Contents contributed and discussions participated by grayton downing - History Readings

Criticism of United States' Mideast Policy Increasingly Comes From Allies - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...iran-but-divisions-remain.html

criticism us politics obama mideast

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As the United States grapples with some of the most intractable problems in the Middle East, it has run into a buzz saw of criticism, not from traditional enemies but from two of its strongest allies.
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And during a stop in Rome, Mr. Kerry sought to reassure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel that the Obama administration would not drop its guard in the newly invigorated nuclear talks with Iran.
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But the criticism by Saudi officials has been the most vehement, as they have waged a campaign against the United States’ policy in the Middle East in private comments to diplomats and reporters, as well as in public remarks by a former intelligence official.
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Saudi officials have made it clear they are frustrated with the Obama administration —
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“There is also widespread unease throughout the Middle East, shared by many U.S. allies, that the United States’ primary objectives when it comes to Iran, Egypt or Syria are to avoid serious confrontation.”
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Some Middle East experts said that the unease over American policy went beyond the details of the United States’ position on Syria or a potential nuclear deal with Iran
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There is a lot of confusion and lack of clarity amongst U.S. allies in the Middle East regarding Washington’s true intentions and ultimate objectives,”
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Beyond criticism, the Saudis have been working against American policy in Egypt by providing billions of dollars in assistance to the authorities in Cairo, which has more than made up for aid the United States has withheld after the Egyptian military deposed Mr. Morsi. Mr. Kerry and other American officials have insisted that the United States was right to work with Mr. Morsi after he took office as the duly elected president. 
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in London on Tuesday, he acknowledged that the Saudis were “disappointed” that the administration had pulled back from its threats of a cruise missile attack against Syrian forces and seized instead on a Russian initiative to end Syria’s chemical weapons program.
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Ruling in Lhota Bid Is Blow to New York Law Limiting Donations - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...ited-donations-court-says.html

new york donations law politics

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A federal appeals court ruled on Thursday that a conservative group supporting the mayoral candidacy of Joseph J. Lhota may accept contributions of any size, saying New York State’s limit on donations to independent political groups was probably unconstitutional.
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The case was brought by New York Progress and Protection PAC, which said that a conservative donor from Alabama, Shaun McCutcheon, pledged to donate at least $200,000 to the group, and that other donors were likely to do the same.
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“This was a very good and clear decision by the court, and it’s consistent with courts all across the United States.”
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“This could usher in an era where super PACs call the shots in campaigns all over the state, not just in the city,”
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“Today’s decision will empower the right-wing billionaires, like the Koch brothers, and Tea Party groups who support Joe Lhota to drown out the voices of New Yorkers,” said Lis Smith, a spokeswoman for the de Blasio campaign. “The stakes are too high to let the same Republican extremists who shut down the government hijack the mayoral election.”
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But the ruling on Thursday, by a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, said the group’s challenge of the contribution limit had a “substantial likelihood of success,” noting that many other courts had struck down similar laws.
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“With this decision, New York City voters will now get a more democratic mayoral race, one with an even financial playing field,” Mr. Pell said. “This will result in a campaign where ideas speak rather than money.”
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“Elections should empower the free expression of all voices, and not just act as auctions where office is sold to the highest bidder,” she said.
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“Attorney General Schneiderman believes that every voter should have an equal voice in our democracy, and that New York’s campaign finance laws are essential to protecting the integrity and fairness of our elections,” Mr. LaVera said.
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BBC News - Syria 'releases female prisoners in hostage deal' - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-middle-east-24651367

syria hostage female crisis

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At least 48 female prisoners have been released by the Syrian government in one of the final stages of a complex three-way hostage deal, reports say.
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Meanwhile electricity is slowly returning to Damascus after a rebel attack on a gas pipeline.
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The rebels insisted their hostages were fighters with the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah, and were demanding the release of women detainees in exchange.
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While the war rages on the hostage exchange creates a small glimmer of hope, correspondents say, as efforts intensify to arrange a peace conference in Geneva next month.
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BBC News - Bank of America found liable in US mortgage fraud trial - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-24649063

america bank fraud trial economic

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Bank of America's Countrywide Financial unit has been found liable for defrauding two US government-backed mortgage companies by a federal jury.
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ruling is a major win for the US government, which launched the case in the wake of the financial crisis.
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The month-long trial focused on a Countrywide programme that was internally called "Hustle" or "high-speed swim lane"
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That profit, however, was built on fraud, as the jury unanimously found.
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"never hesitate to go to trial to expose fraudulent corporate conduct and to hold companies accountable, particularly when it has caused such harm to the public".
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The US economy witnessed a big boom in its housing market in the lead up to the 2007-08 global financial crisis.
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Since then, banks have been under pressure to resolve claims on potentially faulty mortgages. The US Department of Justice is investigating at least nine banks over their sales of mortgage-backed securities.
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BBC News - Nigeria pirate attack: US sailors seized - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-africa-24657515

news nigeria pirate attack us

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Pirates have seized two US sailors from an oil supply ship off the coast of Nigeria, officials say.
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In kidnaps in the region, crew members are normally freed unharmed after any oil on board the ships is stolen.
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White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters: "We are concerned by the disturbing increase in the incidence of maritime crime, including incidents of piracy off the coast of West Africa, specifically in the Gulf of Guinea."
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"Pirate networks in the Gulf of Guinea are focusing on product theft from tankers and this relatively new type of crime has evolved into a unique and highly lucrative form of maritime crime,"
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They have often been held until a ransom payment is made.
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BBC News - Could Concorde ever fly again? No, says British Airways - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-24629451

airways british

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After 27 years, the world's most famous plane had been pensioned off - first by Air France and then by British Airways - marking the end of supersonic passenger flight.
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"It was probably more advanced than Apollo 11, which put the first men on the Moon."
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No military plane came anywhere close. It was so manoeuvrable and there was so much spare power, even ex-fighter pilots weren't used to it."
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Now, the whole point of that amazing aircraft was that it flew way beyond the reach of other planes. Faster and higher, hidden away.
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Technically, Concorde was revolutionary
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It was the first aircraft to have computer-controlled engine air intakes.
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The Save Concorde Group (SCG) wants British Airways to either help fund a heritage flight, or release an aircraft to someone else who will.
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"We firmly believe that the technical and safety challenges of returning a Concorde to the skies are absolutely prohibitive," says BA.
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BBC News - Spying row: Merkel urges US to restore trust at EU summit - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-europe-24647602

spying us crisis

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Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has said it is "really not on" for friends to spy on each other, referring to alleged US snooping on her phone calls.
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The spying row threatens to overshadow EU talks on economic growth and migration to the EU. Mrs Merkel has demanded a "complete explanation" of the claims, which came out in the German media.
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In a separate development, Italy's weekly L'Espresso reported that the US and UK had been spying on Italian internet and phone traffic.
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The revelations were sourced to US whistleblower Edward Snowden.
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Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the alleged spying on Mrs Merkel's mobile phone calls was "serious" and added: "I will support her (Merkel) completely in her complaint and say that this is not acceptable - I think we need all the facts on the table first."
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The veteran French EU Commissioner Michel Barnier told the BBC that "enough is enough", and confidence in the US had been shaken.
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One of the key initiatives of the European Commission is its Digital Agenda for Europe, which it says "aims to reboot Europe's economy and help Europe's citizens and businesses to get the most out of digital technologies".
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