Azerbaijan eyes aiding Israel against Iran

By Thomas Grove
Reuters
September 30, 2012

BAKU - Israel's "go-it-alone" option to attack Iran's nuclear sites has set the Middle East on edge and unsettled its main ally at the height of a U.S. presidential election campaign.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu exudes impatience, saying Tehran is barely a year from a "red line" for atomic capacity. Many fellow Israelis, however, fear a unilateral strike, lacking U.S. forces, would fail against such a large and distant enemy.

But what if, even without Washington, Israel were not alone?

Azerbaijan, the oil-rich ex-Soviet republic on Iran's far northern border, has, say local sources with knowledge of its military policy, explored with Israel how Azeri air bases and spy drones might help Israeli jets pull off a long-range attack.

More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/30/us-iran-israel-azerbaijan-idUSBRE88T05L20120930

As race stands, Obama within reach of second term

September 30, 2012

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Five weeks to Election Day, President Barack Obama is within reach of the 270 electoral votes needed to win a second term. Republican Mitt Romney's path to victory is narrowing.

To overtake Obama, Romney would need to quickly gain the upper hand in nearly all of the nine states where he and Obama are competing the hardest.

Polls show the president with a steady lead in many of them as Romney looks to shift the dynamics of the race, starting with their first debate Wednesday in Denver.

"We'd rather be us than them," says Jennifer Psaki, an Obama spokeswoman.

More: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PRESIDENTIAL_CAMPAIGN_ROAD_TO_270?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-09-30-08-42-37

As race stands, Obama within reach of second term

Source: AP

September 30, 2012

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Five weeks to Election Day, President Barack Obama is within reach of the 270 electoral votes needed to win a second term. Republican Mitt Romney's path to victory is narrowing.

To overtake Obama, Romney would need to quickly gain the upper hand in nearly all of the nine states where he and Obama are competing the hardest.

Polls show the president with a steady lead in many of them as Romney looks to shift the dynamics of the race, starting with their first debate Wednesday in Denver.

"We'd rather be us than them," says Jennifer Psaki, an Obama spokeswoman.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PRESIDENTIAL_CAMPAIGN_ROAD_TO_270?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-09-30-08-42-37

Germans scolded for dodging church tax

Upi
Sept. 29, 2012

BERLIN, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Germany's Roman Catholic bishops warned the faithful that dodging religious taxes could exclude them from church activities such as baptisms and funerals.

Religious taxes are paid as a percentage of income to support churches and synagogues, and the tight European economy has prompted an increasing number of Germans to drop out of their churches to avoid the levy, Britain's The Daily Telegraph said.

That hasn't sat well with the bishops, who said in an official decree this week that not paying the taxes was "a serious mistake."

The decree will be followed up by a form letter that will be sent to unofficially lapsed Catholics reminding them they have to be all in if they want to take advantage of the church's sacraments.

More: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/09/29/Germans-scolded-for-dodging-church-tax/UPI-64981348935279/?upi_mf

Romney distributes beef jerky to reporters

The Ticket
September 29, 2012

ON THE ROMNEY PLANE EN ROUTE TO BOSTON—It's no secret that Mitt Romney's campaign aides have strongly discouraged the candidate from doing too much talking to his traveling press corps, concerned that even the tiniest of gaffes could set off major waves in his bid for the presidency. But sometimes Romney just can't help himself.

-snip-

Minutes later, Romney returned again, this time carrying a large bag of beef jerky that he said he had personally received from jerky guru Jack Link.

"Here you go," Romney said, as he handed out gigantic sticks of beef—identified as Jack Link's "Sasquatch" size. Reaching into the bag as he approached Sam Youngman, a Reuters reporter, he pulled out a miniature "All American Beef and Cheese" pack—about half the size of the pieces of jerky he had doled out to other reporters. Glancing at the package and then at Youngman, Romney laughed. "OOH, sorry," Romney said, letting out a "ha ha ha."

Reporters laughed and exchanged glances. Had the Republican presidential nominee just made a "size" joke? A moment later, Romney returned, handing Youngman a bigger stick from the bag. "Thanks governor," Youngman replied. "I had jerky envy."

More: http://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/news/blogs/ticket/romney-distributes-beef-jerky-reporters-one-whom-gets-210439406--election.html?.b=index&.ts=1348924071&.intl=US&.lang=en

The definitive Packers/Seahawks pic

Syria rebels say launch "decisive battle" in Aleppo

Source: Reuters

By Mariam Karouny
September 27, 2012

Syrian rebels said they had launched a major attack in Aleppo on Thursday at the start of a "decisive battle" to push President Bashar al-Assad's forces out of the country's biggest city.

Heavy fighting was reported in around 14 districts by opposition activists and several rebel brigades, though the scale of the fighting could not be confirmed independently.

A video posted on YouTube by rebels showed Abdulqadir al-Saleh, the head of the biggest rebel force in Aleppo, the Tawheed Brigade, carrying a walkie talkie and announcing the start of the assault.

"Now the attack on Assad's forces has started on all fronts and God willing today will be decisive in Aleppo," he said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/27/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE88J0X720120927

Clinton offers more U.S. help as Libya battles militias

Source: Reuters

September 24, 2012

NEW YORK, Sept 24 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered Libya more help on Monday as it seeks to rein in militias, stressing that Washington will remain a firm partner despite this month's deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi.

Clinton met Mohammed Magarief, who was elected to head Libya's ruling national assembly in August, and received his personal apology for the Sept. 11 attack, which killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.

"What happened on 11th of September towards these U.S. citizens does not express in any way the conscience of the Libyan people, their aspirations, their hopes or their sentiments towards the American people," Magarief told Clinton at their meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session in New York.

A senior U.S. official said Clinton reviewed U.S. assistance to Libya as it works to secure chemical weapons and other dangerous armaments and to crack down on armed militia groups that have sprung up since the ouster of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/24/libya-usa-idUSL1E8KOL2020120924

Should posters with visible transparency pages be punished in some way?

Turd containment crews at Fox News have been working overtime on Bullshit Mountain.