US stepping up fight on Afghan smuggling

Janet Napolitano, the United States homeland security secretary, said Saturday that her department planned to triple the number of agents in Afghanistan to train border and customs workers an effort that is partly aimed at curbing the smuggling of cash out of the country.

The department is sending 52 former agents, who will work on contract, to reinforce the 25 agents currently in Afghanistan. Ms. Napolitano was visiting the country for two days to inspect border crossings and meet with government leaders, including President Hamid Karzai. The US Embassy estimates that $10 million a day leaves Afghanistan by plane bound for Dubai, United Arab Emirates some of it the proceeds from illegal activities.

US scathing about Indian security forces: WikiLeaks

United States News: The United States may have emerged as a key partner with India in counter-terror efforts post-26/11, but it has a very dim view of the capabilities of Indian security forces.It also felt till just a couple of years ago that India was reluctant to have an effective anti-terror partnership because of suspicions about American policies towards Pakistan, its independent foreign policy stance and sensitivities over Muslim sentiments.India’s police and security forces are overworked and hampered by bad police practices, including the widespread use of torture in interrogations, rampant corruption, poor training, and a general inability to conduct solid forensic investigations, the US embassy observed in a cable it sent on February 23, 2007, after a not-so-satisfactory meeting of an Indo-US counter-terrorism joint working group.The memo further said, India’s security forces also regularly cut corners to avoid working through India’s lagging justice system, which has approximately 13 judges per million people. Thus Indian police officials often do not respond to our requests for information about attacks or our offers of support because they are covering up poor practices, rather than rejecting our help outright.The communication disclosed in the cable refers to the US unease over the arrest of a computer expert, Mukesh Saini, who was working with India’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), and was arrested on charges of spying for Americans. US’s acting coordinator for counter-terrorism, Frank Urbancic, took up the matter with his Indian interlocutor, K C Singh, then an additional secretary in the MEA.Urbancic called Saini a key working-level interlocutor at the NCTC, dismissed the charge of espionage and said his arrest had cast a negative shadow on the functioning of the counter-terror working group.The criticism of the Indian police only echo the widely-held perception that it is ill-equipped to meet the growing terror threat and other internal security challenges. The limitations were exposed fully by the Lashkar-e-Taiba gunmen involved in during 26/11 strike, but the brutally candid opinion, coming from a foreign power, that too one seen with a chip on its shoulder, will lead to considerable heartburn.In a communication leaked earlier by the whistle-blower website, the US had raised serious doubts on India’s ability to implement its cold war doctrine a rapid, short and limited push within Pakistan’s territory as a reprisal against terror attacks and other hostilities.The cable sent by the serving US ambassador on February 16, 2010, Timothy Roemer, called the doctrine, a mixture of myth and reality. The value of the doctrine to the government of India may lie more in the plan’s existence than in any real world application.Saying that India was diffident in teaming up with the US in the war on terror, the 2007 cable said, India’s lingering zero-sum suspicion of US policies towards Pakistan, its fiercely independent foreign policy stance, its traditional go-it-alone strategy towards its security and its domestic political sensitivities over the sentiments of its large Muslim population, have all contributed to India’s caution in working with us on a joint counter-terrorism strategy.

Barbara Walters Interview with Oprah

Barbara Walters Interview with Oprah: Oprah Winfrey is the most powerful woman in entertainment, but watching her Barbara Walters interview, she almost seems accessible, like a person you might want to be your best friend. And for 25 years, for many women, she was just that. Next spring that all ends.

It is impossible (unless you are a male), to really dislike Oprah. You can dislike her influence over women or think her new age power is weird, but watching her, it is impossible to deny her sincerity and her heart.

As a person who has watched her show only a handful of times, I still find her fascinating. Here is a woman who was born in a home in Missisippi where she had no running water who is now worth $2.7 billion.

Her topics were often female-centric over the years, the books she chose for her book club almost all the kind of books women wanted to read more than men and sometimes that got her ridiculed. But to those snobs one might say: $2.7 billion, in your faces!

The Babs interview did not reveal any major secrets, but it did give insight into Oprah’s own thoughts on leaving and the future.

Elizabeth Edwards Funeral

Elizabeth Edwards Funeral: After all, Rielle Hunter hopes to marry John Edwards someday soon, which would make her stepmom to John and Elizabeth’s kids, two who are still young and live at home. And, that aside, Rielle is already and forever the mother of the Edwards kids’ half sister Quinn. The kids are already blood-linked to Rielle for life through their youngest sibling. So whether anyone likes it or not, that little innocent child makes them all — even Elizabeth before her tragic passing — a blended family already, whether or not Rielle ultimately gets her ring from John or not.

And if she and John are still in a relationship, maybe he needs her, too. To be by his side so he can be strong for his children and all the other mourners.

So shouldn’t Rielle, if she is his beloved, be there at the funeral?

Before you call me a wacky modern family lovefester, think about it. We don’t know the intricacies of this blended family. Perhaps John and Rielle are still together in their private lives. Perhaps the kids already know and have a relationship with Rielle. Maybe their relationship, as painful as its start was to everyone involved, is ordinary life to them now. If so, what would they think if Rielle didn’t show up to be there for them all in their time of need?

No doubt it’s interesting to ponder, right?

Of course, no matter what, I hope Rielle would respect the family’s wishes if they don’t want her to attend, for their own sakes or for the comfort of other attendees. After all, this day is not only for the immediate family, but it should be a safe place for close family and friends to remember Elizabeth Edwards, say goodbye, and pay their respects. This day should NOT be “infected” by the precise crazymaking that made Elizabeth’s last years so much more difficult than they had to be.

Elizabeth Edwards Death

Elizabeth Edwards Death, My family doesn’t have much in common with the Edwards family. My parents were mild mannered professors who avoided the spotlight. And though my dad was once head of the German Department, he was never a Senator. Nor, for that matter, did he ever run for President. And sure, there may have been a fight or two along the way, but my parents never separated. There was no highly publicized affair. Or any affair, for that matter.

But tonight, my heart goes out to the Edwards clan for the things my family does have in common with them—the things that all families have in common with them. Love and mortality.

Like Elizabeth Edwards, my father died of cancer. He passed in 2002, just days before Thanksgiving. And also like Elizabeth Edwards, Dad’s doctors advised him shortly before his death that more treatment would not make a bit of difference. My dad still fought valiantly, though. And he was very much part of every single moment that he possibly could be right to the end. Like the evening we made martinis in his hospital room—a no-no for sure, but the nighttime nurse let it slide. He died the next morning in his bed on the 7th-floor.

Numbers Game on Facebook Status

Numbers Game on Facebook Status, Many Facebook users have numbers on their Facebook status after the “Facebook Number Game. Today, everyone is wondering what the number game on Facebook is all about. Are the numbers on Facebook status/Facebook Number Game the next cartoon hoax craze?

Last week, people changed their Facebook profile pictures to cartoons to stand up to child abuse and violence, and it wasn’t long before rumors started to surface the the Facebook cartoon profile picture meme was a hoax set up by child predators.

With some people now leery of any Facebook game, what are the numbers on Facebook statuses all about?

Elizabeth Edwards Dead From Cancer At 61

Elizabeth Edwards Died, Various media are reporting that Elizabeth Edwards has died of complications from breast cancer. Former Sen. John Edwards’ late-night bust at the Beverly Hilton, and subsequent revelations of his affair with Rielle Hunter, take on new poignance today.

When Does Lil Wayne Get out of Jail 2010

When Does Lil Wayne Get out of Jail 2010: Lil Wayne release date is just a few hours away! That’s right, the famous rapper who was put into prison is scheduled to be released on November 4. His return has generated a lot of anticipation since there have been rumors that the man also known as “Weezy” has been preparing some interesting new material.

Despite the tie in jail, Lil Wayne has kept himself busy by contributing via phone to a Drake song, and releasing “I Am not a human Being” on the day of his birthday.

Lil Twist spoke to the press and talked a bit about how this prison sentence has changed the rapper:

“He did take it as a learning experience,” said Lil Twist. “I don’t even know how to explain it. He’s taking it as a learning experience and he has a whole new mindset. It’s a whole new step for everything, but with the same swag.”

Daylight Savings Time Change Fall 2010

Daylight Savings Time Change Fall 2010, Time Change Fall 2010 is upon us which means that you should remember to set your watches, clocks gadgets and alarm clocks back one hour this weekend if you live in Europe (when it is 3 AM on Sunday it will actually be 2 AM) and for those who live in America and in Canada the big change will take place on Sunday, November 7, 2010 at at 7.30 PM IST (6 AM EST)

No matter where you live, you will gain an extra hour of sleep. Despite the fact that the process has been taking place for 35 years now, but twice a year people in 70 countries who have adopted this system still pose the same age old question – are we switching to summer time or winter time before fixing their clocks.

In spring, the government decided to advance the legal time 60 minutes. In the fall, we get back to the usual time. But do you ever wonder why does the time change biannually?

The concept of daylight saving time and winter time was permanently established in 70 countries in 1975, just after the first oil crisis (1974).

By adjusting the official local time from an hour to standard time zone the countries were able to save energy. The concept allowed people to schedule activities while the sun was shinning in order limit the usage of artificial lighting.

But no invention is perfect. Many experts claimed that the concept has a negative impact on our health.

The main criticism from health professionals is the abrupt change in biological rhythms that occurs (especially for children) when the change takes place it is unhealthy and can cause people to experience health problems.

Some studies have shown that some individuals may have trouble sleeping (when switching to daylight saving time is one hour less sleep), experience lost of appetite, or mood swings.

Some environmentalists also believe that the process contributes to the already increasing air pollution level.

However there are so many studies that contradict the two previous findings that one would have to conclude that the changing of time has too little effects to actually cause any health or environmental issue.

President Obama Daily Show

President Obama Daily Show: As we await the airing of Jon Stewart’s interview with President Barack Obama – the first time a sitting President has appeared on The Daily Show and the first time an interview lasted the whole show – here are some notes from an audience member.

• Stewart had to re-tape the opening because the Pres. Obama interview went long.

• Stewart took questions from the audience. He said that every other possible guest was “out campaigning” and Pres. Obama was the “last resort.

• To explain the absence of the usual Daily Show correspondents, Stewart said they were busy working in a soup kitchen.

• Songs played during commercial breaks: Springsteen’s “Born To Run” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”

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