The Current Events, News, and Politics Thread
11-18-2015, 05:21 PM
#5601
I guess we'd better get that wall built quickly. On another note, back in the WWII era, by the time anything newsworthy happened it was a day old. Today, we hear about it before it happens. Or so it seems.
Honduras detains 5 Syrians over fake passports - CNN.com
Honduras detains 5 Syrians over fake passports - CNN.com
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11-18-2015, 05:34 PM
#5602
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In the more visceral medium of moving pictures, you're describing the Vietnam era, when it took a day for the film to be processed and then telecined back to the US for rebroadcast.
In the WWII era, the only way to get pictures from the battlefield to US viewers was to physically transport the film across the ocean. And once it got here, most people didn't yet have television, so you had to edit the film into newsreels, duplicate it by the hundreds, and distribute the film by truck all across the country to theaters before anyone could see it.
Not to mention that WWII was an era of the "gentleman press," in which reporters and media companies behaved in a manner which suggested that they wanted their country to be victorious in its endeavors. They demonstrated this by presenting the news in a filtered and artificially-optimistic tone. Nobody saw images of burnt corpses or read about the atrocities being inflicted upon either soldiers or civilians abroad. They just saw servicemen smiling and acting brave.
Was it "real" reporting? Not really. But it made people back home feel good about the war, buy bonds, and otherwise not try to pressure their government into adopting strategies which ensure failure.
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11-19-2015, 12:46 PM
#5604
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Well worth the read.
What ISIS Really Wants - The Atlantic
TL;DR They're waaay crazier than you think and want us to kill them.
What ISIS Really Wants - The Atlantic
TL;DR They're waaay crazier than you think and want us to kill them.
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11-20-2015, 03:54 PM
#5607
Hard for me to believe the US didn't place in the top 10.
Two-thirds of the world can't pass this basic financial literacy test. Can you? - Quartz
Two-thirds of the world can't pass this basic financial literacy test. Can you? - Quartz
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11-20-2015, 09:15 PM
#5609
Hard for me to believe the US didn't place in the top 10.
Two-thirds of the world can't pass this basic financial literacy test. Can you? - Quartz
Two-thirds of the world can't pass this basic financial literacy test. Can you? - Quartz
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11-23-2015, 04:01 PM
#5610
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Apparently, the Mafia is now threatening war with ISIS if they step into NYC. Granted, the mob has a long history of offering "protection" within the five boroughs, but I think this is the first time they've used that word in a manner consistent with its proper meaning.
While I certainly hops it doesn't come to that, a turf war between the Gambino family and the Islamic State would be... interesting.
Giovanni Gambino Warns ISIS: The Big Apple is Off Limits, Thanks to Sicilian Mafia
NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In an interview with NBC News, Giovanni Gambino, son of a key figure in the Gambino crime syndicate, describes the historical reality that led to the birth of the Sicilian Mafia – and how its modern elements are at work today protecting New York City neighborhoods from Middle Eastern terrorists. In the wake of the heinous attacks in Paris, that protection is more important than ever.
"The Mafia has a bad reputation, but much of that's undeserved," says Gambino. "As with everything in life, there are good, bad and ugly parts – the rise of global terrorism gives the Mafia a chance to show its good side."
Gambino says that ISIS fears the Sicilian Mafia, therefore no underground cells have taken root in Sicily, and the island has not suffered any terrorist incidents. He believes that same kind of grassroots protection is in force in New York today.
The FBI and Homeland Security are limited in what they can do, according to Gambino. They often act too late, or fail to see a complete picture of what's happening due to a lack of "human intelligence" – the knowledge of individual movements and actions that even the best technology can't always capture. The Mafia and its allies, however, are connected to neighborhoods in a meaningful way. Wherever the Sicilian influence is strong in New York, ISIS interlopers simply won't be able to set up shop.
"The world is dangerous today, but people living in New York neighborhoods with Sicilian connections should feel safe," he adds. "We make sure our friends and families are protected from extremists and terrorists, especially the brutal, psychopathic organization that calls itself the Islamic State."
Giovanni Gambino Warns ISIS: The Big Apple is Off Limits, Thanks to Sicilian Mafia | Reuters
NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In an interview with NBC News, Giovanni Gambino, son of a key figure in the Gambino crime syndicate, describes the historical reality that led to the birth of the Sicilian Mafia – and how its modern elements are at work today protecting New York City neighborhoods from Middle Eastern terrorists. In the wake of the heinous attacks in Paris, that protection is more important than ever.
"The Mafia has a bad reputation, but much of that's undeserved," says Gambino. "As with everything in life, there are good, bad and ugly parts – the rise of global terrorism gives the Mafia a chance to show its good side."
Gambino says that ISIS fears the Sicilian Mafia, therefore no underground cells have taken root in Sicily, and the island has not suffered any terrorist incidents. He believes that same kind of grassroots protection is in force in New York today.
The FBI and Homeland Security are limited in what they can do, according to Gambino. They often act too late, or fail to see a complete picture of what's happening due to a lack of "human intelligence" – the knowledge of individual movements and actions that even the best technology can't always capture. The Mafia and its allies, however, are connected to neighborhoods in a meaningful way. Wherever the Sicilian influence is strong in New York, ISIS interlopers simply won't be able to set up shop.
"The world is dangerous today, but people living in New York neighborhoods with Sicilian connections should feel safe," he adds. "We make sure our friends and families are protected from extremists and terrorists, especially the brutal, psychopathic organization that calls itself the Islamic State."
Giovanni Gambino Warns ISIS: The Big Apple is Off Limits, Thanks to Sicilian Mafia | Reuters
While I certainly hops it doesn't come to that, a turf war between the Gambino family and the Islamic State would be... interesting.
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11-23-2015, 07:15 PM
#5611
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Originally Posted by CNN
According to FBI statistics, of the 2,451 homicides of black people in 2014, 90% were committed by black people, while 8% of the offenders were white.
That sort of racial disparity isn't uncommon: Of the 3,021 homicides of white people in 2014, 82% were committed by white people, while 15% of the offenders were black. The figures Trump retweeted inaccurately stated that 81% of white homicide victims are killed by blacks.
That sort of racial disparity isn't uncommon: Of the 3,021 homicides of white people in 2014, 82% were committed by white people, while 15% of the offenders were black. The figures Trump retweeted inaccurately stated that 81% of white homicide victims are killed by blacks.
Last edited by Braineack; 10-08-2019 at 09:48 AM.
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11-24-2015, 10:01 AM
#5612
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So, Turkey has shot down a Russian fighter jet.
Turkey is a member of NATO.
The US us a member of NATO.
Russia is not a member of NATO.
The US is sworn to defend, with military force, acts of aggression against its NATO allies.
It's possible to envision a scenario in which this ends badly.
Turkey is a member of NATO.
The US us a member of NATO.
Russia is not a member of NATO.
The US is sworn to defend, with military force, acts of aggression against its NATO allies.
It's possible to envision a scenario in which this ends badly.
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11-24-2015, 10:08 AM
#5614
So, Turkey has shot down a Russian fighter jet.
Turkey is a member of NATO.
The US us a member of NATO.
Russia is not a member of NATO.
The US is sworn to defend, with military force, acts of aggression against its NATO allies.
It's possible to envision a scenario in which this ends badly.
Turkey is a member of NATO.
The US us a member of NATO.
Russia is not a member of NATO.
The US is sworn to defend, with military force, acts of aggression against its NATO allies.
It's possible to envision a scenario in which this ends badly.
It's not like the dead aviator is an Arch Duke or something.
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11-24-2015, 10:56 AM
#5618
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The Role of Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering in Fighting ISIS - NYTimes.com
Maybe they can close the tap.
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11-24-2015, 11:10 AM
#5619
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No to what, that the US isn't sworn to defend its allies against military aggression? The US has publicly sworn to defend Turkey in general, and against Russia specifically, by name.
Biden warns Russia, says US will defend NATO allies
Obama pledges to defend Baltic allies against Russia
Biden warns Russia, says US will defend NATO allies
U.S. Collective Defense Arrangements
Set forth below is a list of U.S. collective defense arrangements and the parties thereto:
Set forth below is a list of U.S. collective defense arrangements and the parties thereto:
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY
A treaty signed April 4, 1949, by which the Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all; and each of them will assist the attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force.
PARTIES: United States, Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom
U.S. Collective Defense ArrangementsA treaty signed April 4, 1949, by which the Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all; and each of them will assist the attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force.
PARTIES: United States, Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom
Obama pledges to defend Baltic allies against Russia
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