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Open Thread and News of the Day

By possum

Sometimes there is too much news to warrant lots of diaries, but which needs to be shared.  Today is one of those times.  Much is happening in our world today.  This thread is being established to highlight a few stories and offer others a chance to share their own findings.
Dire predictions about Afghanistan are coming from a ranking military consultant.  Col John Nagl, who is consultant to the US government said

the gains made by the Taliban needed to be reversed by the end of the fighting season, around late September or early October, or else the Taliban would establish a durable base that would make a sustained Western military presence futile.

President Obama has ordered an interagency review of the Afghanistan/Pakistan situation saying in part

We are going to need more effective, coordination of our military efforts with diplomatic efforts, with development efforts, with more effective coordination with our allies in order for us to be successful/

The pressure on Britain to disclose that governments complicity in detainee torture is increasing.

Despite years of denials, new questions are being raised about Britain's possible involvement in the torture of a detainee now on a prolonged hunger strike at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.

it emerged last week that 42 classified documents seen by the British court and Mohamed's lawyers had never been passed on to the intelligence and security committee when it was researching Britain's role in the case the case.

The Taliban increases their pressure in the Swat Valley again.

In a unique development, the Swat-based Taliban leader Maulana Muhammad Alam alias Khalil has asked the people of Malakand division not to pay electricity bills. Announcing this on FM radio, Khalil said his fighters would teach a lesson to those who tried to disconnect the power supply in the area.

Good news/bad news for the U.S. trade deficit.

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed less than anticipated in December to the smallest in almost six years as the recession pushed oil prices and consumer spending lower, reducing imports.

Imports are not so necessary in a faltering economy.

The ranks of those without health insurance are predicted to grow.

Without changes in federal policy, the number of Americans without health insurance will grow from about 45 million this year to about 54 million in 2019, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday.

Podcasts for those wishing to learn Chinese are now available.

It teaches basic dialogue, such as how to greet people and go shopping, but also covers more sophisticated subjects like Chinese history and culture and more fun ones like the latest urban slang.

The basic lessons are free.  For those wishing advanced learning there are for pay programs.

Peace.

Full post as published by Never In Our Names on February 11, 2009 (boomark / email).