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Ugarit News / Human Rights Watch via AP
This citizen journalism image which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows what Human Rights Watch says are cluster bombs dropped in Tamanea, Syria on Oct. 9, 2012.
Updated at 10:38 p.m. ET: Syrian government forces have dropped Soviet-made cluster bombs over civilian areas in the past week as they battle to push back rebel gains, Human Rights Watch said on Sunday.
The bombs were dropped from planes and helicopters, with many of the strikes taking place near the main north-south highway running through the northwestern town of Maarat al-Numan, HRW said in a report.
"If we needed any further proof of the Syrian government's complete disregard for the lives of its own citizens, its own children, well, here it is. Because we know now that the government is using cluster munitions in populated areas," Philippe Bolopion of Human Rights Watch said in a video statement. "And of course these weapons are extremely dangerous for the civilian population and the children."
The munitions, which first detonate in midair and release bomblets over a wide area, can remain active for years, the rights group said. Children, who often pickup the munitions, are especially vulnerable to cluster bombs.
NATO leaders discuss the volatile situation along the Turkish-Syrian border following last week's shelling of a village by forces loyal to Syria's government. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.
Opposition: Syria rebels capture air base as clashes break out across country
Residents from Taftanaz and Tamanea -- both near Maarat al-Numan -- told HRW interviewers that helicopters dropped cluster munitions on or near their towns last Tuesday. One that hit Tamanea released smaller bomblets in an area between two schools, a resident was quoted as saying in the HRW report.
"The bomblets that exploded were the ones that hit the ground on the tip, we collected the ones that didn't explode, their tip didn't touch the ground," the resident said.
Photos: Who are the Syrian rebels?
HRW previously reported Syrian use of cluster bombs, which have been banned by most countries but not Syria, in July and August but the renewed strikes indicate the government's determination to regain strategic control in the northwest.
Researchers identified the the munitions as Soviet-made RBK-250, which would be particularly dangerous because old weapons are less likely to detonate on impact, Bolopion said. New York-based HRW did not know how or when Syria acquired the munitions.
Turkey: Syria plane carried Russian-made munitions
Rebels seized Maarat al-Numan from President Bashar Assad's troops last week, cutting the route from the capital Damascus to Aleppo, Syria's biggest city. Government forces have been trying to retake the area since then.
Andrea Mitchell talks to Ambassador Dennis Ross about the escalating tensions between Syria and Turkey, and what both presidential candidates are saying they'll do about the situation.
Towns targeted included Maarat, Tamanea, Taftanaz and al-Tah. Cluster bombs were also used in other areas in Homs, Aleppo and Lattakia provinces as well as near Damascus, the rights group said.
Initial information about the use of the explosives came from videos posted online by opposition activists although HRW investigators said it had confirmed the incidents in interviews with resident in two towns.
Turkey forces Syrian plane suspected of carrying weapons to land
People were taking away unexploded bomblets as souvenirs, a highly dangerous action as they can still explode at the slightest touch or movement. Video showed some civilians carrying the bomblets around and throwing them on the ground.
"The cluster munition strikes and unexploded ordnance they leave behind pose a huge danger to civilian populations, who often seem unaware how easily these submunitions could still explode," Goose said.
Herve Bar / AFP - Getty Images
A man who lost a member of his family cries as he sits outside his destroyed home following a government air strike in the town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province on Saturday.
Syrian government officials were not immediately available to comment on the HRW report.
Meanwhile, Turkey banned all Syrian aircraft from its air space on Sunday, days after intercepting a Syrian airliner carrying what it said were Russian-made munitions for the Syrian army.
Asked if Syrian aircraft were now banned from Turkish air space, a Foreign Ministry official said: "Yes, civilian aircraft. Military aircraft were de facto banned way before."
Syria said on Saturday that it was banning Turkish civilian flights over its territory.
Reuters and NBC News staff contributed to this report.
SANA via Reuters
A look back at the violence that has overtaken the country
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Leave a Comment:
Syria? Don't bother Hussein Zero, Clinton or Panetta. They are All Too Busy LYING about getting our Ambassador to Libya KILLED. Keep up the "good work" Hussein, Fast and Furious, Libya, Fort Hood, Solyndra, etc. One LIE after another. Thank GOD you are Done in January. Then you can LIE Out of Office like your A-Hole Buddy, Slick Willy Clinton.
What an F'n retard you are.
So another Tea partyer wants us in another war we can not pay for. You probably criticized Obama for supporting the rebels in Libya. You remind me of my ex-wife. damned if I do, damned if I don't.
you are going to be so MAD soon, lol
well cluster bomb's for a morning topic ...is a great way to start the day...
6dogs: Brilliant response, very impressive! How's that bamaphone working for you, or do you need someone to show you how to use it?
Alan: what a bumbling rant you made. Please try to write in English so that we can understand what you are trying to say. Then again, if you are just writing abbreviated notes from your time spent in front of FOX news then you did a fairly good job.
Getting our ambassador killed was the actions of a terrorist group period. That the embassy lacked adequate security was the acts of not just the republican and democratic parties irresponsible act of cutting security expenses but also of the new Libyan governments lack of providing security to the embassy but also of putting restraints in place that prevented the U.S. from using our marines and or private defense contractors to protect them as well. It goes above and beyond any one person taking the blame on their shoulders but most of all, it falls on the terrorists shoulders as well and those attackers need to be caught by the Libyans and dealt with and then turned over to the U.N. and the U.S. for prosecution.
@Alan: What does your comment have to do with this article? But, about your comment, do you really expect any occupant of the Oval Office is going to tell you the truth? I suppose you are naive enough to believe Romney is an honest man.
What an idiot!
Amazing prophecy unfolding before your very eyes...... it was prophesied thousands of years ago that this would happen in the last days and we are in the last days
Jer 49:23 - 26
Concerning Damascus. Hamath( Hama) is confounded,
and Arpad (Aleppo): for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized
on her: anguish and sorrows have taken
her, as a woman in travail.
How is the city of praise not left, the city of
my joy!
Therefore her young men shall fall in her
streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day(no more Syria
Military), saith the LORD of hosts.
Isaiah 17:1 Damascus will be a Ruinous HEAP
Isaiah 17:4 the glory of Jacob shall be made thin ( Israel will Be weakened )
Soon (The King of the North) Russia and its allies will make there move.
Christ will destroy Them and there Allies in the land of Israel.
Give it a rest hypocrite. Your guys are the biggest proven liars on the frickin planet so button it untily ou have proof! Just go away and take your idols with you. You are uneducated and refuse to read up on your guys. If you had half a bit of sense you would educate yourself instead of blindly following.
Obama has nothing to do with Syrias war so lets stay on topic bonehead!
Some of you seem to have difficulties staying on topic. This is about Syria....Syria.
The big question is whether the US should play a role. We know who Assad is, he is clearly a dictator who is much more brutal than Mubarak ever was. So from that perspective, we should remove him.
But in Egypt, we thought we knew who the revels were, the young, Facebook generation who wanted a liberal Egypt. We did not know that the Muslim Brotherhood and the more radical al Nour part have taken over Egypt. At first we thought this a bad outcome, then Morsi appeared to be more open to a democratic rule. That has now changed.
The point is in Syria we really don't even know who the protesters are TODAY, let alone what they will morph into. I know we have intelligence assets providing our analysts a boat load of real time information from Syria. I only hope the Intelligence community and the government make the right decision about involvement, and NOT the political decision during these whacky campaign times.
how long has this (civil) war been going on? i find it hard to believe that the weight of the syrian military has come down on (average untrained civilians) and they have not folded yet. Who is supplying them with the trained manpower and logistics to carry on as they have been? we should stay out of it, no matter what we do we will be the bad guys, might as well let them hate us , and not lose any money or troops over it.
The majority of the population is Sunni while Assad is Shiite. This is the real clue as to what is going on. Of course, "their own people" are killed as this is a civil war. This, of course, happens in every civil war, including our own. I'm no friend of OBarney and his cell of commies, but I don't see jumping into another religious war as they cannot be won.
The problem I see in the listing of tribes is even they are devided from mild to middle to extreme. It's hard to tell who is who without a score card. Sometimes there difference is just over one word kinda like the Christians and Catholics and the Lords Prayer. One stinking word and they Blew a Freaking Gasket in this ciuntry.
GM Scooter, here are some pearls I found recently.
How to recognize a Troll
What is an Internet Troll?
An Internet "troll" is a person who delights in
sowing discord on the Internet. He (and it is usually he) tries to start
arguments and upset people.
Trolls see Internet communications services as convenient venues for their bizarre game.
For some reason, they don't "get" that they are hurting real people. To them,
other Internet users are not quite human but are a kind of digital abstraction.
As a result, they feel no sorrow whatsoever for the pain they inflict. Indeed,
the greater the suffering they cause, the greater their achievement (as they
see it). At the moment, the relative anonymity of the net allows trolls to
flourish.
Trolls are utterly impervious to criticism (constructive or otherwise). You cannot negotiate with
them; you cannot cause them to feel shame or compassion; you cannot reason with
them. They cannot be made to feel remorse. For some reason, trolls do not feel
they are bound by the rules of courtesy or social responsibility.
Mind Games, you raise a good point about the various religious minorities in Syria. They were definite beneficiaries of Assad's Alawite regime, and they do have a vested interest in the Alawites remaining in power.
Syria is a rather simple situation when you look at the nuts and bolts. This is a war of racial survival for the Alawites, and a war of survival for those who were beneficiaries of the Alawite regime. Regardless of race, religion or geographic location, anyone who finds themselves in a war of racial survival is going to do whatever it takes to get the job done and survive. In that context, cluster bombing civilians is rather tame.
gm jack
trolls are trolls too many on here give em credit, but then again look at the shear amont of fools we see daily. some get it some never will.
righturn, I learned in 8th grade history that there is no such thing as a religious war or a political war. Wars are all fought over economics. Find the money and you will find the cause. Why did Japan and Germany attack in ww11? Economics. Britain controlled Germany's economy and they fought to break away from their stronghold on them. Japan needed natural resources and the US stopped them from doing it. Japan wiped out Russia in 1905 but the western powers would not let them take it. France was in Indo China,England was in Iran, India, and in Africa. This fighting is over the new found oil in the Caspian sea and the pipeline routes to the Mediterranean. IT'S ALL MONEY!
The best way to handle trolls is don't acknowledge their existence.
ParkerJoe56 : Your absolutely right about the Caspian pipeline. A reason why the Georgian conflict was so closely watched. But lets not forget the huge rare earth mineral deposits in Afghanistan as well.
Maybe Washington and the fools who run it should read this blog and see how Americans really feel about our involvement in the ME. Oh but I guess that wouldn't be in their best interest only in ours. Vote the all out by NOT VOTING. We need to show that We The People are in control. Well one can dream cn't they?
Mind Games -- That's another reason why we should get out of Afghanistan. Let China spend a decade slugging it out with the Afghans. Or, as you say pay them off. They can't afford to pay off every Afghani, and those that don't "run to Dubai" will inevitably turn on them.
We may have just agreed on something. Or, it could just be a mind game.
Keep away from centuries of Shiites vs Sunni battles. Those infidels who jump in between them gets badly burnt just like in Iraq.
Just check all languages of the media, UN Security council, human rights groups, Erdogan’s, and others! These are paid pipers of Sunni Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists.
Shiites and Sunnis are busy battling whose Allah is greater.
What roles Hillarys, McCains, Netanyahos, Libernanns, Romneys have in Syria and Iran?
If atrocities and barbarism on girls, children and women are the criteria, then the most despotic, autocratic and bigoted Sunni Saudi ruler with his 5000 princes and princesses, Kuwaiti, UAE and other Arab League Sunni rulers and their rich sheiks are the biggest culprits in the history.
Through the Muslim immoral trafficking gangs, these barbarians have assembled all varieties of poor and helpless girls and women from all over the world in their harems and brothels.
In killing of opponents again, these people have established world records in religious battles.
If the US, Britain and others support such Sunni barbarians and beasts who treat girls and women as cheap sex slaves, then one can only conclude that Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists determine what to see, how to lecture and where and when to act.
Rest like “human rights”, “killing of children and women”, “militants”, “terrorists”, “WMDs”, “chemical weapons” and so on are a pure hoax.
Similar hoaxes were played each time before Iraqi wars on directions of Saudi, oil companies and their lobbyists.
Now none of them are looking into Iraq, where at least a million have been killed and devastated.
Twice are too much to tolerate.
Sad how Russia is trying to get weapons to the Assad regime by any means. Russia is going to allow all this killing for oil. Seems like huge sanctions should be on Russia for providing aid and weapons. And Putin should accept his countries role in spreading the war to civilians since they are supplying them with weapons, aircraft, ground vehicles and and the kitchen sink.
Well, Kristian (if it is a name), at least they do not supply weapons to the murderous terrorists but to the rgular army that is trying to defend their country.
alexp-520936- Not saying the UN actually helps, but the UN has stated that the Assad regime is killing civilians at an alarming rate. They sent Kofi Anan to help and he couldn't. Syria is a little sister to Iran. Iran runs Syria. A majority of nations do not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Russia signs a huge oil deal with Iran and now it helps regimes that are obviously crooked and violent towards its own people. The US helped the AU when asked. We gave help to a people who wanted help from us. In this day and age of everyone criticizing the US, we help and still get criticized.
Russia needs to face the consequences of helping Syria. They know they are not allowed to ship them weapons by the UN. Yet they do. Consequences should be harsh. As a world we need to help citizens who ask for help in replacing violent regimes. Not give violent regimes the death tools to kill innocent woman and children. Face facts that Russia is guilty and should face the music.
What would you say if the US was sneaking weapons to the Syrian regime? You would find fault that we are not helping the citizens.
I think my country should do what ever it needs to do to help out the smaller countries Russia is trying to get back and control. We should limit Russia in any way, because Russia under Putin is trying to cause problems for the US. He never should have been allowed back into power, and now the Russian people should see how the world really sees them.
Most disconcerting,
This needs to be resolved before NATO and the Hague for any international intervention. IMHO this is genocide and the free countries of NATO needs to be ever vigilant and involved in intervention. a) We need to deny mechanization to mitigate atrocities of countries in revolt. b) We need to plead our case for an absentee judgment against the leaders/administration of the afflicted counties. c) This action must be broadcast to every corner of the world. 'We will search and serve justice upon those responsible for atrocities against mankind's inalienable rights of Freedom, Liberty and Justice.' No means of serving the warrents of the court shall be off the table.
I know what is happening there is crazy, but why should the USA be the world police? We will only be hated more for any action we take in Syria. When it is all over, no one will say "well, why didn't the USA get involved?"
Intended argument,
We should make all effort to set the rules. USA must commit to subservience of the world court if we are to be the cultural center of liberty, justice and freedom for all.
How about we just get our $hit in order at home first, instead of telling other countries what to do and how to act?
That is a CA poppy field in the background and I have Cherokee blood mixed with mostly Kentucky ancestry. Please refrain from an established invalid form of argument character assassination.
Just because some guy named Philippe Bolopion, says Syria is dropping cluster bombs, does not make it true. What is the agenda of Human Rights Watch. Are their comments put out in an attempt to generate an American military response? This appears to be a repeat of the neo conservative accusations made against Saddam Hussein and his "make believe"WMD. The Heritage Foundation think tank is putting out bs regarding chemical weapons sites. I guess they decided not to call them WMD, for obvious reasons.
Israel dropped over 4 million cluster bombs on Lebanon. Where was Human Rights Watch then? I must admit, I have not yet done a search on Human Rights watch, so it is possible I am jumping the gun, something I usually try to avoid.
No more wars for Israel.
No Morbas, we don't, If you wan to help Syria, feel; free to go there, use your time,m your money and your life, leave the rest of us alone.
have zero patience left with the people that are content to watch our young people die to help the camel kissers.
Wow Mind Games, your hate for Muslims remind me of the KKK in the fifties. It,s complete ignorance. Do you think that you are really that superior? I know you are a paid shill for Israel. You really are disgusting.
Some of you have very selective memories. What about genocides of Christians and other non-Muslims?
Followers of Islamic cult, especially Sunni Saudi inspired Islamic radicals and militants (al-Qaida, Salaffi, Wahhabi, MB, Taliban and other label ones), are fast marching backwards to their seventh century desert tribal days.
They are indulging in rapings, lootings, killings and genocides of non-Muslims (Darfur, S. Sudan, Nigeria and spreading like wild fire in many regions and Muslims (Libya, Mali, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other places).
Sunni Saudi backed Salaffi and MB new chapters are opening up in Egypt. Just watch the fate of Christians, women and Israel as the time goes by.
Even in Syria, if Assad is overthrown by Sunni Islamic religious Nazis like al-Qaida, MB, the conditions of Christians will be unbearable just like Iraq.
Pakis and Sunni Saudis and co are responsible for 80 percent of world problems including economic ones. Examine the devastations with Iraqi wars and now sanctions on Iranian oil and the resultant oil price manipulations.
They are making the lives of their own people also miserable by their Islamic religious madness to the intolerable levels.
Are we not committing hara-kiri by supporting our enemies and killers?
Give it another month and the muslims will be blaming the jews for the whole problem.
The list becomes longer and longer! Add US to the list!
If Israel were to disappear today along with every Jew, there would be a war in the Middle East larger than any the world has ever seen. Each sect of Muslims would fight each other sect with a death toll unbelieveable over who was going to control Jeruselum. I don't agree with everything Israel does, in fact I am very pissed off at them to say the least about the USS Liberty, but they are the only Middle East country that we can rely on to do the dirty work we are afraid to do. Remember the Iraqi nuclear reactor? Do you really want the Iraqis or the Iranians to have nukes? I know, we are the only country to have ever used the atomic bomb, but that is another debate, and some say if we have them why not every one, but there are some countries that just should not have them.
Sounds good to me, the more get killed , on both sides , the less we will worry, soon he will use chemical weapons, more will get killed, how nice, amazing how death follows any religion believe.
I strongly suggest we stay out of it, even though the Russians are not, who cares, we have better things to take care of, like, get rid of ODUMB-A$$, the stupid Muslim kiss-a$$ puppet owned by big corp.
The first commander in chief that bows , and apoligizes to muslims about USA actions.
What a BIG joke he is .
Mind Games, Chavez did not steal anything from oil companies. He paid them a fair price and made the thieves leave his country. He has used the oil money to help the poor and give them jobs at a fair salary. Oil companies rape and pillage countries and steal their natural resources. This is why Chavez overwhelmingly won his re-election.
note to self;
try to look like i give a @!$%# about ANY of these Mideast troglodytes killing each other...... someday.....maybe.....kinda......
Keeps us occupied while our politicians steal us blind.
Question is are we going allow the bias media elect our president?
@Mind Games: Whoopy, Barak attended Martha's wedding 21 years ago. Get this; Raddatz is an experienced journalist. Get this; Raddatz moderated, not officiated. Get this; she didn't make the rules and didn't even write all the questions. I watched the debate, I didn't see bias. So, let's just put your posts on this in the "trivia" category. Thank you for sharing that fascinating fact with us, we are so much wiser because of it!
Scooter, hear, hear.
Mind games is an Israeli shill trying to get Romney elected. Romney stated that he would triple the money to Israel who receives almost 20 billion a year from us now. Israel has several of these people on here and they give themselves away at times. Read"If Americans Only Knew" to know the truth about Israel and their shills. Israel wants to control all Mideast oil. We built them a 42" pipeline from Iraq to Haifa harbor and what did they ever do to deserve this. They want to take Lebanon for their water. WAKE UP AMERICA but I think it might be to late. Why has Romney spent so much time in Israel? He's their puppet.
Mind Games is either drunk or dumb, or is that both? In any case a good rest at the nearest mental health facility would be beneficial for him. Case closed.
lol. u are a @!$%#. how the hell do you rig a debate??
did someone pay off your candidate to lose?
get your ass off the pc and go fight in another war if want one, pay less % taxes, let america fail....and when it does, get the hell out and see how you like the rest of the world.
Jimmy......
You bring the same substance in your post Biden brought to the debate......nothing to offer the American People to justify 4 more yrs. Lies, name calling, and Obamacare. that was hope & change. Sure can't run on that AGAIN!!!!! All joking aside I think Biden needs to be drug tested before he speaks in public....Hope I can can get a set of those Bidenteeth with O'Baggercare.
ROMNEY/RYAN 2012
@Mind Games: The debate was rigged, huh? Give us the incontrovertible evidence. How appropriate your moniker is, the only one you are playing mind games with is yourself.
The polls show 48-44 in favor of Ryan winning the debates, Ryan held his own and then some. Great job at rigging a debate. If those guys try to rig the World Series, let us, will you? That way, we will all know how to bet. As for Biden's performance, it was vintage Biden, he has always been that type of speaker; rude, crude and, often, socially unacceptable.
Had the moderator used the same control over Biden, she did on Ryan it would have been much worse.
Biden being a Senator or Vice President is a comment on Dem lefty voters.
They majority gave the debate to Ryan. Now, what was the purpose of rigging the debate, to have kept it from being a Ryan blowout? Raddatz did not conspire to let Biden be Biden, she simply could not control the man.
I'm sorry, I will go so far as to say Biden was aggressive, rude and even crude, but he is so often like that. Raddatz was sloppy in moderating, but there was no rigging. By the way, why didn'y Romney/Ryan raise any objections? They didn't cry foul after the debate, why would they, Ryan won it.
You have to wonder why the UN isn't more involved in this one but at the same time I think we all know the US probably is not gonna budge and get involved in this one, nor the UK for that matter. I admit it's gonna be ugly but we really need to focus on the well being of our own for once and let this thing play out no matter how ugly it gets. Assaad is going to fight til the death and will never be taken alive. I'm sure he already has chemical weapons in place to be released at a certain point should the rebles begin to close in on the capital city. It won't be until his own forces start to be affected by the gas that they will have to side with the rebels and abandon ship. In the aftermath there's gonna be a hell of a lot of corpses of civilains to be buried..
One more example of a failed foreign policy! This idiot can't even set up a no fly zone? Even Clinton did that! But he and Axelrod will probably blame it on a video! Welcome to Chicago politics America! We put up with this crap everyday! To bad the media didn't vet this idiot for you. Could have asked anyone from outside of the Chicago Machine and they would have told you what an idiot Senator this guys was! The joke here was, "let vote him for president so he doesn't run for Governor!".
OMG you wingnuts come up some really weird ideas about President Obama. Nothing has changed under Obama from Bush and nothing will change when he wins again. You people really should calm down with the hate.
Don't come back and tell me about the debt, both parties are guilty
Mind Games: Wilson, a Dem, was president during WWI. Ever hear of the Zimmermann telegraph? FDR, a Dem, was president when WWII broke out. Do you really think that a world war, which had been going on for some time by 7 December, was something America was only going to ctach in the news? Let me try to remember, didn't North Korea invade South Korea? Yep, they did, sounds like Kim started that one - not Harry. And who is the Dem on whose shoulders you dare to place Viet Nam? We took over for France in 1955. Do you know your presidential history? It was Dwight.
Here's a novel idea just for you; READ A HISTORY BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You leftys love that remark, Obama has already borrowed and spent more money than the last two presidents.
If the country loses it's collective mind and reelects the inept lying quasi socialist in the white house, one more year will bring more debt than the last three presidents.
Germany beat England in W11 and the Jewish congress told England not to give in. The Jewish congress said they would get the US involved and England could win. That's exactly what happened. In return the Jews got the Balfour act in 1917 that allowed Jews to immigrate to Palestine. They were only allowed so many a year to move to Palestine so the Jewish Ingrun and Hanagah started killing the British. The King David Hotel ring a bell? Israel has been stealing and killing ever since. READ YOUR HISTORY.
Parker56: You read some history!!! The Jewish congress comment would be laughable were it not a reflection of what is rattling around in your head.
The great Jewish conspiracy. I suppose you believe the Nazis in blaming the Jews for Cyrstal Nacht. And I'll bet your like the Medieval Europeans who believe the Jews were responsible for the Black Plague.
Here is a little factoid for you Fritz: The vast majority of members in congress back then were of English, Irish, German and Scandinavian ancestry.
Jewish congress, huh? Your'e just spewing the typical Jew hate that is all too common on this site. So tell my innocent, naive lamb, who or what is the Judas goat leading you down this trail of hate?
This post is for HMCFarmer!
Before you go off hating the tea party how about you understand what they stand for! Here is their Party agenda, Pretty radical? Same agenda as our founders! According to a Washington post story 33% of the Tea Party is democrat! But, just keep paying attention to the democratic PR machine! I'm sure if Sister Theresa set up a party they would call he a whore! My question is why isn't the DNC adopting this? The TEA stands for Taxed Enough Already! Just like our founders over the stamp tax!
1.Eliminate Excessive Taxes
2.Eliminate the National Debt
3.Eliminate Deficit Spending
4.Protect Free Markets
5.Abide by the Constitution of the United States
6.Promote Civic Responsibility
7.Reduce the Overall Size of Government
8.Believe in the People
9.Avoid the Pitfalls of Politics
10.Maintain Local Independence
nedrob
thinking people already know that, yet the facts are wasted on libs. but please continue to post this every day maybe...just maybe......... it will sink in.
re: nedrob
TEA should stand for "T"ake an "E"conomics class "A"lready"!
These are the two most important macro economics equations for a monetary sovereign country:
Year_GDP = Year_Federal_Spending + Year_Private_Investment_And_Consumption + Year_Net_Exports
Year_Net_Private_Savings = Year_Federal_Deficits – Year_Net_Imports
You probably do understand that the people being able to increase their savings during a year, is "good for the people", right?
Duh - Then why would you be against the Federal deficits that create the extra new money needed for people to save!
But you don't understand that Year_Federal_Deficits in the above macro economics equation, is the amount of new money created in a year, right?
Also you probably don't understand that since GDP is measured in dollars, that means to increase GDP (grow the economy) the number of dollars in the money supply must also be increased, right?
So what is a Year_Federal_Deficit?
That is when the U.S. federal government spends/creates MORE dollars into the money supply than it taxes/removes, and since 08/15/1971 when we left the gold standard, it should be properly called "a money creation surplus".
Therefore if you are AGAINST a Year_Federal_Deficit (money creation surplus) by wanting a balanced budget where the U.S. federal government spends exactly what it taxes in that year, then you are also AGAINST the economy growing and people being able to increase their savings in that yer!
Sorry but this is an IRREFUTEABLE fact which cannot be denied unless you also deny the fundamental macro economic equations are fact.
That is why Dick Cheney said "deficits don't matter" and for once in his LYING life he spoke the TRUTH!
Maybe you and the rest of TEA party macro economic ILLITERATES should take a class so that you can learn why we NEED Federal deficits and will ALWAYS have them!
economics?.... as in ....it take more WORTHLESS dollars to purchase the same product as STRONG dollars....say GASOLINE...., and the fact that the dollar is DEVALUED every time the feds print more money? or perhaps BORROWING more money just to give away somehow fits in?... those kind of economics?
Lol a dem lefty talking about economics.
Obama has borrowed and spent, 5.3 trillion, Bernanke, has printed and spent 2.3 trillion.
The result, the UE rate is 4% higher than the day Obama took office
The labor participation rate is the lowest in the last thirty one years.
The current EPA regulations are increasing the cost of power in Ohio, Pa. and Ky, up to 800%.
And 4 of the Alternative energy fed loans are bankrupt for total of slightly over 1 billion.
The leftys are still supporting Obama, it's obvious thy have other concerns than, the economy.
I have chosen these two sentences from your mini-treatise because it is apparent that, despite what you may or may not know about economics, you surely don't know the difference between creating wealth and creating money.
If I take a tree limb and turn it into a shovel handle, then sell you the shovel handle, I have increased my money supply and you have increased your supply of shovel handles. Both have value, so we have increased (by the sweat of my brow) our wealth.
If the entire world supply of goods is 100 apples, and the entire world supply of money is $100, then an apple is worth one dollar. If I have ten dollars, I have 10% of the money supply and I can control 10% of the goods. Now, if the government prints another $100 and gives it to, say, Solyndra, then I am left with my ten dollars, which is now only 5% of the money supply and controls only 5 apples. The government hasn't directly taken my money, but the have stolen my buying power, and they have not increased wealth in the process. That is why something that cost $20 to buy in 1913 now costs over $400.
Get the difference? (Probably not.)
Denver Bill -- You usually don't write long explanations, so I read what you said carefully. Your example breaks down, however, when you say "...if the government prints another $100........which is now only 5% of the money supply...." because this assumes that there is only one government in the world.
Now to your little dig at solar energy (Solyndra). Solar is not going away. It will get cheaper and more effective. It is the future. Embrace the future; don't belittle Obama for trying to see that the U.S. was not left behind. Sure, China kicked our butt on that one for now, but it's not time to give up completely.
If I posit, for the sake of clarity, that the world money supply is $100, and the world supply of goods is 100 apples, I can certainly also posit a single government. I claim that doing so does not affect the argument.
I agree with you that solar is not only not going away, but will assume greater prominence in the power supply. However, I can never stop myself from taking shots at extremists of all stripes. The advantage of coal/gas/nuclear power is that it can run 24 hours a day and can be increased or decreased to meet the minute-by-minute demand. Until such time as a way is found to store solar power cheaply when the sun is down, solar will be an adjunct (rather than primary) power source.
The smartest thing the US can do is to stay out of it for awhile, until they, the Arab world realizes that they have plenty of enemies in the Moslem world, and we or Israel are an imagined threat. Later they'll come begging for help. We got burned after 8 years of helping the Sunni in Afghanistan after the Mujadaheen turned against us overnight.
These clusterbombs are from the Soviet era- some do not detonate and are dormant until some unfortunate soul chances upon them. Syrian Air Force is dropping them now on the throughway environs in Maarat al-Numan- also near Homs and Aleppo. Turkey-PM Erdogan's latest beef- Syria denied civil aviation flights over Syrian airspace to Turkish airlines. In the meanwhile- the new UN envoy is preparing for UNSC a Peacekeeping Force of 3,000 to enforce a cease fire in Syria.
Reported in Berliner Morgenpost. Additionally - in the mop-up operations in Maarat al-Numan- Syrian g'ment forces killed numerous foreign militants of Turkoish nationality in fierce fighting and a Saudi Officer Muhammad Salem Al-Harbi (ANAN). When the Peace keeper Observers (150) were on the ground- they had no way of stopping anyone- 3,000 peacekeepers seems like a lot- but they are non-combatants in the crosshairs of multiple combatants (FSA hasa so many soloists depending who is backing gthem,arming them,not taking orders and Syrian army (who has Hizbollah,depending on sources still Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps).
@Mind Games: You'll find me at: 8.6; 9.4 and; 12.2 addressing your posts.
Let's talk.
Syria could have been resolved more quickly and with less bloodshed if this president had led at the beginning.
Obama's hands off foreign policy in the ME has helped to create this mess. For Syria, now the best solution is to ask Turkey to intervene. For the US, the best solution is to get this failure out of office.
what burns me is saudi arabia and the emirates, we carry thier water and get vilified in return. I say let the saudis fight thier own battles. no intervention of any kind.
yeah cluster bombs !!!! did they have russian names on them ?? maybe sergei lavrov can go to the un and say for the west to stay out of it maybe he should shut his mouth and get back into bed with putin that area of the world is never going to change no matter what the est or west does
Things are quickly going to reach a boiling point. How many proxy wars with Russia are we going to have over the decades, before things go past the point on no return?
This isn't about Obama and Romney, this has been going on, as I said, for decades.
Cluster Bombs are banned aren't they? What will the United Nations use as an excuse for its inaction now?
They are banned but not signed by Syria who could care absolutely nothing about what the World states they care about because they know the U.N. will not do anything about it. Wake up. This has been going on forever in the World. United is not what the U.N. is all about.
It's a war, if the rebels don't want the casualties, lay the weapons down and go home.
The USA did this to whole cities in WWII,
As Alan has said, Syria is not signatory to the Cluster Bomb Treaty of 2008. Woody, if that is truly the way you feel about it why not just admit that you side with the Syrian Government? You know exactly what the rebels are fighting for and to state such is heartless.
If we needed any further proof of the Syrian government's complete disregard for the lives of its own citizens, its own children, well, here it is. Because we know now that the government is using cluster munitions in populated areas," Philippe Bolopion of Human Rights Watch said in a video statement. "And of course these weapons are extremely dangerous for the civilian population and the children."
It never ceases to amaze me how stupid these reporters have become. Everyday, from all corners of the earth, we read how the Islamic world has no respect for human life. They blow one-another up with suicide bombers, car bombs, road bombs. They blow one-another up everyday including their own women, children and their elderly. Innocent except that they live in the Islamic world. So why blame the trend on a government. This is just the way these monkeys live. And what causes me the greatest concern is the fact that our chicken @!$%# government has let thousands of these monkeys move into America and filtrate, probable every state. Some day they'll show us their gratitude by blowing up a bunch of Americans that are only victims because our chicken @!$%# government didn't want to stand up to the reality that Islam does not fit in a free world.
Cluster bombs. Killing children. Crimes against Humanity. Why complain and moan about it if your going to do nothing? It's the same old U.N. that has done absolutely nothing over these same type of crimes. Why have we paid in over billions of dollars since the inception of the U.N. only to have crap going on and United Nations has now or ever been united? Don't you just get tired of the whole FN thing? Over and over our Government will just spend YOUR money for useless rhetoric. Things need to be changed for the good, period.
This is a civil war. The government will do anything to stay in power and hold the country together. I'm sure the North would have used cluster bombs against the Confederacy. Sherman laid waste to the south in ways that would today be considered wrong. All I'm saying is that the government is at war and the same as if they were at war with Irag and in their eyes have to win. It is not a war against a foreign invader like it was with Russia and Afghanistan but the end result would be the same.
If Obama wins and continues with his cutting of our Defense Budget, there will come a time when cluster bombs will be used on us and the people who criticize people who want to strength our military will understand why they have.
Obama isn't going to cut the defense budget because Congress votes on the budget. Also blame both parties because cuts are mandatory if concessions are made.
Should read if concessions are not made.
lets see on one side you have Syria... backed by imanutjob and Iran
other side you have "the brotherhood" backed by the same nutjob in D.C. who backed em in Libya. ( and still does)
Syria has bee exporting terrorists since i was in the service in 71, that i know of.
simple solution.....MORE CLUSTER BOMBS
( stay out of this one hillary / obama...your track record sucks )
Hear , hear, if one member of our military hits the ground in Syria, start impeachment processes on who ever the president is.
Way too many here that have never be in the mud and blood.
i wouldn't give the life of one member of our military to save every camel kisser in Syria.
Wonder how long it will be until the military starts cluster bombing our citizens, here is the USA. Could happen if the rich feel threatened enough.
wonder how long that tinfoil hat will take to melt down the rest of your brain..............
@robert levy: Now your comment is just plain stupid.
That has to be the most unintelligent remark I have read on here.
Cluster bombs in the middle east -and killing muslims?
OK, so what's the problem here?
By the way mr. vice president, since when is Syria 5 times bigger than Lybia? THINK about the morons you want to keep in office.