Looks like most of the Prop 8 protests today were peaceful. Still very concerned about tomorrow--I pray there won't be another interruption of church services.


Text of the G-20 statement today

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Obama: Fear and the Security Force

In all my life I have never seen such intense emotion surrounding a leader as that evoked by Barack Obama. Even Ronald Reagan, the Gipper himself, didn't enjoy the kind of prostration of the will offered to the president-elect by hordes of followers. Yet, while people the world over are imbued with "hope" and chant Obama's slogan "Yes, we can!" -- for instance, the French are using their translation of it, "Oui, nous pouvons!" -- some of the intense emotion is of a very different species.

It is fear.




This is the one that makes my blood run cold.

Barack Obama links Israel peace plan to 1967 borders deal

Barack Obama is to pursue an ambitious peace plan in the Middle East involving the recognition of Israel by the Arab world in exchange for its withdrawal to pre-1967 borders, according to sources close to America’s president-elect.

Obama intends to throw his support behind a 2002 Saudi peace initiative endorsed by the Arab League and backed by Tzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister and leader of the ruling Kadima party.

The proposal gives Israel an effective veto on the return of Arab refugees expelled in 1948 while requiring it to restore the Golan Heights to Syria and allow the Palestinians to establish a state capital in east Jerusalem.

On a visit to the Middle East last July, the president-elect said privately it would be “crazy” for Israel to refuse a deal that could “give them peace with the Muslim world”, according to a senior Obama adviser.



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Miliband arrives for two day visit

Ashkelon Residents: Crush Terror or We'll Set Country on Fire

'Grad' Katyusha Rocket Barrage on Ashkelon

Rocket-battered towns worried as violence escalates

Barak: IDF prepared if Gaza op needed

Livni: We'll use force to protect our citizens from Gaza attacks

Gaza Market Bustling with Wares as Hamas Pleads 'Starvation'
(IsraelNN.com) Hamas in Gaza put a network of about 1,000 tunnels that pass under the Egypt-Gaza border on display this weekend, and invited journalists to take pictures and interview the tunnels' owners.

Hezbollah condemns US warships deployed off Lebanese coast

Lebanon approves security coordination with Syria

Islamists say Damascus backed Lebanon attack: report

No longer the pariah President

Syria and the Iranian path

Iran and Turkey discuss Tehran's nuclear issue

Iran condemns Sufi to jail, flogging and exile: report

Rishon Lezion: Thousands of Ecstasy pills seized in synagogues
[Is ecstasy kosher? ]


Russia seeking to purchase Israeli-made spy planes

Sudan: Russian Fighter Jets Purchased

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov Meets with Special Representative of the President of Sudan and Defense Minister Abdel-Rahim Hussein

EU proposes to defer Russian missile crisis

Sarkozy backs down from missile defense criticism

Russia To Host Meeting Of Gas Exporters Dec 23
[Aw, a gas cartel for Christmas. Oh, Pooty-poot, you shouldn't have! ]

First Russian peacekeepers leave on EU mission to Chad

Russian military struggles to address rust and rot

COMESA summit cancelled over fear to hand over chair to Mugabe

Freddie Mac loses $25.3 billion, seeks US infusion

Oil Tanker Demand Lifted by Unwanted Crude Storage

Dry bulk freights hit rock bottom

Again, JTF Nabs 22 Filipinos for Oil Bunkering

Somali Pirates Threatening Western Videogame Shipments
And by piracy, we mean the real, dangerous, guys-with-guns-on-boats kind of piracy.

Obama urges help for homeowners, auto industry

U.S. Retail Sales Drop in October by Most on Record

Stocks turn to intervention talks, data
G20 meeting, talk of auto bailout and more economic reports on tap

Saudi King Pledges Global `Stability' in Oil Markets at G-20

World leaders discuss financial crisis

G20 leaders agree on economic plan
World leaders agree action plan for reform, global growth
G20 leaders endorse global action
Global summit yields broad agreement
World leaders reach deal

Statement by World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick on the Summit of G20 Leaders

Russia could soon join Financial Stability Forum - source

Sarkozy lauds European unity on finance emergency: historic agreement