British predicted Arab defeat 60+ years ago

The British government knew from the moment it planned to withdraw its forces from Palestine more than 60 years ago that partition of the territory and the founding of the state of Israel would lead to war and defeat for the Arabs, secret documents released make clear.

The documents, which have a remarkable contemporary resonance, reveal how British officials looked on as Jewish settlers took over more and more Arab land.

In the weeks leading up to the partition of Palestine in 1948, when Britain gave up its UN mandate, Jewish terrorist groups were mounting increasing attacks on UK forces and Arab fighters, the Colonial Office papers show...

The papers, released at the National Archives, show how in regular intelligence reports to London, British officials in Jerusalem described a steady build-up of tension as Britain, the US, the United Nations and Zionists moved towards the partition of Palestine.

As early as October 1946, two years before partition, UK officials warned London that Jewish opinion would oppose partition "unless the Jewish share were so enlarged as to make the scheme wholly unacceptable to Arabs"...

By early 1948 British officials were reporting that "the Arabs have suffered a series of overwhelming defeats." They added: "Jewish victories … have reduced Arab morale to zero and, following the cowardly example of their inept leaders, they are fleeing from the mixed areas in their thousands. It is now obvious that the only hope of regaining their position lies in the regular armies of the Arab states."

London was warned: "Arab-Jewish violence is now diffused over virtually all of Palestine". A few days later, British officials spoke of "internicine [sic] strife" and the "steady influx of Arab volunteers" from neighbouring countries...

The state of Israel was proclaimed on 14 May 1948. The following day, the last remaining British troops withdrew and the first Arab-Israeli war began.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/26/british-secret-documents-palestine-partition

Lindsey Graham says Obama came close to cutting a "mini Simpson-Bowles deal" on Social Security

Starts at the very end: ~1:04:30

https://soundcloud.com/dave-weigel-1/lindsey-graham-in-concord-nh

"Obama & Boehnor were this close to a deal -- a mini Simpson-Bowles deal...and he backed out when the liberals, led by Bernie Sanders, (unintelligible to end)"

Officials: Listeriosis not cause of 3 deaths, may be factor

foodborne illness linked to some Blue Bell ice cream products might have been a contributing factor in the deaths of three hospital patients in Kansas, health officials said Saturday.

But listeriosis didn’t cause the deaths, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Sara Belfry...

The five patients became ill with listeriosis during their hospitalizations for unrelated causes between December 2013 and January 2015. But hospital spokeswoman Maria Loving said she couldn’t discuss why the patients were hospitalized, citing patient confidentiality laws.

According to the CDC, information available for four of the five patients shows they had eaten while hospitalized milkshakes made with Blue Bell ice cream product called “Scoops” in the month before the infection.

The FDA says listeria bacteria were found in samples of Scoops, as well as Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Country Cookies, Great Divide Bars... No Sugar Added Moo Bars.

Blue Bell spokeswoman Jenny Van Dorf said the company has recovered all recalled products from all 23 states where they were sold, as well as those that were in storage....

Van Dorf said the machine that the contamination was traced to has been shut down permanently....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/3-kansas-hospital-patients-die-of-ice-cream-related-illness/2015/03/13/7ba9a2e0-c9de-11e4-bea5-b893e7ac3fb3_story.html?tid=pm_business_pop


Cause of deaths still not clear...

Philly buses ordered to accept ads featuring Hitler & 1941 Palestinian leader

Philadelphia's transit system has been ordered to accept provocative ads that include a 1941 photograph of Adolf Hitler with a former Arab leader after a federal judge ruled in favor of a pro-Israel group's free-speech lawsuit.

The proposed bus ads carry a tagline saying: "Jew Hatred: It's in the Quran."

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority believes the ads violate "minimal civility standards" and will consider an appeal. The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported on Wednesday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Mitchell Goldberg.

The ad in question features a photograph of a 1941 meeting between Adolf Hitler and Hajj Amin al-Husseini, described by the group as a Palestinian leader and Hitler ally.

The ads are produced by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, a New Hampshire-based group that opposes U.S. aid to Islamic countries and has filed similar lawsuits in New York and other cities.

http://news.yahoo.com/philly-buses-ordered-accept-ads-featuring-hitler-200901893.html

Pope, on anniversary, says believes he will have short pontificate

Pope Francis said in an interview published on Friday he believes his pontificate will be short and that he would be ready to resign like his predecessor rather than ruling for life.

In the long interview with Mexican broadcaster Televisa, released on the second anniversary of his surprise election, Francis also said he "did not mind" being pope but would like to be able to go out in Rome unrecognized for a pizza.

"I have the feeling that my pontificate will be brief - four or five years, even two or three. Two have already passed. It's a somewhat strange sensation," he said, according to a Vatican translation from Spanish...

Francis, apparently in good health at 78, said "I share the idea of what Benedict did." In 2013, former Pope Benedict became the first head of the Roman Catholic Church in 600 years to resign instead of ruling until he died."In general, I think what Benedict so courageously did was to open the door to the popes emeritus. Benedict should not be considered an exception, but an institution," Francis said.

However, he said he did not like the idea of an automatic retirement age for popes, such as at age 80.

In the 17-page interview, Francis also said the fact he is the first pope from Latin America compelled him to speak out on behalf of migrants and the poor because his ancestors had to move from Italy to Argentina to find work.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pope-on-anniversary-says-believes-he-will-have-short-pontificate/ar-AA9J3fg?ocid=iehp

McDonald's will phase out chicken raised with antibiotics; puts pressure on kfc

KFC, the world's largest chain of fried chicken restaurants, may face pressure from consumer and environmental groups to change how its poultry are raised after McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) said it would switch to chicken raised without human antibiotics.

McDonald's will phase out chicken raised with antibiotics that are important to human health over two years to allay concern that use of the drugs in meat production has exacerbated the rise of deadly "superbugs" that resist treatment, Reuters reported last week. Within days, retailer Costco Wholesale Corp (COST.O) told Reuters it aims to eliminate the sale of chicken and meat raised with human antibiotics.

KFC is owned by Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum Brands Inc (YUM.N), which has no publicly stated policy on antibiotic use in the production of meat it buys. Chick-fil-A, another chicken restaurant chain that competes with KFC, says about 20 percent of the chicken it serves is raised without any antibiotics, and that its entire supply chain will be converted by 2019.

Both McDonald's and Yum are stepping up efforts to win back younger and wealthier diners lured away by chains such as such as Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.N) and Panera Bread Co (PNRA.O), which boast antibiotic-free meats and other high-quality ingredients.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/kfc-faces-pressure-after-mcdonalds-says-no-antibiotics-in-chicken/ar-AA9FJ4p?ocid=iehp

I don't think you understand the meaning of ad hominem. And I only looked at the first two

authors of the paper. Shall I look at the rest?

Stranger leaves $25,000 tip for waiter's dental work

In freezing cold, striking U.S. refinery workers chop wood for fire

On the icy shores of Lake Michigan, striking workers fan fires in old oil barrels near BP Plc's hulking Whiting refinery, trying to stay warm and united as they push for a new contract to end the biggest U.S. refinery walkout in 35 years.

But there is little sign the strike, now in its sixth week, will end anytime soon as face-to-face negotiations between the United Steelworkers union (USW) and oil companies resumed on Monday after a nearly two week hiatus.

Dave Copple, who has worked for 35 years at BP's 413,500 barrel-per-day (bpd) plant in Whiting, Indiana, said he worries oil companies want to test workers' resolve by letting the strike drag on and refusing to grant pay increases and safety assurances demanded by the USW.

"I think they are trying to break the union," Copple said as he stood next to a fire barrel inside a triangle-shaped shelter made of chain link fence and plastic tarps.

BP said it has no interest in breaking the union or prolonging the strike, only in reaching a fair deal that ensures safe and competitive operations.

The shelter, called "Fort Stoppage," sits 100 feet (30.5 meters) from the shore of Lake Michigan, much of which froze over in February, the coldest since 1875, when the average temperature was 14.6 Fahrenheit (minus 9.7 Celsius), according to U.S. National Weather Service...

The national strike, which began on Feb. 1 has spread to include 15 plants, 12 of which are refineries that account for one-fifth of U.S. capacity...

While talks at the national level have stalled, talks on the local issues with BP have been moving slowly, Danko said. (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Terry Wade and Lisa Shumaker)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/09/refineries-labor-strike-idUSL1N0WB1U120150309

US tourists caught carving names into Rome’s Colosseum

Tourists are once again getting into trouble in Italy, with two American women caught carving their names into Rome’s Colosseum.

The Californians, aged 21 and 25, snuck away from their tour group on Saturday and began scratching their initials into the amphitheatre with a coin. They managed a “J” and an “N” around 8cm high, before taking a selfie with their handiwork.

Police were quick to catch the two Americans and report them for damaging the ancient site. The women may now go in front of a judge and face a penalty.


http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-tourists-caught-carving-names-into-rome%e2%80%99s-colosseum/ar-AA9wrdS?ocid=iehp