A Few Things....

... for a Thursday.



It's been done before. North Korea agrees to suspend its nuclear program in exchange for food:

And it’s a bit scripted, but I want to get this right, so let me just launch into it by saying that since taking office, the President has been consistent in signaling that we will respond positively if North Korea chooses the path of negotiation, cooperation, and denuclearization. After the really tough sanctions that were put in place by the UN Security Council and the North Koreans announced that they wanted to return to Six-Party Talks, talks that they had previously abandoned, we and our allies made clear that North Korea needed to take a number of steps that would demonstrate their seriousness of purpose. We were firm that we were only interested in credible negotiations leading to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The North couldn’t be allowed to walk away from their Six-Party commitments, to launch missiles, to further their ICBM program, to conduct a nuclear test, roll out a uranium enrichment program, to attack the ROK, and then simply expect us to come back to Six-Party Talks on their terms. 


The pre-steps, as we’ve called them, that we insisted on and to which they have now agreed in their unilateral statement begin the process of walking back these provocative actions. This agreement opens the door to serious negotiations to achieve irreversible steps by North Korea toward denuclearization and to meeting their other commitments and international obligations.

Now, the President and the Secretary of State also have long made clear America’s clear concern for the welfare of the North Korean people. Following an assessment last summer of humanitarian needs in North Korea, the U.S. put forward a proposal designed to feed babies, to feed mothers, to feed the elderly - which is to say the most at-risk marginalized population of North Koreans. These are people whom the regime either cannot or has chosen not to feed. And the plan to provide nutritional assistance included monitoring requirements designed to ensure that the right type of food gets to the right people.

North Korea says this now but it has been said before in 2006 and 2009. There is no reason to believe that this rigamarole will stop. If Kim Jong-Eun takes after his father, he wants to keep his state (albeit a buffer state suiting China). The false nuclear arms suspension for food aid has been tried, tested and proved effective before. The missile tests have not stopped and starvation has not been relieved. It's quite an effective control tool. The younger Kim must be aware of this.



I think there is more wishful thinking going on than what some would like to admit.



Related: where nuclear work is being done in North Korea.



(hat tip)



God, this guy is so full of himself:

Yesterday, President Obama fired back at critics who claimed that his apology to Afghans for the military’s accidental burning of Korans was a sop to extremists.

Appearing on ABC News, he stated that the apology had “calmed things down.” He continued, “We’re not out of the woods yet. But my criteria in any decision I make, getting recommendations from folks who are actually on the ground, is what is going to best protect our folks and make sure that they can accomplish their mission.”

Oops:

Afghan officials said today that at least seven people were killed in protests around the country against the burning of Qurans at a U.S. air base, bringing the overall death toll after four days of demonstrations to 20.

The fresh protests were evidence that President Barack Obama's apology has not calmed Afghans enraged by the incident at Bagram Air Field earlier this week.

 ***

Two U.S. troops were shot dead in southern Afghanistan when three assailants, two of whom were believed to be Afghan soldiers, turned their weapons against American troops on Thursday.

Afghan and U.S. military officials confirm to CBS News that the dead were U.S. troops, and that a third American servicemember was wounded in the attack. U.S. forces responded with gunfire and killed the two assailants in Afghan army attire, wounding a third Afghan shooter in civilian clothing. The wounded shooter was identified as a teacher and is in custody.

CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark reports the shooting occurred inside a joint Afghan-U.S. base in Kandahar province.

Thursday's shooting is the latest case of Afghan policemen or soldiers - or militants disguised in their uniforms - killing NATO troops.

Six Americans have now been killed and at least 15 wounded in attacks in Afghanistan since the Islamic holy books were burned at a U.S. base there. Dozens of Afghans have been killed or wounded in riots.

This "American" Nevile Chamberlain has emboldened the perpetually angry social retards who throw acid in schoolgirls' faces. Is he that full of himself that he would claim to be a peacemaker and favours the Keystone Pipeline? Yes, he is.



But...but... the world loves us... we're multicultural:

As you're going through your packing checklist before your next trip, don't forget to pack a fake wedding ring and a picture of your faux hubby too, advises the Canadian government.

The Foreign Affairs Canada publication Her Own Way: A Woman's Safe-Travel Guide -- in its third revision -- offers female travellers tips on how to avoid, and get out of, awkward and potentially unsafe situations, such as getting hit on.

"The booklet offers a preventive, female-friendly approach to tackling the security, cultural, health, and social concerns of women traveller's," says the guides intro.

But these government tips aren't the typical ones that come to mind such as travelling with traveller's cheques and a phone card in case of emergency. Instead, they include avoiding wearing mini-skirts and tank tops, and if you have blonde hair, to cover it up.

Canadian arrogance, ignorance and naivety at play. The world does not love us. We are the beige of the world's colours. A wedding ring, scarf and Canadian flag badge are as useful at warding off trouble as gasoline to a flame.



Michael Coren figuratively slaps some sense into a liar.



(hat tip)



And now, a baby sloth.