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178 ESC 09 E rev 1 - INFORMATION DOCUMENT* - THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS AND ITS IMPACT ON DEFENCE BUDGETS
A. Albania
1. In 2008, it was estimated that global military expenditures totalled $1,464 billion, representing an increase of 4% in real terms compared to 2007, and a 45% increase since 1999. Despite the overall growth of governments' defence budgets in the past decade, the global financial crisis has had a significant and far-reaching impact that will eventually compel governments to reassess national budgets. Economically burdened nations are now compelled to restructure budgets to cope with the current crisis and reflect new fiscal realities. Government efforts to stabilize and reinvigorate their national economies raises the question of how these adjustments will affect defence expenditures and the manner in which governments will seek to achieve national and international security goals.
2. In a discussion following a presentation by Neil Davies, Chief Economist and Head of Division for Economic Statistics and Advice at the UK Ministry of Defence, to the Economics and Security Committee (ESC) in Oslo, Norway, several ESC members noted that it would be useful to have a detailed assessment of envisioned defence spending in NATO countries in the coming years. Members of the committee further inquired how these cuts would be managed and whether this would affect their future commitment to NATO missions. This document is not intended to provide a detailed account of the various defence ministries' spending budgets. Instead, it will survey the landscape of recent defence budgetary trends and shifts the 28 NATO member countries are contemplating as a consequence of the global financial crisis. The profiles below are thus snapshots of highly complex situations and are intended only to point to several key factors shaping those situations.
3. To avert recession and the possibility of complete economic collapse in the wake of the global financial crisis, most NATO governments pursued expansionary economic policies and adopted significant fiscal and monetary stimuli packages. This survey will suggest that NATO members have generally increased their defence budgets, and continue to contribute financial aid and forces to NATO expeditionary missions, such as Afghanistan.
4. While this may initially seem surprising, most defence spending involves long-term commitments, which are often difficult and expensive to reverse over the short run. Defence budgets for 2009 were already in place prior to the financial crisis, while planning for 2010 has limited governments' ability to alter drastically their defence budgets. In light of increasing government debt, rising social welfare demands, and plummeting GDPs, maintaining current defence spending may prove difficult over the medium term. Experts agree that regardless of near-term funding streams, the nations' defence ministries and military services all face tough budgetary decisions in the coming years. Though the document's findings will demonstrate how defence budgets have not yet been drastically affected, governments have, however, started to restructure their budgets in anticipation of coming budgetary pressures. The document concludes that so far member countries have not sacrificed their obligation to national and international security, as well as their commitment to NATO's mission. While current concern for these matters is warranted, this document suggests that governments may feel both politically and financially compelled to reduce defence outlays after 2011 if the economic situation does not improve substantially. The footnotes obviously point readers to more detailed accounts. The author would like to thank all those Parliaments that provided information for this information document.
5. According to the Implementation Plan for Transformation of the Armed Forces (2002-2010), Albania plans to increase spending by 0.1% GDP every year until 2010. Though Albania's defence budget for 2009 is $270 million1 and the Ministry has pledged to spend 2% of GDP on defence in 2009, under-funding remains the primary challenge for Albania's armed forces. Albania's armed forces consist of 11,020 troops, but the current restructuring efforts will force the reduction of troops to roughly 10,000 men by 2010. Defence officials admit that Albania will continue to need bilateral assistance and international support to increase local force levels for international expeditionary forces, strengthen logistical support, and acquire military hardware.
6. Belgium spends just over 1% of its GDP on defence (half of NATO's suggested level), and NATO criticized its armed forces modernisation plan for 2000-2015 for not meeting the expected military expenditure threshold of member states. The 2000-2015 defence modernisation programme anticipates personnel reductions of over 16%. The government will channel resulting savings into funds for international peace operations, procurement investment, and spending for about 24 major modernisation projects.2
7. Despite the global financial crisis, Prime Minister Herman A. Van Rompuy has also announced that Belgium would double its civilian aid to Afghanistan. In 2009 and 2010, Belgium's budget for Afghanistan will reach €12 million ($17 million) per year.3 Moreover, the Belgian Defence Minister, Pieter de Crem, has stated that the government has increased its ground troop strength in northern Afghanistan and continued to provide F-16s in the south. In regards to the Belgian government's current €200 million deficit on the account of the Treasury,4 Defence Minister DeCrem has promised to sell outdated materials to bring much needed funds into the MoD.
8. The Bulgarian economy has and continues to be significantly affected by the economic crisis. Economists predict that Bulgarian GDP is set to contract by around 6% in 2009, and according to Fitch Ratings, Bulgaria has $26.2 billion of debt due in 2009, equal to 6% of the GDP. Furthermore, the latest NATO press release criticized Bulgaria for only allocating $12,384 per capita for defence (in comparison, the Czech Republic allocates $24,476 per capita, Denmark $36,891, and the US $46,941). These are worrisome numbers, and raise concern for how the global financial crisis will affect the limited amount of funds already budgeted for defence.
9. Bulgaria's Defence Ministry is working to make its forces interoperable with other NATO forces and is seeking to standardise and codify its military hardware to comply with NATO standards. The new Defence Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, recently reported that the Ministry is now operating almost like a construction firm. He made it clear that his top priorities would be to prevent cuts in the salaries of the military, and to guarantee sufficient funds for Bulgarian military missions abroad. Mladenov further noted that the Ministry staff was too large (currently employing 1,440 people and its Social Agency maintains about 800), and personnel cuts would be necessary to achieve optimization.
10. The economic slowdown in Canada has compelled the government to impose a freeze on new defence programmes. It has announced that spending would remain in line with the 2007 budget. In 2008, however, the Prime Minister laid out the Canada First Defence Strategy, a 20year programme designed to enhance force capacity by investing in 'four pillars': personnel, equipment, readiness, and infrastructure. It will increase force size to 100,000 (70,000 regular and 30,000 reserve); replace core equipment fleets; strengthen readiness to deploy and sustain troops once deployed; and improve and modernise defence infrastructure. Over the next 20 years, the Canada First Defence Strategy will expand the annual defence budget from approximately $18 billion in 2008-09 to over $30 billion in 2027–28.5
11. In the 2008-2009 budget round, the Finance Minister announced plans to increase defence spending by 1.5% a year until 2011. After which increases of 2% per year could be expected until 2020, amounting to an additional CAD 12 billion for defence for over a 20-year period.6 Despite the global economic downturn and a $50 billion deficit, in May 2009, Defence Minister Peter MacKay reassured the elite of the defence industry that the crisis would not prevent the Canadian government from spending $60 billion on new equipment.7
12. Although Croatia initially anticipated spending 2% of its GDP on defence by 2010,8 because of the economic crisis this benchmark will unlikely be achieved. Croatia now anticipates cutting its military budget by about €74 million. After a meeting on 6 March 2009 amongst Ministers of Defence from southeast European countries, Croatian Defence Minister Branko Vukelic reassured the international community that Croatia would continue to participate in NATO, UN and EU missions in Afghanistan, Chad, and the Golan Heights, and would strive to adopt NATO equipment standards. Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has also reaffirmed the country's commitment to NATO, while noting that modernizing and equipping the army would continue, although at a slower pace than originally anticipated.9
13. Croatia currently has 270 troops in northern Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led ISAF forces,10 and plans to dedicate to NATO operations a motorized infantry company, an engineering platoon, and a nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons defence platoon.
14. The Czech Republic's defence spending has been constrained by competing government priorities, and will unlikely meet NATO's suggested defence spending of 2% GDP before 2014. The Defence Ministry estimates that between 1.5 and 1.7% of GDP will be spent on defence over the next four years. According to the approved state budget for 2010, the Czech Defence Ministry's budget will fall by CZK 7 billion ($364 million). Whereas the defence sector was allocated CZK 56 billion ($2.9 billion) in 2009, it will be reduced to CZK 49 billion ($2.5 billion) in 2010.
15. The Czech Republic has reassured the international community that major modernization projects are unlikely to be affected. The Defence Ministry will likely proceed with the purchase of 107 Pandur II armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and four Casa C-295M transport aircrafts. The budget reduction will also not affect foreign missions, which cost around CZK 3 billion ($182 million).
16. The Danish government is currently working on its National Defence Bill, which will establish a framework for Danish Armed Forces spending until 2015. Despite the economic crisis, the Danish government has indicated plans on increasing defence spending. The annual increase could be as high as $100 million. This, however, contradicts figures provided by Danish National Statistics, which predicts defence spending will likely fall in 2010 from $4.72 billion to $4.67 billion. Several opposition parties, including the Social Democrats (SDP), oppose increases in defence spending, especially the purchase of aircrafts. The SDP also opposes increases in funding for Denmark's military operations in Afghanistan, and wants the government to cut the overall defence budget in the face of serious economic challenges.11
17. In April 2008, Denmark increased its force level in Afghanistan to 698. The Parliament of Denmark projected that spending in Afghanistan for 2009 is about DKK 745 million to defence and about DKK 400 million to development.
18. As a result of the global financial crisis, in June 2009, the Estonian Ministry of Defence revealed a $3 million cut in the defence budget from $414 million in 2008 to $411 million in 2009.12 The economic crisis has also spurred movement towards joint defence procurement among Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Officials from the three countries are seeking to harmonize their national procurement plans in order to eliminate differences in the armament and equipment contributed by each country.13
19. In January 2009, the new Defence Development Plan for 2009-2018 was adopted, which seeks to strengthen Estonia's national defence capability and that country's capacity to contribute to international security. The 2007-2010 budget plan identifies the following procurement priorities: EEK 10 billion ($887 million) for the development of modern, multipurpose and quickly reacting military components; EEK 1.2 billion ($106 million) for two multipurpose ships, renovation of the Kati, a spill response vessel, and other critical equipment; and, EEK 1.9 billion ($168 million) to participate in NATO integrated air safety system and to develop an air-policing airport in Amari that meets minimum requirements.14
20. Estonia has also participated in NATO-led operations in Afghanistan since 2003. Estonia currently has 150 personnel stationed there,15 and deployed additional troops for the elections in August 2009.
21. In response to the global financial crisis, France has pursued an expansionary economic policy. It will increase its defence budget for 2009 and 2010 by €1.8 billion to reach €32.02 billion. The 2009 budget included increased allocations for spending in R&D (€110 million), materiel procurement (€1,425 million), and infrastructure and transport work (€220 million). For foreign operations France will increase spending from 2008 by €50 million to roughly €888 million in 2009, of which €115 million will be dedicated to NATO operations in 2009.
22. Defence Minister Herve Morin recently noted that the six-year plan will inevitably require equipment cuts and procurement delays because a 40% increase in investment would be needed to pay for planned programmes and those funds may not all be available.16 The Ministry of Defence, however, has been authorized €500 million in supplementary funding. Total supplementary spending amounts to €1,485 million for 2009 and €770 million for 2010.17
23. In order to underwrite the €1.8 billion ($2.3 billion) rise in defence spending, France intends to close bases around the country and sell property and radio frequencies. Over three years, defence officials hope to acquire €4.5 billion from asset sales and savings, which will subsequently be utilized for equipment modernizations and pay rises for military and civilian staff. Defence spending from 2009 to 2020 is estimated to total €377 billion.18 Defence spending would be held constant in real terms until 2012, after which it would increase annually by 1% above the inflation rate.19
24. Germany's defence budget for 2009 rose by €1.6 billion, a 5.6% increase over 2008 levels20. The budget for 2010 has already been set at €31 billion.
25. Despite an increase in the defence budget, Germany has begun restructuring current defence programmes and commitments in anticipation of the latter implications from the global financial crisis. In order to finance the wide-ranging structural changes and capability requirements, the Ministry of Defence has announced a series of measures intended to save €26 billion by 2015: personnel cuts will continue with a further 17% reduction in military personnel and 40% reduction in civilians by 2010; the number of military bases will be reduced from over 600 to roughly 400; and several procurement programmes will be cancelled or scaled back. There are concerns that tight budgetary conditions may prompt Germany to pull out of its partnership with the US and Italy on the Medium Extended Air Defence System (MEADS).21
26. In 2008, the Greek government made significant improvements in the transparency and oversight of the national defence budget. The 2008 budget increased 6.9% from 2007 to €5.97 billion.
27. Though Greece hopes to restructure substantially its domestic defence industries and upgrade its technological infrastructure, the economic downturn will likely impair this effort. The 2010 defence budget is slated for a 15% cut, in order to husband resources needed to weather the economic crisis. Estimates put Greece's military spending between €6-10 billion (3-4% GDP per year).22 The defence budget will be further cut by 10% through to 2015 in an attempt to reduce the Greek deficit.23 Over the next five years, Greece will allocate roughly €15.5 billion for procurement: 26% of the funds will be allocated for upgrading and modernization of existing systems, 19% for naval operations, 19% for air operations, 15% for ground operations, and 5% for air defence.24
28. Hungary has been hit particularly hard by the global financial crisis, with GDP falling 6.7% this year alone.25 In response, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union assembled an emergency financial rescue package of $25.1 billion. In March 2009, the Hungarian government reaffirmed its commitment to NATO operations in Afghanistan, as well as its ongoing effort to modernise national defence forces in compliance with NATO standards.
29. Military expenditure has fallen substantially over the last decade, due to pressures on government finances and the need to reduce the overall budget deficit. Among the Central and East European countries Hungary has one of the smallest defence industrial sectors. The Hungarian National Assembly has held a series of debates on budgetary planning in light of the financial crisis.
30. Although a long standing and important member of NATO, Iceland does not have a standing army although it maintains a coast guard and a Crisis Response Unit. Because of the severe economic crisis in Iceland, which has been made all the more trying due to the failure of the country's banking system, the government will have to radically change the funding and structure of the Icelandic Defence Agency. Some of the Defence Agency's tasks include: participation in coordinated NATO Air Surveillance and Policing operations; preparation and execution of defence exercises in Iceland; execution of the US-Iceland bilateral defence agreement from 1951; and, cooperation with international institutions in the field of defence.26There have been calls to save money by merging different operations of the Agency with that of other institutions. According to the 2009 budget, ISK 1.2 billion ($11 million, €8 million) will be allocated to the Iceland Defence Agency.27
31. The restructuring of the Italian defence budget reflects the current three-year spending reduction plans imposed by Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti on all Italian ministries. The 2009 defence budget was characterized by a 4% decrease in spending from €21.13 in 2008 to €20.29 billion in 2009. As a result of this contraction, Italian defence spending will account for just 1.24% of the GDP in 2009.
32. Future spending plans suggest that forces will be further reduced to 141,000 by 2012 (in 1995 force levels were 330,000). The 2009 functioning budget includes a decrease of 24.9% in training expenditures, a 36.7% decrease in maintenance expenditures and a 45.8% decrease in infrastructure expenditure.
33. Latvia's GDP is projected to contract by 18% this year, which has raised concerns about the sustainability of government spending. Latvia nevertheless remains committed to maintaining defence spending levels at 2% of the GDP until 2010. Its leaders see doing so as an expression of the nation's strong commitment to NATO membership. The government has already ordered a 40% reduction on planned budget expenditures with the exception of EU budget payments, Defence Ministry payments to NATO and the UN, and other payments to international organisations. Once implemented, the budget amendment will result in the Defence Ministry's budget being reduced by LVL 30.8 million ($60.8 million).28
34. In light of the global financial crisis and its very serious impact on Lithuania and, faced with increasing debt and a collapse in economic growth, the Lithuanian government has reduced its 2009 defence budget to $430.8 million, a level 20% below the defence allocation for 2008. This marks Lithuania's first defence cuts since 1999. The new budget will reduce spending for light arms and surveillance equipment by 8.5% (LTL 25.1 million), personnel supplies by 6%, maintenance by 16.7%, communications by 7.5%, transportations by 20.8%, and facilities maintenance by 68.8%.29 Lithuania will also look to co-operate with the other Baltic countries such as Latvia, Estonia, and Poland to establish a joint procurement plan to economize and reduce defence-operating costs.30
35. The chairman of the National Security and Defence Committee for the Lithuanian Parliament, Arvydas Anusauskas, has admitted that cuts in defence spending could make it more difficult to fulfil all the country's international commitments. Defence spending will likely stand at 1.2% of GDP in 2009- the lowest of any NATO country31 but Lithuania is also in the midst of one of the steepest declines among NATO members.
36. Luxembourg has an army of approximately 450 professional soldiers, about 340 enlisted recruits and 100 civilians. The total budget stands at $369 million, or 0.9% of GDP. The Luxembourg government has been working on a package of economic and social measures to combat the global financial crisis, which includes the planning and development of infrastructure projects scheduled for 2011-2012. In 2005 Luxembourg spent approximately $310 million on defence, or about 0.85% of the GDP. Luxembourg participates in the NATO ISAF mission in Afghanistan, takes part in EU and NATO sponsored missions in Africa, and has committed to sending a team of de-mining experts to participate in UNIFIL in Lebanon.
37. The Netherlands economy appears to be weathering the economic crisis and it does not face the kinds of fiscal pressures that several other NATO member states confront. Defence spending in 2009 increased from €8.1 billion to €8.5 billion. The Dutch government estimates a 1% budget surplus for 201132. It forecasts that the government will contribute $13.9 billion in 2012 to defence spending- an increase of 23.9% over spending levels in 2007.33
38. In November 2007, the Dutch government agreed to remain an additional two years in Uruzgan, Afghanistan, beyond its original 1 August 2008. Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen indicated the government would slightly reduce overall Dutch military presence during this time, and that if troops were still needed in the region at the end of this timeline, NATO would need to find others to fill the void. The Dutch currently have 1,730 troops in Afghanistan.34 The Dutch mission in Afghanistan is thus slated to conclude on 31 July 2010.
39. There has not been any political discussion within Parliament about reducing the defence budget as a consequence of the global financial crisis. Indeed, Norway increased 2009 defence spending by 2% to about $5.4 billion, mitigating fears among military leaders that the government would use the economic downturn to reduce defence outlays. In real terms, the 2% increase represents an additional $101 million for the Norwegian Armed Forces above what was distributed in 2008. Moreover, in January 2009, the armed forces had a budget increase of NOK 88 million, and in the revised national budget the government recently added NOK 505 million for international operations.
40. Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen assserts that the increase in the defence budget affirms the government's intention to bolster its military capability as part of Norway's long-term strategy to strengthen and participate to a greater extent in NATO and UN international missions. The strategy aims to increase the armed forces by 1,000, thereby boosting the overall force size to 17,000. A budget increase of NOK 800 million is forecast over the next four years.
41. In the wake of Russia's conflict with Georgia, Poland announced it would increase defence spending in 2009. It embarked upon a $22.7 billion 10-year modernization programme focused on air defence, helicopters, Navy, command and communications systems, and unmanned aerial reconnaissance equipment. The economic crisis, however, has compelled the government to announce a 7.8% cut in its defence budget for 2009 to PLN 22.6 billion ($6.5 billion) compared with the $7.5 billion budget on which it had originally planned. As Poland's defence budget is pegged to its GDP, defence outlays hinge on national economic performance.35
42. The Ministry of Defence intends to keep defence expenditure in 2010 in line with the legal minimum requirement of 1.95% of the GDP. As of April 2009, defence spending was expected to rise gradually from PLN 23.8 billion in 2009 to PLN 28 billion in 2013. As a result of the global financial crisis, Poland has been reassessing priorities and defence commitments. It withdrew Polish Military Contingents from three UN-led operations, while increasing the number of Polish troops to 2,000 in Afghanistan in May 2009.
43. In 2008, the defence budget was set at €2.1 billion ($3.11 billion). The government stated that its priority would be the modernisation of equipment, the upgrading of infrastructure, and the continued reduction of personnel numbers. However, given the current economic climate, military spending is not a top priority for the current government, and it is unlikely to increase substantially over the short term.
44. The approved expenditures for the Ministry of National Defence for FY2009 were initially LEI 7,652 million, representing 1.32% of the GDP. In April 2009, after the state budget rectification, the new budget allocated to the Ministry of National Defence was reduced by LEI 696 million, which resulted in an adjusted budget of about LEI 6,955 million. As a consequence of the global financial crisis and fiscal pressures in Romania, the government has cancelled or postponed a series of new planned acquisitions. The only new expenditures and acquisitions involve NATO/EU related commitments or are absolute priorities such as those that might improve the protection of the deployed troops. The Ministry of Defence also suggests that Romania will maintain the current level of forces on foreign missions by withdrawing troops from Iraq and increasing the presence of Romania's troops in Afghanistan.
45. Since defence expenditure levels are roughly correlated to economic performance in Slovakia, as long as economic growth is maintained the defence expenditure is expected to remain steady. In 2008, the budget increased by 11% from 2007; however, Slovakia's reports to the UN revealed that the Defence Ministry had not spent its full budget. There has been some concern expressed about how the global financial crisis will shape Slovakia's future defence budget. The Defence Ministry has already delayed plans to purchase new aircrafts, and the government recently announced it will seek savings of almost €332 million across the public sector. These could be signs that future defence spending might contract.
46. Since mid-2008, Slovakia has steadily increased its share of deployable troops to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, KFOR in Kosovo, ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, UNFICYP in Cyprus, and the UNTSO observer mission at the Lebanese, Syrian and Israeli borders. Slovakia has made a concerted effort to increase troop strength in Afghanistan from 70 in June 2008 to the current level of 246.36 Slovakian defence funding will continue to focus this year on personnel, training readiness, and equipment and infrastructure modernisation.
47. The economic downturn has compelled the Slovenian Defence Ministry to make draconian reductions in defence spending. The mid-term Defence Plan for 2007-2012 initially anticipated defence expenditures reaching 2% of Slovenia's GDP by 2009; however, Slovenia will unlikely be able to achieve this mark before 2014. To reach that level of spending, the defence budget would have to be increased by between 8 and 16% over that period.
48. In March 2009, Defence Minister Ljubica Jelusic announced that the defence budget would be further cut and would only grow by 5.36% from 2008. Slovenian defence spending is heavily concentrated on efforts to transform the military from a conscript-force to a fully professional NATO-compatible service. Efforts are also underway to bring procurement spending under the main budget. Recent ministry activity includes the purchase of new combat vehicles for €438 million; stabilising personnel costs at around €210 million; and increasing funds for operations from €70 million in 2005 to €180 million by 2010.
49. Between 2000 and 2007 Spanish military spending nearly doubled from €7.6 billion to €12.7 billion. Spain is the fifth highest defence spender in Europe, but political support for increased military spending is lukewarm. Budget increases ended in October 2008 when the global financial crisis shifted priorities away from military spending. The Spanish Ministry of Defence is preparing to decrease spending to €8.24 billion, which is a 3.9% decrease from the 2008 level of €8.49 billion.37 While spending on personnel is expected to rise by 2%, the Ministry of Science and Innovation announced that it would slash defence R&D outlays by 12% (to €1.45 billion) and investment is also likely to fall by 15% compared with 2008 levels. The Zapatero government's commitment to tax cuts and increased social spending will place further pressure on the defence budget.38
50. Despite the smaller budget, the MoD intends to supply the army with a new fleet of mineprotected armoured fighting vehicles. Spain's professional military will be 81,000 strong in 2009.
51. On 11 December 2007, Turkey's parliament approved a 1.7% increase in the MoD's FY2008 budget, which was fixed at TRY 13.27 billion ($8.84 billion). Operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist organisation in Iraq and a broad effort to bolster Turkey's domestic defence industry by strengthening technological capacity are two factors which have increased military outlays.39
52. Despite the serious impact of the global financial crisis on Turkey and a 35% depreciation of the Turkish Lira against the dollar, MoD officials insist that the economic downturn will not adversely affect current defence procurement expenditures.40 In late 2008 Turkey approved a budget increase from TRY 13.27 billion to TRY 14.5 billion ($9.3 billion) for 2009, and the defence budget is forecasted to rise to TRY 15.70 billion in 2010. Some independent analysts, however, foresee an eventual decrease both in Turkey's defence budget and in its troop strength due to the weak economy, EU pressures, and evolving threats.
53. Published in 2007, the UK Government's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) for the financial years 2007/08-2010/11 provided defence with an agreed settlement of an average annual increase of 1.5% until 2010/11 (nearly £4 billion over the period in cash). The Core Defence budget was set at £32.6 Bn for 2007/08, £34.1Bn for 2008/09, £35.4Bn for 2009/10, and £36.9Bn for 2010/11. In 2009 the Defence Budget will be over 10% higher, in real terms, than in 1997, marking the longest period of sustained growth since the 1980s.
54. The cost of operations is additional to the Core Defence Budget and is met from the UK's Treasury Reserve. In the financial year 2008/09, over £2.6Bn was spent in support of operations in Afghanistan and nearly £1.4Bn on Iraq - bringing the total spent on all UK operations since 2001 to over £14Bn. Included in this figure is £5.2Bn spent on Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs) in terms of equipment that could not have been anticipated through the normal procurement programme.
55. The UK Treasury does not put a limit on the amount of money available from the Reserve in support of the UK armed forces on operations. However, in recent years the Treasury and Ministry of Defence have agreed an estimate for the UOR funding - in financial year 2009/10, an estimate of £635 million was agreed for UORs. This estimate has subsequently been enhanced by £101 million to counter Improvised Explosive Devices, bringing the total UOR estimate to £736 million. Any expenditure over and above this estimate would initially be met by the Reserve, but would ultimately have to be repaid through the defence budget within two years.
56. While these defence spending levels have so far been sustained during the financial crisis, in January 2008 the Select Committee on Defence predicted that cuts in the defence programme are likely. In March 2008, the House of Commons Defence Committee concluded that the Government could not fund the MoD's full-equipment programme and that it would need to make difficult decisions to compile a more realistic and affordable procurement programme. The next spending review will take place in 2010 during which time the future of the defence budget will become clearer.
57. In May 2009 President Obama requested $533.8 billion for the FY2010 base defence budget and $130 billion for overseas contingency operations (OCO) in Iraq and Afghanistan. Though the budget proposal does represent a cut in Bush Administration projections, it still amounts to a 4% increase overall from 2009. Though US defence spending is rising, albeit at a slower pace under the Obama Administration, a number of analysts suggest that defence budget cuts are likely to occur over the coming years due to serious fiscal pressures. Jane's forecasts a 6% drop in the FY2011 defence budget (to $644.55 billion), and by 2013 defence outlays could fall as low as $606.6 billion. A recent assessment of Obama's defence policies conducted by Morgan Stanley suggested that Obama "will not cut the DoD budget within his first 18 months in office", but could "curtail defence spending growth, with an eye for a potential defence budget peak possibly in 2010 or the year after".
58. There have already been important cuts in particular military programmes and hardware, which have been supported by US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, who has continuously called for the curtailment of a number of big-ticket items in order to generate savings that could be applied to higher priority and more useable systems. Major weapons systems, especially those behind schedule, are under scrutiny. Secretary Gates has made compelling cases for ending programmes that significantly exceed their budgets or use limited tax dollars to buy more capability than the nation needs. Moreover, Secretary Gates wants to de-emphasize structures and spending for conventional warfare against larger enemies, and shift this money to programmes for "irregular" warfare against small and unpredictable adversaries.41
59. The Pentagon is planning to increase the number of special operations forces by 5%, and will hire more than 30,000 new civilian officials over the next five years, by gradually reducing the number of contractors to 26% of the Pentagon work force. The DoD will also have to manage the bill for withdrawing 130,000 US soldiers from Iraq, along with enough military hardware and gear to fill over 450,000 shipping containers.
60. In summary, many NATO members in Central and Eastern Europe are finding it financially necessary to reduce defence budgets and military personnel. Many are also redoubling efforts to focus on niche capabilities in order to put their defence spending on a more financially sustainable level; it is an economic approach based on the theory of comparative advantage. However, this requires a strong and reliable alliance if it is to work over the long run.
61. In Western Europe and the US, large procurement programmes are likely to be scaled back to free up spending for other policy priorities. Ballooning budget deficits is making this almost inevitable.
62. While the above survey may not have illustrated a drastic change and reduction in defence spending, the future contraction of defence budgets may be inevitable, particularly if the current recession endures or the recovery is weak. The report suggests that governments have taken precautionary measures by altering spending habits, but economists widely believe that defence spending may well be reduced over the longer term – after 2010 – when the real cost of dealing with the financial crisis emerges. When governments start reducing spending again and are forced to repay massive debts from borrowing, public sector budgets will come under increasing pressure. As the British MoD's chief economist Neil Davies told members of the Economics and Security Committee in May 2009, although few countries are making substantial real cuts in defence outlays at the present time, beyond 2011, inflationary and fiscal pressures could force cuts in real defence spending.
63. This raises concerns in security circles, particularly as many feel that the global economic crisis has made the world a more dangerous place. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Michael Mullen, recently noted that "the degree that this financial crisis has an impact on us, and it will, I worry about an increased level of insecurity [and] instability around the world."
64. Since the potential impact of the financial crisis has yet to be fully understood, it is difficult to forecast how this will alter future defence spending. Nevertheless, defence ministries will be forced to make difficult decisions and assess the opportunity costs of their various operations and activities- sacrificing the lesser necessity over the greater, perceived need. Former US Undersecretary of Defence, Dov S. Zakheim, has warned that the lower rate of defence budget growth would manifest itself most sharply in acquisition accounts and procurement and R&D. He further warned that the economic crisis could have a major and deleterious impact on national defence budgets that would leave the West more vulnerable than it currently is. In the current era of economic scarcity, security is likely to be increasingly understood as a commodity and governments are going to be challenged once again to affix a value to it and ensure that their national budgets are sufficiently robust to make the necessary payments.
1 Jane's Sentinel Country Risk Assessments (April 6, 2009)


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Excavators could hold key to Parabara road mystery
Two excavators now in the custody of a South Rupununi Village council could hold the key to unlocking the mystery of the road which was to be built through Parabara and which could be linked to planned prospecting in the New River Triangle.
Though there have been denials that there is a link between the two, observers say it appears that the intention to build the road towards the New River in south-east Guyana was part of the planning for a prospecting licence to be issued to Muri Brasil Ventures Inc (MBVI).
It was the disquiet over the now-aborted road be-ing constructed though the remote community of Parabara that led to a disclosure by the Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud of the survey permission to MBVI. That disclosure was made to the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) wh-ich had raised public concerns about the Parabara road. In a meeting, the GHRA was assured by the minister that there was no mining related road construction in the New River Triangle and that the Permission for Geological and Geophysical Surveys (PGGS) would not lead to prospecting there. Documents subsequently leaked to Stabroek News showed that a maximum of eighteen prospecting lic-ences in the New River Triangle for rare earth metals and other minerals were inevitable under the PGGS if applied for.
Persaud and the government have since come under pressure to explain when a decision was taken to open up the New River to mining along with a host of other questions. Persaud has also been accused by the GHRA and the Natural Resources Committee of Parliament of misleading them on the matter of MBVI. Observers say the excavators are now like smoking guns. They were last in the possession of Brazilian contractor Junior Martin. Of note is the fact that one of the principals of MBVI Yucatan Coutinho Reis has deep Brazilian connections. The observers say that the government should now be in a position to question Martin on who was building the road and for what purpose. This, they say, should provide answers on the objectives behind the road.
The excavators are in the custody of the Karaudarnau Village Co-uncil and the Brazilian owner is expected to return this month after leaving saying that he was going to get the permission of the authorities.
"It will affect my people, resources, animals, trees…" Valare Anderson, the Toshao of the Deep South Rupununi community told Stabroek News in the village on New Year's Day, in explaining why he stopped the excavators from proceeding to build the road which would also run through the village. At an emergency village meeting last month, the majority of the villagers were against the building of the new road, he said.
Anderson confirmed that the Brazilian, Martin intended to build a new road to Parabara. He said that after the excavators were stopped, Martin sent his son, who did not speak much English, as his representative. While the excavators were passing through the village, the operators did not inform the council as required and when he met with them, they had no documents, the community leader said. "Since y'all ain get no document, please stop, y'all don't do no work," Anderson recalled telling the operators. He said that the operators did not object much because they knew they were wrong.
Anderson said that prior to first hearing of the project from the Regional Chairman who had inquired about it, he had no knowledge of it. He said that the excavators had stopped after they apparently ran low on fuel and were awaiting some more. They were in a resident's yard. Subsequently, after being confronted, they requested that the excavators remain in a businessman's yard but villagers objected to this and said they should remain at the village office. Since the office has no fence, the excavators were parked in Anderson's yard for safe keeping.
The Toshao, who along with a senior village councillor spoke with Stabroek News in an interview in the community on Wednesday, emphasized that the majority of the community is against the building of the road as it would impact their resources.
It was pointed out that there is already a road to Parabara and they would favour the upgrading of this road rather than a new road. In light of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), Anderson said, it is inexplicable why the authorities would want to encourage further deforestation. Asked whether the Ministry of Natural Re-sources and the Environ-ment had contacted him during an investigation that the ministry had done on the Parabara road, he said that no representative had contacted him.
The ministry in the report had only referred to the existing road. The ministry had further told the GHRA that machinery had been assembled for road construction but work had not yet begun. The ministry had further told the GHRA that the Toshao of Masekenari, a community a great distance away, had been written to advising that "the Ministry has not granted permission or awarded any licence for mining operations in the area. As such, there should be no road construction taking place in the area as an aspect of mining operations."
It was not clear why the letter was not addressed to the leader of Parabara. When the excavators were on their way, the Toshao of Parabara, Ekufa Mawasha, had written to the Karaudarnau Village Council informing them of the "very important" road project and advising that he had spoken to senior government officials who "give me positive word on road project." This permission was reportedly granted during the National Toshaos Council.
According to Mawasha, he was also told to write a short note to the Karaudarnau Village Council seeking their support. Mawasha then set out the format of the letter which Anderson should write including that the people "fully support" and approve of the road project. He said that four copies should be sent to the President, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Amerindian Affairs and the Minister of Public Works.
Anderson said that the letter, which was signed by Mawasha and stamped with the village stamp, seemed not to be above board and he invited Mawasha to the emergency village meeting but he never showed up. "You see he really forcing we foh do something but I can't do that," he said.
The Toshao said after they made clear their opposition to the road, the owner of the excavators said that they were going to get the permission of the authorities and would return this month. "There is already a road," Anderson said, referring to the existing one. "To push a new road, I say no… we don't want the new road. They can fix the old road"
"They din even consult the village council, nothing. They done had people cutting line from Torarton," another village councillor said. "They want to build a new road through Torarton to Parabara. We heard that in the end is New River they going really."
The councillor said that they were never informed of the project before it started. "They ain tell nobody nothing, they jus come."
They said that even if the authorities gave permission, they are against the new road through the village land.
"The village council say we don't want our natural resources to be destroyed by another road… we want to protect the land," the Toshao said. "They will damage the trees, push them down without using them."
Anderson said the operators never told them why they want to build the new road and "all they were saying is that the Parabara people need the road."
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 6/2/2014 (1233 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
When Kaileea Brooks' husband woke up yesterday morning and asked where their vehicles were, she thought he was joking.
But when she peered out of the window of her 13th Street home, the couple's three vehicles — including a late-model sports car — weren't where they were parked the night before.
As of Thursday afternoon, Brooks was able to pick up the vehicles from impound, however the couple's Chevrolet Camaro was scratched on the rear bumper as a result of the towing, she said.
"So not only did they tow my cars, they damaged one of them," Brooks said.
According to city police, there were eight vehicles towed from along 13th Street on Wednesday night as snow clearing operations were stymied. In a media release, they reminded people to watch for snow removal signs in their area, and suggest that people park in alternate locations during snow clearing.
"There was no signage anywhere where we were parked," Brooks said.
She said she got home at around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, parked on the street as she normally does and awoke the next morning to realize her vehicles had been hauled away.
"All three vehicles were gone," she said.
"About half a block down each way, there were 'No Parking' signs in two different people's yards, not on the snowbank, but in someone's yard."
She claims it was impossible to see the sandwich-board-style temporary "No Parking" signs since they were so far away from the road.
"There was no possible way we could have seen that," she said.
She said the couple is now in the hole $511 after parking tickets and towing charges which they will fight, along with the bumper damage Brooks claims was as a result of the towing.
Brandon Police Service Sgt. Mike Pelechaty said the city crews attempt to find the owners of the vehicles before hauling them off and towing is the last resort.
He also said it's an officer's discretion whether to tow, ticket, or both, "depending on the circumstance."
Pelechaty said that it's possible the "No Parking" sign could have been moved by snow crews or moved by a passing pedestrian, "which does happen, there is an argument there."
"Of course, the registered owner doesn't have a crystal ball," he said.
According to a City of Brandon bylaw, parking restrictions have to be announced in newspapers and broadcast media at least six hours before the prohibition begins "if feasible" and signs may be placed on affected streets by 5 p.m. on the previous day and 12 hours before the ban starts.
The bylaw also says there should be a minimum of four signs per block, two per side.
» firstname.lastname@example.com


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Feb 01
Hidden and Dangrous Deluxe
Last Updated: 20th December, 2016, 4:19 AM Hidden and Dangrous Deluxe hidden and dangerous deluxe free download is a WWII 1999 computer and video game developed by Illusion Softworks and published by Take-Two Interactive and TalonSoft for Windows, the Dreamcast, and the PlayStation. The PlayStation port of the game was developed by Tarantula Studios. It is regarded as one of the pioneering tactical first/third person shooters. Descriptions : hidden Download Now


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Perhaps, it is my imagination, but I don't come across as many conspiracy theories these days. I suspect right wing media is becoming bored with Obama, the secret African agent who was sent by some tribal elders to take over America and funnel money to Africa–or something like that. Of course, Tea Party adherents are still tied up with the conspiracy organized in the sixties to select a baby born in Kenya, transport the kid to Hawaii and raise him all over the world in preparation for taking over America in 2008. When I read about these conspiracies, I come away impressed by the ingenuity of creative thinking of people who could plot getting their person elected to the presidency of the USA by following a plan for forty odd years. Heck, I can't even plan something for a week ahead, let alone a day. I notice the Bush theory about his grandfather being a supporter of Nazi, Germany is not around as much these days. Of course, his grandfather, Senator Prescott Bush was a supporter of Wendell Wilkie and Tom Dewey, two of the leading Republican advocates of intervening to halt Adolf Hitler. I might mention that in Wilike's acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination in 1940, he blasted anti-Semitism. But, what the heck, it is so nice believing a Bush in the past was a Bush who was a Nazi.
I await a new Reality TV show which asked contestants, not only to device a great conspiracy, but to carry it out. Of course, my conspiracy theory is that Osama bin Laden organized a secret group of agents who were to pose as Tea Party angry men and women who wanted to return America to the way it once was. Think about it: if Tea Party ideas became law, the US economy would plunge, unemployment would rise, and then some general on horseback would ride to the rescue with a dictatorship. The greatest conspiracy of all time stems from Republicans and Tea Party morons who want to destroy America.


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Percy Green was laid off from his city government job as part of a reorganization. Before the reorg, Green had complained about certain city operations that, he said, encouraged fraud. Before he was shown the door, Green's supervisors told him they'd be in touch if any openings arose for someone with his qualifications.
Later, Green sued when he discovered that the city had added four employees in his position and never called him for an interview. He argued he hadn't been rehired in retaliation for his earlier complaints.
The city claimed he could not file a retaliation lawsuit because he never officially reapplied. But the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals said Green didn't have to apply for a job in order to sue since his supervisors had told him they would call. (Green v. City of St. Louis, et al., No. 06-3349, 8th Cir., 2007)
Advice: Tell supervisors to avoid the encouraging words, "If we have an opening, we'll give you a call." They're well-intentioned but legally dangerous. Tell departing employees you'll consider them for any openings they're qualified for if they apply. Then explain how you post job openings and leave the ball in their court.


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...you're not black.
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 43
Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 04:27AM
: ...you're not black.
Sooo....after weeks of research I finally settled on ingredients and products I wanted to see if our local Sally's Beauty carried. After reading labels I settled on a denman brush, As I Am coconut co-wash conditioner and the moisture milk.
I went to buy my items and the chick at the register asked me if I had the right products...I said yes why. Her response "You're not black".
I just stood there a moment with "WTF are you stupid" look. All I could say was "Really...I hadn't noticed". I am super ghostly pale white girl with wavy-curls. After I got in my jeep, I did kinda wish I told her I was black just because she asked me that.


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Awesome man, get that dome smooth and I think you will be just about there. Nice job!
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Awesome man, get that dome smooth and I think you will be just about there. Nice job!
:fettesb That's looking sweet!! Like you said prepwork will be everything, especially on a Jango. Good luck and keep us posted.:cheers
Wow! This is a great looking helmet, the ears are fantastic, very nice work!! Do you have any in progress pic of those being built?
Can't wait to see it painted up.
P.S. I am working on a set of templates for Jango's helmet, but they are a long way from being done. Just haven't had any time to devote to my Fett stuff.
I'm with Alan on the pics of the ear-build....:)
I really wish that I had some "in progress pics" of the ears being made... but I don't. :facepalm
I kinda tend to get rolling on something, and forget to stop and snap a few pics. :o
The ears themselves took me a few sessions of a couple hours each to make. It would've taken far less time, but I had to tweek all of the smaller side pieces to compensate for the different thickness of my plastic. ( the templates were designed with cereal box card in mind )
The right ear still comes apart, so I can remove the stalk and range finder. I was waiting until after the painting was complete to glue it. I can snap a pic or two of those pieces if that'd help at all. :thumbsup
As for the Jango version... it's pretty much the same as the Boba style but the top of T-visor extends further towards the ears and the minor angle to the back raised part right behind the ears. ( the part behind the ears won't be noticed by many, except the truly die-hards ) 8)
Jango...I'm having to use thinner card stock to make mine, also...the 1mm Sintra just doesn't make the 90 degree bends too easily, without snapping...the card stock is fibrous, therefore a little more bendable...I've got my left ear tutorial up over on the MMCC site now, and am presently going through the motions with the right ear and rangefinder...:thumbsup
For my ears, I used three thicknesses of plastic card...
1. 3mm for the ear base
2. 0.5mm for the main structures
3. 0.080mm for the curved piece
I didn't leave the right angle bits attached, only the sloped parts. All of the right angle, or side parts were made to fit using off cuts and extra plastic card. I just placed the bit, marked it and then cut it a tad bigger than needed to allow for filing down, to give it that nice tight fit. 8)
Jango...those ears look awesome! What brand of glue are you using?
For styrene, I use Humbrol plastic cement. It has this really cool needle applicator. :thumbsup
For other parts of the helmet, I used Loctite brand cyano-acrylite super glue. ( the gel style )
I think you're doing a pretty good job! Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Jango...I've been using superglue, but not the gel...I think I'll try it out tomorrow! I wonder if Testors model cement will substitute for the Humbrol?
Testors cement will work fine, but the Humbrol is a liquid where as the Testors is much thicker.
I find the liquid much easier to work with as it can be applied more precisely, especially on those tiny bits/greeblies. ;)
Nice! I'll be hittin' a hobby shop this weekend to pick up the Humbrol....:)
Model Masters has a needle applicating liquid cement that I've been using on models for years. The past couple months I have use the humbrol glue like that it works just as good but I find the model masters glue more comfortable in my hand.
BTW guys I saw this first hand last night and it's looking better in person, it's pretty close to terminal Fettlers helmet in size.
Except for the size of the ears. Don't forget to mention that part bud. ;)
You home already? Geez, that was fast. :lol
Hope your other halfs trip goes/went well. ( I'm assuming that you guys didn't get lost on your way back to your hotel last night. ;) )
Good to meet you and your wife, it's just too bad that we had such a short time to visit.
wow you amaze me GREAT job!
Thanks, I've got my visor cut and tinted. Now I've got to devise my mounting method, I'd really like to keepit easily removeable in case something happens to it and I wish to replace it later on. I've still got to make the rear keyslots and mount it, and the dome will require at least one more scratch coat and some sanding. I'll be sure to post up some more pics before the end of the week.
I see you are a 40K player too. Good paint on the kroot. The helmet is lookin pretty sweet too.
Yeah, I played 40K but I've been taking a very long break from it. I got tired of my local gaming groups, too much arguing. I decided to move from customizing and scratch building in 28mm scale to something that I can wear. Once you've done just about everything possible to convert/customize a Crisis suit, it's kinda time to move on to other things.
Those ears look really great.
Keep the pics coming, GREAT looking helmet!
Not much of an update I'm afraid as I've been quite busy at work lately. :facepalm
I've now got the key slots made and installed, but still need one final sand on the dome and to make the brow triangles. A buddy of mine has some poly urethane that I'm going to use to coat the dome for added protection.
On to the pics...
I almost forgot... I've got a temporary T-visor made, but I'm still planning to go the welding visor route. ;)
i'd stay with that visor it looks realy good!
The visor looks way better in the pic than in real life. The tinting film that I used isn't designed for plastic, and there's always issues with applying it to curved surfaces... in other words, it still crinkled and my vision tends to be a tad fuzzy in spots. The pre-tinted visor will only run me $8, with only needing to cut it out to fit, which is easily done with a dremel tool. Well worth the expense for clear vision to me.
ohhhhh your right i cant even tell from the pic
I took a brief/short break from working on my helmet, and got some more done on my sons. I was spured on to finish his when I over heard him and his best friend talking about what they were going as for Halloween. His friend told him that he was dressing up as a cop, to which my son exclamed... "I'm going as a Star Wars dude!!" It brought tears of joy to my eyes. **sniff...**
Anyways, this is what I've got done on his helmet so far. It still needs some more work on the dome, and the rear keyslots need to be made and installed.
Now... on to the pics!!
This is before the second coat of compound and before the earcaps were made/installed.
With the earcaps installed and almost completed. ( still need to make the angled bits at the bottoms of both ears )


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I purchased a life insurance policy 20 years ago. I have misplaced the paperwork. The policy is active; I still pay the premiums and am current. Does the insurer have copies of my application? Can I request copies of my documents including the policy?
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You need to be advised by a licensed NJ attorney with experience in insurance law. You haven't given enough infomration to answer the question. The other terms may impact the answer. There may be time limitations on your rights. I would anticipate the insurer will have a copy of the policy. I am not sure about their record keeping requirements under state law with respect to the application.
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- 02.28.02
Who says work and play don't mix?
Your office computer is your most indispensable productivity tool. Now, with the AVerTV Box, it also becomes a pretty nifty entertainment center. Just plug this pint-sized device into your machine and — click! — you can sneak in, say, an episode of I Love Lucy between meetings. Or you can follow the show in the top corner of your screen as you plug away at an Excel spreadsheet. It works on all Mac monitors; PCs need a VGA or LCD monitor. You can watch television, videos, and DVDs or play the latest games from Nintendo and Sega. Who says work and play don't mix? The AVerTV Box retails for $159. Check it out on the Web ( www.aver.com ).


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Here at Team Kia of Bend we have an incredible selection of new Kia vehicles, including the Sportage, Sorento, Soul, Forte, Optima and more. Come in to our Bend Kia dealership to browse our new 2017 Kia models and used cars and take a test drive. We provide a complete car buying experience and can easily get you into a brand new Kia today. Don't have time to stop in? Give us a call or fill out one of our online forms.
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Not looking for a new vehicle? Try our large selection of used cars in the Bend area and come visit us at Team Kia of Bend located at 611 NE Purcell Blvd, Bend, Oregon. We have a vast inventory of pre-owned vehicles that will be sure to satisfy your used car purchasing needs, from used convertibles, sports cars, coupes, sedans, to SUVs, trucks and crossovers. Our sales team will be sure to help locate the perfect vehicle for you. If you can't find the vehicle you have been searching for on our site, take a moment to complete our Car Finder form and let us track it down for you!
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Acoustic Guitar Soiree
Painting Soiree on Santa Fe
Wednesday, June 26, 2013 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (MDT)
Soiree[swah-ray] noun.
A party or social gathering held in the evening.
Paint along with Denver artist Tabetha Landt in her studio on Santa Fe Drive. Tabetha will walk you through recreating the featured painting of the evening.
Take as much creative license as you like to put your own spin on your canvas to truly make it your own work of art!
All for the art supplies are provided, you just bring your favorite beverage, some friends and come prepared for a fun, creative night!
Register one week in advance to save $5, and don't forget to enter your code for an additional discount if you're a member of our Facebook or Meetup.com group!
Painting Soiree at Landt Creative Space is a one-woman show!
Just an artist with a studio helping people to be more creative - on the canvas in in their lives. Everyone is creative, some just don't know it yet.
In order to purchase these tickets in installments, you'll need an Eventbrite account. Log in or sign up for a free account to continue.


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From all over Italy they gather, putting pen to paper, expressing their heartfelt longing. How, exactly, did these women find one another?It's not a poetry slam or a self-help group. It's... get this!... a group of 26 women who are in love with Catholic priests. So in love, in fact, that together they have petitioned the Holy Father to reconsider the Church discipline which requires priests to remain celibate.Not eager for the notoriety that would come with self-disclosure, the wo … [Read more...]
Archives for May 20, 2014
Wait: Is There a CLUB for Priests' Mistresses?
Sr. Jeannine Gramick Asks Obama to Expand Abortion Coverage Worldwide
Sister Jeannine Gramick, dissident nun and co-founder of the controversial New Ways Ministry, has joined with 30 other faith-based groups from the Protestant, Jewish and Muslim faiths to petition President Obama to clarify, then repeal the Helms amendment, which restricts aid funding for abortion services.The Helms amendment, which was introduced in 1973, prohibits the use of U.S. aid monies to fund abortion as a method of family planning or to "motivate or coerce any person to practice … [Read more...]
Interview Direct from the Holy Land: Is Pope Francis Safe?
In the days leading up to the Holy Father's historic visit to Jerusalem, there has emerged a concern on the part of some Catholics for the Pope's safety.Given the widely reported incidents of vandalism by Jewish extremists, some Catholics have worried that Pope Francis will not be safe traveling in that volatile part of the world. The Pope has refused to use a bullet-proof car, promising instead to ride in an open vehicle in order to more closely touch the people as he … [Read more...]


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Homes sales up 12.1 percent in Lebanon County, 14 percent in York County
A strong fourth quarter that included 318 home sales propelled Lebanon County to a 12.1 percent increase for the year, according to numbers released by the Lebanon County Association of Realtors.
The county finished 2013 with 1,256 closed sales. The median-sale price for the year was $158,000, which was up 8 percent from $146,250 in 2012.
Lebanon County has seen home sales rise over the previous year for six quarters in a row, according to the association.
In the fourth quarter, sales were up 3.6 percent over the final quarter of 2012. And the median sale price was $164,700, which was up 17.6 percent over last year.
During the last three years, the fourth-quarter median sale price has failed to crack $150,000, according to the association.
York County home sales grew by 14 percent in 2013, finishing the year with 4,399.
The annual increase was aided by a heavy December sales month that totaled 350 homes sold compared to 286 in December 2012. That was up 22 percent, according to the Realtors Association of York and Adams Counties.
Median sale price also jumped 5 percent in December to $145,000. The annual median was the same, which was up 3 percent, according to the association.
"Housing is driven by confident consumers and good jobs. The labor market is slowly improving, interest rates remain low but upwardly mobile, prices are affordable and the stock market is up nearly 30 percent from this time last year," said Paula Musselman, RAYAC's president.
Eastern York School District saw the biggest percentage increase in home sales at 38 percent. There were 187 sales in 2013 compared with 136 in 2012, according to the association.
Central York School District had the most 2013 sales with 478. That was up from 427 in 2012.
Northern York School District was the only district where home sales fell from 2012. Northern was down 4 percent with 107 sales in 2013.