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PROTESTER: (Inaudible) -- General Petraeus, get us out of Iraq -- (inaudible) -- now and please stay out of Iran!
SEN. BIDEN: (Strikes gavel.) Let me -- while our witnesses are taking their seat, let me begin by saying to the audience you are welcome. We're delighted to have you here. But I will tell you now anyone who speaks up, whether it's praiseworthy or otherwise, under any circumstances during the hearing, I will ask the Capitol Police to escort them permanently from the hearing room, so that we can spend our time talking to the witnesses.
As I said in the anteroom to our distinguished witnesses, we're delighted to have you back. (Chuckles.) I don't know how delighted you are to be back. But thank you for your patience, and again, welcome to the Foreign Relations Committee.
To state the obvious, gentlemen, we, the two of you and all of us on this platform, share a common responsibility to defend the security of the United States of America. And your assignment to do so is focused on Iraq. And you perform that mission with extraordinary skill and courage, in my view. This country owes you and all the women and men who serve under each of you a genuine debt of gratitude, both those in uniform and out of uniform.
I want to, as one of the many on this platform who have visited Iraq on scores of occasions, or on many occasions, point out that there are -- that civilians are being killed, U.S. Foreign Service personnel are wounded, civilian personnel are injured, as well as our military women and men. And we owe them all, all of them, a great debt of gratitude, a debt, to state the obvious, we're not going to be able to fully repay.
But gentlemen, your mission is limited to Iraq, and Congress and the president have a broader responsibility. We have to decide where and when to send troops, how to spend our treasure, not just in Iraq but around the entire world. We have to prioritize among the many challenges to our security -- I know you're fully aware of what they are -- but the many challenges to our security and the many needs of the American people that extend and exceed Iraq. We have to judge how our actions in one place affect our ability to act in other places. And we have to make hard choices based on finite resources.
As you rightly said this morning, General, it is not your job to answer those questions, although you're fully capable of answering those broader questions; it's the responsibility of those, as you put it, in an exchange, as I recall, with Senator Warner, who have a broader view to make these larger decisions about allocation of resources. Your focus is and should be and has been well focused on America's interests in Iraq and how our interests are affected based on how things go in Iraq.
Our focus and -- must be America's security in the world and how to make us more secure at home overall.
The purpose of the surge was to bring violence down, so that Iraq leaders could come together politically. Violence has come down, but the Iraqis have not come together, at least not in the fashion that was anticipated. Our military has played a very important role and the surge has played a role in reducing the violence, but so, as you've acknowledged, did other developments: first, the Sunni awakening, which preceded the surge but was in fact enabled by the surge; second, the Sadr cease-fire, which, to state the obvious, could end as we're speaking; and third, the sectarian cleansing that has left Baghdad -- much of Baghdad separated, with fewer targets to shoot at and to bomb, over 4-1/2 million people displaced in and out of Iraq.
And these tactical gains are real, but they are relative. Violence is now where it was in 2005 and spiking up again. Iraq is still incredibly dangerous, and despite what the president said last week, it is very, very, very far from normal. These are gains, but they are fragile gains. Awakening members, frustrated at the government's refusal to integrate them into the normal security forces, as you know better than I, General and Ambassador, could turn their guns on us tomorrow. Sadr could end his cease-fire at any moment, and maybe his cease-fire is beyond his control to maintain. Sectarian chaos could resume with the bombing of another major mosque.
Most importantly, the strategic purpose of our surge, in my view, has not been realized, and that is genuine power sharing that gives Iraqi factions the confidence to pursue their interests peacefully. What progress we've seen has come at the local level, with deal and truces made among tribes and tribe members and other grass-roots groups, that is, political progress, very different than was anticipated. There is little sustainable progress, though, at the national level, and in my view, little evidence we're going to see any anytime soon. Yes, Iraqi leaders have passed some law, but the details as they emerge and implementation as it lags -- this progress seems likely to, in many cases, undermine reconciliation as opposed to advance it.
Despite this reality, it is your recommendation that when the surge ends, we should not further draw down American forces so that we would -- for fear we'd jeopardize the progress we've made. If that's the case, we're appreciably closer -- or the question is, are we appreciably closer than we were 15 months ago to the goal the president set for Iraq when he announced the surge, and that is a country that can, quote, "govern itself, defend itself and sustain itself in peace."
If we stay the course, will we be any closer 15 months from now to that goal than we are today?
It seems to me that we're stuck where we started before the surge, with 140,000 troops in Iraq and no end in sight. That, in my view, is unsustainable. It is unsustainable from a military perspective according to serving and retired military officers. And it is unacceptable to the American people.
The president likes to talk about the consequences of drawing down our forces in Iraq. And he makes a dire case, which you echoed this morning. That's a debate we should have. The president's premises are highly debatable. We've heard detailed testimony in this committee from military and civilian experts that disagree with the premises and the conclusions as what would follow if, in fact, we withdrew from Iraq. Would starting to leave really strengthen al Qaeda in Iraq and give it a launching pad to attack America, as has been asserted, or would it eliminate what's left of al Qaeda's indigenous support in Iraq?
What about al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan -- the people who actually attacked us on 9/11? We know where they live. We know who they are. And we don't have the capacity to do much about it. If we leave, would they be emboldened? Or would, to paraphrase a national intelligence estimate on terrorism, would they lose one of their most effective recruiting tools, the notion that we're in Iraq to stay with permanent military bases and control over the oil -- not our stated goals, but the propaganda tool being used? And would they, in fact, if we left Iraq, risk the full measure of American might which they're able to avoid now in Afghanistan and Pakistan?
What about Iran?
Would leaving actually increase its already huge influence on Iraq? Or would it shift the burden of Iraq from us to them and make our forces a much more credible deterrent to Iranian misbehavior?
These are open questions. Equally competent people as you have testified before us that the results would be the opposite that you and the president have posited. Worth debating.
Would our departure accelerate sectarian chaos? Or would it cause the Iraqi leaders and Iraqis' neighbors to finally begin to act responsibly and make the compromises they have to make in order to literally be able to live? If they are as exhausted with fighting as is asserted, we should debate the consequences of starting to leave Iraq. That's totally legitimate.
But more importantly is the debate we're not having. We should also talk about what the president refuses to acknowledge: the increasingly intolerable cost of staying in Iraq.
The risks of leaving Iraq are debatable. The costs of staying, with 140,000 troops, are totally knowable. And they get steeper and steeper and steeper every single day.
The continued loss of life and limb of our soldiers. The emotional and economic strain on our troops and their families due to repeated extended tours, as Army Chief of Staff George Casey recently told us. The drain on our Treasury -- $12 billion every month -- that we could spend on housing, education, health care or reducing the deficit.
The impact on the readiness of our armed forces. Tying down so many troops that we've heard, from Vice Chief of Staff, for the Army, Richard Cody, we don't have any left over to deal with new emergencies.
The inability to send enough soldiers to the real central front, in the war on terror, which lies between Afghanistan and Pakistan, where al Qaeda has regrouped and is plotting new attacks and is alive and well. And we know where they live.
Last month in Afghanistan, General McNeill, who commands the international forces, told me that with two extra combat brigades, about 10,000 soldiers, he could turn around the security situation in the South, where the Taliban is on the move. But he then readily acknowledged he knows they're not available. There's no way he can get 10,000 troops, because they're tied down in Iraq.
Even when we do pull troops out of Iraq, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Mullen, says we would have to send them home for a year of rest and retraining before we could even send them to Afghanistan where, everyone acknowledges, more troops are needed.
Senator Levin, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and I wrote to Secretaries Rice and Gates to request that, like you, General McNeill and our ambassador to Afghanistan testify jointly before our committees, so we can make logical choices based on specific requests coming out of each of those theaters as to which is the place we should spend our limited resources.
We've spent less in six years in Afghanistan than we spend in three weeks, three weeks, in Iraq. So we still don't have a response, I might add.
15 months into the surge, we've gone from drowning to treading water. We're still spending $3 billion every week. And we're still losing -- thank God, it's less -- but 30 to 40 American lives every month.
We can't keep treading water without exhausting ourselves. That's what the president seems to be asking us to do. He can't tell us when or even if Iraqis will come together politically. He can't tell us when or even if we will draw down below the pre-surge level. He can't tell us when or even if Iraq will be able to stand on its own two feet.
He says Iraqi army -- we'll stand down; Iraqi army stands up. Which Iraqi army? A sectarian Iraqi army made up of all of Shi'a, or an interethnic Iraqi army trusted by all the people? He can't tell us when or even if this war will end.
Most Americans want this war to end.
I believe all do, including you gentlemen. They want us to come together around a plan to leave Iraq without leaving chaos behind. They are not defeatists, as some have suggested. They are patriots. They understand the national interests and the great things America can achieve if we responsibly end the war we should not have started. I believe it's fully within our power to do that, and the future of our soldiers, our security and our country will be much brighter when we succeed in getting out of Iraq without leaving chaos behind. I yield to my colleague, Chairman Lugar.
SEN. RICHARD LUGAR (R-IN): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
And I join you in welcoming General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker back to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. We truly commend their skilled service in Iraq and the achievements that United States military and diplomatic personnel have been able to bring forward under their leadership. We are grateful for the decline in fatalities among Iraqi civilians and United States personnel and the expansion of security in many regions and neighborhoods throughout Iraq.
Last week, our committee held a series of hearings in anticipation of today's hearing. We engaged numerous experts on the situation in Iraq and on strategies for moving forward. Our discussions yielded several premises that might guide our discussion today.
First, the surge has succeeded in improving the conditions on the ground in many areas of Iraq and creating, quote, "breathing space", end of quote for exploring political accommodation. Economic activity has improved and a few initial political benchmarks have been achieved. The United States took advantage of Sunni disillusionment with al-Qaeda tactics, the Sadr faction's desire for a cease-fire, and other factors to construct multiple cease-fire agreements with tribal and sectarian leaders. Tens of thousands of Iraqi Sunnis who previously had sheltered al-Qaeda and targeted Americans are currently contributing to security operations, drawn by their interest in self- preservation and United States payments.
Second, security improvements derived purely from American military operations have reached or almost reached a plateau. Military operations may realize some marginal security gains in some areas, but these gains are unlikely to be transformational for the country beyond what has already occurred. Progress moving forward depends largely on political events in Iraq.
Third, despite the improvements in security, the central government has not demonstrated that it can construct a "top-down" political accommodation for Iraq. The Iraqi government is afflicted by corruption and shows signs of sectarian bias. It still has not secured the confidence of most Iraqis or demonstrated much competence in performing basic government functions, including managing Iraq's oil wealth, overseeing reconstruction programs, delivering government assistance to the provinces, or creating jobs. Fourth, though portions of the Iraqi population are tired of the violence and would embrace some type of permanent cease fire or political accommodation, sectarian and tribal groups remain heavily armed and are focused on expanding or solidifying their positions.
The lack of technical competence within the Iraqi government, external interference by the Iranians and others, the corruption and criminality at all levels of Iraqi society, the departure from Iraq of many of its most talented citizens, the lingering terrorist capability of al Qaeda in Iraq, seemingly intractable disputes over territories and oil assets and power struggles between and within sectarian and tribal groups all impede a sustainable national reconciliation. Iraq will be an unstable country for the foreseeable future, and if some type of political settlement can be reached, it will be inherently fragile.
Fifth, operations in Iraq have severely strained the United States military, and these strains will impose limits on the size and length of future deployments to Iraq, irrespective of political divisions or the outcome of the elections in our country. Last week, before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General Richard Cody, the vice chief of staff of the Army, testified, and I quote, "Today, our Army is out of balance. The current demand for forces in Iraq and Afghanistan exceeds our sustainable supply of soldiers, of units and equipment, and limits our ability to provide ready forces for other contingencies. Our readiness, quite frankly, is being consumed as fast as we build it. Lengthy and repeated deployments with insufficient recovery time at home station have placed incredible stress on our soldiers and on their families, testing the resolve of the all-volunteer force like never before." End of quote from the general. Later in the hearing, General Cody said, and I quote again, "I've never seen our lack of strength -- of strategic depth be at where it is today." End of quote.
Limitations imposed by these stresses were echoed in our own hearings. General Barry McCaffrey asserted that troop levels in Iraq have to be reduced, stating that the Army is experiencing significant recruiting and retention problems, and that 10 percent of recruits should not be in uniform.
Major General Robert Scales testified, and I quote, "In a strange twist of irony for the first time since the summer of 1863 the number of ground soldiers available is determining American policy rather than policy determining how many troops we need. The only point of contention is how precipitous will be the withdrawal and whether the schedule of withdrawal should be a matter of administration policy." End of quote.
If one accepts the validity of all or most of these five premises, the terms of our inquiry today are much different than they were last September. At that time, the president was appealing to Congress to allow the surge to continue to create breathing space for a political accommodation. Today, the questions are whether and how improvements in security can be converted into political gains that can stabilize Iraq despite the impending drawdown of United States troops.
Simply appealing for more time to make progress is insufficient. Debate over how much progress we have made and whether we can make more is less illuminating than determining whether the administration has a definable political strategy that recognizes the time limitations we face and seeks a realistic outcome designed to protect American vital interests.
Our witnesses last week offered a wide variety of political strategies for how we might achieve an outcome that would preserve regional stability, prevent the worst scenarios for bloodshed, and protect basic United States security interests. These included focusing more attention on building the Iraqi army, embracing the concept of federalism, expanding the current bottom-up cease-fire matrix into a broader national accommodation, negotiating with the Iraqis in the context of an announced U.S. withdrawal, and creating a regional framework to bolster Iraqi security.
But none of our witnesses last week claimed that the task in Iraq was simple or the outcome would likely fulfill the ideal of a pluralist democratic nation closely aligned with the United States. All suggested that spoiling activities and the fissures in Iraqi society could undermine even the most well-designed efforts by the United States.
Unless the United States is able to convert progress made thus far into a sustainable political accommodation that supports our long- term national security objectives in Iraq, this progress will have limited meaning. We cannot assume that sustaining some level of progress is enough to achieve success, especially when we know that current American troop levels in Iraq have to be reduced and spoiling forces will be at work in Iraq. We need a strategy that anticipates a political end game and employs every plausible means to achieve it.
I thank General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker for joining us. I look forward to our discussion of how the United States can define success and then achieve our vital objectives in Iraq.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
SEN. BIDEN: Thank you very much, gentlemen.
With Chairman Lugar's permission, I think we should do seven- minute rounds. Is that -- and thank you, gentlemen, for your physical constitution here, being able to sustain all this.
Let me begin with a statement. Mr. Ambassador, I would not presume that if the security agreement with Iraq goes beyond a status of forces agreement, that you need only inform the Congress. You need to much more than inform the Congress. You need the permission of the Congress if you're going to bind the next president of the United States in anything you agree to.
But that will be something -- (applause).
There will be no response, please, from the audience.
But we will have plenty of time to discuss that.
Let's assume, gentlemen, all the progress you assert has been made. And I don't think anybody denies there's been progress made. And let's assume that and, I believe, you mean what you say, that our commitment is not open-ended.
How far along this continuum if, as they say, as the average Americans say, on a scale of 1 to 10, how far along are we on this progress scale before we get to the point where we can significantly reduce American forces? Three, four, five, seven, eight, nine? Where are we?
GEN. PETRAEUS: Well, Senator --
SEN. BIDEN: Give us some sense of how much progress has been made relative to how much needs to be made, not in specific kinds of progress, that needs to be made in order for you to recommend to the president of the United States, Mr. President, we can not only draw down totally the surge but well below, well below what we have committed, have had in place the last three years?
GEN. PETRAEUS: Well, again Senator, you just mentioned the fact that we are in fact drawing down the forces that did constitute the surge. And that was part of the recommendation. It would have been a very, very difficult recommendation to do otherwise. But certainly that was in the realm of the possible.
And that was made possible by the progress that we have made particularly against al Qaeda Iraq and Sunni insurgents.
SEN. BIDEN: You're allowed to draw -- you recommended drawing down before a pause to the level that's 10,000 above what it was before the surge. Is that about right?
GEN. PETRAEUS: Sir, it's actually less than that. But again that's in the ballpark.
SEN. BIDEN: But it's above what it was.
GEN. PETRAEUS: It is above because of certain enablers, in particular, military --
SEN. BIDEN: But in the interest of time, can you give me a sense? If you don't want to answer, just tell me you don't want to answer.
On this scale of 1 to 10, to get to the point where you turn to the president and say, Mr. President, we can go down well below 130, which is the pre-surge level, how far along are we?
GEN. PETRAEUS: Well, I think we're in a 6 or a 7 or somewhere along there, Senator Biden.
SEN. BIDEN: Thank you very much.
GEN. PETRAEUS: And what we'll do again is assess the conditions.
Now, it doesn't mean that we have to wait beyond --
SEN. BIDEN: No. I understand.
GEN. PETRAEUS: -- much longer beyond 45 days.
SEN. BIDEN: I just want to get a sense of where we are in this continuum.
GEN. PETRAEUS: Okay, sir.
SEN. BIDEN: Secondly, Mr. Ambassador, is al Qaeda a greater threat to U.S. interests in Iraq or in the Afghan-Pakistan border region?
AMB. CROCKER: Mr. Chairman, al Qaeda is a strategic threat to the United States wherever it is, in my --
SEN. BIDEN: Where is most of it? If you could take it out, you had a choice, the Lord Almighty came down and sat in the middle of the table there and said, Mr. Ambassador, you can eliminate every al Qaeda source in Afghanistan and Pakistan, or every al Qaeda personnel in Iraq, which would you pick?
AMB. CROCKER: Well, given the progress that has been made against al Qaeda in Iraq, the significant decrease in its capabilities, the fact that it is solidly on the defensive and not in a position as far as --
SEN. BIDEN: Which would you pick, Mr. Ambassador?
AMB. CROCKER: I would therefore pick al Qaeda in the Pakistan- Afghanistan border area.
SEN. BIDEN: That would be a smart choice.
Now, assume that all the progress you assert has occurred. What further is required for you to suggest, either of you, that the progress can be sustained at levels under 140,000 troops, $12 billion a month, 30-to-40 deaths a month and 225 wounded a month? Because that's where we are now.
Where we are now is -- to maintain where we are now, you're saying to us, at least for the next 45 days, we have to continue to have 140,000 roughly troops in place, we have to spend $12 billion a month, we're going to probably sustain 30 to 40 deaths a month and we're going to have somewhere around 225 wounded a month. So what has to happen -- what has to happen for us to be able to reduce the cost in life and in dollars and in deployment?
GEN. PETRAEUS: There has to be progress in various local areas that we will look at, Senator, because again, what we'll be doing is the -- an essentially combination of battlefield geometry that looks at the enemy and the friendly situations, that looks at other factors, and there's also what the ambassador has termed the political military calculus. And you take that into account in local areas, most likely province by province, and determine -- we already have four or five locations that we are looking at most closely -- and determining whether to off-ramp those units at an appropriate moment, assuming progress can continue --
SEN. BIDEN : Well let me -- thank you. My time is running out. You're -- tell me me whether or not there are any conditions under which you would recommend us leaving, conditions meaning they got a lot worse. You say to maintain the progress.
Is there any conditions in which those charts you showed us, if this time in November or October, the American deaths have spiked back up to 2006 level, if in fact the awakening has decided it's awake and it's not going to be integrated and it's better to go to war with the Sunnis, the civil war becomes more a reality. If in fact the numerous militia that exist among the Shi'a are in open war, not just in Basra but for an extended period of time with one another. Are any of those conditions such that you would say, we're going to have to withdraw and contain, or would you just automatically say -- not automatically, would you say we have to once again infuse more forces back into Iraq to settle it?
We talk about this in terms of, you say to sustain the progress. What happens notwithstanding the pause if in fact the progress is reversed obviously, significantly and unalterably? What do you do then? Do you just come back and tell us the same?
AMB. CROCKER: Mr. Chairman, it would be -- it would depend on the specifics at the time.
SEN. BIDEN: Let me give you the specifics: 90,000 Shi'a say, "We're not getting dealt in" and the same kind of exchange in violence between Sunni and Shi'a is reignited in September from Anbar Province into Basra -- excuse me, Anbar Province into Baghdad, and that same level of ethnosectarian violence is once again established.
That's a condition. What do you do?
AMB. CROCKER: Mr. Chairman, I really don't think you can have a productive conversation that is purely based on those hypotheticals. I mean how --
SEN. BIDEN: They're not hypotheticals.
AMB. CROCKER: How did it get that way?
PROTESTOR: (Off mike.)
AMB. CROCKER: How did it get that way? I don't see that as likely, given what is lying ahead in terms of provincial elections, for example. I think that is where you're going to see both Sunnis and Shi'a focused, who prepare for those --
SEN. BIDEN: If that was just -- if the elections don't get carried off because of violence?
AMB. CROCKER: Then we'll look at the circumstances and assess.
SEN. BIDEN: I can't think of any circumstance where you fellows are likely to recommend, no matter how bad things got, where you would withdraw. But I may be mistaken. That's part of everyone's concern, at least mine.
I yield to my colleague, Senator Lugar.
SEN. BIDEN: Senator, let me say -- with the witnesses here, that we're having a hearing on this with the administration on Thursday -- on this very thing. I guarantee you, as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, this committee will know exactly what is in that agreement, number one. Number two, we've been told thus far it doesn't settle it; that there is no -- there will not be any, as it was just stated, will not be any executive agreement, so it does not rise to any enforceable agreement.
The danger -- in my view, I think we're going to find, is the Iraqis are going to think it means something, and we're going to be acknowledging it doesn't mean anything other than a wish, an aspiration; because it says -- I've been told by the administration, they would "consult" with the Iraqis if the following things were to occur -- "consult,' not binding anyone. If it's anything short of that, then it rises to a different level. But I promise you we will know exactly -- exactly -- what this strategic framework agreement entails.
And I asked the chairman, a moment ago, whether he had any closing statement, and his indication was, no. I just want to do a little bit of housekeeping, it'll take two more minutes. There are some things I'd like to follow up with, in writing, and to see if you would be prepared to respond to.
I'd just say, generically, General, that you said, you know, we're at the early stages of the Iraqis being able to do -- take care of themselves. General, we're long past the early stages. We're six years into this. We're very long in the tooth. I know what you mean by it. But, just so you know, up here, and in the country, we're way beyond the early stages. There's just a little bit of time left.
And the second point I'd make is, the reason why you find so many people, Mr. Ambassador, fixating on the Iraqis paying more, we are, we've spent -- we've sat with the Pentagon; we've been in-theatre; we have met with the State Department; everyone agrees we should be doing, roughly, $150 million for Pakistan now, to aid their new government, to deal with the construction, to deal with the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, et cetera. We can't find $150 million -- let's just get it is we can't find 150 million bucks.
So if they picked up the $150 million, that we're doing -- which I think we should be doing, the, quote, "paying" -- paying, compensating the forces, it means -- it's this big deal. It means that, what everyone says is a critical, critical, critical moment for us in U.S.-Pakistan relations -- right now -- we need $150 million. We can't get it.
We can't even be assured we're going to get the money that the Defense Department says, and the State Department says they need for a piece of legislation that was spearheaded -- I co-sponsored it, but the real credit goes to my colleague here, to provide for a, in the future, a civilian force available to compensate for, or to add to, or to take over responsibilities that need in the future.
So, I just want you to understand, when we're -- this is not about being punitive with the Iraqis. We're, we're scraping just there, $175 million for two things everybody says. The chairman of the -- the secretary of Defense makes a speech saying there's a 19:1 ratio that we're spending, versus diplomacy -- versus the military, is unacceptable. (Laughs.) We've got to change it.
Ryan, we can't get it done. Money. So, this is nickel and dimes, when you're talking about a continued commitment of $3 billion a week -- for some period anyway, but it's a big, big, big, big deal strategically. And so that's why you're going to get a lot of pressure on that.
And the last point -- it's been a long day, Ambassador Crocker, but I would like you to, in writing, answer the question that was posed by Senator Obama. If -- not, -- we have a lot of other hypotheticals, if, in fact, the status quo, as it exists today, were guaranteed to be able to be sustained over the next five years, would that be sufficient for us to considerably -- (laughs) -- drawdown American forces?
We got to get some benchmark for -- not benchmark, wrong phrase -- some matrix for people to get a sense of what we're talking about here. Otherwise, we're going to lose all support for anything, in my -- just a politician speaking now, in my opinion.
So, there's a number of things that -- it will not be a long list of things, but there's three or four things I'd like to, a little, clean-up -- not clean up, but follow up on some of the things we've mentioned.
And it is not, again, a desire to embarrass anybody, but, you know, if you had to guess for me, who's closer, Maliki or Sadr, to the Iranians, that's a -- that's a kind of hard call. You know, the Badr Brigade was called a Badr Brigade because it was part of the Iranian revolutionary group, okay. And the Badr Brigade is the place where Maliki -- no, you don't? Oh, you don't think he's there?
AMB. CROCKER: The Badr Brigade is associated with the Supreme -- Islamic Supreme Council, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim. Prime Minister Maliki is from the Dawa Party.
SEN. BIDEN: No, I know he's from the Dawa Party, but he is siding now with Hakim, relative to Sadr. That's all I'm saying. I mean he is -- anyway, I don't want to -- I've kept you too long, but I'm going to, I'm going to put some of this down. You guys have an incredibly difficult job. You're doing your job, I think, very well.
And the last point is, Ambassador Crocker, just so you know, nobody thinks you're surging. (Laughs.) Nobody thinks there's a diplomatic surge anywhere. Nobody. Nobody. And we need a surge. But that's another issue.
So if you -- I invite any closing comment you'd like to make. And I'll close by saying, thank you. Your patience is amazing, and your physical stamina exceeds your good judgment, I think, here. I mean, this has -- it's been a long day for you, but thank you very much.
We stand adjourned. (Gavel sounds.)
AMB. CROCKER: Thank you, Senator.
Source: http://www.senate.gov/~foreign/


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by Meagan
8 comments
Wild Wedding – Part 1
We got married at the zoo in the Cat House. I had a blue dress, henna, and flowers made of metal.
Matt and I got married this October, but we only just got around to meeting up with the Photographer, Willow Rosen, (I'll post a link to her site when I get it) last weekend. I'm not going to post all the photos here, just my favorites, and I'm going to post them a bit at a time so my post doesn't end up taking a cyber mile.
These are the formal, posed photos. Groom-al party left to right: Greyson (best man), Matt, Francis, Jack, and Brian (my brother).
We got married October 18th, which happened to also be one of the weekends of BOO at the zoo. Traffic was kind of a nightmare. The guys all managed to get there with plenty of time to spare, but we girls cut it a little closer. Because of this, the guys had a bit more time to have fun with photos.
Obviously. We did all the "official" photos BEFORE the ceremony, with the delusional idea that we wouldn't keep our guests waiting that way. I think we meant to take a few more shots with just the girls, but then we forgot and decided to just get married already. Fortunately these turned out really nice.
Bridal party left to right: Kim, another Kim, Jen (Matt's sister) and Amy (best woman… or something like that). Oh yeah, and me. Then below, Matt looking dapper, and wondering where the heck the girls are:
Then on to the group shots. We started outside and Willow caught us laughing at something. We were trying to get a photo that had the snow leopard in the background, but it moved too quickly, and by the time we arranged ourselves it was gone.
On the 3 full group shots, you can click for a larger image. I only included this photo because I think it makes us all look like actors on some new TV show (it's the dramatic brick wall). My brother said I could only use his image if I paid him for it, so I altered it by 3% as per trademark law, so I wouldn't have to.
Then there's this one, a really cool photo of the inside of the zoo, I think that's the Gorilla area behind us.
And finally my favorite posed photo of just Matt and I.
A lot of the candid shots turned out better than the posed ones, but I'm glad I have these, as formal photos go I think they're very nice. Some of these will definitely be going in frames. Tomorrow I'm hoping to continue with some of the photos of pre-wedding preparation, including that application of the henna, but that depends on whether I can get the photos in time!
Related: Wild Wedding – The Ceremony
Wow, she got awesome pictures! None of mine inside turned out very well at all–the lighting was so weird. But Willow really nailed it… lovely.
By the way, in that group pic where we're all laughing… I can't help but think that Jack must have been doing something funny by the way his arm is extended there! (And because it's Jack, and he does funny things! lol.)
Very possibly. Yeah, my dad didn't get any good pics either, so I'm really glad Willows turned out so well. Morgan (Matt's brother in law) and Matt's Uncle Scott and Aunt Vanessa actually got a ton of good ones too, and I'll be posting some of those later this week.
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subset: commoncrawl


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The Ranga Reddy district has directed the Sarornagar police to register a case against the AP NGO chief Ashok Babu for his act of burning the Telangana draft Bill-AP Reorganization Bill-2013.
The court direction came in the wake of a petition by Telangana advocate Sunkari Janardhan Goud that the AP NGOs act was unconstitutional and undemocratic.
The police have been directed to investigate the case and file a case by February 20.The AP NGOs had given a call for burning the Telangana Bill in the Bhogi bonfire as part of Sankranti festival across the 13 Seemandhra districts.


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Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Linden Lab Buys Two Virtual Marketplaces
San Francisco-based Linden Lab, which operates the Second Life virtual world, said Tuesday that it has acquired two web-based, virtual marketplaces. According to Linden Lab, it acquired Xstreet SL and OnRez, which both provide online shopping for customers and merchants. Financial terms of the buys were not disclosed. Linden Lab said the move will make it easier for its users to find virtual goods to purchase, and provide a broader channel to merchants. Xstreet SL provides an online catalog of Second Life-related virtual goods and services. OnRez will be merged into the Xstreet SL platform.


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Canadians will soon be able to listen to satellite radio on their BlackBerry smart phones. The U.S. satellite radio company Sirius XM Radio Inc. announced the launch of a BlackBerry application yesterday, prompting Canada's two rivals in the field - Sirius Canada Inc. and XM Canada - to say they have similar plans in the works. "We'll have a BlackBerry announcement shortly," Sirius Canada CEO Mark Redmond said yesterday. "We want to give our paying subscribers the ability to access our content anywhere." XM Canada is also looking to "expand into different mobile platforms," said Janet Gillespie, vice president of marketing. The BlackBerry announcement will be the next step in that mobile strategy. Neither Canadian company has a firm date on when the application will launch. In the U.S., Sirius XM's new app is similar to the one for the iPhone that it launched in June. Both programs are run on software that is free to download, and after a free trial period, listeners must subscribe to keep using it.Report Typo/Error
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text: Above: "Beasts of the Southern Wild" was nominated for four NAACP Awards, including best motion picture. "Beasts of the Southern Wild," "Django Unchained," "Flight," "Red Tails" and "Tyler Perry's Good Deeds" were nominated for feature film honors at the 2013 NAACP Image Awards. "Beasts" and "Django" led the movie world with four nominations apiece. In the lead actor category for film, nominees were Jamie Foxx of "Django," Morgan Freeman of "The Magic of Belle Isle," Tyler Perry of "Alex Cross," Suraj Sharma of "Life of Pi" and Denzel Washington of "Flight." Lead actress noms went to Emayatzy Corinealdi ("Middle of Nowhere"), Halle Berry ("Cloud Atlas"), Loretta Devine ("In The Hive"), Quvenzhane Wallis ("Beasts") and Viola Davis ("Won't Back Down"). "The Game," "Glee," "The Mindy Project," "Modern Family" and "The Soul Man" received nominations for top TV comedy series from the NAACP, whose Feb. 1 kudofest will be broadcast in primetime on NBC. "Boardwalk Empire," "Grey's Anatomy," "Scandal," "Treme" and "True Blood" were nominated in drama. "Grey's" had the most nominees in television with six, followed by "Treme" with four. Kerry Washington received a pair of acting noms, for "Django" and "Scandal." ABC and CBS led in the TV categories with 20 and 12 nominations respectively, followed by HBO and Lifetime with 10 and NBC with 9. Full list of nominees:


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- March 30, 2010, 5:16 AM
BLR Aerospace winglets were STC'd last month for the King Air C90A, C90GT and C90GTi; approval will eventually be expanded to include the C90 and C90E. Deliveries have already begun, the company said. Current list price of the winglets
is $49,950, not including between 100 and 150 hours of installation time. According to BLR, the modification improves stability, cruise speed and rate of climb.


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Creature - Giant
Card Text:
Whenever Frost Titan becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter that spell or ability unless its controller pays 2.
Whenever Frost Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, tap target permanent. It doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
6 / 6
Magic 2011 (Mythic Rare) Magic 2011
Mythic Rare
Card #:
Mike Bierek
Near Mint Condition
A card in Near Mint condition shows minimal to no wear from shuffling or general play. Cards classified as Near Mint/Mint are generally indistinguishable from cards in an unsleeved deck of other Near Mint/Mint cards. Foils in this condition have little or no scuffing or clouding on the front and edges of the card.
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Come see this gorgeous town home in the Southview Community! Enter on the lower level with garage access, basement for storage or optional space to finish. Powder room and entry closet finish this level. Wide baseboard and trimmed openings on lower and main levels. The Main level has a spacious Living room with custom arched feature leading into open Dining, Kitchen with island, pantry and slider to the rear deck. Nice size Master bedroom with tray ceiling, walk in closet and master bath with stall shower. Two additional bedrooms with generous closets complete this home. Excellent location in the 50 acre community with its scenic views, offering walking trails & wooded spaces with low HOA fees. Conveniently close to transportation/train, shopping centers and restaurants!
Listing Area: South Coatesville Boro (10309)
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2017 TREND, All Rights Reserved. Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.


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Chilliwack's Moxie Club hoping to crack the code
On Colin and Raven Schmidt's dining room table, there are tablets and laptops in place of plates and dinnerware.
The blinds are drawn and a projector lights up the screen at the head of the table, while they wait for guests to arrive.
On this Tuesday, like most, the couple has transformed their dining space into a classroom for children ages eight to 18 to learn computer coding.
"I think there's a little bit of an idea out there in the world that programming is something that's really hard —that only a select range of IQs can manage," says Raven. "But actually it's something that anybody can do."
The pair run private classes called Moxie Club out of their home based on the curriculum of Code.org, a website with a mission to get everyone coding.
"Their attitude—and what the tech industry is lobbying for—is that it needs to be a core academic subject just like math and english," says Colin. "And that it's not necessarily that every kid is going to become a programmer."
But being exposed to code in school will better prepare kids for their future in what is an undeniably digital world, says the Chilliwack tech entrepreneur.
They use Code.org as a base for their teaching because the organization has created their own interactive graphical language. Its aim is at teaching transferable skills rather than focusing on particular languages that might come and go over time.
Colin is no stranger to the concept, having taught himself computer programming starting in Grade 8 after a very early inspiration.
"My first introduction to programming was kindergarten," says Colin. "The local Chilliwack library, I kid you not, had a programming course for pre-schoolers."
The library course of his youth used a language called Turbo Logo, which Colin says is conceptually similar to the Code.org language.
And if that short-lived library course did nothing but plant a seed in a young Colin Schmidt's mind, it will now serve to spark him to do the same for a future generation.
"It has the potential to inspire the minds of young people to do more with computers than just search the Internet and play games," says Alex Jarman, father to four of the students in Moxie Club classes.
Jarman adds that the Schmidts have developed an effective way of teaching more complicated concepts through easy-to-play games and other strategies.
"The public and private school systems would greatly benefit from such a program and it would be an asset to a well-rounded education," he says. "There is nothing like it out there."
Kirk Savage, Director of Instruction at the Chilliwack School District notes there are existing courses in secondary schools.
Chilliwack Secondary has courses in Flash and Sardis Secondary teaches C++ and Java, according to Savage.
However, at the elementary level he says the focus is on the fundamentals of digital literacy: etiquette, dos and don'ts, and interacting with computers and technology.
"If you look at the program offerings of a secondary school they're far more specific and varied," says Savage. "Programming and coding falls into that kind of a specificity."
He compares those skills to many other specializations available at that level such as drafting and design or trades.
But for parents who don't want to wait for their kids to reach high school, Colin and Raven Schmidt's Moxie Club is there ready to teach children the fundamentals of coding.
w Visit moxie.club for more info.


text: Home Recipes Course Desserts Candy Recipes Truffles Share: Truffles These truffles will disappear as fast as you can make them! This collection features truffle recipes in flavors such as caramel, peanut butter, hazelnut, chocolate, eggnog and more. Recipe Spotlight Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter & Pretzel Truffles Sweet chocolate, creamy peanut butter and salty pretzels create a to-die-for truffle. It's a little bite of decadence and a special indulgence for the holiday season.—Ashley Wisniewski, Champaign, Illinois Get Recipe More Truffles Sort: Most Relevant Highest Rated Previous Page 1 2 3 ... 9 Next Page Peanut Butter Snowballs Peanut Butter Snowballs These creamy treats are a nice change from the typical milk chocolate and peanut butter combination. This recipe is also an easy one for children to help with. I prepared the snowballs for a bake sale at my granddaughter's school and put them in gift boxes I share with neighbors at Christmas. —Wanda Regula, Birmingham, Michigan View Recipe Orange Chocolate Meltaways Orange Chocolate Meltaways The terrific combination of chocolate and orange makes these some of the best truffles I've ever had. As holiday gifts, they're showstoppers. I have little time to cook, but when I do, I like to "get fancy." In this case, "fancy" doesn't have to be difficult. -Lori Kostecki, Wausau, Wisconsin View Recipe Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles I've given these delectable candies with a nutty surprise inside to teachers and friends. —Debra Pedrazzi, Ayer, Massachusetts View Recipe Advertise with us ADVERTISEMENT Maple Nut Truffles Maple Nut Truffles Rich, creamy and rolled in nuts, these truffles will satisfy any chocolate lover. Guaranteed to dress up your holiday cookie platters, they're no-bake and so simple to make! —Rebekah Radewahn, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin View Recipe True Love Truffles True Love Truffles A few years ago, I began giving these smooth, minty truffles in tins as Christmas gifts. Now I can't go a year without sharing them. They also make a perfect Valentine's treat for someone dear. —Kim Weiesnbach, Claremore, Oklahoma View Recipe Dracula Cookies Dracula Cookies Come late October, friends and family can "count" on having these easily recognizable, darling Dracula cookies. —Christy Hinrichs, Parkville, Missouri View Recipe Cocoa Mint Truffles Cocoa Mint Truffles Wow! These easy chocolate truffles will be a hit at holiday parties. Moist with a rich minty flavor inside, the candies have a powdered cocoa outer layer. These are decadent, but oh-so-simple to do. View Recipe Microwave Truffles Microwave Truffles "I love to entertain and try new recipes, so I couldn't wait to make these chocolaty confections for the holidays," relates Joy Neustel of Jamestown, North Dakota. "They're smooth, rich and so pretty topped with pecans. No one will ever guess how easy they are to make." View Recipe Truffle Cherries Truffle Cherries Chocolate is popular at our house, especially during the holidays, so these double chocolate gems never last long! —Anne Drouin, Dunnville, Ontario View Recipe Chocolate Rum Truffles Chocolate Rum Truffles It's hard to eat just one of these chocolaty silky candies. I like to keep some on hand for a quick sweet treat. —DeAnn Alleva, Hudson, Wisconsin View Recipe White Chocolate Truffles White Chocolate Truffles This is the perfect holiday gift candy. It is so easy to make and will look so pretty in a gift box.—Gloria Nolan, Peoria, Pennsylvania View Recipe Previous Page 1 2 3 ... 9 Next Page Advertise with us ADVERTISEMENT Advertise with us ADVERTISEMENT


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BURNHAM Ramblers manager Keith Wilson is adamant he has the squad to keep battling for glory on four fronts.
The Leslie Field side are flying high in third spot in the Essex Senior League, buoyed by Saturday's 6-3 success at home to Sawbridgeworth.
And they are already safely through to the semi-finals of the Gordon Brasted Memorial Cup, having won 3-1 at Basildon United last Tuesday.
Now they switch their attention to two other competitions in the next few days – Saturday's FA Vase second-round proper tie at home to Bethnal Green United and Tuesday's League Knockout Cup quarter-final first leg at Enfield 1893.
Lots of games in quick succession would put pressure on a lesser squad.
But Wilson believes he has the personnel to keep challenging and said: "We set out to win everything and I believe we've got the squad to cope.
"Competition for places is really hotting up.
"Everyone is back and available and no-one wants to lose their shirt, so it's a great position to be in.
"There's a real buzz about the place at the moment.
"Winning games is a habit, whether they be in the league or a cup, and our sense of togetherness is evident from the way everyone celebrates goals together."


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Hot on the heels of Microsoft launching Office on the iPad Microsoft Launches Office For iPad & Office Mobile On Phones Now Free Microsoft Launches Office For iPad & Office Mobile On Phones Now Free Office Mobile for Android sneaked into the headlines while the world was watching the arrival of Microsoft's Office suite to iPad. So, let's give them each the space they deserve. Read More , Apple has issued an update for its free office suite of iWork productivity apps on iOS, Mac and with a focus on iCloud. This includes updates to word-processing app Pages, spreadsheet app Numbers, and presentation app Keynote.
MS Office users will be happy to note that iWork has had some Microsoft Office compatibility upgrades, giving you the ability to export password-protected DOCX, XLSX and PPTX files, and general enhanced compatibility with MS Office 2013 documents.
The big news, though, is for users who like to access iWorks through iCloud. One of the gripes in our review of iWorks for iCloud How the New iWork for iCloud Works With Your Apple Devices How the New iWork for iCloud Works With Your Apple Devices iWork for iCloud is a suite of online office applications (consisting of Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) that sync with the Mac and iOS versions of the programs. The online versions of iWork mirror most of... Read More was lack of collaboration. While Apple included that ability already, it's the new update that it has made it really usable. On Pages, Numbers and Keynote, you can now view the list of collaborators, see cursors and selections for everyone in the documents, and see people move and edit images and shapes in real-time.
There's also some enhanced sharing features. For example, you can now share files in a "view-only mode" that restricts the other person from editing it. And if you want more control over your security, you can now add passwords and also save password-protected files. This works seamlessly with the iWork suite on Mac and iOS, as long as you are signed into your iCloud account.
Finally, iWork for iCloud has gotten a visual upgrade with an all-new design that makes it seem more homogenous across Mac and iOS. Oh yeah, and it's now Retina-ready.
You can find out more about the iWork update on Apple's official site, and grab the update through the Mac or iOS App Store.
Source: TechCrunch


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A Daughter's Love: Walk for Courage
In five short weeks, 13-year-old Tess Hackworthy came up with a plan. She was going to support her mother, Amie, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She knew just how she was going to do it, as well. Tess was determined to hold a three-mile walk with all proceeds benefitting breast cancer research at the UW Carbone Cancer Center.
Walk for Courage was held on Saturday, May 1 in the village of Maple Bluff with more than 600 participants raising $50,000 for breast cancer research. A fitting tribute to a mother by a determined young daughter.
Photos from the Walk for Courage Benefitting the UW Carbone Cancer Center
More than 600 participants joined 13-year-old Tess and her family for the three-mile walk. The first-time event raised $50,000 for breast cancer research at the UW Carbone Cancer Center.


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Asphalt Shingle
Asphalt shingles typically provide the greatest advantage regarding walkability. They provide a lightweight, relatively even surface to walk on and they rarely crack, break or become unfastened from the roof deck. They are less expensive to apply in relationship to other productsof similar performance. The overall manufacturer's design, cut, and production process, along with the weight of the material, determines the price of the roofing product. The labor installation cost for asphalt is similar among contractors because the product is generally applied the same. Asphalt shingles also provide the greatest variety of colors. However, because they are a petroleum-based product, the shingles can become scuffed if walked upon in the hot summer heat. Precautions should be taken to protect the granulated surface while working on the roof structure in hot weather. Currently in Santa Clara County, asphalt shingle installations comprise about 70% of all roof replacements.


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Educa now exporting to Australia
Educa now exporting to Australia
Wellington, February 19, 2013 - Educa is now officially delivering its cloud-based e-portfolio solution to its neighbor country Australia. Two new customers in Sydney and Perth with a total of 650 pupils and parents are now enjoying the benefits of sharing children's learning programmes and communicating across kindergarten, primary and intermediate students.
The chain Sandcastles Childcare in Sydney is Educa´s first ECE Centre in Australia. It is now linking learning programmes to parents at home with the help of Educa's e-portfolio solution. Sandcastles Childcare have 400 kids enrolled and sharing with parents is now made easier for everyone.
The second breakthrough was made by partnering up with Perth's Bold Park Community School, which is now using Educa platform to communicate the school day happenings to its 250 sets of parents.
Educa has identified a potential for their e-portfolio solution in Australasia where most early learning centres record children's learning records manually and offline. With more than one million children going through Early Childhood Education centres each year the process of writing and organizing learning records is time consuming, but can be eased by the help of Educa.
Currently, Educa operates with more than 130 early childhood centres in New Zealand. It is possible to expand to the school market, but for now Educa will keep its focus on the preschool centres to ensure current- and potential customers the highest possible level of innovation and performance.
Educa is a custom-made solution designed to meet the needs of early childhood education, teachers and parents. Instead of traditional software packages Educa offers a web-based portfolio of a child's growth and development at an early childhood centre. It allows parents and early childhood teachers to share a child's journey and gain valuable feedback.


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(CNSNews.com) - A black conservative leader says don't blame racism or President Bush for what happened to thousands of black people during and after Hurricane Katrina.
"The truth is black people died, not because of President Bush or racism, they died because of their unhealthy dependence on the government and the incompetence of Mayor Ray Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco," said the Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, founder and president of BOND (the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny).
Peterson singled out the Rev. Jesse Jackson, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and rapper Kanye West, all of whom blamed President Bush for not doing enough to help black people, especially in New Orleans, where TV images showed scenes of desperation and violence that continued for several days after the hurricane hit.
Jackson called President Bush's response "incompetent" and charged that racism is partly to blame for the slow evacuation of survivors; and during a nationally televised fundraising event on NBC, West said, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."
Not fair, said the Rev. Peterson: "If black folks want to blame someone for this tragedy they only need to look in the mirror." Mayor Nagin has blamed everyone else except himself, when it was Nagin who failed in his duty to evacuate and protect city residents, Peterson said.
"Our prayers go out to the families of the deceased," Peterson concluded. "Hopefully this will help black people realize the folly of depending on the government or leaders and serve as a notice to avert future tragedies in other cities."
Peterson frequently criticizes the entrenched civil rights leadership, saying liberal black leaders have failed and exploited African-Americans.


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WINTER storms turned Dorset beaches into rubbish dumps – but dozens of people turned out over the weekend to give them a spring clean.
Among around 50 volunteers taking part in the Marks and Spencer and Marine Conservation Society's Big Beach Clean-up at Baiter, Poole, on Saturday were half-a-dozen staff from the Dolphin Centre store.
Poole Mayor Cllr Phil Eades turned up to offer practical support, along with Mayoress, wife Helen, and his daughter Victoria, who all helped fill bags with litter from the shoreline.
"There was lots of broken glass on the beach, which is very worrying," said the Mayor. "It was a very worthwhile exercise and my praise to M&S and all the local residents for turning up."
By the end of the event more than 20 bags had been crammed with an assortment of rubbish, including glass, plastic, fishing gear, rope, underwear and a baby's dummy.
Store manager Bree Logan said: "We are absolutely delighted with the turnout for this year's Big Beach Clean-up and would like to thank everyone who gave up their time to help tidy Baiter Park."
Around a dozen volunteers battled the elements at Bournemouth Beach yesterday in a bid to spruce-up the seafront as part of the Great Dorset Beach Clean initiative, organised by Dorset County Council.
Kitted out in his wet weather gear, Peter Ryan, who lives at East Cliff, said he wasn't put off by the rain.
"It's a bit of a nuisance but there's not much you can do about it," he said.
Seafront ranger Alex Thorne said he was delighted with the turn out, considering the conditions.


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Rain Dogs, the fifth Sean Duffy novel, is released in N America today both in print and in audiobook format. The book got starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Booklist. I imagine the reviews in US papers will be few and far between but here are some pull quotes from the UK and Irish release back in January and the Australian release last month:
This is a first-rate crime thriller that commands attention from the opening pages and keeps the reader gripped until the end. The writing is tight and the story is well plotted. The tale unfolds at a good pace with McKinty ably balancing the steady unfolding of the investigation, including some interesting forensic detail, with episodes of exciting action and a suspenseful trip to Finland. McKinty's wry sense of humour is also well on display and he peppers his story with small details that enhance his depiction of the period, but which will also darkly amuse readers...A funny & very engaging tale that sets an early high standard for this year's crime fiction. Highly recommended.
The Melbourne Age
Adrian McKinty's thoroughly engaging crime novels are set in the Northern Ireland of the 1980s. Rain Dogs is another superb addition to the series with McKinty having the brilliant idea of challenging his detective with a locked room mystery [a trope] straight out of the golden age of 1930s detective fiction.
The Times
McKinty has all the virtues: smart dialogue, sharp plotting, great sense of place, well-rounded characters and a nice line in what might be called cynical lyricism ("Rain. Wind. The afternoon withering like a piece of fruit in an Ulster pantry.") If Duffy's relentless patter occasionally makes you feel like you're trapped in a lift with a stand-up comedian, well, those dreary steeples cry out for a little antic distraction. Be warned, though. Rain Dogs is Gateway McKinty: you won't stop here.
The Irish Times
Australian crime writer Adrian McKinty is on a roll. His last novel in the Sean Duffy series set during the troubles in Northern Ireland, Gun Street Girl, has been shortlisted for an Edgar award by the Mystery Writers of America. The latest, Rain Dogs, does not disappoint. The dark humour, the verbal jests, and the seamless insertion of real historical figures and events into the fictional narrative are all superbly sustained..There is so much to enjoy in this book: Duffy's musical asides (the snide remarks about U2), the great banter between Duffy and his colleagues, and the walk-on role of Duffy's buxom neighbour, Mrs Campbell, and her cakes. And the conclusion takes Duffy and the reader somewhere completely unexpected. This is clever historical fiction with the bite of social commentary and the joy of a crime series at its zenith.
The Sydney Morning Herald
from the US trades:
Publishers Weekly *starred*
Det. Insp. Sean Duffy must solve the equivalent of a locked-room mystery in McKinty's scorching fifth installment in his excellent Troubles-set Northern Irish crime series (after 2015's Edgar Award Shortlisted Gun Street Girl)....McKinty expertly balances Duffy's tense and suspenseful investigation with the political tensions of the region.
Booklist *starred*
The chronicles of Carrickfergus detective Sean Duffy open a sardonic portal to 1980s Belfast; every detail rings true, from the persistent threat of mercury-tilt car bombs to the complex criminal motivations that breed in a climate of unrest...McKinty manages a second locked-room success and folds in the recent headline-snatching Jimmy Savile scandal to boot; another great standout in a superior series, combining terrific plotting with evocative historical detail.


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Simple Yet Effective by tincanknits
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© Tin Can Knits
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© alexaludeman
Simple Yet Effective
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download
Simple Yet Effective - Tin Can Knits ============
This simple little pattern knits up quick and it's perfect for that special skein. Who could ask for more?
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sizing: one size: 20 (45) inches around and 10 inches high (easily adjustable)
materials: 200 (400) yards DK weight yarn
(sample shown in Sweet Fiber Cashmere DK in 'marshland')
Gauge: 22 sts & 28 rounds per 4 inches in stockinette
Needles: US #6 / 4 mm (or as required to meet gauge)
Helpful Tutorials
Casting on for knitting in the round
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Today they don't have to beat their heads against a wall. They don't even have to practice, because they got a day off in this busy schedule.
The Rangers can be happy with how they played against Montreal. I would dare to say, though, that they've played better games in which they didn't score goals — a week ago against the Devils, for example, I thought they were better. Just shows, again, how perceptions can change when a few go into the net.
Here is my column from The Journal News and LoHud.com today.
1) I don't know if those penalties were two minutes for Being Avery, but they were borderline. I like the way Tortorella handled it, as he promised he would with Avery. He'd said there would be a line, and it will be his (Tortorella's) job to pull him back when he goes too far over. So Avery was given more minutes after an animated discussion.
2) It would be really convincing if the Rangers can continue the tough-guy stuff, the togetherness stuff, in Philly Thursday.
3) Maybe it is time to leave the first line alone. It's Dubinsky-Prospal-Gaborik, and it should stay that way. All due respect to Erik Christensen, but he doesn't belong there, and Dubinsky is such an important piece in the organization that it makes sense to leave him where he is most productive.
4) Tortorella likes to bring up that Redden has been "run over" in this city. Well, yeah. But it's only because he makes a ridiculous amount of money, completely hamstrings the team's ability to bring in more, desperately-needed skill players, and most of the time shows little or no emotion. Heck, Torts, you sat him out for two games and probably would for more if you had a seventh defenseman. On this night, he was one of the team. But how often has that happened?
5) A fan and RR reader came up to me after the second period, said he'd been going to Rangers games for 46 years, and he'd never recalled the Rangers outshooting the Habs 15-2 in a period, ever. That team's a bigger mess than the Rangers.
6) Ryan Callahan is such a good player when he produces a little offense, and last night he produced a lot. Too bad he's not a couple of inches taller and 10-15 pounds heavier. He'd be a monster. I think his offense has been coming around for a while. Maybe this was his lift-off.
7) I'll take a show-me approach the next little while before I declare the Rangers' offense cured.


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Tanuki Aviator Hat
The Tanuki Aviator Hat by Johnston & Murphy is probably one of the best accessories for Winter in New York. The Tanuki is authentically crafted of supple leather and lined with luxuriously fluffy Japanese Tanuki fur. Not only will the Tanuki keep your head protected from the harsh elements of Winter, it also provides a small additional touch of style. This isn't the hat for those card carrying members of PETA (it's real fur) nor the NRA (they like plaid and camouflage).
Tags: winter, fur, fuzzy, warm, accessories, faux fur, hoods, faux fur hood warm fuzzyAdded 8 Years Ago from Urban Outfitters
Sometimes we all need to have a little ridiculous glam in our lives!


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A NEW discount superstore has opened in Clacton employing more than 20 people who were long term unemployed.
B&M opened its doors at Waterglade Retail Park in Old Road last week.
The company worked with local employment firm Ingeus to help get 23 people who had been out of work a long time into new jobs.
Store manager Tracy Shippam said: "The calibre of applicants was very high and we've recruited a talented and hard-working team."
The site was previously used by DIY superstore Homebase, which closed earlier this year.


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Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Starry, Starry Night: Three Holiday Stories
by Lurlene McDaniel
No current Talk conversations about this book.
Lurlene McDaniel makes the saddest most sweetest love stories for teens I have ever read. I have been reading this author since I was probably 11 or so and I am now 30 and I still love her books. Yes, even now. They are so great. Makes you realize how much one individual can make a difference in this life and also allows you to see how much you should be grateful for in your own life!
Ah yes... Lurlene McDaniel. I think it's safe to say that whenever you decide to read a Lurlene McDaniel book, you could expect to get somewhat emotional. Starry, Starry Night was a nice quick read about three different stories, all pertaining to theme of "Wishing Upon A Star". My favorite of the three stories was Last Dance, which I wish could have been a story on its own! I really enjoyed it.
Although this is a Holiday set story, it makes for a good read anytime.
The first short story in this collection, "The Christmas Child," tells of Melanie's joy over the birth of her sister and the loss of her at four-days-old, as she is anencephalic. Melanie's friends offer comfort and support during this time. Melanie comes to realise that baby Jennifers life did have meaning, however short it was, as "[w]e loved her because she belonged to us. To our family."
References to this work on external resources.
Wikipedia in English
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0553571060, Mass Market Paperback)The star that led the three wise men could be the same star wished upon by those longing for a wish to come true. In the opening novella, "Christmas Child," 15-year-old Melanie feels cheated when her baby sister, born at Christmastime, lives only a few days. But the brief life of her sister shows Melanie the lasting value of love. Brenda struggles between noble intentions and real desires when she becomes the last chance for happiness for a dying boy in "Last Dance." The final story, "Kathy's Life," describes a girl who appears to have it all. Kathy is beautiful, intelligent, and has the perfect job as a live-in caregiver for a couple's baby boy. But not everything is as perfect as it seems: Should Kathy give up the one person she loves most in the world?
(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:09:33 -0400)
A collection of three stories in which teenagers face life-altering situations.
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BRAVE little Bella Restuccia has inspired her pop idol Pixie Lott to become an ambassador of a children's charity.
The singer-songwriter met the bubbly five-year-old, of Swindon, during a meeting arranged by Rays of Sunshine Children's Charity. The pop star was so moved by the youngster's battle with cancer that she named a necklace from her Rock 'n Rose jewellery collection after her and decided to become an ambassador for the organisation.
Rays of Sunshine Children's Charity, which was formed in 2003, grants wishes for seriously ill children in the UK aged between three and 18. Other Rays of Sunshine celebrity ambassadors include Gordon Ramsay, Leona Lewis, JLS and One Direction.
Bella was diagnosed with muscle cancer in the wall of her chest last year and has since undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Her condition was deteriorating and her mum Hailey Restuccia contacted Rays of Sunshine for a desperately needed distraction from her medical appointments and treatment.
Despite her condition, Bella is a happy and lively child who loves pop music and is a huge fan of All About Tonight singer Pixie, so the charity arranged a girly getaway to London for Bella, her mum and godmother Liza Goddard.
After a night in a top London hotel, a charity representative escorted them to Trafalgar Square where Pixie was performing, and the trio sang and danced their way through the concert before being taken backstage to meet the star afterwards.
Hailey, 33, said: "Meeting Pixie has proved as beneficial as any medicine.
"Bella's smile after she met Pixie was amazing. She was smiling from ear to ear and couldn't quite believe what happened or that she was real. It's inspired her so much, and it's amazing that she's responding to treatment for the first time. It's the best news we've had for a long time."
Pixie said: "I am absolutely honoured to become an ambassador for Rays of Sunshine. Bella's twinkly, smiley face made my day and I only hope I can help the charity to spread more beautiful smiles."
Jane Sharpe, chief executive of Rays of Sunshine, said: "Pixie has always been wonderful with our wish children and was incredible when she performed for over 1,500 seriously ill children at our concert at the Royal Albert Hall early this year.
"We are absolutely thrilled to formally welcome her as an ambassador. Her support will enable us to brighten up the lives of even more seriously ill children in the UK."


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Editor's note: This market commentary is provided by the Dairy Division at FCStone in Chicago, Ill.
A steady spot cheese market and a steady supply of largely bearish sounding news for the Class III market were thwarted Thursday by sharply higher dry whey futures prices.
Class III held its ground, closing only pennies lower during another sub-1,000-contract trading session as dry whey prices rallied for the first time in weeks, closing between 1.75 and 2.65 cents higher from July to December on nearly 100 contracts of trading volume. What gave the dry whey market a boost? There has been some anecdotal chatter about renewed interest in exportable dry whey ― though we've yet to see any rubber really hit the road.
So, Class III remains in the cross-fire between weaker spot prices, quiet demand, abundant milk supplies, on one hand, and uncertain export potential for Q3 contracts and dry whey prices that we expect to buoy some support heading into June. In the short term, we expect more Class III price weakness, but it is possible we are putting in a base at these levels with the June and July contracts still holding over their recent lows.
Spot Session Results
Block cheese: $1.74 (unchanged)
Barrel cheese: $1.7075 (unchanged)
Grade A NFDM: $1.68 (unchanged)
Butter: $1.54 (unchanged)
The grain complex tried to rally Thursday, but couldn't keep the gains amid calming fears of wet weather. The markets seem to have made the appropriate adjustment for soggy, unplanted fields for the time being. Early estimates were for a loss of 1-2 million corn acres. By Wednesday and Thursday, that number was more like 3-4 million. We'll wait for the June estimates, but for now we expect a loss of buy side appetite at current levels without any fresh demand news. And demand clearing prices do not seem to be of the $6.00 variety right now for December corn.
Weather forecasts have not changed much as models show another 1-2" rain for most of the Midwest over the next three to four days, followed by a quick two- to three-day break, and then another system is expected to move in from the Northwest on Tuesday. Extended outlooks have moved to normal precipitation, but anything on top of what we have is too much in the north central Corn Belt.
This morning, we look for corn to open 1 to 4 cents higher and beans 6 to 10 higher.
The trading of derivatives such as futures, options, and swaps may not be suitable for all investors. Derivatives trading involves substantial risk of loss, and you should fully understand those risks prior to trading. Any reference to past performance is not indicative of future results. All references to futures/options trading are made solely on behalf of FCStone, LLC. All references to swap execution and bi-lateral swaps are made solely on behalf of INTL Hanley, LLC. FCStone, LLC will clear swaps when applicable. Swaps are only available to eligible counterparties. All observations of economic, political and/or market conditions are not intended to refer to any particular trading strategy, promotional element or quality of service provided by INTL FCStone Inc. and its subsidiaries and should be construed as market commentary. All recommendations to buy or sell a specific derivative or forecasting statements regarding market activity and the pricing thereof should be construed as a solicitation in any jurisdiction in where such an offer or solicitation would be legal. Proper context and guidance including but not limited to the particular trading objectives, financial situations and the needs of the intended audience were taken into consideration when this recommendation was prepared. Contact your account representative for specific advice to meet your specific trading preferences or goals. These materials represent the opinions and viewpoints of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints and trading strategies employed by INTL FCStone Inc. and its subsidiaries. Sources of information believed to reliable were used in preparing such observations, and no guarantee or representation regarding the accuracy of those sources has been made. INTL FCStone Inc. and its subsidiaries are not responsible for any redistribution of this material by third parties, or any trading decisions taken by persons not intended to view this material.


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>Technical Support>Is my data deleted if I don't login for a while?
Hi. I'm Mike. I started using the site a year ago and really like it. However due to an illness and extended hospitalization I've been unable to run since last fall, so obviously haven't uploaded any new runs of logged in much. Will my data ever be deleted due to non-use? How can I make sure it isn't deleted. Hoping to be up and running by summer. Thanks.
Hi Mike,
I just downloaded about 15 months of runs off of my GPS. All of my info was still here. This is a great website. Nothing lasts forever, but maybe this site will!
Nothing is deleted without your consent. Your data will be here when you're healthy enough to run again.


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Comfort Systems Sees Increased 2004 Revenues
April 1, 2005
Comfort Systems USA reported revenues of $819.6 million for 2004, an increase of 4.6 percent from 2003 figures. Net income was $10.7 million, compared to a loss of $5.6 million in 2003.
Backlog at the end of the year was a record $573.4 million, up 42 percent from $403.9 million at the end of 2003. Bill Murdy, chairman and CEO, predicted increased revenues for 2005.
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And now the Oppo Find 5 release date has been pinpointed for January 29th for China. We still don't have a specific date for the device's launch in the United States and Europe, but Oppo has earlier confirmed it will bring the Oppo 5 to Western markets soon after the Chinese launch.
In China, the Oppo 5 costs 2,998 yuan, which is the equivalent to $485, and in the States the price will be almost identical. The Oppo Find 5 16GB model is said to retail for $500, while the 32GB version will set you back $570.
source: Oppo Store via Engadget


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HTC Vivid hands-on
0. phoneArena posted on 03 Nov 2011, 13:21
Right off the bat, we're reminded about the original HTC EVO 4G when holding and playing around with the HTC Vivid – since it utilizes some of those characteristic traits from the EVO 4G. However, what's especially nice about the Vivid, is that its overall size...
This is a discussion for a news. To read the whole news, click here
1. Muhannad (Posts: 455; Member since: 20 Sep 2011)
Amazing phone, only if it had a 720p screen resolution like the Rezound obviously because of bigger the display the pixel density becomes lower.
11. Lucas777 (Posts: 2137; Member since: 06 Jan 2011)
ya.. personally i find this more attractive than the samsung phone, and I think with the 50 dollar less price htc will sell a lot more since they are nearly identical phones
2. KingKurogiii (Posts: 5713; Member since: 23 Oct 2011)
VERY good looking phone. i like that HTC went with more Angular looks with this bad boy. it's very sleek.
3. Netolic (Posts: 144; Member since: 18 Oct 2011)
This or samsung galaxy skyrocket?
4. Muhannad (Posts: 455; Member since: 20 Sep 2011)
I would choose that, Samsung's phones have crappy build quality and an ugly design plus this shoots 1080p at 60 frames per second! Also, HTC Sense looks much better than TouchWiz even though you might end up rooting it and installing some custom ROM.
5. KingKurogiii (Posts: 5713; Member since: 23 Oct 2011)
i think i'd get the Skyrocket. i actually prefer the more simplistic TW4 and i like the larger SA+ display of the Skyrocket and it shouldn't take as long as an HTC to get ICS.
6. snowgator (Posts: 3604; Member since: 19 Jan 2011)
Boy, fun choice. Not sure, but my thoughts always lean to HTC. But it is so hard to argue with the roll Sammy is on. The reviews of the two will be very important.
10. Ivan6479 (Posts: 250; Member since: 26 Jun 2011)
Hmm.. I would definitely go with the HTC if the price is right and if you enjoy taking pics and videos other wise I would just go with the Galaxy S 2, because who knows how long it's going to take for AT&T to dish out their LTE anyways.
7. jackhammeR (Posts: 1548; Member since: 17 Oct 2011)
Good specs...and maybe camera module...but looks awful...huge, ugly brick.
8. deadinside (Posts: 27; Member since: 31 Oct 2011)
Yeah I really don't know which one to go with...I never had a samsung phone..and I always loved my htc phones...but sun I will have a new phone!!!
9. richardyarrell2011 (banned) (Posts: 510; Member since: 16 Mar 2011)
evo 4g this is not....
12. Jeradiah3 (Posts: 1122; Member since: 11 Feb 2010)
I like this phone. Its like the LTE version of my phone, the Inspire. It has a better battery which I hope is an improvement than a crutch for the Inspire (if you buy the PowerSkin for the Inspire, it is a great investment).
Im looking forward to having LTE in the St. Louis area (GO CARDS!!) so that I can look forward to upgrading to this phone if there arent any better phones than this one for AT&T
13. katylady123 (Posts: 1; Member since: 07 Nov 2011)
is it on display in the att store?? and also is it avalible in the fresno bakersfield area in california??