June 13, 2012

Russia Rejects Clinton Accusation of Arms for Syria Repression

Source: Bloomberg

By Ladane Nasseri and Flavia Krause-Jackson - 2012-06-13T15:27:19Z

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected U.S. accusations that it’s sending arms for use against Syrian civilians and said his country is simply fulfilling its contractual obligations.

“We are completing previously signed and paid-for contracts,” Lavrov said during a press conference in Tehran today with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. “All these contracts have to do exclusively with air-defense systems.” Russia was only supplying “what Syria might need in case of a military attack from outside.”

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday that she was “concerned by the latest information we have that there are attack helicopters on the way from Russia to Syria, which will escalate the conflict quite dramatically.” Russia is repairing about 20 Mi-24 helicopters sold to Syria during the Soviet era, two people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg today.

The U.S. and United Nations say the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad is using helicopter gunships as it increases the tempo of military operations against the opposition. After 15 months of conflict, the UN says its two- month old cease-fire is failing to hold and that massacres are being committed against Sunni civilians.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-13/russia-rejects-clinton-accusation-of-arms-for-syria-repression.html

June 12, 2012

Senate Democrat Urges GOP To Consider Raising Taxes To Spare Military From Automatic Cuts

DONNA CASSATA Associated Press
First Posted: June 12, 2012 - 4:38 pm

WASHINGTON — Republicans determined to spare the military from devastating across-the-board spending cuts — presidential candidate Mitt Romney among them — must be willing to consider closing tax loopholes and raising rates to increase revenue, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Tuesday.

Democratic Sen. Carl Levin insisted that all elements of the federal government — taxes, entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security and even additional defense reductions — need to be part of the calculation as Congress scrambles to come up with a way to avoid the automatic, $1.2 trillion cuts in domestic and military programs over a decade. Those cuts are scheduled to start kicking in Jan. 2.

Levin said Republican and Democratic presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, adopted both spending cuts and tax increases to address budget deficits. He said the current Republican leadership needs to do the same.

"There can be no real deficit reduction and you cannot protect defense and other critically important priorities of this country from sequestration without additional revenue," the Michigan lawmaker said, referring to the process of automatic cuts that will take effect if Congress does not act.

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http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/0cb730768d1b421386abe090064a6055/US--Defense-Budget-Taxes

June 12, 2012

Netanyahu Uses Illegal Settlement Affair To Teach Leftists A Lesson

In the last couple of years, we’ve witnessed a series of pogroms by settlers or their supporters, directed either at the IDF or, more often, Palestinians. These attacks, which received the common moniker of “price tags”, were orchestrated by several settler leaders, and the concept behind them was that each time the government tried to dislodge a settlement or an outpost, someone else would suffer. Generally, the settler turned the Palestinians into their hostages in order to deter the government and the military from enforcing eviction notices against them.

Just yesterday, a “price tag” attack was committed in Neve Shalom, a mixed Arab-Jewish village, by vandals who identified as opposers of the decision to move Ulpana. Cars were vandalized with messages like “Death to Arabs” and “Regards from Ulpana.”

This week, we have seen Prime Minister Netanyahu embracing the same vengeful method. In his Knesset speech following the Ulpana debacle (the Netanyahu government pledged to build 851 new apartments in the West Bank, as well as uproot and transport the five Ulpana houses, at a staggering cost), Netanyahu said:

I tell those who think they can use the judicial system to hurt settlement, that they are mistaken, because in practice, the exact opposite will occur. Instead of shrinking Beit El – Beit El has expanded. Instead of hurting settlement, settlement has been strengthened.


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http://972mag.com/netanyahu-uses-illegal-settlement-affair-to-teach-leftists-a-lesson/47855/

June 12, 2012

Senators Scramble To Save Farm Bill

Source: The Hill

By Erik Wasson - 06/12/12 02:02 PM ET
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Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and ranking member Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) were scrambling Tuesday to save the $969 billion farm bill from failing on the Senate floor.

More than 100 amendments have been filed to the bill and more continue to pour in. Getting the farm bill to a final vote will require some agreement between Democrats and Republicans on a list of final amendments.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) wants to eliminate "non-germane" amendments but his Republican counterpart, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), is arguing that the must-pass legislation is a prime opportunity to enact a GOP priority wish list of anti-regulation legislation.

While the farm bill as drafted has the 60 votes it needs to pass, according to Stabenow and Roberts, the bill could fail if McConnell decides the GOP has not been treated fairly and urges the GOP conference to vote it down.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/appropriations/232285-stabenow-roberts-scramble-to-save-farm-bill

June 12, 2012

Dems Block McCain Resolution On Special Counsel For Leaks

Source: The Hill

By Daniel Strauss - 06/12/12 12:44 PM ET

Senate Democrats blocked a resolution introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) calling for Attorney General Eric Holder to introduce an outside special counsel to investigate a number of recent military and intelligence leaks.

McCain introduced a resolution Tuesday expressing the Senate's support for Holder to appoint a special prosecutor. But Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) objected after McCain asked for unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to consideration of his resolution.

"What is at issue here is whether or not we are going to give an opportunity for U.S. attorneys, professionals in their fields, to handle this particular inquiry," Wyden said. "And I see no evidence, Mr. President, that the way U.S. attorneys are handling this investigation at this time is not with the highest standards of professionalism."

McCain said that recent military leaks and intelligence leaks warranted outside legal counsel to investigate the leaks.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/232265-dems-block-mccain-resolution-on-special-counsel-for-leaks

June 12, 2012

Share Of US Power Made From Coal At 60-Year Low As Use Of Cleaner Natural Gas Grows

By JONATHAN FAHEY
AP Energy Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- America is shoveling coal to the sidelines.

The fuel that powered the U.S. from the industrial revolution into the iPhone era is being pushed aside as utilities switch to cleaner and cheaper alternatives.

The share of U.S. electricity that comes from coal is forecast to fall below 40 percent for the year, its lowest level since World War II. Four years ago, it was 50 percent. By the end of this decade, it is likely to be near 30 percent.

"The peak has passed," says Jone-Lin Wang, head of Global Power for the energy research firm IHS CERA.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/share-of-us-power-made-from-coal-at-60-year-low-as-use-of-cleaner-natural-gas-grows/2012/06/12/gJQA3RepXV_story.html

June 12, 2012

US: Russia Sending Syria Attack Helicopters

Source: Associated Press

By BRADLEY KLAPPER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration says Russia is sending attack helicopters to Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime and is warning about a dramatic escalation in the Arab country's 15-month conflict.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the delivery represents the "latest information." She says the U.S. is concerned as the helicopters "will escalate the conflict quite dramatically."

She is calling instead for Moscow to help the U.S. push forward a political transition plan for Syria.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_SYRIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-06-12-13-17-48

June 12, 2012

Campaign Urges Americans In Israel To Vote In U.S. Election

A new initiative to get Americans citizens living in Israel to vote in the upcoming presidential election claims it is not advocating a specific candidate. However, its strategic campaign manager admitted it is funded by the “Adelsons” of the philanthropic world.

Sunday, June 10 2012|Mairav Zonszein

I recently came across an ad online seeking volunteers for something called the “iVoteIsrael Campaign.” The link was to a very polished website that encourages Americans living in Israel to vote in the upcoming U.S. election on November 6, 2012.

We are a diverse group of Olim, recent-arrivals as well as vatikim from all over the country who are deeply concerned about the safety, security and future of Israel. Most importantly, we want to see a President in the White House who will support and stand by Israel in absolute commitment to its safety, security and right to defend itself.

The initiative, organized by “Americans for Jerusalem” – a U.S.-registered 501 c(4) nonprofit established solely for the purpose of this 2012 campaign – provides an easy interactive resource to make it as simple and quick as possible to register an absentee ballot. It claims to be nonpartisan and is legally barred from advocating for a specific candidate, but the campaign’s rhetoric certainly perked my ears: A president that supports Israel “in absolute commitment to its safety, security and right to defend itself.” Absolute is a strong word. And “security” for Israel means very different things, depending on whom you ask.

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http://972mag.com/campaign-urges-americans-in-israel-to-vote-in-2012-us-election/47807/

June 12, 2012

Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Reveals Increase in U.S. Employers' Hiring Plans for 3rd Quarter

Source: MarketWatch

MILWAUKEE, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Hiring confidence among U.S. employers continues to inch up as all states, regions and industries surveyed report a positive Net Employment Outlook, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released today by ManpowerGroup. The seasonally adjusted survey results show the Net Employment Outlook for Quarter 3 2012 is +11%, slightly up from +10% during Quarter 2 2012 and +8% during the same period last year.

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This quarter's research concludes:

Employer Confidence Builds: Quarter 3 2012 marks the first double-digit Net Employment Outlook across all four regions since 2008.

92 Percent of Companies Expect Similar or Growing Staff Levels: According to seasonally adjusted data, 92 percent of U.S. employers plan to increase or make no changes to their hiring in Quarter 3 2012. The continued climb in confidence marks 11 straight quarters of positive overall hiring Outlook, which were preceded by three quarters of pessimistic employment plans.

Positive Trend Continues Across U.S.: Hiring intentions continue to climb in the U.S. with employers in all 50 states expecting to add staff. With two consecutive quarters of strong results, Alaska remains a leader among the states. Alaskan employers have shown a significant increase in hiring intentions since Quarter 1 2012 when the Outlook was +1% compared with +29% in Quarter 3 2012. All 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas surveyed also report positive hiring intentions.


Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/manpower-employment-outlook-survey-reveals-increase-in-us-employers-hiring-plans-for-the-third-quarter-2012-06-12

June 12, 2012

Israel ‘To Evacuate Tel Aviv’ In Event Of Missile Attack

By Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 8:12 EDT

Israel will evacuate the entire population of Tel Aviv if it is hit by missiles, particularly if they have unconventional warheads, the commander in charge of Israel’s central region told AFP.

Colonel Adam Zusman, chief of the Home Front Command in Israel’s Gush Dan region, which encompasses the city of Tel Aviv and its environs, said an attack on the centre of the country would force massive evacuations.

“In case of a missile attack on the centre of Israel, especially unconventional, the population from Tel Aviv and other cities will be evacuated and relocated in other areas of the country,” Zusman told AFP in an interview at the weekend.

“Massive evacuations will take place in case of unconventional attacks and if buildings are destroyed by a missile.”

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/06/12/israel-to-evacuate-tel-aviv-in-event-of-missile-attack/