text:
New York Is A Link To Baseball's Storied Past
Love 'em or hate 'em, the New York Yankees are intertwined with the history of baseball like no other team. Yes, their payroll continues to approach the GNP of some Third World countries. Yes, they make more appearances on network television than Bob Costas. And yes, they play in baseball's most expensive new stadium where even the visiting clubhouse is so spacious you have to send for a search party just to round up your players for pre-game batting practice. But having just spent last weekend in the Big Apple, I must say this. The Yankees and their fans, as well as the New York media, may appreciate and embrace the history of baseball like no other place on the planet.
You see it at the team hotel in midtown Manhattan. The autograph seekers arrive early to their customary sidewalk spot on 51st Street, and they can recite every A's player's current stats. You see it when the team bus rolls into the Bronx, and every block leading to The House That George Built features nothing but Yankee merchandise stores. Jerseys of Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, DiMaggio, Jeter and Sabathia hang from the shop windows. And of course, inside the park, there are those Hall of Fame plaques behind center field of Yankee players of yore. The plaques don't end there either. In the pressbox where I work, there's plaques of legendary former Yankee PR men, along with a photo tribute to a recently-deceased official scorer who presided over games for four decades. However, he had nothing on the late Bob Sheppard, whose photo adorns the press lounge to acknowlege for serving as perhaps the greatest public address announcer of all-time (heck, he's still so loved by local fans, the Yankees play a taped version of his dignified introduction of Jeter every time Mr. 3000 strolls to home plate).
But what I experienced last weekend went beyond a lovefest for Everything Yankee. That was made abundantly clear the first time A's designated hitter Hideki Matsui came to bat Friday night. He received a rousing ovation. This, two years since he played for hometown team and won the 2009 World Series MVP. The Yankees also played a heart-warming video tribute to honor Godzilla reaching the 500-homer milestone two nights earlier in Detroit. Very classy. Another round of applause came Hideki's way when the Japanese slugger hit No. 501 Saturday in fueling Oakland's 4-3 win. Yesterday, New Yorkers showered some love David DeJesus' way, too, when he made a nice catch in right field. While it may not hurt that David was born in nearby Brooklyn and went to college at Rutgers, it seemed the applause were merely to show their appreciation for a good play, no matter the uniform or local lineage.
And while many of the legendary journalists I used to see in the New York press box have retired or passed away, I did enjoy meeting Bob Rosen, an old-timer who works for Elias Sports Bureau. He was sitting right in front of me. Our conversation led towards the current travails of the Dodgers. Before I could say much, he quickly pulled out a stack of photos from his briefcase. They were taken in 1957. At Ebbetts Field! It was remarkable seeing these 3×5 color shots that showed those large advertising signs of that era along the right field fence. There were outside shots of the famed Ebbetts Field rotunda entrance. And photos of future Hall of Famer Roy Campanella, and a game action photo of Roger Craig on the mound pitching for the Dodgers. And this gentlemen from Elias not only had these photos, he shot the photos. A living, breathing link to baseball's past right before me. Of course, being a die-hard Dodger fan who lost his boyhood team to the beaches of Southern California, he couldn't help making one final comment about the Dodgers' current situation. "Serves them right. I knew there was a curse. They never should have left us!"
1 Comment
Yankee won 27 world series! Their logo has been all around the world. So expect that NEW YORK will always be something stick to baseball.
Thanks for blogging about this
Jill from casque ski


text:
You've played and worked together – you are family. Gifts are one way to show your appreciation and your love. Think it is hard to come up with gift ideas for family members of all different ages and tastes? Gifts for the whole family don't have to be hard to pick out. Here at Personal Creations, we pull together numerous gift ideas for family members of all ages, tastes, and genders.
Want something to memorialize the fact that you are all intertwined for better or worse? Family trees make excellent gifts for the family. If you are giving them away to an aunt, an uncle, or just an individual who is like your own family, such "trees" make excellent gifts for the whole family. We think that gifts for the family should be fun, interesting, unique, and personal – not generic. Our fun family gift ideas include adorable, stylish frames for special pictures and personalized name art. Frames, especially when they include a picture, make excellent personalized family gifts.
Grills, grill tools, nice buckets meant to hold drinks – these all make great gifts for family reunions. Want gifts for a family celebration like a birthday or an anniversary? We have jewelry for women, things sports and style related for men, cute things for girls – all the family gifts you could wish for to make everyone happy! Kitchen supplies are perfect gifts for family Thanksgivings, as well as perfect gifts for family Fourth of Julys.
Other gift ideas for family parties are dishes like ice cream bowls and cookie jars, or personalized mugs. With Personal Creations, finding gifts for the whole family has never been easier. Pretty plaques about home make excellent gifts, for a family loves to be reminded that their love for each other makes the place where they live more than a house. Since everything at Personal Creations can be personalized, family gifts have never been more unique and tailored! The next time you are shopping for gifts for the family, let us help.
They've been there for you through thick and thin. They've supported you through good times and bad. So of course you want family gift ideas that are truly thoughtful. Discover Personal Creations, a distinctive and unique shopping destination for birthdays, anniversaries – large and small. Our family gifts can be imaginatively customized to suit a parent, aunt, uncle, nephew, grandparent or grandchild right down to the ground. Whoever's on your shopping list we can help!
Perhaps you have something luxurious in mind for her. Shopping for personalized gifts for aunt? You'll love the easy style of our many family gift ideas that include drop earrings, lariat necklaces and charm bracelets, not to mention how simple it is to add a birthstone or special engraving.
If the family is experiencing the loss of a pet, we have gifts like memorial garden stakes and pet headstones to give as gifts for the whole family. The loss of a pet or loved one can be a trying time for a family, and we have many gifts to help the family honor their lost loved ones.
Just like jewelry completes a great outfit, do the same for the house. You can't beat Personal Creations for something to brighten the home. Think colorful and vibrant artwork, modern keepsakes, fun tableware, stylish personal accessories and much more. Is there an easier or more classic way to liven a desk than with a gorgeous photo frame? We haven't found it. That's why we specialize in picture frames in all shapes and sizes and, of course, there is always the option to customize with a message.
Searching for those unique gifts for a family reunion? Think outside of the box and check out our fun line of things that everyone can do together. Or, the gang will love our family reunion staples. Consider them the accessory of choice for the next picnic or barbecue! In fact, our popular family name gifts are perfect for celebrating family milestones, welcoming newlyweds to the clan or even gifting a deserving hostess. Shop pretty yet practical doormats, outdoor planters and much more. We even feature a keep-forever line of sleek wooden hope chests and keepsake boxes. They're just the thing for storing family heirlooms, precious photos, postcards, letters, and mementos of happy days together.
Or, for a stylish way to keep the extended family close at heart, take a peek at our stunning showcase of family tree keepsakes. We feature decorative platters, canvases, photo frames, ready-to-display marble tiles and beautiful woven throws that can all be decorated with your own family tree. How about an entirely modern take on the family tree present? Check out our cool ideas. Fun, whimsical and 100% one-of-a-kind, these character-emblazoned gifts are guaranteed to bring a smile to an Aunt's, Uncle's, Mom's or Grandpa's face!
We also feature a wide selection of going away gifts, including wall art, canvases and expertly personalized frames for unforgettable memories.
So take a cue from the gift experts and give your special gift a family twist with a little help from Personal Creations. Shop now and discover what we have in store.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Subtle enough for day, this totally love-ly set is the perfect way to put a romantic accent on any look. Wear the set together or separately for a glittering finish.
• Set includes two pairs of silver-tone stud earrings
• One pair of miniature rhinestone fireball earrings; one set of claw-style studs with rhinestone-accented LOVE text and heart accent
• Approximately ¼" diameter
• Post back
• Pierced earrings are final sale and may not be returned or exchanged
Shipping Options:
Orders are shipped via UPS using the following rate scale:
Standard 5-7 Business Days - $7.95
Second Business Day - $14.95
Next Business Day - $26.95
NOTE: No Saturday or Sunday deliveries.
No shipping to P.O.Boxes. A.P.O and F.P.O addresses are automatically shipped via USPS Ground.
Orders placed during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST) are typically processed and shipped within one business day.
We do not offer international shipping at this time.
For complete details, click here.
Easy Return Options:
Take it back to your local GUESS store for FREE or ship it back to us.
GUESS gladly accepts unworn, unwashed or defective full-priced merchandise for up to thirty days after purchase date. Original receipt, hygiene strip and tags must be attached. Unfortunately, pierced jewelry, innerwear, fragrances, lotions and items marked "final sale" are not returnable. Sale merchandise may only be returned to a store for an exchange. Shipping charges are not refundable.
For complete details, click here.
Contact Us By Email:
Use our online contact form for quick, personalized assistance. Click here.
Contact Us By Phone:
Toll Free: 1-877-44-GUESS (48377).
Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. (PT)


text:
- Home
- About us
About us
- What
we do
A leading self-regulatory body for the practice of traditional acupuncture in the UK - Acupuncture practitioners in the UK
About the different types of acupuncture available - Our
professional codes
Committed to ensuring all patients receive the highest standard professional care - Find
a BAcC acupuncturist
Your local qualified practitioner - Register of members
View our register of members - Policy regarding member details
relating to names and practice details on the Register - Governing Board
The GB oversees the work of the BAcC - Statutory
Working hard to raise political awareness and recognition of the acupuncture profession - Current
Jobs @ the BAcC - Independent accreditation
The BAcC's standards are externally appraised - Complaints - complain about a practitioner
If you need help or advice in making a complaint - Complaints - making a complaint about the BAcC
If you need help or advice in making a complaint - Professional conduct committee findings
Details of disciplinary actions taken by the BAcC - Data Protection Act policy
The BAcC is committed to a policy of protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals with respect to the processing of their personal data. - Privacy notice
More specific details of how we handle your personal information. - Join
The UK's largest professional body for traditional acupuncturists - Benefits
of membership
Learn more about our membership package - Insurance FAQs
Common questions regarding our insurance - Student
Studying acupuncture? become a student member of BAcC for free - Apply
or enquire
If you want to join, found out how much and apply online
- Patient Involvement
Join our national patient liason group and help promote acupuncture - Traditional acupuncture
Traditional acupuncture
- What
is traditional acupuncture?
Traditional acupuncture is a healthcare system based on ancient principles... - Why
use a BAcC member?
It is very important to check that your acupuncturist is safe and competent. - Your
first treatment
Before, during, after - Is
acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is one of the safest medical treatments, both conventional and complementary, on offer in the UK. -
- Styles
of acupuncture
BAcC members may practice various styles of acupuncture, or use associated techniques during your treatment - History
of acupuncture
Traditional acupuncture is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine - a tried and tested healthcare system that has been practised for thousands of years in China and the Far East. - FAQs
Browse our frequently asked questions -
Acupuncture on video
FAQs and testimonials about acupuncture - Ask
an expert
Ask an expert any question you like - News
- Acupuncture
in the news
Recent news items in the media about acupuncture - Press
News generated by the BAcC - Press
The BAcC press office provides background information and facts on traditional acupuncture for both broadcast and print media - Press
Statements on important issues in the acupuncture profession - Research
- Our
research approach
Find out about the Acupuncture Research Resource Centre - Fact
The BAcC has produced factsheets outlining the state of current research for specific conditions - Review
More detailed research papers aimed at the medical practitioner - Contact
Contact for research based enquiries - For healthcare professionals
For healthcare professionals
- For healthcare professionals
Information for health practitioners such as GPs and Nurses - Acupuncture in care homes
Read about the benefits of acupuncture in a care home setting - Study
Find a local acupuncturist
near you...
To search by other criteria - name, town - click hereTo give you the best possible experience, this site uses cookies. Using acupuncture.org.uk means you agree to our use of cookies. For detailed information, click here


text:
stripe kofi cashmere cardigan
by DEMYLEE
After graduating from Parsons School of Design, New York-based designer Demy Lee wanted to design what she appreciated most in her own closet, something she reached for just about every day...sweaters. Her line Demylee is a collection of understated basics and cashmere sweaters designed to be both current and classic. Cashmere is the foundation of her collection, to which she uses luxurious ultra fine yarns sourced from goats in Inner Mongolia. Back To Product View All From This Designer
Men's Size Chart
Product Details
Super fine, cashmere cardigan with v-neckline and slouchy front pockets. Placket has reverse seam detail and small cream buttons.
• slim fit
• 100% cashmere
• imported
• model wears size Small
• model's height: 5'9"ïÿý, bust: 32.5"ïÿý, waist: 23.5", hip: 34"ïÿý
In this look: Frame Denim Le Garcon Slouch Jean, SA Multi Strap Heel Sandal


text:
Explore Hotel
Review or change an existing reservation:
Sign in to view all reservations in your account
Save with our hotel's shuttle in Indianapolis
The Radisson Indianapolis Airport is dedicated to providing you with a relaxing and rejuvenating stay with a well-equipped fitness center and on-site dining. Need to catch a flight? Not a problem since our hotel's complimentary shuttle travels directly to your terminal. The on-site business center provides high-speed Internet access, fax and copy services and spacious work areas so you can stay productive during your stay at our hotel's location in Indianapolis.
Our premium services include:
Our premium services include:
- 189 guest rooms
- Austin's full service restaurant
- Austin's Lounge
- In-room dining
- Well equipped meeting facilities
- Fitness center featuring free weights, treadmills, lifecycles and stair step equipment
- 24-hour business center with fax, copy and shipping services
- Complimentary daily parking for the duration of your stay
- 24-hour complimentary shuttle service to all Indianapolis International Airport (IND) departure and arrival gates
- Daily cleaning service


text:
Phocuswright Research
U.S. Consumer Travel Report Fifth Edition
While the U.S. economy showed clear signs of recovery in 2012, there were enough mixed signals to make vacation decisions difficult for many Americans. Through a longitudinal analysis, Phocuswright's U.S. Consumer Travel Report Fifth Edition examines traveler behavior along each step of the travel planning process - from the media travelers rely on to make destination and product decisions, to the channels they use to book and share their trip experiences. Key metrics include frequency and duration of trips, travel expenditure and travel component purchases, and travel intentions for the coming year.
[ view more details ]


text:
The Global Intelligence Files,
files released so far...
Index pages
by Date of Document
Our Partners
Al Akhbar - Lebanon
Al Masry Al Youm - Egypt
Asia Sentinel - Hong Kong
Bivol - Bulgaria
Carta Capital - Brazil
CIPER - Chile
Dawn Media - Pakistan
L'Espresso - Italy
La Repubblica - Italy
La Jornada - Mexico
La Nacion - Costa Rica
Malaysia Today - Malaysia
McClatchy - United States
Nawaat - Tunisia
NDR/ARD - Germany
Owni - France
Pagina 12 - Argentina
Philip Dorling - Fairfax media contributor - Australia
Plaza Publica - Guatemala
Publica - Brazil
Publico.es - Spain
Rolling Stone - United States
Russian Reporter - Russia
Ta Nea - Greece
Taraf - Turkey
The Hindu - India
The Yes Men - Bhopal Activists
Sunday Star-Times - New Zealand
Community resources
courage is contagious
The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
[OS] Press Briefing by Denis McDonough, Tony Blinken and Jay Carney
Released on 2012-10-12 10:00 GMT
Email-ID | 4129543 |
Date | 2011-10-21 22:26:54 |
From | email@example.com |
To | email@example.com |
List-Name | firstname.lastname@example.com |
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release October 21, 2011
BY DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR DENIS McDONOUGH,
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
MR. CARNEY: Okay, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for being here this
afternoon. We're going to continue with the briefing here.
I have with me the President's Deputy National Security Advisor Denis
McDonough on my left, and on my right, the Vice President's National
Security Advisor Tony Blinken. And they are here to take your questions
about the announcement the President just made.
After that -- why don't we give your questions to them on that subject or
other subjects they may be able to help you with and then I will remain to
take your questions on other subjects.
Q Denis, nine years, complete withdrawal. In the White House's
assessment, is this a victory for the United States? And if I could
follow up just on -- if you could answer that, and then a quick follow-up.
MR. McDONOUGH: I think one of the more poignant moments in the SVTC
downstairs -- the secure videoconference -- was when President Obama
congratulated Prime Minister Maliki and the people of Iraq for getting to
this momentous moment; and when, importantly, Prime Minister Maliki
congratulated President Obama and our troops and our diplomats for all
they've done.
So when the President laid out a vision for the future of Iraq in February
2009 down at Camp LeJeune -- many of you were there -- he said what we're
looking for is an Iraq that's secure, stable and self-reliant, and that's
exactly what we got here. So there's no question this is a success.
Q Specifically, long discussions over the issue of immunity. Had that
issue been resolved? Would the President have preferred to have had
trainers remain -- U.S. trainers, U.S. troops remain there as trainers?
MR. McDONOUGH: What the President preferred was for the best relationship
for the United States and Iraq going forward. That's exactly what we have
now as a result of the painstaking work of, importantly, our commanding
general there, Lloyd Austin, our ambassador Jim Jeffrey. And what we've
done over the course of these last three years is indicate -- the
President has indicated his not only commitment to fulfilling that
security agreement, but also his willingness to hear out the Iraqis on
what kind of relationship they want to have going forward.
So we talked about immunities, there's no question about that. But the
decision -- and the President will insist on our troops having what they
need no matter where they are. But the bottom line is, the decision that
you heard the President talk about today is reflective of his view and the
Prime Minister's view of the kind of relationship that we want to have
going forward. That relationship is a normal relationship that's based on
a diplomatic lead, a civilian presence in the lead, but also will have
important security components, as our relationships diplomatically all
around the world have, from Jordan to Egypt to Colombia to other countries
that have similar kinds of security components. So we feel like we got
exactly what we needed to protect our interests, and the Iraqis feel the
same way.
Q So you guys are confident that the Iraqi security forces are
very well equipped to take the lead without any further assistance or
training from the U.S.?
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, I think we feel very proud of the work that our
guys have done -- civilian and military -- have done in training the
I think, importantly, they've worked together over the course of
these last several years, not only trained together but also deployed --
partnered together very robustly. And I think as we've done this -- and
Tony can attest to this as well -- as we've done very intensively,
frankly, over the course of the last seven or eight months a full review
of where we stand with the Iraqis, one assessment after another about the
Iraqi security forces came back saying these guys are ready, these guys
are capable, these guys are proven. Importantly, they're proven because
they've been tested in a lot of the kinds of threats that they're going to
see going forward, so we feel very good about that.
Q Even though the troops are coming home, major attacks continue
in Iraq. You do feel, as you said, that the Iraqi security forces are
prepared for that. But what was the holdup? What prevented an agreement
being reached on keeping trainers behind, when so many independent
analysts, as well as U.S. officials, said training was essential to get
those troops in order?
MR. McDONOUGH: You know, Matt, I think it's important to point out
that we have a capacity to maintain trainers. In fact, the Office of
Security Cooperation in Iraq will have a capacity to train Iraqis on the
new kinds of weapons and weapons systems that the Iraqis are going to buy,
including, importantly, like the F-16s that they just purchased just about
a month ago.
So we will have a training capacity there. We'll have the kind of
normal training relationship that we have with countries all over the
world. You'll see, for example, Central Command looking for opportunities
to have increased naval cooperation. You'll see opportunities in naval
exercises; opportunities to have increased air force training and exercise
opportunities. So we're going to have the kind of robust security
cooperation with the Iraqis that we have with important allies all around
the world. So the suggestion of your question that somehow there is not
going to be training is just not accurate.
Q But legally, there still remains a stumbling block to any large
numbers, significant numbers of trainers being there?
MR. McDONOUGH: The main purpose of the effort that we undertook,
Matt, over the course of not only the last several months -- and
intensively, Tony and I -- but also over the last several years, was the
establishment of a normal relationship with a secure, stable and
self-reliant Iraq that allows them in a region of considerable unrest at
the moment to chart the kind of secure future that they want. That was
the goal -- not some kind of a arrangement around immunities.
And in getting this kind of goal, this kind of -- fulfilling this
goal of a secure relationship -- a secure, stable, self-reliant Iraq -- we
got exactly what we needed.
Q And you said the Iraq mission was ending as a success. Is that
the same as mission accomplished?
MR. McDONOUGH: I'll let you check your thesaurus. I'm sorry about
Q Does this leave an open door for Iran to assert influence in
Iraq? And what's the U.S. plan to counter Iranian power there?
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, the fact of the matter is that I think that as
you stack up where the Iranians feel they stand right now in 2011 after
years of the kind of international -- united international pressure that
they've seen over the last several years, the kind of, frankly, robust
outcry against the kind of activity that we saw announced just last week
as it relates to them not living up to their obligations under the
convention to which they're party to protect diplomats, of all things.
So I think what you're seeing is, in the first instance, an Iran that is
weaker and that is more isolated. So we don't need to try to exercise our
influence on those matters through Iraq; we frankly do that as a matter of
course through the United Nations, bilaterally, with our friends
throughout the region. And so we're obviously concerned about Iran's
unwillingness to live up to its obligations, be that on human rights, be
that on the nuclear program, or be that on something as simple as
protecting diplomats wherever they're serving, we have concerns about
that. But we don't have concerns about our ability to make sure that the
Iraqis can exercise the kind of sovereignty that they want.
I think it's important to highlight one critical fact as we look at
Iraq's future. If you see the kind of increased production of Iraq oil
output, as we've seen over the last couple years, over the next two years,
they'll surpass Iranian output for oil production. So this is just one
indicator of the kind of very positive future that we think the Iraqis
have in front of them.
Q Can I ask a follow-up? How can you be assured of the security
of the diplomats and the contractors who will stay in Iraq?
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, it's something that we're spending a great deal
of time on. And obviously we've insisted that for our diplomatic presence
there -- incidentally, we'll maintain an embassy there. We have embassies
all around the world; other countries have embassies all around the
world. So we'll -- we have to assume a basic amount of protections for
our people, and that's what we're communicating to the Iraqis. The
President underscored to Prime Minister Maliki that we continue to insist
that the Iraqis help us in the protection of our diplomats as well.
But we're -- as we look at that presence, we're going to ensure the
kind of standard protections of our diplomatic personnel to include marine
security detail and stuff like that. We have embassies all around the
world, but we'll also make sure that working with contractors and
otherwise, we can have the kind of protection that our guys are going to
MR. CARNEY: Jake.
Q Do you guys have any sort of estimate as to how many security
contractors are going to be left behind, or will be in Iraq?
MR. McDONOUGH: We have some estimates. I think it's around 4,000 to
5,000 security contractors in various forms of security, be that for site
security -- remember we have at least three diplomatic posts. We have a
consulate down in Basra, we have a consulate up in Erbil and then we have
the embassy in Baghdad. Then, obviously, we're going to have our people
driving around and everything else.
So you guys see, even around here, that we have -- everybody has
their security details. We'll obviously continue to negotiate this with
the Iraqis, but we'll make sure that we have the kind of presence that we
need, both as it relates to their fixed-site security but also in their
ability to move around and do their jobs.
Q I'm sorry, Jay. Can I just ask one more question? I'm sorry.
It was just five or six years ago -- and I understand there's been a lot
of progress since then -- but just five or six years ago that there was
concern that civil war was going to break out in Iraq.
I'm wondering what concerns do you have about how secure the Sunnis
or Kurds or any other minority group will be in this new sovereign state?
MR. BLINKEN: Jake, I think what we've seen is that politics has
taken hold in Iraq. That's been the big story over the last two to three
years. And increasingly, Iraqis are figuring out how to resolve their
differences through a political process. And it's not always pretty, it's
not always linear, but they work through their problems through the
political system. And that has taken a lot of the fuel out of the
sectarian problem.
The other thing I think that's worth pointing out is that, of course,
there continues to be a real security challenge in Iraq, but you've got to
put it in context. If you go back to 2007, early 2008, there were about
1,500 security incidents every week. Now we're down to around 100 a
week. So we've seen more than a ten-fold decrease, and this has been
sustained over the last couple of years.
So the bottom line is, we think that because the Iraqi security
forces are increasingly competent and capable of dealing with internal
security, and because of the emergence of politics as the basic way of
doing business, the sectarian fuse -- never say never, but it's unlikely
or less likely, certainly, to be lit again.
Q Tony, I'll ask -- eight years, $1 trillion, 44 [sic] of our men
and women dead, 32,000 wounded. Was this war worth it?
MR. BLINKEN: History is going to have to judge that. I don't think
any of us can judge that now. What we can say is that our troops have
performed remarkably over that period, and our diplomats are doing the
same. And the result of that is that today were at a place where, as
Denis said, Iraq is emerging as a secure, stable and self-reliant
country. And that was President Obama's goal. But as to the rest, that's
really up to history.
Q And can I ask a question on Pakistan? The Secretary, of course,
was just there along with others. Was there any reassurance from the
Pakistanis that they would stop support to the Haqqani network? What was
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, we'll leave the Secretary to read out her
trip. It was obviously a very important trip, high-level trip, that
included many of her colleagues, our colleagues from the National Security
Council, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, obviously others in the
National Security Council. So we're in the first instance very
appreciative of the Secretary leading this effort. Secondly, obviously
the breadth of the delegation that the Secretary led to Pakistan
underscores not only the importance we attach to the relationship, but
also the importance we attach to our ongoing concerns about the security
situation, not just in Pakistan but also in Afghanistan.
So as it relates to the particular conclusions of the visit, we'll
leave that to the Secretary and her delegation to read out. But I think
the President, obviously, is very appreciative of the fact that the
Secretary led the delegation, and that the delegation itself, its makeup
and its seriousness, underscore to the Pakistanis the strength of our
conviction about these matters.
Q Can I ask, Denis, the mechanics for people watching and trying
to see -- when the President says, "Your family will be home for the
holidays," how is this going to happen? How does it break down? How
quickly are people going to get home? How do you do it in a responsible
way so you don't rush out? How does it break down?
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, Ed, I'm going to leave that to the Pentagon to brief
it. I will just say -- make one comment about this. I happened to be in
Iraq over the weekend and was able to see some of the things that General
Austin and his team are effectuating on the ground. Absolutely
unbelievably powerful demonstration of our -- not only our strength and
capacity, military strength and capacity, but also its commitment to
making sure that we do this the right way. So you're seeing every piece
of equipment very closely accounted for. It's being accounted for; it's
being then assigned to where it's going to end up. It's a degree of
carefulness and scrutiny to this effort that I think, as with the rest of
this effort, and as Tony suggested, makes all of us very proud and frankly
very appreciative of what they're doing.
Q May I ask a quick follow on Libya, which is this video that's
emerged that appears that Qaddafi was alive, he was injured, and he's
dragged around, he's beaten up -- nobody is going to stand up for Qaddafi,
bad guy, but Saddam Hussein was as well. And after he was killed, there
was some concern on -- there was a lot of anger on the Arab street about
how it all played out. And now the U.N. is talking about investigating
exactly what happened. Are there concerns here about what happened on the
ground in Libya? And are you going to back the U.N. investigation to
figure all of that out?
MR. McDONOUGH: Bottom line is -- this has obviously been a very
dynamic 24 hours. We're still getting additional information ourselves
about what exactly transpired. We obviously are in very close contact
with our NATO colleagues, and I know that they're looking at this today.
So I'm not going to get out in front of them.
Q But do you have concerns?
MR. McDONOUGH: We have -- obviously always have concerns about
exactly what's happening in each of these situations. And frankly, that's
-- our concern for the situation in Libya is exactly why the President
took the kind of bold and decisive action that he took now several months
back. But the fact that I have concerns doesn't lead me to want to get
out in front of the facts either.
Q Two questions. Denis, considering that you had Turkish troops
having to chase a Kurdish militant group into Iraq, there has been a rise
of violence inside Iraq, what about it gives the United States confidence
that you're leaving a more secure Iraq?
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, the first thing I do is just associate myself
by whole cloth with Tony's comments earlier. That's one. Two is that
you're right that at various times you've seen spectacular attacks across
Iraq. Frankly, that's one of the techniques of some of the insurgents'
groups. And what we're seeing is that they try to do that once every
several weeks or even months to try to get attention. But the fact is
that, Chuck, you can't say that the number of attacks has gone up in Iraq,
frankly. It's gone dramatically down. In fact, as Tony suggested, more
than a ten-fold, even fifteen-fold decrease over the course of the last
couple years. So we think that's one indication of progress. Another, of
course, is the capacity of the Iraqi security forces, as I indicated a
minute ago.
One, every study assessment that we've sought in the course of the
last several months comes back with the same conclusion: These guys are
very capable against the threats that are most present, more pertinent to
Three is the point that Tony made and the Vice President has been
critical in helping bring about, which is that politics has broken out in
Iraq and that people are resolving these differences in the kind of
political democratic way that I think just a few years ago we all could
have only hoped for, and obviously that gives us a reason for great hope.
Q Let's knit this together. Qaddafi -- the strategy in Libya
versus what we're seeing -- the decisions that were made in Iraq versus
the decisions that were made in Yemen, for instance. Knit this together
on the Obama doctrine.
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, I'm not -- I'll let the -- as Tony said, the
historians can be busy on this one, too, on laying down a doctrine. But
what the President does know is that we -- he is very committed to making
sure that we remain secure. And the threats to our security are different
in every country. And, in fact, we have to be nimble enough to address
those concerns with the agility that allows us to confront them but not
get bogged down in any particular type of threat, because what we're
seeing is a more dynamic threat environment.
So, again, I'll let the historians or the theoreticians lay down what
the doctrine is. But I do know this -- having worked now with the
President for about five years, he does not take anything as seriously as
he does, knowing what the threats are, identifying them, and then bringing
overwhelming power to bear to neutralize those threats. That's going to
be different in different countries. And I think as you've watched over
the last couple years, he's not been bound up by a particular ideology,
but rather bound up specifically by his interest in making sure that we
neutralize the threats.
MR. CARNEY: Let me do Carol and Margaret.
Q Can you explain to Americans and to some of the critics of this
decision how the administration plans to ensure that none of the progress
that's been made in Iraq is rolled back, particularly when it comes to the
Iraqi security forces?
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, I think as the President indicated in his
remarks, what we've seen here is tremendous progress over the last several
years by the Iraqis. You see tremendous capability, not only in their
ability to carry out security operations, but also in their ability to
carry out democratic and political operations, which is to say that
they're much more able now -- and much more interested, frankly -- in a
political resolution to their ongoing disputes.
The other thing is that we also have to recognize that, as the
President laid out in his speech in 2009 down at Camp LeJeune, we set a
very clear set of objectives: Iraq that's secure, stable and
self-reliant. That's exactly what we have today. Our ability to maintain
a robust diplomatic and civilian presence there, our ability to maintain
ongoing training efforts with the Iraqis -- all of that will contribute to
our ability to work with our Iraqi colleagues to ensure that they can
maintain the great gains they've made.
But I also think the lesson of the Arab Spring is also quite
important, which is that representative governments that listen to their
people and that conduct elections are ultimately going to be much more
secure. And I think in that regard the Iraqis have a leg up on a very
dynamic situation.
MR. BLINKEN: I just had one quick --
Q Sure.
MR. BLINKEN: I think it's important to look back, too, over the last
almost three years. The President said he would do a number of things and
he's done every single one of them at every juncture; Iraq security is not
going backward, it's going forward. When we started out we had 150,000
American troops in Iraq. We said we'd be out of the cities in the summer
of 2009 -- we were. Things didn't get worse, they got better.
Then in the summer of 2010, we said we would end the combat mission
and move to advise-and-assist and get down to 50,000 troops. We did what
we said we'd do and we've moved forward.
And finally, the President has been committed, and repeatedly, to
fulfilling the security agreement and bringing all of our troops home at
the end of this year, and we're on track to do that. And as we've
discussed, security incidents have gone down, not up. The capacity of the
security -- Iraqi security forces have gone up, not down, and politics has
become the way of doing business in Iraq.
So for all of those reasons I think we can -- we already have a track
record that suggests that the security of Iraq will continue to move
Q Do you have any -- do you anticipate any uptick in violence
around the time of the transition?
MR. McDONOUGH: What we have seen is efforts of extremists to use
this period of dynamism and change on the ground to try to take advantage
of that situation and to threaten our guys and to threaten Iraqis.
I think what you're seeing, frankly, is especially over the last
couple months, because of the great work of General Austin and our troops,
less and less success in their doing that.
And frankly, I think you're seeing more and more frustration on
behalf of Iraqis because oftentimes what these extremist groups are doing
when they're trying to threaten our troops is that they're killing more
Iraqis, and so that all contributes to the kind of developments that make
us feel as positively as we do about the situation we find ourselves in.
But, again, just going back to Chuck's question, we're going to
remain vigilant on this set of threats as we have on threats from
Southeast Asia all the way through North Africa. The bottom line here is,
as Tony suggested, not only is that we have done what we had said -- not
only have we done what we said we would do in Iraq, the President has done
exactly what he said he would do from Iraq to the Horn of Africa, across
the Arabian Peninsula, throughout South Asia, and all the way into
Southeast Asia. So we will stay on the offense on these set of threats,
but also in so doing take advantage of the great opportunities out there
at the moment. So we feel very good about it, as I think you heard the
President suggest.
MR. CARNEY: We'll just take a few more for these guys, and if you
could just give others a chance. Margaret, then Stephen, and then we'll
go to Connie over here.
Q Thanks. I had a couple of tactical ones -- try to be brief. Is
the U.S. considering selling or leasing drones to Turkey to use against
the PKK? And can the U.S. help Iraq to defend its airspace in the absence
of an Iraqi air force, maybe through building up air power in Kuwait?
Sounds like you don't think Iran is as big a threat as some people do, but
in any event --
MR. McDONOUGH: On Iran, I think we obviously -- the President is
very clear about what we expect from the Iranians, so I'm not sure how
you're characterizing my view of the Iranian threat, but I just want to be
very clear. We have a lot of big expectations that the Iranians live up
to their obligations under the -- in the international community, be that
human rights, be that nuclear responsibility, or be that even something as
simple as protecting diplomats.
Secondly, as it relates to Turkey, we obviously, as you heard, or as
you saw, the President express significant concern about the attack in
Southeastern Turkey earlier this week. We're obviously staying in close
touch with our Turkish allies, but I don't have anything specific to
announce for you right now.
As it relates to Iraqi air sovereignty, we're obviously going to
continue to work with the Iraqis as it relates to the full range of
security and training opportunities or needs that they assess that they
have. But we can do that fully within the context of a fully normalized
relationship of the type that the President laid out a couple minutes ago.
Q The poignant videoconference this morning, the poignant moment
that you spoke about -- it doesn't sound like the conclusion of the
videoconference was a surprise. Presumably the President had been
preparing for today's videoconference, but can you talk about why it was
sort of a poignant morning for him, and maybe what he talked to you guys
about in his reflections on today?
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, maybe Tony's got something more poetic than I
do. But I would just say that I just thought that was a poignant exchange
because of what appeared to me to be genuine appreciation on behalf of the
Iraqi Prime Minister for all of the sacrifice. In fact, he called out all
the sacrifice that our troops and their families have -- and our diplomats
and their families have put on the line for Iraq's future.
That's not new to me, as it relates to the President of the United
States. He obviously has lived this, and expresses it quite vividly on a
numerous -- on numerous occasions that I've seen. But I just thought it
was an important moment where the two leaders expressed their view, that
having set out together on this effort about three years ago, now they
feel like they've gotten to a very important point where they can take
this next step pursuant to this agreement, but also then continue forward
with the kind of robust partnership that I think they've recognized our
troops and our diplomats have built over the last several years.
Q Denis, does the President support the Turkish incursion into
Northern Iraq?
MR. McDONOUGH: You know, I'm not going to get into the specifics on
this. But I will say that we've obviously worked very closely with our
Turkish friends about their ongoing concerns from such attacks. We've
obviously designated certain of the Kurdish forces as designated foreign
terrorist organizations. So I'm not going to get into it any more than
that. We'll see what the coming days and weeks unfold.
But we'll remain in close contact with our Turkish ally.
MR. CARNEY: Connie, then Andrei.
Q Thank you, Jay. You've made reference at one point to Iraqi
oil. Iraq and Libya are very wealthy countries. Will the U.S. ask for
reimburse -- financial reimbursement from Iraq and Libya?
And also, what do you see as future U.S. relations with Syria now,
and Hamas?
MR. McDONOUGH: Can you repeat the last question? I'm sorry?
Q Syria and Hamas, what do you see happening there?
MR. McDONOUGH: As it relates to whether we're going to ask for
reimbursement, I don't anticipate that. I'm not aware of any plans on
As it relates to Syria and Hamas, obviously we've been very clear as
to what we expect of the Syrians. And so we'll see whether after now
several months of allowing themselves to fall into deeper and deeper
isolation, whether they made the right choice. But I think the President
has been quite clear on this, as has the Secretary of State.
Q What about Hamas?
MR. McDONOUGH: I'm sorry?
Q What about Hamas in regards to this prisoner swap?
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, again, I think Jay has talked a lot about the
prisoner swap over the last couple days, so I associate myself with his
MR. CARNEY: Andrei.
Q My question is a logical follow-up to this. Are you offering
new aid, new assistance to Iraq or to Libya in light of yesterday's
announcement? If yes, how much? If no, then why not?
MR. McDONOUGH: We have a very robust security assistance program
with the Iraqis. It's textured and it includes the kinds of things like
foreign military sales that we saw with the F-16 purchase last month, but
also other pieces of it. So that's a matter of public record. It's
passed every year by Congress. And so we anticipate that being a very
important part of this robust and textured important security relationship
going forward.
As it relates to the Libyans, we're obviously continuing to work with
the TNC about what we expect of kind of representative government there.
We're working with our partners and our allies to indicate the kind of
support we'll provide in the future. But there's no specific changes in
our assistance since yesterday. We'll continue to work this one very
MR. CARNEY: Carrie.
Q Did the President brief any members -- leaders of Congress prior
to this decision? If not, why didn't he? And will he do that now? Or is
he doing that -- what are his plans?
MR. BLINKEN: We did brief members of Congress. In fact, a number of
us were on the phone with Senate and House leadership and other members to
brief them on the President's conversation with the Prime Minister, and to
brief them on what the President intended to say.
And of course, all along over these many weeks and many months, we've
been in regular contact with members in both houses on Iraq, on what we
were doing, on what we were planning. And the main point is that the
President all along has been absolutely consistent in saying what he would
do and then doing what he said he would do, and that's where we are today.
Q Was the Speaker's office on that call?
MR. BLINKEN: I believe so. Speaker's office was on the call.
Q So the Speaker was involved in that?
MR. BLINKEN: Yes, I think all the leadership was on the phone call.
Q Thank you.
MR. CARNEY: Yes.
Q You mentioned protection for the embassies. Do you have an
estimate of how many troops will be kept there to protect embassies?
MR. McDONOUGH: There will be no troops there to provide security to
embassies, other than the standard Marine security detail, which we have
at embassies in every country in the world. So other than the Marine
contingent that provides security, there will be no troops kept in Iraq
for security of the embassies.
For security of our embassy and the two consulates, there will --
we'll contract with security contractors to provide the kind of, as I said
again, fixed-site security, as well as movement security when our guys get
out and do their job in the country.
Q Yes, about the euro. What kind of leverage do you have or what
kind of help could you give to get to an agreement before Monday?
MR. McDONOUGH: You know, the President is working this, and I know
Gene and Secretary Geithner are, so I'm going to just let them work it,
and we'll hold our comments on it.
MR. CARNEY: Last two. Alexis and then --
Q Quick question. Although the President is emphasizing the
troops coming home at the end of the year, how many should expect to then
be redeployed, maybe into Afghanistan?
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, I think you heard the President's remarks
underscore that we obviously are continuing our effort in Afghanistan.
But as he suggested, this number of U.S. troops deployed overseas has now
been robustly reduced.
So as it relates to the specific deployment schedules, I'll leave
that to the Pentagon to brief you through the specifics on that. But the
fact of the matter is, given that we're looking now at dramatically fewer
U.S. troops deployed as a result of these policy choices, I think you can
extrapolate from that that we'll see a less robust rotational effort.
But, again, I'm going to leave the Pentagon to comment on the specifics on
MR. CARNEY: Last one for these guys, and I'll stay.
Q Thank you, Jay. I would like to ask both gentlemen -- the
withdrawal of troops, even by those who support it, nonetheless is
questioned about for giving the exact numbers of when the troops will
leave and finally be gone. It's almost like telegraphing a message to
possible enemies of the regime. What do you say to that criticism?
MR. McDONOUGH: Well, I'll try it first. The security agreements
negotiated and signed in 2008 by the Bush administration stipulated this
date of December 31, 2008, as the end of the military presence. So that
has been in law now for -- or been enforced now for several years.
So it's difficult to rebut the proposition that this was a known
date. By the same token, I think that individual decisions that our
troops and our commanders are making are informed by their assessments as
it relates to individual movements and security related therewith. And we
feel very good, and, frankly, very appreciative of their efforts in that
Q Hey, guys. Boehner's office is saying that they know of no
effort to even contact his office.
MR. BLINKEN: There was a call that had many members of Congress on
from both Houses, including leadership. They were certainly invited. We
thought they were on --
Q Both parties?
MR. BLINKEN: Both parties, absolutely.
MR. McDONOUGH: We'll get you a list -- I tried to call his office.
MR. BLINKEN: Only thing to add to your question is this. Other
dates were well known in advance. It was well known that we were going to
be out of Iraq cities in the summer of 2009, and, again, security
improved; it didn't get worse. It was well known that we were going to
change our mission in the summer of 2010, and the combat mission -- move
to an advise-and-assist mission -- and get down to 50,000 troops. Again,
security continued to improve; it didn't get worse.
And there's something very important about the United States keeping
its commitments. That sends a very strong and powerful message throughout
the region -- in Iraq as well as countries outside Iraq. And that's
exactly what we're doing.
MR. CARNEY: Thank you, gentlemen.
MR. McDONOUGH: Thanks, guys.
MR. CARNEY: Appreciate it.
You guys want more? I'm here to take questions on other subjects.
Q Thank you. Two follow-ups just on the previous. One is that if
Secretary were in Pakistan and Afghanistan, if she was carrying any
special message from the President. Because, as you know from the think
tanks, and even President and Secretary said, that -- and including the
defense secretary -- Pakistan is the most dangerous place today, as far as
the Haqqani network and terrorists are concerned, unless you (inaudible)
MR. CARNEY: What's the question?
Q So was there any message the President -- she was carrying for
the President?
MR. CARNEY: The Secretary of State was leading a high-level
delegation that included the CIA Director, the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, and others, obviously at the direction of the President
of the United States.
So I will echo Denis in saying that I'll leave it to those
participants to read out their meetings, but, of course, this was a
mission embarked upon at the direction of the Commander-in-Chief.
Q And second, if I may -- as far as Qaddafi's departure or death
is concerned now, does the President believe now that other -- this is a
message for other dictators, including in Saudi Arabia or China or even
Iran? Because many Iranians are now demonstrating outside the White House
for freedom and justice.
MR. CARNEY: I think -- setting aside the issue of the countries that
you named, I think that the lesson that we've seen generally, in the Arab
Spring and throughout history, is that tyrants who do not respond to their
people and who, in fact, murder their own people will not last, and should
not last.
Q Jay, can you talk about the jobs bill? Just because the
President obviously started the week three days on the road, two key
states, selling the bill. The week ends with -- not a surprise -- but the
Senate last night again votes the bill down. Where are we, and how does
the President get this bill through?
MR. CARNEY: Sure, I appreciate that, Ed. As you know, the Senate
did vote last night on a provision from within the American Jobs Act that
would have put, if passed, up to 400,000 teachers in the classrooms
educating our children, as well as putting to work additional police
officers and firefighters and other first responders.
Once again, we saw an overwhelming percentage of Democrats vote in
favor of that. And once again, we saw precisely zero Republicans vote in
favor of that. If we lived in a world where a majority were to rule in
the Senate, I think we could have counted on the Vice President to come
and break the tie last night and ensure passage of this measure.
The fact of the matter is that Senate Republicans chose, in unison,
to vote against a measure that would have put teachers back to work, would
have put construction workers on the job -- or rather, teachers back to
work and first responders back to work, rather than asking millionaires
and multimillionaires and billionaires to pay a little bit more. That's
the choice they made, and that is unfortunate.
So the President will continue to make the case that we need to take
action to address the biggest challenge in front of us right now as
regards our economy, which is an economy that's not growing fast enough
and an economy that's not creating enough jobs.
The Senate Republicans failed to act in a way that would have
addressed, in part, this problem last night. But the President and
Democrats will continue to insist that the Senate, and hopefully
eventually the House, vote on every measure within the American Jobs Act.
And it is my understanding that today we are able to say that when the
Senate returns, the week that it returns, they will vote on a provision
that addresses the infrastructure provision -- the provision that
addresses infrastructure investments and would put construction workers
back to work rebuilding our highways and schools and bridges, and ensuring
that we have the kind of economic foundation for -- to be competitive in
the 21st century.
Hopefully, maybe, after they take another recess, Senate Republicans will
hear from their constituents, come back with a different attitude about
what this economy needs right now, which is measures that are fully paid
for, by asking millionaires, multimillionaires and billionaires to pay a
little bit more; an idea that is supported by an overwhelming majority of
the American public -- Democrats, independents and Republicans -- and will
provide the votes necessary to pass that provision and the ones that we
hope will be voted on after that.
Yes, Jim.
Q Can I -- to follow up on that, why doesn't the President insist that
the Senate vote on the things that are clearly much easier to pass -- the
payroll tax deduction, perhaps the unemployment assistance? If it's so
urgent, why do you go through these exercises that end up in these 50
votes -- 50/50 votes that don't get the 60 --
MR. CARNEY: Well, let me make clear. We want and insist that Congress
vote on every provision. And I believe the Senate Majority Leader has
addressed that as well. So we expect that votes will be taken on those
The extension and expansion of the payroll tax cut would take effect once
the current payroll tax cut expires. So whether it's voted on this week
or two weeks from now will not affect when it is implemented -- which is
very soon, and will have a very positive impact if it is passed in 2012.
Every one of these provisions, if passed, would have a positive impact on
economic growth and job creation, as judged by outside independent
economists. So we think every provision is valuable, every provision
should be passed and every provision should be voted on. But be assured
that every provision will be voted on and Senate Republicans will have the
opportunity, hopefully, if you will, to save face and vote on some of them
and help this economy grow and create jobs.
Yes, Jake.
Q I was wondering if you could comment on a report -- a Brian Ross
report about the $529 million loan to a company called Fisker to make
electric cars, but there is no facility in the United States that could
make them, so they're being manufactured in Finland.
MR. CARNEY: I'd be delighted to answer that, because, as was known
in the case, the car that is being manufactured in Finland was always
going to be manufactured in Finland. The loan that is being provided is
not -- the funds that is provided to Fisker are not being used -- as I
believe the CEO said to ABC -- not being used for its facilities in
Finland. There are already jobs on the ground in the United States, both
directly at the plant in Wilmington and at the headquarters on the West
Coast. And the model that will be built in the United States will be
built in the United States, and that the loan program that was provided
will assist in that endeavor.
Not only that, the model that is being built in Finland relies on
suppliers and others here in the United States for its manufacture. So I
think what was discovered in that piece is that this plant is doing
exactly what it said it would do, this company is doing exactly what it
said it would do, and that we anticipate and hope that it will continue to
grow and that the jobs will be -- continue to be created here in the
United States and that we will continue, both through this and also
through the major Detroit automobile manufacturers, to be a leader in the
automobile industry in the world -- a role that Republicans in Congress
were willing to give up for the United States of America. They opposed
the President's decision to insist on the restructuring of GM and
Chrysler, for example, and to assist them on staying alive and saving more
than a million jobs in the United States. We think that was the right
decision to make, and we think that helping other car manufacturers locate
here, build here, create jobs here is a good idea.
Q Why does the White House think that the Senate is moving pretty
quickly on a number of nominations, including some that have been held up
for a while? What's your read on that?
MR. CARNEY: Well, we certainly welcome -- thank you for the question. We
certainly welcome the -- (laughter) -- is that a trick question? No, we
certainly welcome the fact that the Senate has confirmed a number of
nominations, both administration positions as well as judicial nominations
of late. And we're clearly working very closely. Rob Nabors, our head of
Congressional Liaison Office here, is working very closely with leadership
in the Senate to get these confirmations through. And we certainly
appreciate the votes.
Q Another tough one for you. Polling suggests that voters care more
about the economy than they do about foreign policy, but the narrative
that I think we're seeing the President and the advisors who just left
starting to paint are about the string of foreign policy successes. And I
guess I was just wondering, do you see this becoming something that he
should campaign on -- his killing of Osama bin Laden, Qaddafi's death, the
removal of now all troops from Iraq? And why is that message important?
Why do you think it will resonate in a year when people are very focused
on the economy?
MR. CARNEY: Americans are very focused on the economy because, as I just
discussed, it's the number-one priority for them and for this President.
We need to grow the economy, we need to take measures that will have the
economy creating more jobs, and he is absolutely focused on that.
The President will be judged on his record as President, and that includes
Commander-in-Chief. The only thing I think that's worth pointing out --
and this applies to foreign policy, national security policy, as well as
domestic policy -- is that this President has made a series of very hard
decisions, whether it was bailing out American automobile companies to
save a million plus jobs and ensure that we continue to be a leader in the
automobile industry globally or ensuring that we pass the Recovery Act so
that the Great Recession would not become the second Great Depression in
American history.
Whether it was keeping his commitment to wind down the war in Iraq
and end it responsibly -- something that he campaigned on when he was
running for office -- I think it's important, if I could just digress for
one minute, to remember that during the 2008 campaign, the Iraq war in
many ways was the dominant issue. This was an issue that many, many
Americans rightfully care deeply about.
Then-Senator Obama took a very clear position on that. He made very
clear what he would do. And as is the case in every big decision he
makes, he says what he was -- he said what he would do, and he did it.
And he is doing it now with Iraq. And again, just a series of tough
decisions -- both domestic policy and foreign policy.
Yes, Scott.
Q When the President goes to Nevada next week, is he going to be
talking about the jobs bill, or does he has something about housing he
wants to --
MR. CARNEY: Look, the President will continue to talk about the
economy and about the need to create jobs here. We aren't going to let up
on this discussion because it is, going back to what I just said, our
number-one priority and the President's number-one priority. So you can
assume that next week on the trip he is taking that he'll continue to talk
broadly about the economy and the need to pass measures and the American
Jobs Act.
But I don't have any specific announcements about what he's going to
do at the different stops to make today.
Q The reason I ask is there's campaign talk this week about the
Republican debate and sort of the lack of any effort to address the
housing situation. Since he's going to be right there, sort of ground
zero for foreclosures --
MR. CARNEY: Well, I would simply say that we have -- this President
has taken a number -- made a number of decisions and taken a number of
measures to try to assist homemakers -- I mean homeowners in -- (laughter)
-- some of them are homemakers as well -- in dealing with the housing
crisis that we confronted when we came here, and that has continued to be
a real drag and burden on the economy. We most recently took an executive
measure, the President did, to assist the unemployed in mortgage
forbearance to allow hardworking Americans who find themselves unemployed
to continue to stay in their homes. And we will continue to look for ways
to deal with that very difficult housing situation going forward.
Carrie and then --
Q Does the President have any plans to talk with former President
Bush about the decision today?
MR. CARNEY: I'm not aware of any. As you know, the President saw
former President Bush, George W. Bush on 9/11. To the point I think that
was made earlier, I think in answer to a question from Human Events, the
announcement the President made today is in fulfillment of an agreement
that was signed by President Bush to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by
the end of 2011. But I'm not aware of any conversation that's planned.
Q Jay, last week, gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny died at the age
of 86. After being fired from his government job in the 1950s for being
gay, he became a leader in the gay rights movement even before the
Stonewall riots in 1969 and for many years afterward. So what reaction
does the White House have to his passing?
MR. CARNEY: I'll have to take that. I'm not aware. I mean, I know
that he passed away, but I don't have a comment on it.
Q Can you tell me why the White House didn't put out a statement
last week upon his death?
MR. CARNEY: I don't know so I'll have to take the question.
Q And just one last question. There's going to be public viewing
of Kameny on November 3rd at the Smithsonian and civic leaders are
expected to speak. Will the President be open to attending the ceremony?
MR. CARNEY: I'm not his scheduler, but --
Q Jay, you were talking about going -- the President going to
infrastructure next. On the bus trip he talked --
MR. CARNEY: I think the Senate is going to go infrastructure next.
Q Yes, but that's the next stop. So on the bus trip the President
talked about the order in which he expected the Senate to move, and he
talked about infrastructure and then the next after that would be help for
the long-term unemployed, and after that the tax credit for vets, and
after that the millionaire tax hike. So is that --
MR. CARNEY: No, no, no, no. The surtax on millionaires is being --
is part of every measure.
Q Right. He said on the bus trip that he wanted a vote on that.
So I'm just trying to clarify that's what he means -- he wants separate
votes on each of those in that order? That's what he described --
MR. CARNEY: Well, again, the Senate Majority Leader decides the
order in which business occurs on the Senate floor. So I will leave it to
Senator Reid to make announcements about that.
I think it's true that they had the vote last night on teachers and
first responders. We're anticipating a vote the week that they get back
on infrastructure. There remain to be votes on the additional provisions
within it, including a tax break to hire veterans, a payroll tax cut for
individuals, payroll tax cut for small businesses, and other provisions,
unemployment insurance. But I don't have an order to give to that. And I
would say that, as was the case on the vote last night, that the pay-for
on all of these is, as the Senate desired, the surtax -- the so-called
surtax on millionaires -- and just apportioned according to the size of
the delineated measure within the American Jobs Act.
Thanks very --
Q Do you have a week ahead?
Q Week ahead?
MR. CARNEY: Oh, I do. One of these days. Maybe my last day as
press secretary, or last Friday I will remember to read it before I'm
Q Is this your last day?
MR. CARNEY: Get those rumors going.
On Monday, the President will travel -- (laughter) --
Q Theo Epstein left so there's an opening.
MR. CARNEY: I'd take that job.
Q I don't know.
MR. CARNEY: It may not be good -- it may not be good for Boston, but
On Monday, the President will travel to Las Vegas, as we've been
discussing, to make remarks on the American Jobs Act. He will also
participate in a campaign event while in Las Vegas. In the evening, the
President will participate in campaign events in Los Angeles and spend the
night there.
On Tuesday morning, the President will tape an appearance on "The
Tonight Show with Jay Leno" before departing for San Francisco. In San
Francisco, the President will participate in a campaign event. In the
afternoon the President will travel to Denver and participate in campaign
events. He will spend Tuesday night in Denver.
And on Wednesday morning the President will deliver remarks on the
American Jobs Act in Denver. That afternoon, the President will return to
Washington, D.C.
On Thursday, the President will hold a bilateral meeting with the
Prime Minister of the Czech Republic.
And on Friday, the President will attend meetings here at the White
Thank you all very much. Have a great weekend.
Q Thank you.
The White House . 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW . Washington DC 20500 .


text:
Phocuswright Research
U.S. Consumer Travel Report Fifth Edition
While the U.S. economy showed clear signs of recovery in 2012, there were enough mixed signals to make vacation decisions difficult for many Americans. Through a longitudinal analysis, Phocuswright's U.S. Consumer Travel Report Fifth Edition examines traveler behavior along each step of the travel planning process - from the media travelers rely on to make destination and product decisions, to the channels they use to book and share their trip experiences. Key metrics include frequency and duration of trips, travel expenditure and travel component purchases, and travel intentions for the coming year.
[ view more details ]
The Role of the GDSs in How Today's Travel Agents Look and Book
Global distribution systems (GDSs) represent a major piece of airline transactions and a vast majority of travel agency flight, hotel and car rental transactions. But the travel agency landscape has evolved significantly, and the GDS no longer always takes center stage when agents book. This analysis examines how travel agents research and book travel products, the role of the GDS and how this varies by agency type.
[ view more details ]
Travel Innovation and Technology Trends: 2012 and Beyond
Heads up, travel companies: 2012's host of technology trends – including new developments in social e-commerce, business intelligence and content fragmentation – will have huge effects on the future of travel distribution.
[ view more details ]
When They Get There (and Why They Go): Activities, Attractions, Events and Tours
While U.S. travelers spent nearly $27 billion on travel activities, attractions, events and tours in 2009, these activities have failed to penetrate and participate in the broader travel distribution ecosystem. This report analyzes the travel opportunity for events and activities in the U.S., and identifies opportunities and challenges for travel suppliers, distributors and technology providers.
[ view more details ]


text:
By Automobile Magazine 10/29/2013
The Z/28 model is a new addition to the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro lineup. Pricing has yet to be announced but is expected to be a bit higher than the $56,000 price tag of the ZL1. All other 2014 Chevrolet Camaro models gain new front and rear styling, save for the ZL1, which keeps its old nose...Read more
Shortly after General Motors discontinued the fourth-generation F-body in 2002, Camaro loyalists cried out in protest. The noise was loud enough to prompt GM to investigate a retro-styled fifth-generation model. After showing a coupe concept in 2006 and a convertible concept in 2007, a production version finally rolled into showrooms for the 2010 model year. Initially only a 3.6-liter V-6 and a 6.2-liter V-8 were offered, but the addition of the ZL1 for 2012 also brought a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 to square off against the Ford Shelby GT500.
Just how many variants of the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro does the world need? In addition to the base six-cylinder Camaro and the V-8-powered Camaro SS, we also have the supercharged Camaro ZL1 and convertible variants for all three models. Factor in the Camaro SS 1LE package and the drag-only COPO, and that total grows to eight.
But wait: there's now one more. The big news for 2014 is the revival of the Camaro Z/28 nameplate for the first time in twelve years. The new Z/28 isn't exactly a homologation special like the original, but it is designed with severe track duty in mind. Power comes from the C6 Corvette Z06's 7.0-liter V-8, which serves up more than 500 hp. A close-ratio six-speed manual transmission is the only gearbox offered on the Z/28. It's a little strange to see Chevy build a track car by gutting air-conditioning and audio-system components while retaining the rear seat. Still, for Camaro junkies wishing for something to counter the 2011-2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302, this might be the ultimate fifth-gen Camaro.
Revisions elsewhere across the Camaro lineup are limited mostly to a cosmetic exterior refresh. Up front, the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro's grille is narrower and more tapered than before. Out back, new rectangular taillamp assemblies actually wrap around the corners of the fascia. The 2014 Camaro ZL1 is the lone exception to this makeover: as Chevy didn't want to rework the car's aerodynamics and cooling packaging for the supercharged V-8 (and its important intercooler), 2014 ZL1s gain only the new rear styling while their noses remain unchanged.
The Camaro drives pretty well -- and handles incredibly in ZL1 and SS 1LE guises -- but it still stuffers from a funky cabin design and poor rearward visibility. Coupes offer decent trunk space, but a small, oddly shaped opening severely limits its use. The Ford Mustang -- especially the new 2015 Mustang due in mid-2014 -- probably gives the Camaro the biggest run for its money, but no matter: although muscle-car fans love to argue over bragging rights, cars in this segment usually aren't sold on objectivity, and few die-hard Camaro fans will even fathom the idea of switching to a Ford.


text:
This module provides an overview of the evolving trends and requirements within select portable healthcare applications, mainly EKG/ECG and AEG. It features the Blackfin processor portfolio and highlights the solutions it helps customers achieve when designing solutions for these applications. A key development partner is also featured.
Presenter: Rich Murphy, DSP Core Products & Technologies Group, Analog Devices, Inc.
Duration: 15:45
© 1995 - Analog Devices, Inc. All Rights Reserved


text:
Ok so my Rogue Trader took it upon himself to take a large population of mutants onboard one of his ships from port wander. He did this quite unprompted and just made the invitation to some under deck gangs who seemed like reasonable sorts that whoever might show up at his Dynasty's mustering area would find gainful work at the standard rates for their skill and ability. The player knows this is going to cause him a variety of issues and I'm already hinting of some of the discord with the human portions of the crew (it got mentioned in the staff meeting that requests for transfer from that vessel are up 4,000 percent). The ship that got restocked with mutants was a wolfpack raider that was at just a bit over 60 crew so now about 40% of the crew mutant..
I already have some ideas for challenges and drawbacks to this crew make up. What I'm asking for peoples assistance with are the possibility of benefits to this arrangement. For starters I was thinking that a mutant crew (especially if mutants become the majority) if treated on par with a regular crew will be a lot more morale resistant as they are used to getting spat on by everyone else. So at the very least I was thinking about reducing morale losses. Any other thoughts?
Another reason I don't necissarily want to discuss challenges involved in such a crew is my player sometimes peruses these forums.


text:
ShowBiz Min: BET, Cirque Du Soleil, Box Office
Next video starts in : 7 Play
ShowBiz Min: BET, Cirque Du Soleil, Box Office
Disneyland measles outbreak explained in under a minute
Disneyland measles outbreak explained in under a minute
Now watching Up nextShowBiz Min: BET, Cirque Du Soleil, Box Office
5,400 views
BET Awards announces winners; Cirque Du Soleil performer dies on stage; 'Monsters University' is box office no. 1. (July 01)
Now watching Up nextDisneyland measles outbreak explained in under a minute
Measles was eradicated in the U.S. in 2000. Recently there has been has been a surge of measles outbreaks in Disneyland. 70 people have contracted the highly contagious disease.
Now watching Up nextBlizzard Forecast: Snow, Cold Settle in Over Northeast
Jan. 27 -- Accuweather meteorologist Mark Mancuso reports on the snow storm impacting the Northeast and what caused conditions to change predicted totals for the New York City area. He speaks on "Bloomberg Surveillance."
Now watching Up nextJapan vows to work with Jordan over IS hostage
Japan says it will work with Jordan to secure the release of a Japanese journalist as well as a Jordanian pilot, who are both being held by Islamic State militants. Yiming Woo reports.
Now watching Up nextKurdish forces celebrate in Kobani
Kurds push Islamic State out of Kobani after four-month battle, but Islamic State still controls surrounding areas. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.
Now watching Up nextObama wraps up India visit with town hall speech
President Barack Obama calls for greater partnership between U.S. and India in a town hall speech that finishes a three-day visit to the country. Rough cut (no reporter narration).
Now watching Up nextJerry Seib: The Politics of Obama's Trip to Saudi Arabia
President Obama and a powerful entourage are showing their respects to the late King Abdullah, as both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia try to patch up a frayed relationship. Photo: Roger Wollenberg
Now watching Up nextBill Gates: Who needs big banks?
Bill Gates breaks down the mobile banking revolution and how it will transform the way people in the poorest countries can spend and save money from their mobile phone.
Now watching Up nextSnowplow Gets Stuck Outside of Boston
Boston broke its record for a January storm's snowfall total on January 27. The blizzard dumped 23.3 inches of snow on Boston, which breaks the record set in 2005, according to the National Weather Service. State and travel bans were to end by Wednesday after the storm had moved from the area, according to local reports. This video shows a plow stuck in Dorchester, which is on the outskirts of Boston. Credit: Instagram/Dana Lee Marquis
Now watching Up nextUS safety regulators embrace new braking technologies


text:
Mystery of the Ancients: Three Guardians Collector's Edition
Uncover the secrets of Green Hill in Mystery of the Ancients: Three Guardians! After receiving a frantic call from your niece, you arrive in Green Hill to discover that things have really gone to the birds. A flock of mysterious crows has been terrorizing the town, attacking citizens and causing them to vanish in their tracks. But they're just the hired help. A strange man in a feathered cloak has a vendetta against your niece's boyfriend, and he'll stop at nothing to clear his path to revenge. Can you uncover the secrets behind his feathered fury and rescue Green Hill before it's too late? Find out in this gorgeous Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
This is a special Collector's Edition release full of exclusive extras you won't find in the standard version. As a bonus, Collector's Edition purchases count toward three stamps on your Monthly Game Club Punch Card!
The Collector's Edition includes:
- In the bonus game, the Dead King's crown corrupts an ally
- Screensavers, soundtracks, and concept art
- Collectible figures from the game
- Available Strategy Guide
Game System Requirements:
- OS: Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8
- CPU: 1.6 GHz
- DirectX: 9.0
- Hard Drive: 1480 MB
Game Manager System Requirements:
- Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or later
Buy this game Get 3 punches
The Big Fish Guarantee:
- Quality tested and virus free.
- No ads, no adware, no spyware.


text:
Archived News (06/01/2014) : Plantation Worker Freed Of Drug Trafficking Charge Because Of Unsound Mind
Please subscribe to http://blis.bernama.com for the full news.
We provide
news coverage in our Newswire service.
Previous Top Stories
Other News Headlines
- Subramaniam Agrees To Moratorium Call By BN Chairman- politic
- Maxis Launches MyMaxis For Postpaid Users- business
- No Change In Abdul Mokhtar's Position As FAS Deputy President- sports
- UniMAP To Develop World's First Aedes Mosquito Detector- features
- Seoul, Washington To Hold Talks On North Korea Nuclear Programme - world
Most Read News
Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia,
Wisma BERNAMA,No 28, Jalan 1/65A,
Off Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel : 603-2693 9933 ( General Line )
E-mel : firstname.lastname@example.com
© 2015 BERNAMA. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Privacy Policy| Security Policy
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form except with the prior written permission of BERNAMA.
Best viewed in Firefox 8.0 & Internet Explorer 8.0 with 1024 x 768 resolution


text:
See more: Blocks & Building
Ball Track Drum
This product is unavailable
Building a ball track set and looking for a little something extra to spice up the track? Add some fun and unpredictability and drama with this ball track drum. It creates drama by jumping the marbles down into the drum and bouncing them out again, hopefully back onto the right track. Set includes 1 drum, 1 piece of track, 2 supporting columns, 4 blocks, and 12 marbles. Integrates into the larger Ball Track Construction Set from Haba.
- Recommended For Kids 3 Years And Older
- Integrates with our Ball Track Construction Set
- Includes 1 drum, 1 track, 2 columns, 4 supporting blocks, and 12 marbles
- Made of untreated beech wood
- Lovingly Designed In Germany By Our Talented Friends At Haba
- Made in Germany
- CHOKING HAZARD--Toy contains a marble. Not For Children Under 3 Years.


text:
It's been a while since I've put one in - but the first ones still had the TV2 outputs on the back of the receiver - they just had black caps over them. Never actually tried hooking anything to them to see if they worked though.
Could you try ? Just for a gig.
I want to know as well.
Apparently, 512 is the only receiver we don't have in our building (minus legacy receivers), so there's no way I can try it out.
Just wanted to say that the most recent s/w update now has what would be TV2's outputs will now mirror TV1's. So if you hook up the cabling to the secondary output, it will show the same thing as TV1's outputs
Just thought I'd let you guys know


text:
Here at DotComGiftShop, we have something for every single room in the house but to our mind, the beating heart of every home is the kitchen. Nothing invokes a feeling of relaxation, security and contentment more than the homely smell of baking.
As you would expect, we have a veritable Aladdin's cave of bake-ware gift ideas for you to choose from.
Kitchen Utensils are a vital part of any cook's armory and we think you'll just love our Measuring Spoons Heart Shape Small which offers 1/4 tsp 1/2 tsp 1tsp 1tbspn size cups or Measuring Spoons Heart Shape Large - 60ml 80ml 125ml 250ml size cups.
Continuing the love heart theme, Mini Ladle Love Heart Red or Mini Ladle Love Heart Pink will look great in any kitchen.
And don't forget, we have a selection of retro styled quality Kitchen Scales to make sure you get those recipes just right.
We think you'll love our great range of Cookie Cutters, Chocolate Moulds and Baking Moulds and to really involve the kids in the kitchen Children's Tea & Baking Sets are a must.
Of course baking can be a messy business especially when there are little ones involved but with our choice of Aprons, we've got that covered.
Presentation is half the fun of baking and we're sure you'll enjoy choosing from our kaleidoscope of Paper Cake Cases & Cup Cake Cases and don't forget we have Cake Stands too so why not show off your masterpieces to best effect.
If on the off chance that there's anything left after teatime, keep your cakes moist and fresh in one of our Cake Tins.
DotComGiftShop - catering for your sweet tooth!


text:
Returning Customers
If you are a registered user, please enter your ART portal username and password.
- Sales Unit: each
Based on the creative ideas in the free webinar "Using a reward room to enhance your Sparks ministry," this kit contains over $70 worth of fun resources, including posters, an animated lesson DVD, a worship CD and all three Sparky storybooks!
To view a replay of the webinar that explains how to use these products together, visit awana.org/digitallibrary.
Kit includes:
Sparks InFlight Movie DVD
Sing It, Tell It, Whisper It, Yell It! Worship CD
Sparks Poster Set (set of 3)
Sparks Activity CD
Sparks Stencil
Sparks Static Cling Set
Sparky Stamp
Sparky Bendy Pen
Sparks Cup
Sparky Shines His Light
Sparky Frees the Flea
Sparky Bops the Greedy Bug
Sparky Finger Puppet


text:
Calendar of Events |
For information regarding events and activities during your stay, please view our Calendar of Events below. You may also contact our concierge desk at 305-918-6860.
Miami Spice 2014
When: From 08/01/2014 to 09/30/2014
Miami Spice 2014 will showcase the very best local cuisine in Miami. Search for restaurant deals in Coral Gables, South Beach, Downtown Miami and other areas in Miami.