing and were after the uranium to make bombs. Plus, South Africa, say observers, has a significant problem with crime, and this kind of attempted heist could happen again with dire consequences.


Since that attempted robbery, Washington has been quietly lobbying South Africa to get rid of what the US considers highly vulnerable uranium, but like previous leaders, South African president Jacob Zuma is not biting. President Obama has offered US help in changing the South African uranium into non-lethal reactor fuel, but Zuma says South Africa needs its nuclear materials and can keep them secure.

South African officials also say that the US shouldn’t be “obsessing” about what amounts to a small amount of nuclear fuel when Washington is stockpiled to the teeth, and going after South Africa puts a damper on their plans to focus on peaceful and profitable nuclear technology in South Africa and the rest of the developing world.


Ironically, it was the US that helped South Africa build their first nuclear reactor under a program called Atoms for Peace in the mid-1960s, and trained scientists to run the system using uranium fuel that the United States supplied. Washington stopped the flow of uranium in 1976 when it believed that the South African government was secretly building nuclear bombs.


As drought worsens, L.A. water agency offers cash to Sacramento Valley farmers



Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article13908632.html#storylink=cpy
With the drought stretching into its fourth year, a heavyweight water agency from Los Angeles has come calling on Sacramento Valley rice farmers, offering up to $71 million for some of their water.

The price being offered is so high, some farmers can make more from selling water than from growing their rice. Many are willing to deal: Nine irrigation districts, mainly serving rice growers along the Feather River basin, have made tentative deals to ship a portion of their water to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and several other water agencies later this summer.




Iran Scrapped from US Terrorism Threat List, Praised for Fighting ISIL



The annual report delivered to the US Senate by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper removed Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah as terrorist threats.

The report on Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Communities was recently made public, with Iran and Hezbollah scrapped from the terrorism list. The change is particularly significant as both Iran and Hezbollah have been featured in the section in previous years. In 2014, both were listed as terrorist threats within the context of the Syrian civil war in addition to direct threats they pose to the US and its allies.

The terrorism section in the most recent report focuses primarily on the rising threat of Sunni extremist groups, such as the self-proclaimed Islamic State, noting the potential access these groups have to the US due to the number of foreigners fighting in Syria and Iraq.

“Although most homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) will probably continue to aspire to travel overseas, particularly to Syria and Iraq, they will probably remain the most likely Sunni violent extremist threat to the US homeland because of their immediate and direct access.”

The report additionally notes Iran’s role in combating these threats.

“The rise of ISIL has prompted Iran to devote more resources to blunting Sunni extremist advances that threaten Iran’s regional allies and interests. Iran’s security services have provided robust military support to Baghdad and Damascus, including arms, advisers, funding, and direct combat support.”

According to an Israeli think tank, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, Iran’s role in combating the Islamic State in the region contributed to the country’s weakened threat assessment.

While Iran is not listed as a terrorist threat, the country still appears under separate threats in the report. The Islamic Republic is listed as a threat under the report’s Cyber, Regional, and Weapons of Mass Destruction and Proliferation Sections. The Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah, also funded and supported by Iran, is mentioned only once in the report, and only in reference to the group’s efforts in fighting off Islamic State advances in Lebanon.

The report notes Iran’s work in ameliorating sectarian tensions in the region, citing the country’s efforts to “build responsive partners” and “deescalate tensions with Saudi Arabia." However, it is maintained the Iran’s policies may also serve to further fuel regional conflict and sectarianism through the country’s support of Shia groups.

“Iranian leaders…are pursuing policies with negative secondary consequences for regional stability and potentially for Iran. Iran’s actions to protect and empower Shia communities are fueling growing fears and sectarian responses.”

Iran’s nuclear program is also cited as a threat to US interests and allies, with the report stating that the country “does not face any insurmountable technical barriers to producing a nuclear weapon.” The report, however, additionally notes that Iran’s intentions of building nuclear weapons are still unknown




ISIS fighters dress as women in desperate attempt to flee battlefield‏


As Islamic State-driven violence rages on in Iraq, people are using any means possible to escape, and for some that means dressing in drag.

On Monday, the Iraqi army arrested 20 male Islamic State members dressed as women in the northern city of Baquba, according to spokesman Ghalib al-Jubouri.

The arrested used a number of creative ways to pull off a realistic female disguise, as seen in the pictures originally posted on Instagram.



Underneath the robes and veils, the men put on makeup, wore dresses and some even wore women's bras. Others chose not to shave their facial hair, though still applied eyeliner, eyeshadow and blush.

The men were desperately attempting to flee the fighting in Tikrit, which Iraq's military only managed to take back from Islamic State six days ago.



It is unclear what will be the fate of the Islamic State members now that they are in police custody.


Also at the Daily Mail

Iraq's US-trained ‘Dirty Brigades’ investigated for alleged war crimes on a par with ISIS 




As America ramps up war efforts to combat acts of terror and violence committed by the Islamic State (formerly ISIS), new inquiries are being made regarding the alleged war crimes committed by the US-backed


‘Like living inside space station’: Julian Assange marks 1,000 days in limbo



It has been exactly 1,000 days since whistleblower Julian Assange was forced to hide out at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where outside powers can’t prosecute him. Supporters are holding a vigil for the WikiLeaks founder today.

The forced self-incarceration came in 2010, in the wake of the allegations of sexual assault leveled against him by two Swedish women. The whistleblower has denied the allegations of sexual misconduct and rape.

The ordeal has caused Assange a sizeable amount of both psychological and physical strain. He can’t take one step outside, for fear of being snagged by the British police immediately – which means the sun and fresh air are out of the question. Assange describes this as “living inside a space station.”

http://rt.com/news/241077-assange-anniversary-wikileaks-whistleblower/
From Rice Farmer

News Links, March 16, 2015


## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
Ships Beached for Scrap as Returns Reach Record LowScrap yards are preparing for record numbers of freighters as shipping rates tumble to all-time lows. Owners may demolish 40 million deadweight tons of dry bulk carriers, more than double last year's total, according to Arctic Securities ASA in Oslo. Rates to ship commodities slumped 66 percent last year amid a glut of capacity, the worst performance since the global recession.
The British are hedging their bets regarding which side their bread will be buttered on during the coming decades. -- RF
Rate cuts: 24 so far and there's more to comeAn interest rate cut from South Korea Thursday takes the number of central banks that have stepped up their monetary easing this year to 24 and that number is likely to rise, analysts say.
Russia seeing 'surge' of investment from ChinaA slew of Chinese companies are investing in Russia, according to the CEO of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, who said it was helping to negate the void caused by international sanctions.
P2P: A shadow banking sector has gotten 65 times larger
Big Squeeze Coming: Emerging Market Corporate Debt Maturities To Soar In Next 5 Years
Deep cuts at Heinz boost 2014 profits to more than $650 millionH.J. Heinz Co. slashed more than 7,000 jobs since going private in 2013, the Pittsburgh ketchup maker disclosed Friday in a financial report that shows aggressive cost-cutting boosted profits.
Iceland officially drops EU membership bid
Cashless transactions will work only as long as there is stable, reliable electricity to run the systems. -- RF
You have got to be kidding. It won't stop at $2,000. But don't use your gold right away; wait until after the initial shake-out. People's primary concerns at first will be food and fuel. -- RF
Air Transat plans more seats in bid to save moneyDiscount airline needs to cut $100 million over 3 years as losses widen

## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Atrocities Committed by U.S.-Trained Iraqi Forces — Again
Investigative reporter James Gordon Meek broke an important story this week: He revealed that U.S.-backed forces in Iraq are committing the same type of horrific war crimes — wanton killings of prisoners, beheadings, torture — as the Islamic State fighters on the other side of the front line.
South American Nations Reject US Measures Against Venezuela OfficialsSouth American nations on Saturday rejected the U.S. decision to label Venezuela a security threat and sanction seven officials, lending President Nicolas Maduro regional support in the diplomatic dispute with Washington.
In its Desperation, Scandal-Riddled Spanish Government Criminalizes Solidarity Among CitizensOn Tuesday, March 10, 19 Spanish citizens were rounded up in dawn raids by the Madrid police. They are accused of committing a crime against the Spanish state. That crime? Trying to prevent, through passive, non-violent resistance, the forced eviction of a local resident. If found guilty, the suspects could face crippling fines.

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
SXSW 2015: 'Stop The Robots' Protesters March To Stop Skynet Before It's Too Late

## Energy/resources ##
The US Oil Bust Just Got Worse
Ebola: at least 10 US citizens possibly exposed to be flown back from Africa
Fertilizers Help Toxic Algae Thrive in Warming WorldBlue-green algae blooms that can turn toxic in freshwater lakes and can kill bathers, farm animals and domestic pets that drink the water are becoming more widespread across the world, according to new research.

## Intelligence/security/internet/cyberwar ##
Kaspersky claims to have found NSA's 'space station malware'Kaspersky malware probers have uncovered a new 'operating system'-like platform that was developed and used by the  National Security Agency (NSA) in its Equation spying arsenal.
Satellites: a glimpse inside a secret world
The Orwellian concept of "information warfare" holds that propaganda can break down enemies and decide geopolitical outcomes, a strategy that has taken hold of the U.S. government's approach to international crises, especially the Ukraine showdown.
US Intel Stands Pat on MH-17 Shoot-downAlmost eight months after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine – creating a flashpoint in the standoff between nuclear-armed Russia and America – the U.S. intelligence community claims it has not updated its assessment since five days after the crash.
Video of the Day – Watch State Department Spokeswoman Squirm When Asked About U.S. Policy Against Supporting Coups
Without affordable energy, high-rise buildings everywhere are doomed. -- RF
By Election Day 2016, taxpayers will have paid out more than $16 million to fund Bill Clinton's pension, travel, office expenses and even the salaries and benefits of staff at his family's foundation, federal records show.
According to a former top government official, your retirement could be at risk, and the escalating costs of Social Security, public pensions and health care are the primary reasons why.
Earlier this week, The Knot revealed the results of its eighth annual Real Weddings Study, and found the average cost of a wedding last year reached an all-time high of $31,213, excluding the honeymoon.
White House takes first steps in allowing a bankruptcy option for student debt. $1.2 trillion in student debt outstanding.


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