Tuesday - November 11, 2008

Obama Will Close Gitmo

Obama to shut Guantanamo Bay Prison

Isn’t that special? He’s going to send all the terrorists and POWs home. The rest will come to the US to get trials ... which will get thrown out for a myriad of reasons.

As one of his first acts in the White House, Barack Obama is preparing to move hundreds of detainees from Guantanamo Bay prison to the US where they will be given legal hearings, trials or face yet-to-be-established special terrorist courts.

Mr Obama has a long-standing commitment to shut down Guantanamo, which has become a symbol of injustice for human rights campaigners, and a lightning rod for anti-US criticism since it opened eight years ago. Closing the prison, which is on a part of Cuba leased to the US, will bring to an end one of the most poisonous legacies of the Bush administration while sending a signal that the “war on terror” is under more enlightened management.

During his election campaign, Mr Obama described Guantanamo and the CIA’s secret prisons around the world as a “sad chapter in American history”. Other aspects of Mr Bush’s “war on terror” will also demand Mr Obama’s urgent attention such as yesterday’s revelation by the New York Times that the US military has, during the past four years, conducted up to a dozen secret raids in Pakistan and other countries not at war with the US.

Mr Obama’s plans for Guantanamo inmates should see most detainees, against whom there is little or no evidence, being released to their home countries after years in legal limbo. Others will face prosecution in US criminal courts. One problem for those courts will face is deciding whether evidence from anonymous intelligence sources or obtained without any legal process can be taken into account.

“Most of the detainees are goat herders, or Arabs who volunteered to help the Taliban, but they are not hardcore terrorists. The real problem is getting their home countries to accept them back.”

My ass. At the very least every single one of these creeps is a POW. Many of them are ... softcore terrorists? Does that mean they just show a little bit of bomb, but never press the button? But even as the rest of this article goes all mushy as it leans to the left and has 3 rousing rounds of singing Kumbayah for these poor, poor mistreated ... goat herders ... a little bit of truth sneaks out by accident. If they’re all so good, pure, kind, innocent, and nearly holy ... why won’t their home countries welcome them back?

Kim Jong-il: Where has he been spotted now?.  MORE FUNNY STUFF. must be something in the air here.

This doesn’t require any comment from me.  Have fun guys.  Be interesting to see what Rancino and Drew do with this one.
There are 10 photos at the link below.

Kim Jong-il: Where has he been spotted now?
Claims that Kim Jong-il was “Photoshopped” into an official photo to hide the extent of the North Korean leader’s ill health have sparked a wave of spoofs on the web.

By Matthew Moore
Last Updated: 10:06AM GMT 11 Nov 2008
Previous
1 of 10 Images

Kim at a Barack Obama rally Photo: Akirax on Worth1000.com

The “Dear Leader” was pictured in a group shot with hundreds of soldiers in a photo released by the Korean Central News Agency last week, confounding reports that he had suffered a serious stroke.

But eagle-eyed observers noticed that Kim’s shadow did not fall in the same direction as the troops either side of him, raising suspicions that his image was inserted into the photo later on.

Since then internet wits have had fun pasting the dictator - who is very rarely photgraphed - into ever more unlikely scenarios.

Members of the Worth1000.com photo manipulation website and the Somethingawful.com message board have cropped Kim into famous movie scenes, album covers, and even a Barack Obama rally.

He has also been mocked-up coming out of a sex shop, attending a rally in San Francisco, and - most obscurely - as an eyewitness to the shooting of four student anti-war protesters by the Ohio National Guard at Kent State University in 1970.

There has been no definitive contemporary footage of Kim him since suggestions that he was ill began to surface in September.

He has also missed a number of key events, including the funeral of a senior leader and veteran revolutionary, and a military parade marking the 60th anniversary of the state’s founding.

His health has been the subject of intense speculation because he has not publicly nominated a successor to run the nuclear-armed nation.

http://tinyurl.com/6mfzou

A MATT CARTOON AND NO WAY TO AVOID SHARING THIS FUNNY.

DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY THIS GUY NAILS THINGS WITH A DRAWING AND A LINE.  HE’S MATT, AN AWARD WINNING TOONIST AND OUR FAVORITE.

Roadside snack vans threatened unless they offer healthy food .

THE NANNY STATE IN ACTION AND IT’S ALL FOR YOUR OWN GOOD SO STOP THINKING FOR YOURSELVES YOU MINDLESS NOTHINGS. JUST TRUST NANNY AND ALL WILL BE WELL.

Tuesday is usually a busy morning and day for us and so I hadn’t expected to post this early. However, this is soooo bizarre and soooo stupid it defies belief. It also defies logic of course but since when did logic ever come into play with those running a nanny knows best state.

I think in the USA they’re called catering vans. Yes? No?  Been so long away from home I can’t remember.  But these food and hot coffee dispensing vans that are often found at construction sites and in our case at boot sales (flea market to yanks except mostly ours here in Winchester really are boot sales.  Meaning folks selling things from the trunk of their cars or back end of an SUV. There are some professional sellers but mostly just folks getting rid of old treasures in attic and BOOKS. )

Well, I can just imagine some burly construction worker on a break begging for a salad and yogurt.  These health dictators drive us nuts with their plans and pronouncements. A pox on em I say!

Roadside snack vans threatened unless they offer healthy food
Roadside vans offering greasy snacks will be shut down if they fail to offer healthier alternatives, according to new rules.

Last Updated: 3:58PM GMT 10 Nov 2008

A woman prepares to bite into a burger. Roadside vans offering greasy snacks will be shut down if they fail to offer healthier alternatives, according to new rules.
Roadside takeways in Guildford, Surrey, must offer at least one healthy option besides burgers.

The snack vans, often found in busy lay-bys, must now offer soup, salads or low fat yogurts with their artery-clogging kebabs.

They must also limit the amount of mayonnaise served - because it has been branded a “very high fat product”.

Environmental health officers will inspect menus during routine hygiene checks.

And traders who fail to meet the strict new standards in Guildford, Surrey, will be refused a street trader’s licence when it comes up for renewal each year.

Councillors at Guildford Borough Council this week reviewed their street traders policy for the first time in seven years and insisted every menu has at least one healthy option.

The list of recommended food includes low fat grilled sausage with wholemeal bread, chilli con carne with lean mince and jacket potato with a selection of fillings.

A report to the council’s licensing committee said: “In accordance with the council’s health promotion programme, it is recommended that at least one healthy meal choice be provided for customers.”

The report added: “It is important that the use of mayonnaise is limited since this is a very high fat product.

“It could be offered to the customer to add himself as a choice.”

Grant Harris, who has run the Skip’s Catering food van from a lay-by on Guildford’s A281 for five years, thinks his customers will continue to eat burgers and chips.

He said: “Our customers are mainly scaffolders, builders and lorry drivers and they are not going to want this new food.

“The sandwiches and jacket potatoes are more suited to a sandwich bar.

“The rules seems to be going over the top with political correctness.

“Some of the things the council is suggesting I serve would cause a bit of a problem - I just can’t see people wanting them.”

But Clifford Bell, head of environmental health at the council, wants motorists to move away from high calorie, high-fat food.

He said: “It remains for the trader to design his menu around the principles of healthier catering, such as grilling rather than frying.

“The aim is to give consumers a wider choice and move away from the sole provision of high calories, high fat fast foods.”

Vans operating on private land will not be affected.

http://tinyurl.com/6j5np5

My aborted meeting with The Skipper

Ladies and so-called Gentlemen,

In May of last year The Skipper and I were supposed to meet.

In May of 2007, I had actually executed a 2-yr plan to meet with my high school buddy mkmchevy in Branson, MO.

Having done that much, I started negotiating with The Skipper to meet with him on my way home from Branson. We exchanged cell phone numbers so as to finalize the when and where while I drove home from Branson. We were to meet for lunch or dinner in St. Louis, MO.

History shows that my cell phone calls went unanswered on my homeward trip. In fact, it was only when I got home and accessed BMEWS that I read the bad news.

So, on May 22nd, 2007, I was in Branson, MO at a Jim Stafford show. Something I didn’t know up front, and I was glad I brought extra cash, was that you could buy a DVD of THAT show...you know, you are in it!.

I’m not gonna post the whole show, I’ll just post one of my favorite parts:

May 22nd, 2007.

   Monday - November 10, 2008

My reply II

Flapjawman sent me another email… here is my response.

This is actually a compliment. Consider, if you will, how few Mormons there are in the world, much less in Kalifornia.

Trust me when I say that there aren’t not enough Mormons in Kalifornia to sway the vote. Must be a bunch of other Christian churches, and otherwise decent folk, who thought that there was no right to be a sodomite.

But, we have the Temples… obvious targets for the mobs. Much like Lot in Sodom.

BTW, just what ‘rights’ are violated? Do not homosexuals have the same marriage rights as anyone else? The right to marry someone of the opposite sex? The same rights as pedophiles?  The incestuous? Marriage as an institution has many restrictions. Note that the Left tries to violate them all. Woody Allen has violated all of them without even marrying the female.

No rights are violated. I can’t marry my sister. Why not? There’s no good reason for such a restriction, unless possible genetic problems with progeny are the issue. In this day and age, we can abort.

But that would not be a problem in a homosexual ‘marriage’. Progeny is not an issue for queers.

So, if progeny is not the issue, why have marriage at all?

Ahhh! Grasshopper! You’ve stumbled upon the goal of the homosexuals. Destroy marriage, and you destroy the civilization.

My reply

I got an email from my buddy flapjawman. He urged me to run for public office. Here is my reply:

First, I’m not sure I got what you were referencing here. I got a bunch of comments.

Second: If I ever do run for office, it will not be the ‘law and order’ candidate. I would run as the ‘Freedom and Constitution’ candidate.

I think there is a difference.

I don’t know about you Chris, but I put in six years of active duty to defend this country from just what Obama represents. It’s so bad that I’m wondering if a legal challenge can’t be made because, based on his past history and statements, that he cannot, in fact, take the oath of office! (said challenge would invalidate his Senator oath also. Ditto for John McCain.)

I think we have a bona fide Constitutional Crisis on our hands.

As a government employee, I swore to protect the Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC.

My oath is to the Constitution, not the US of KKA, as Obama’s pastor so inelegantly put it.

Quite frankly, Obama is a domestic enemy of the Constitution. That is an inarguable fact.

Trash Removal

I went into the back room here at BMEWS and emptied out the dustbins. By which I mean I cleaned out another batch of old and probably fake membership applications. We get a lot of those. You get a month to respond, which is plenty. After that it’s into the trash.

There were a couple in there that looked real, so I left them. That means you “CrowsNest”. You’ve got another month to activate. If I snipped anyone who was planning on doing it, sorry. Re-apply and then activate it when you get the email. It’s that easy.

I am very glad to see that a large number of the applications in the past few weeks have been from readers in the UK. Welcome aboard mates! Have something to say whenever you’d like. We here on the left side of the big pond are quite aware of what’s going on on your island, from the VAT to the knives to the wonders of National Health, Nu Labor and the fun from Belgium. So sound off, even if it’s about something only Englishmen would really know about. Here you are not alone.

FER ALL A YOU GUN TOTIN’ WILD WEST BUCK-A-ROOS BACK IN THE USA,

Here’s about the shortest post I’ve ever done and sorry no link but it comes from The Telegraph originally.

By that I mean, that’s where I found it.  Ya ready?

AIR RIFLE USED TO CONFRONT TEENAGERS

HA. EXCEPT THE DAMN THING WASN’T LOADED BUT NEVER MIND.  AN ARREST WAS MADE BY THE KEYSTONE KOPS.

A grandfather has been arrested after using an unloaded air rifle to confront a gang of “youths” who had fired rockets at his house.

Alan Parker, 62, said he finally “snapped” when fireworks rained down on his house.

He was given a caution for possessing a fire arm with the intent to cause “FEAR OF VIOLENCE.”

-end-

So, what do ya think people?  Justice served? The youths must be shaking in their boots. From laughter.

This isn’t even funny.  So it’s simply a caution.  It should have been a medal he was given.

Italy considers legalising vigilante groups .

H/T LyndonB.
Lyndon brought it back to my attention after I totally forgot to find and post it. So thanks again L.

Almost wish it could be done here.  You know, you get so angry at what you see and hear.  But I’m not, in saner moments, certain about how wise this is.  I can see it being used wrongly and illegally.  It worked fine in California in 1849.  But that was a different time and a far different sort of people.

If laws were strictly enforced and liberals and their lawyers could be made to disappear, there might not be a need for this.
But it’s comforting anyway to think about the possibility of doing unto others what they’ve done to their victims.

Bravo Italy .... at least someone is raising a very public cry re. mosques and all the problems they’ll bring.  Imagine that.  Some Italians are actually trying to save their country and culture.  Why .... the very nerve of them.

Italy considers legalising vigilante groups
The Italian parliament is considering the legalisation of citizen vigilante groups as part of a further crackdown on law and order.

By Nick Pisa in Rome
Last Updated: 12:37AM GMT 10 Nov 2008

Unauthorised patrols of several northern Italian cities have been underway for the last year and authorities have turned a blind eye to them as concerned locals fight back against rising crime rates.

Under the proposals by the anti-immigration Northern League, the vigilante patrols would have the backing of the local police. The plan is now to be considered by the Italian Upper House.

Another controversial proposal by the Northern League the introduction of a referendum before a mosque or other place of worship is built.

The League is part of centre right Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s coalition. Mr Berlusconi was elected on a tough law and order campaign.

Northern League MP Mario Borghezio said: “Thanks to the initiatives of the Northern League these ronde (vigilante) patrols will soon be working with the forces of law and order.

“Now all honest citizens will no longer feel that they have to hand over the areas where they live to criminals, drug dealers and prostitutes. It’s a very proud day.”

The Northern League, is led by firebrand Umberto Bossi, who once said the Italian navy should shell boats carrying immigrants. In April’s general election it doubled its national vote to more than 8 per cent.

The League capitalised on the fear of immigration with its election posters which showed an American Indian in a feathered headdress, with a caption saying: “They suffered immigration: Now they live in reserves.”

Many of the vigilante groups are based in the Veneto region which has a high proportion of Muslims and the outcry against the building of mosques has been stronger there than anywhere in Italy.

Last year the League’s Roberto Calderoli suggested a ‘pig day’ against new mosques across Italy. The idea was that a pig should be taken to any land where Muslims proposed to construct a mosque.

He said:"We will walk up and down on the land where they want to build, after which it will be considered infected and no longer suitable.”

The League has also proposed that no mosque should be able to have a minaret or loudspeakers calling the faithful to prayer, and sermons must be in Italian, not Arabic.

Given that many of the one million Muslims who are in Italy live in areas with a heavy Northern League influence, if passed the legislation is almost certain to mean no new mosques.

http://tinyurl.com/6qvbkl

Gag Me

“You wanna be a part of America, but we’ve been rejected for so long that it’s hard to take ownership.”
near-billionaire Will Smith commiserating with billionaire Oprah Winfrey




If this quote alone doesn’t make you heave, read the rest in Debbie Schlussel’s latest post.



Ultra A-list celebrity Will “Hitler wasn’t a bad guy really” Smith has just turned 40. Raised in a comfortable middle class suburb of Philadelphia where he attended a very high-end private high school, Smith has been raking it in since shortly after he graduated. He reportedly earned over $20 million just for his work in his latest film Seven Pounds, which is more money than you would make working your entire career at a job that pays a meager $220 per hour. PER HOUR.

YOUR CALL IS IMPORTANT TO US, PLEASE STAY ON THE LINE.

YOUR CALL IS IMPORTANT TO US, PLEASE STAY ON THE LINE.
Heck, I didn’t even get that far.

Due to a family medical history, every four or five years I have to go through the
bother of a Colonoscopy.  Routine and thousands are done every year and I’ve had this done in the past.  But to be honest, I have a few concerns.

When my GP gave me the paperwork to call the hosp. unit , Gastroenterology,
I was given a password.  Huh?  I need a password to call and make an appointment?
Yup.  Seemed weird ta me but hey.  If that’s how it’s done.  Stupid sounding password though but okay.

So I called and the appointment was made to ‘consult’ with the doctor who would then schedule the procedure.  Well, it was almost nine weeks before I got to see the doctor for about 15 minutes.  I was then informed that I would get something in the mail in six weeks informing me of the time and date when they would do the exam.
Ok … whenever.

I have an appointment for a medical exam on the 20th of the month.
So here’s the routine and I’ll tell ya but just between us.  I’m not sure I have much faith in these folks.  I’m certain it’s only me but …..  so here you are.

You get a letter finally setting the date and time with a request to call and confirm your appointment.  If you don’t, the appointment will be given to someone else and there’s a time frame in which you should confirm the date. 
Hmmmm, you consider that option.  Maybe you can get away with doing nothing for another year.  You really don’t want to go to the bother of this, especially when you sign that god awful paper that tells you about the things that can go wrong. 
But with a family history of Colin Cancer, always better to be seen and checked because …. ya never do know.  Right? 

So then, you call this number they’ve given you to confirm.  The line is busy. Wait a few minutes and call back but the line is still busy.  This goes on for about five or so minutes and then suddenly when you call back for perhaps the third time, bingo.  It’s ringing.  Oh joy.  It’s still ringing.  Ring-Ring-Ring.  It goes on.  And on.  No automated pick up that tells you how important your call is to them (not that you’d believe it anyway) and no request to please stay on the line.  Ring-Ring $£!!#~!*

Say wait a minute.  Did you even dial the correct number?  A quick glance at the number showing on your phone screen confirms you have dialed correctly.
Ring-Ring-Ring and by now you say aw the hell with it.  Hang up and wait about fifteen minutes and making sure you’re dialing the right number with eyes on the screen …. Bzzzzzzzzzzy!  AhhhhhhGDit %$!!£”%*.  So you wait some more and call again.  Surely this time.  Ring,ring,ring,ring, but you have to hang up this time because you have a desperate need to use the loo (bathroom to us yanks) and you can only keep your legs crossed tightly for so long.

AH … THE PAUSE THAT REFRESHES!

Now back to the damn phone which by now you regard as a mortal enemy to be overcome by whatever means.
Ring,ring,ring,ring and another dozen of the same and still nobody answers.
You get to thinking, maybe your call to confirm your appointment is only important to you and this confirms that.  Ring,ring.

Well finally you’ve had enough and so call the hospital’s main switchboard and ask if there’s perhaps another number for the Gastroenterology dept., as the number you are calling doesn’t answer.  By this time about a half hour has passed.  You ask if maybe you’re calling after hours in error.  You have to ask that because of all the stuff they sent in the mail, the instructions, the powder you’re to mix with water and drink before the exam, the paperwork and the map and the warning about mistakes etc., there are NO hours of operation listed therein.

No, I haven’t called after hours the switchboard tell me, and they do have another number for that department and will call it for me and wait on the line.
Whatever … (they never did give the other number though. Hmm, maybe it’s a secret.  Maybe they’d give it out if you send in a cereal boxtop. ) RING! Ah, success!
Someone has actually picked up the phone.  But ,,, they don’t say anything. After a slight pause they finally say …. “Yes?” In other words, they don’t answer with a dept. name.  You know.  Like for instance, “Hello, Morgue Dept.  How may we be of service?” You drop em we cart em. haha.

Well here’s how the conversation goes from there.
You:  Is this Gastroenterology?
Them:  pause …
You:  Hello?
Them:  Yes?
You:  Ah .. Enterology – Colonoscopy dept.? 
Them:  Yes.  (sounding very much put out and a bit annoyed. probably because they had to pick the phone up.  I don’t blame them at all honestly.  Who knows what I may have interrupted. Maybe something … you know … lets not go there.

Fine. It’s done. Your appointment is officially confirmed but you’re left wondering again if you really want to go through with this on the 20th.  It’s a real pain but in the end (lol) you know you must.

It’s taken over two months to get this far in the process.

Stay Tuned.  See the extended text because ..... 

Carla Bruni has said she is glad she is no longer an Italian.  (she’s beautiful,,but stupid!)

Yeah, she is one class act and I love her looks.  If she had more then ego for brains though, she would know she can’t sing and can’t carry a tune in a paper bag. OK, in her case a Versacse bag.

Don’t ya just gag over folks who automatically become offended on behalf of other folks they don’t even know.
Well, this ain’t about that anyway.

Here, you read and see where she shows how little she knows.  Or is making up stories.
Actually ... if ya read this you may agree with my wife who believes Carla is the Italian version of Paris Hilton except Carla does show some class.
It’s her damn brain that needs an overhaul.  Surely even Paris wouldn’t be this far left.

What is it with very wealthy good looking white women, born into fortunes and grow up loving the left.  Had they been able to, the left in Italy would have left her an orphan.  No, Paris has got to be smarter then this broad.

I don’t see that Berlusconi’s remark is racist.  Was it in bad taste?  Don’t know. Maybe. But she really impresses as one who will use anything to garner attention in the media.

Carla Bruni angry at Silvio Berlusconi’s ‘suntanned’ Barack Obama jibe
Carla Bruni has said she is glad she is no longer an Italian following Silvio Berlusconi’s crude joke about Barrack Obama’s “suntan”.

By Peter Allen in Paris
Last Updated: 10:32PM GMT 09 Nov 2008

In a strongly-worded attack on racism, France’s first lady said prejudice and discrimination should be eradicated from the modern world.

The 40-year-old top model turned pop singer was infuriated when the Italian prime minister paid “tribute” to America’s first black president on Thursday, saying he was “handsome, young and also suntanned”.

The Italian-born Ms Bruni, who became a French national following her marriage to President Nicolas Sarkozy earlier this year, said: “When I hear Silvio Berlusconi making light of the event (Obama’s election) and joking about the fact that Obama is “always tanned”, it feels strange to me.

“Some people will no doubt put it down to humour, but often I find that I am pleased to have become French.”

Italy’s left-wing opposition parties have accused Mr Berlusconi of embarrassing the nation with the quip.

He responded by calling them “imbeciles” with no sense of humour.

In an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper, Ms Bruni also referred to racism being directed at black British supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Referring to her adopted country, Carla said: “We are not affected by the brutal, impassive racism which exists in America.

“I remember as a young model - I was 25 - during a photo shoot organised in South Carolina. We stayed there for a few days.

“We were given trays of food delivered to our caravan from a restaurant next door.

“I asked why, and they said because the diner would not accept Naomi Campbell, because she was black.

(Hey ... do ANY of you believe that? In 1992?  Maybe 1952 or even ‘62.  But 1992 ?)

“That was America in 1992! Now, look at the arrival of Obama, it’s clearly an immense joy. For me, for everyone who loves America. For all the French, and notably one of them who I know well.”

In a further reference to Mr Sarkozy, she said: “My husband is not Obama. But the French voted for the son of a Hungarian immigrant, whose father had an accent, whose mother was of Jewish origin, and his stance has always been to say that he’s French although he comes from somewhere else.

“He doesn’t look like the traditional French elite but that didn’t stop him. And, personally, I don’t correspond to the profile of a first lady! I’m an artist, born Italian.

(yeah right. she’s an artist like I’m Drew’s technology guru. lol)

“Of course, we are, him and me, of European stock, and that’s easier.”

Ms Bruni was backing a petition calling for positive discrimination in favour of people from ethnic minorities.

Despite being one of the most racially mixed countries in the world, France’s rulers are almost exclusively white and middle aged.

She said: “Power has often had the same face: that of men who are white and ageing.

“That is why I can identify with this appeal. Without political measures we will be waiting too long.” She said she could not sign the petition - called ‘Yes We Can’ - because of her position at first lady.

There is only one black member of parliament from mainland France and none of Arab origin.

Ms Bruni’s multi-millionaire family left Italy in the 1970s to live in Paris following threats from Left Wing terrorists, including the Red Brigade.

Mr and Mrs Sarkozy will host Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, at a dinner at the Elysee Palace on Monday prior to Tuesday’s commemorations of the 90th anniversary of the end of World War One in France.

http://tinyurl.com/5zk8ww

Oh yeah one more thing for the record.

Naomi Campbel has a reputation for being rude and very difficult. At times she can be quite nasty.  When an airline lost her baggage, it was due to racism.  Remember that one?  How much ya wanna bet that place that may have “refused” to serve her, had problems with her and they refused to have anything to do with her. Not because she’s Negro.  But because she was most likely acting like the second coming.  Anyway, I don’t believe Carla Bruni.  Not a word of it.  The one thing I do believe is that she is firmly among the ranks of the lunatic and loony left.  As Drew would say, “BAH!”

Gordon Brown is to warn Barack Obama not to introduce “protectionist” trade policies .

OK, Finally.  Here’s the follow up in full.  I see the online headline different.  However, this has some interesting (to Americans) comments.

Gordon Brown to warn Barack Obama over protectionism
Gordon Brown is to warn Barack Obama not to introduce “protectionist” trade policies after the President-Elect moves into the White House.

By Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:04PM GMT 10 Nov 2008

In a speech, the Prime Minister will urge Mr Obama to form a “pact” with the world and not introduce new tariffs or rules to prevent other countries trading with America. The warning comes amid fears that the Americans will introduce new rules to boost their own industries as the global recession takes hold.

The British Government has also made clear to the incoming administration that the President-Elect should not rely on British troops to support his proposed “surge” against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Mr Brown will travel to Washington later this week to hold talks with other world leaders over setting up new safeguards for the global financial system. However, it is currently thought unlikely that Mr Obama will attend the talks or meet with Mr Brown. The President-Elect is today visiting the White House for the first time since last week’s election.

Despite his desire to share Mr Obama’s popularity by associating himself with the Democrat’s policies, the Prime Minister is prepared to risk incurring his displeasure by publicly warning America not to adopt protectionist trade policies.

Mr Brown is said to be confident that Mr Obama will prove an advocate of free trade and international cooperation once he assumes the presidency in January.

But he is alarmed enough by the protectionist rhetoric used by the then-challenger during the Democratic primaries, which determined the party’s candidate for the presidency, to risk a public rebuke.

In a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet, the Prime Minister will say: “My message is that we must be internationalist not protectionist, interventionist not neutral, progressive not reactive, and forward looking not frozen by events. We can seize the moment and in doing so build a truly global society.

“As America stands at its own dawn of hope, so let that hope be fulfilled through a pact with the wider world to lead and shape the 21st century as the century of a truly global society.”

A Downing Street source said that Mr Brown hoped that, freed from the immediate need to appeal to marginal voters in some states, where concerns about unemployment are a priority, the President-Elect would strike a less protectionist note in future.

Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, has also used a speech in London to accuse Democrats in Congress of being “isolationists” who will try to push the president-elect into closing the US economy to trade.

The former European trade commissioner said: “We need to work with Barack Obama to defeat those forces inside America that will try to hold him back. These include isolationists and protectionists and on Capitol Hill these forces are strongly featured in the Democratic Party itself.

He added: “We want America to seize the opportunity of the Obama victory to reclaim its leadership role in the world. But Mr Obama will never succeed if Congress forces the new President into isolationism and protectionism, which forces America to turn in on itself.“

The Prime Minister will also warn Mr Obama that the British military can not bear the burden of committing greater forces to Afghanistan

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, confirmed that the UK deployment was unlikely to increase in number from the current level of 8,100.

Asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show if asked if Mr Obama’s proposed surge would require an increase in the size of Britain’s commitment there, he said: “Not necessarily, no. As the second-largest contributor of troops in Afghanistan, the first thing we say is that we don’t want to bear an unfair share of the burden.”

Mr Miliband added that the election of Mr Obama would bring about “fundamental change in America’s relationship with the rest of the world, saying the handover of power in Washington would have “big and positive” effects for Britain.

http://tinyurl.com/6a4cd6

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Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

1. Keep a firm grasp of Right and Wrong
2. Stay involved with government on every level and don't let those bastards get away with a thing
3. Use every legal means to defend yourself in the event of real internal trouble, and, most importantly:
4. Keep talking to each other, whether here or elsewhere

It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

THE INFORMATION AND OTHER CONTENTS OF THIS WEBSITE ARE DESIGNED TO COMPLY WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS WEBSITE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ALL PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE AMERICAN COURTS. IF ANYTHING ON THIS WEBSITE IS CONSTRUED AS BEING CONTRARY TO THE LAWS APPLICABLE IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY, THEN THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE ACCESSED BY PERSONS FROM THAT COUNTRY AND ANY PERSONS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO SUCH LAWS SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO USE OUR SERVICES UNLESS THEY CAN SATISFY US THAT SUCH USE WOULD BE LAWFUL.

Copyright © 2004-2015 Domain Owner

GNU Terry Pratchett

Oh, and here's some kind of visitor flag counter thingy. Hey, all the cool blogs have one, so I should too. The Visitors Online thingy up at the top doesn't count anything, but it looks neat. It had better, since I paid actual money for it.

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