Jun-29-2009
Washington Bureau: How The F.B.I. Broke Saddam - Part 1
Where were Iraq’s WMD? How close was Saddam Hussein to Al Qaeda, really? These were vital - but still unanswered - questions when the Iraqi despot was yanked out of a spider hole in December 2003 and placed in U.S. military detention. Lives were at stake - along with the entire political rationale for the U.S.-led coalition invading Iraq. Only one man could say for sure, and now that the U.S. finally had him in custody, they had to find out. There was only one way: Break Saddam. The FBI’s newly-declassified interrogation files on Saddam Hussein, reported exclusively in yesterday’s Daily News, stand in contrast to the dark view espoused by Team Bush: only extreme interrogation techniques extract confessions from “high-value” detainees who resist questioning. The CIA and FBI were intent on getting Saddam to explain what happened to the missing weapons of mass destruction, his operational ties - if any - to Al Qaeda and admit his own crimes against humanity by gassing and slaughtering his own people. CIA WMD hunter David Kay had resigned in frustration in late January 2004, and the missing arsenal was vexing Team Bush just as special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was beginning his probe of the White House over leaks in retaliation against Iraq war critic Joe Wilson. The pressure was intense.
Jun-29-2009
Washington Bureau: How The F.B.I. Broke Saddam - Part 2
Saddam Hussein was defiant in his first meetings with his American captors. But soon it was time to begin whittling down his ego, bloated by decades of absolute power in Iraq. Brute force, however, was not in the gameplan. By mid-February 2004, FBI Supervisory Special Agent George Piro had sat down with Saddam Hussein three times - as The Mouth reported on Friday - and listened to the toppled tyrant yap away about his great accomplishments leading ragtag Iraq out of the Stone Age.
Jun-29-2009
Washington Bureau: How The F.B.I. Broke Saddam - Part 3
Saddam Hussein loved to talk - and to b.s. his sole interrogator, FBI Supervisory Special Agent George Piro. But Piro - backed up by a team of FBI agents and crack CIA analysts - knew Saddam’s history too well. Where there were gaps, Piro was able to parry with the imprisoned leader to get credible answers. “High Value Detainee-1” was soon blabbing so freely it was hard for him to keep his lies intact. As the weeks wore on, Saddam opened up more and more as the FBI-CIA team leveraged its strategy to “overwhelm” - and break - him by confronting the deposed dictator with evidence of his crimes against humanity. He was soon boasting of terrible misdeeds against his own people - in order to set the historical record straight, which Piro had encouraged.
Jun-26-2009
Wall Street Journal: The Iraq Drawdown Is Proof Of Success - U.S. forces will remain to assist the Iraqi army
A major transformation is underway in Iraq. Each day U.S. forces hand over more responsibility for security to the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police. As this moves along, the number of U.S. forces in Iraq will shrink to no more than 50,000 by August 2010 from approximately 132,000 now. Further, as directed by President Barack Obama, all U.S. forces will be out of Iraq by the end of December 2011. As we proceed with this drawdown, the role of U.S. forces in Iraq will transition to primarily focus on advising Iraqi forces instead of fighting terrorism directly. From 2003 to 2008, the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq was authorized by the United Nations. Since then, U.S. forces have remained at the invitation of the Iraqi government under the terms of a security agreement negotiated between our two countries. Among the provisions of this agreement is a requirement for U.S. combat forces to be out of Iraq's cities by June 30, 2009.
Jun-22-2009
Wall Street Journal: Obama's Persian Tutorial - The president has to choose between the regime and the people in the streets
President Barack Obama did not "lose" Iran. This is not a Jimmy Carter moment. But the foreign-policy education of America's 44th president has just begun. Hitherto, he had been cavalier about other lands, he had trusted in his own biography as a bridge to distant peoples, he had believed he could talk rogues and ideologues out of deeply held beliefs. His predecessor had drawn lines in the sand. He would look past them. Thus a man who had been uneasy with his middle name (Hussein) during the presidential campaign would descend on Ankara and Cairo, inserting himself in a raging civil war over Islam itself. An Iranian theocratic regime had launched a bid for dominion in its region; Mr. Obama offered it an olive branch and waited for it to "unclench" its fist.
Jun-19-2009
Investopedia: Rent To Own, Own To Rent
Real estate purchase options are a form of financing that allows buyers to purchase homes without initially taking title of the property. Although they are used in both strong and weak real estate markets, they tend to be most used when sellers are having difficulty renting or selling, or when purchasers are having difficulty qualifying for mortgages. Many real estate investors have used lease purchase options to amass an inventory of assets without the need for a significant capital investment. Lease options can be beneficial for both buyers and sellers, but they do carry some specific investment and legal risk, and are subject to abuse. Investors thinking of using these options to buy or sell properties should understand these risks before entering into a real estate option agreement.
Jun-15-2009
YesNoGod.com: Do You Believe In God?
Survey poll of most international countries answering such question.
Jun-05-2009
Elaph: Political History Of Iraq Part-1:_Painful End (in Arabic)
Jun-05-2009
Elaph: Political History Of Iraq Part-2:_The Royalists, The Nationalists, And The Cummunists (in Arabic)
Jun-05-2009
Elaph: Political History Of Iraq Part-3:_Baghdad Television Shows Execution Of General Qassim (in Arabic)
Jun-04-2009
Investopedia: The Hidden Costs Of Home Ownership
Leaky roofs, bursting pipes and infestations - all on your own dime. Though home ownership has many perks, there are some extra expenses to watch out for. Maintaining and repairing a home can be a daunting task, especially if you're learning these skills for the first time as a home owner. Repair costs can make any first-time homeowner long for the "good ol'" renting days. Each of the major systems in your home, like the plumbing, electrical and roofing, serves a very important purpose and must be kept in good working order to protect your investment and keep life running smoothly. (Should owning be in your retirement plans?
Jun-04-2009
Investopedia: The Advantages Of Bond Swapping
Bond swapping is the process of selling a bond and using proceeds from the sale to purchase another bond, in order to achieve specific investment objectives. There are several reasons why an investor would want to consider bond swapping or why a financial professional may advise it for a client, such as adding diversity to a portfolio, lowering taxes or taking advantage of anticipated interest rate changes.
Jun-04-2009
Investopedia: Playing It Safe In Foreign Stock Markets
For many, investing in foreign stock markets can be a challenging way to balance a portfolio, though the outcomes can often be rewarding. Investors that do get involved have the opportunity to participate in the long-term growth prospects of many emerging markets – markets that have faster growth rates in comparison with those developed nations. Successful investing requires the understanding of the risks of investing in these types of markets, and how to buy stocks in the foreign markets.
Jun-04-2009
Investopedia: Does International Investing Really Offer Diversification?
Does international investing really offer diversification to a U.S.-based investor? There certainly is enough information available to the investing public to suggest it does, and institutional investors have been on board for more than 20 years. The premise for investing in international assets is typically driven by the benefits that the diversification offers to a U.S.-based investor. Taking a look at the long term correlations between non-U.S. assets and U.S. assets, it's obvious that the theory applies, as adding low-correlated assets to any portfolio can reduce overall risk. While this seems to be generally accepted in investing theory, a more in-depth evaluation provides some compelling evidence that this is not always the case - especially in the short term and during times of dramatic swings in global markets.
Jun-04-2009
Investopedia: Top 4 Things Successful Forex Traders Do
Trading in the financial markets is surrounded by a certain amount of mystique because there is no single formula for trading successfully. Think of the markets as being like the ocean and the trader as a surfer. Surfing requires talent, balance, patience, proper equipment and astute discrimination. Would you go into the water if there were sharks swimming all around you or dangerous rip tides? Hopefully not. (Benjamin Graham pioneered cutting edge concepts that propelled other top investors to fame. Read The 3 Most Timeless Investment Principles.) The attitude to trading in the markets is no different to that required for surfing. By blending good analysis with effective implementation, your success rate will improve dramatically and, like many skill sets, good trading comes from a combination of talent and hard work. Here are the four legs of the stool that you can build into a strategy to serve you well in all markets.
May-31-2009
Washington Post: A Quiet But Undeniable Cultural Legacy - U.S. Occupation of Iraq Will End, but a Host of American Influences May Linger
BAGHDAD - Across the street from the tidy rows of tombstones in the British cemetery, mute testimony to the soldiers of an earlier occupation, Mustafa Muwaffaq bears witness to the quieter side of the United States' six-year-old presence in Iraq. In wraparound sunglasses, shorts and shoes without socks, the burly 20-year-old student waxes eloquent about his love for heavy metal of all kinds: death, thrash, black. But none of it compares, he says, to the honky-tonk of Alan Jackson, whose tunes he strums on his acoustic guitar at night, pining for a life as far away as a passport will take him. "You know, I wanna go to Texas and be a country boy," he said, as he stood in the sweltering shade of Baghdad's Academy of Fine Arts. "I wanna be a cowboy, and I wanna sing like one." All occupations eventually end. When this one does, history's narratives will be shaped by the cacophony it wrought -- the carnage unleashed by the U.S.-led invasion that threatened Iraq's notion of itself as a country and that will haunt generations to come.
May-31-2009
Foreign Affairs: What To Read On Lobbying
Mistrust of interest groups and their efforts to lobby the government dates back to the founding of the United States, but so does the recognition that such groups are an integral part of American democracy. Contemporary political science has taken up both of these themes, spawning heated debates about how interest groups are formed, what they do, and how much influence they have. Most commentators fall into one of two opposing camps: those who believe that group demands distort politics and policymaking by pursuing narrow private interests at the expense of a broader public interest, and those who believe the public interest itself is simply an aggregation of group interests.
May-30-2009
Investopedia: Who Needs Bonds When You Can Have Income Mutual Funds?
Investors seeking current income and diversification have many alternatives to choose from with income mutual funds. These funds can invest in either debt or equities or a combination of both. This article examines the various categories of income funds and the types of investors for whom they are appropriate. Regardless of what type of underlying security an income fund invests in, most income funds share a few common characteristics, such as diversification and professional management. Most income funds pay either interest or dividends (or both) on a monthly basis. Some funds are more liquid than others, and the yields on almost all of them rise and fall with interest rates. Many income funds invest internationally or globally while others are strictly domestic. Some pay interest, others pay dividends and a third category of income funds combines an element of growth with the income.
May-30-2009
Investopedia: The Bright Side Of The Credit Crisis
A credit crisis, also known as a "credit crunch" or "credit shock", occurs when there is a rapid reduction in the availability of loans from banks. This occurs when loans go sour, forcing the banks to tighten up lending standards. Credit shocks create both positive and negative effects in the economy. By examining these effects carefully, we can gain a greater understanding of how credit shocks work and what we can learn from them. Read on to find out more.
May-30-2009
Investopedia: Personal Loans: To Lend Or Not To Lend?
Lending and borrowing money from a bank follows procedural guidelines that have evolved over centuries. Personal lending, that is making or taking loans with friends and family, has been going on for just as long, but firm guidelines haven't developed because each circumstance is unique. There is, however, a way to make family loans safer and more secure for all parties involved.
May-30-2009
Investopedia: An Introduction To Corporate Bond ETFs
The corporate bond market is one of the largest and most liquid of the financial markets. Corporate bonds can be appealing for many reasons, as they are generally considered safer than stocks and they often provide higher returns than government bonds. However, until recently, investing in the corporate bond market was a more difficult task for individual investors. This has changed, with the introduction of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on corporate bonds. This article will focus upon the corporate bond market and whether corporate bond ETFs are an attractive option for individual investors.
May-27-2009
Wall Street Journal: Pakistan's Struggle for Modernity - The country's voters have never endorsed religious extremism
The drama of the Swat Valley -- its cynical abandonment to the mercy of the Taliban, the terror unleashed on it by the militants, then the recognition that the concession to the forces of darkness had not worked -- is of a piece with the larger history of religious extremism in the world of Islam. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari was the latest in a long line of secularists who cut deals with the zealots, only to discover that for the believers in political Islam these deals are at best a breathing spell before the fight for their utopia is taken up again. The decision by Pakistan to retrieve the ground it had ceded to the Taliban was long overdue. We should not underestimate the strength of the Pakistani state, and of the consensus that underpins it. The army is a huge institution, and its mandate is like that of the Turkish army, which sees itself as a defender of secular politics.
May-26-2009
Foreign Affairs: What To Read On Saudi Politics
Saudi Arabia's political system is opaque, and its government, while more open now than in past decades, is generally hostile to independent outside inquiry. Much of what has been written about Saudi politics, therefore, has been based on anecdotes or limited information. Ideology has also skewed research: those who favor strong American relations with Saudi Arabia have portrayed it in the most favorable light, while others with differing views have demonized it. Since 9/11, there has been more criticism than praise, but too often both miss the most interesting and important dynamics in Saudi politics -- the development of the Saudi state; the changing relationship between the religious and political establishments and the accompanying changes in Wahhabism; the social revolution brought on by oil wealth that has transformed Saudi Arabia from a rural to an urban society; the emergence of domestic political groups and the regime's efforts to deal with them; and the twists and turns of Saudi Arabia's relationship with the United States.
May-26-2009
Foreign Affairs: Misreading The Map
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes to Washington for a meeting with President Barack Obama, U.S. policymakers are being urged to place the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the back burner and spend their time and energy addressing the true menace supposedly confronting Arabs and Jews in the Middle East -- Iran. Deal with that threat, the sirens sing, and the other pieces of peace in the Holy Land will fall into place. Netanyahu framed the issue in a speech he made in Washington earlier this month. "There is something happening today in the Middle East, and I can say that for the first time in my lifetime I believe that Arabs and Jews see the common danger," he told supporters of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. "This wasn't always the case," he added. Or was it? In fact, there have been many times when key players in Jerusalem and Washington have convinced themselves that focusing on some third party would make Israeli-Palestinian peace possible. But it has not worked in the past, and it won't work now.
May-24-2009
Iraq Of Tomorrow: Secret Documents Of The Baath Party - Part 2 (in Arabic)
May-22-2009
Investopedia: The Biggest Stock Scams Of All Time
It is unfortunate, but words often associated with money and fortune are "cheat," "steal," and "lie." Who among us hasn't "accidentally" taken two $500 bills from the Monopoly bank, or forgotten at least once to pay $5 back to a friend? Chances are you were never called on it because your friends trusted you. Just as we trust our friends, we put faith in the investing world. Investing in a stock takes a lot of research, but it also requires us to make a lot of assumptions. For example, we assume reported earnings and revenue figures are correct, and that management is competent and honest. But these assumptions can be disastrous. ...The worst thing about these scams is that you never know until it's too late.
May-19-2009
Spiegel Online: The Worst Ways To Die - Torture Practices Of The Ancient World
Was the cradle of civilization also the birthplace of atrocity? Historians have been researching the most extreme forms of torture in the ancient world. Among other things, they have found that, back then, "sitting in the tub" was actually a pretty nasty way to kick the bucket. In total, Julius Caesar reckoned that he had 1,192,000 enemies killed during his reign. Meanwhile the Emperor Tiberius would have young men's urethras laced shut before force-feeding them wine. And, under Caligula, it became customary to saw noblemen in half. It sounds bad -- but were these the cruellest of them all? Would they qualify for the barbarity top 10? A new book, "Extreme Formen von Gewalt in Bild und Text des Altertums" (Extreme Violence in the Visuals and Texts of Antiquity) by Martin Zimmerman, a professor of ancient history in Munich, looks at current research into the kinds of violence that inspired "loathing, dread, horror and disgust." Its conclusion? In the ancient Far East, where there were large states peopled by many different ethnicities, leaders demonstrated their might by inventing ingenious new tortures and agonizing methods of execution -- as a way to keep the population obedient.
May-19-2009
Spiegel Online: Middle East Peace - Obama's Mission Impossible
Obama isn't distancing himself from Israel, nor is he making advances towards Palestine. He wants to force both sides to get off the hamster wheel and take some real steps forward. The meeting between Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu didn't really need to take place. Most reporters and commentators knew in advance that it would come to a show down. The anchorwoman of the television news in far-off Hamburg acted as if she had been at the meeting. "The public appearances of the two men must have demanded real acting skills," she said, because "Obama is distancing himself from Israel." As so often in the Middle East peace process, when dealing with relations between Israelis and Palestinians and the rest of the world, we let our hopes govern our heads. Unwilling and unable to make a constructive contribution towards a solution and at the same time frustrated that the Americans have taken the initiative, Europeans do what they do best: warn and complain, like the viewers of a soccer game, who -- from the stands -- know they would convert every strike into a goal.
May-18-2009 - SPECIAL REPORT
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Iraqi Construction Special Inspector General: HARD LESSIONS - The Iraq Reconstruction Experience
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Iraqi Construction Special Inspector General: HARD LESSIONS - The Iraq Reconstruction Experience
May-15-2009
Investopedia: Start Your Own Business
Wouldn't it be great to be able to quit your job, be your own boss and earn a paycheck from the comfort of your own home? The good news is that with a little planning and some startup money, it is possible! Let's delve a little deeper into how to start a small business from home and help you decide how much planning and money you'll need to be your own boss. There are few things more satisfying and rewarding than launching and owning your own home-based business, but before diving in, be sure to do your homework. Making a business work is not an easy task, but proper planning will help to increase its chances of success.
May-14-2009
Wall Street Journal: British MPs Pad Their Expense Accounts - We actually paid to dredge a moat
This week couldn't get worse for Britain's politicians. Their expense claims, long kept secret, are being disgorged daily in London's newspapers. An appalled and exuberantly entertained nation is learning just how much its elected parliamentarians have been charging taxpayers for domestic cleaners, swimming-pool maintenance, chauffeurs and more. One former minister has submitted receipts included a £2,000 ($3,021) bill for dredging the moat at his country house. Another had the public purse pay the price for horse manure for his garden. All of this is coming at a time when politicians are trying to persuade the country to accept public-sector cuts during a sharp recession.
May-14-2009
Aafaq: Why Muslims Are Against Women? (in Arabic)
May-13-2009
Investopedia: Five Ways To Lose Your Nest Egg
There are two surefire ways for you to help your retirement accounts grow: maximizing your contributions as often as you can and properly managing the investments in your accounts. But there are also some sure ways to decrease the size of your retirement nest egg. Here we look at five actions that could lead to the loss of your retirement savings - once you know what they are, it will be much easier to avoid such mistakes.
May-13-2009
Investopedia: Five Strategies For Surviving Tough Times
When economic times turn tough, governments urge their citizens to spend. Economists think of citizens as "consumers" and rely on them to put their "disposable income" to work. By doing this they will support the economy, which translates into higher stock prices. However, in times like early 2008, when consumers were reeling from the perfect storm of inflation, a global credit crunch, a global housing market in decline and concerns about stagflation, there is often a conflict with the governmental cry for consumers to spend. It's a bewildering scenario. What's the best course of action for a concerned consumer to take? The following five strategies provide a road map for surviving economic downturns.
May-13-2009
Elaph: Syria & Terrorism- By Shaker Al-Nabulsi (in Arabic)
May-13-2009
The Atlantic: What Makes Us Happy?
Is there a formula—some mix of love, work, and psychological adaptation—for a good life? For 72 years, researchers at Harvard have been examining this question, following 268 men who entered college in the late 1930s through war, career, marriage and divorce, parenthood and grandparenthood, and old age. Here, for the first time, a journalist gains access to the archive of one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies in history. Its contents, as much literature as science, offer profound insight into the human condition—and into the brilliant, complex mind of the study’s longtime director, George Vaillant.
May-12-2009
By His Excellency Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida'ie, Ambassador of Iraq to the U.S.: Iraqi Media - Freedom Or Chaos?
The ousting of Saddam Hussein in 2003 ushered in a new era for the Iraqi media landscape. It transformed from a few state-run ventures, propagating the government line, to a free press representing a diversity of actors, often with conflicting agendas, views, and affiliations. It has not been a painless transformation. While Iraqi media has enjoyed its fair share of successes, it has been hindered by violence, sectarianism, and the challenges of forging a public sphere that previously did not exist. As Iraq transitions away from an absolute dictatorship to the formative stages of a functioning democracy, it is important to understand the media’s role in this transition. The hope I have for Iraqi media is the same that I have for the country itself: maturity. The end of the dictatorship left a vacuum in which individuals are grabbing what they can of power and influence. The media reflects this turmoil. The essential ingredients are ensuring that freedom of expression continues to be exercised as an ingrained right, and that these rights are exercised with responsibility. If we can guarantee this, Iraq will continue to advance towards stability, and with it, prosperity.
May-11-2009
Washington Post: Federalism, Not Partition - A System Devolving Power to the Regions Is the Route to a Viable Iraq
Iraq's government is at a stalemate. As in the United States, there is much discussion here of the need for political reconciliation. What does that mean? That the majority Shiites and the minority Sunnis and Kurds must find a way to govern collectively at the national level. As national security adviser to the head of Iraq's governments since March 2004, I have participated in the development of democracy in my country. I strongly support the government and applaud its achievements. But I understand that the political objectives of Iraq's three main communities are unrealizable within the framework of a unitary, centralized state.
May-11-2009
Investopedia: Getting Started In Forex
The forex (FX) market has many similarities to the equity markets; however, there are some key differences. This article will show you those differences and help you get started in forex trading. The forex market is the largest market in the world, and individuals are becoming increasingly interested in it. But before you begin trading it, be sure your broker meets certain criteria, and take the time to find a trading strategy that works for you. Remember, the best way to learn to trade forex is to open up a demo account and try it out.
May-10-2009
Middle East Transparent: The Shia Muslims In Lebanon (in Arabic)
May-09-2009
Middle East Transparent: Hezbollah - Historical Background (in Arabic)
May-09-2009
Aawsat: Paul Bremer's Interview (in Arabic)
May-08-2009
Foreign Affairs: The Eclipse Of The Americas - How the Trinidad Summit Marked the Fragmentation of the Inter-American System
At the fifth Summit of the Americas, Obama presented the new body language of the U.S. presidency. But he has yet to fully refurbish the American brand, such that the rejectionist countries still felt it was in their interests -- that the benefits outweighed the costs -- to buck a U.S.-led inter-Americanism. The question still remains whether a results-oriented, hub-and-spoke flexible functionalism will pull friendly states back into the U.S. orbit and gradually persuade the rejectionist states that, on balance, they would do better to diminish their anti-Americanism, if not abandon it altogether.
May-01-2009
Elaph: The Arab & Islamic World - More Secterian (in Arabic)
May-01-2009
Elaph: Islamic Fatwas - What A Mess! - By Shaker Al-Nabulsi (in Arabic)