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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (227530)	4/17/2007 5:53:00 PM
From: Rambi	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Remember the discussion about the FDA taking over vitamins? I have to admit I smiled at his comments on that: “Over the last decade there has been a dramatic rise in the number of people who are taking charge of their own health,” observed FDA spokesman, Walter Wiesel. “They are ignoring recognized authorities and taking vitamins and other supplements they don’t need. This has to be stopped.”

To: epicure who wrote (227530)	4/17/2007 5:53:11 PM
From: one_less	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Revolution coming in Egypt... ====================================== Egypt parliament passes 'reforms' Many opposition politicians walked out of discussions and boycotted the proceedings [EPA] Egypt's parliament has approved a series of constitutional amendments despite a boycott of the proceedings by opposition politicians. The amendments - promoted as reforms but termed by rights groups as an erosion of liberties - were passed late on Monday, before a national referendum which has been postponed until March 26. Fathi Sorour, the speaker of parliament, said: "The constitutional majority needed for passage has been achieved." Sorour said 315 members of the 454-seat lower house of parliament had voted in favour. Consolidating power Legislators, mostly from the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), led by Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, reportedly cheered and sang the national anthem after the amendments were passed. Many opposition politicians walked out of discussions and boycotted the proceedings [EPA] Some analysts say the 34 amendments, which must still be approved in a popular referendum, are aimed at entrenching the ruling party's grasp on power and will pave the way for Gamal, Mubarak's son, to inherit power from his father. The proposed amendment to Article 179 has come in for particular criticism since it would allow the authorities to arrest suspects, search their homes, read their mail and tap their phones without a warrant. It would also mean civilians accused of "terrorism" could be tried in military courts. The amendments, which also prohibit political activity based on religion, are expected to further restrict the already banned Muslim Brotherhood, the strongest opposition force in Egypt, quashing the group's hopes for legal standing as a recognised political party. About 270 Brotherhood members are in detention, with many arrested in the days leading up to the vote. On Sunday, about 100 legislators, including independents affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, walked out of a parliamentary session to discuss the proposals, saying they were boycotting the sessions to keep their consciences clear. Critics argue that without the participation of the opposition parties the NDP lacked the moral authority to implement the changes. Amnesty International, the London-based rights group, has called the amendments "the greatest erosion of human rights" since emergency laws were enacted in Egypt in 1981 after the assassination of Anwar Sadat, the then president. english.aljazeera.net

To: epicure who wrote (227530)	4/17/2007 6:18:14 PM
From: Nadine Carroll	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 281500

Okay, now I believe that it was satire. But considering some of the statements that are really getting made these days - did you hear about the schools in the UK that have decided to stop teaching about the Holocaust because their Muslim pupils don't believe in it? - it can be hard to distinguish satire from reality. I know that Nifong couldn't have said what was attributed to him because he would been crucified for it. But I don't know that about President Davis, unless as you say, it came to the attention of Fox and the rightwing blogosphere. For a real-world example, consider the craven response of the MSM to the Danish cartoons controversy. The MSM refused to print the cartoons and basically cowered. Most didn't even report that this was a deliberate act of whipping up political hysteria months after the original cartoons had been published in Denmark, and reprinted in the Arab world with no outcry. The track record of liberal papers in covering up for Islamists is real enough too. You'd think CAIR had nothing at all to do with apologizing for terrorism if you only read about them in the MSM.