Low cost Afghanistan home made IED's kill as do hi-tech hi cost Predator zones

More news from Afghanistan today ...

1. Four NATO troops (US ?) were killed in an IED attack in eastern Afghanistan. Two Afghans were killed in a suicide attack in Kabul. The mayor of Kandahar survived a suicide attack that killed one civilian. One British soldier was killed in an IED attack at Musa Qala , Helmand province. The MOD have named him as Lance Corporal Christopher Harkett, 22, from The 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Regiment. (Full list/details of all UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001) (Pic above of Harriers in support flying from Kandahar Airbase)

UPDATE Monday 16th March 900 GMT

The Ministry of Defence has announced that 2 soldiers from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, serving with 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards travelling in a Jackal vehicle died in an explosion in Garmsir district in southern Helmand yesterday.

Lord Patel has pointed out the weakness of these vehicles as the driver and front passenger sit over the front axle and any contact with mine is proving if not fatal to cause dreadful injuries. See
Saturday, December 13, 2008 Third IED hits Jackal and the fourth soldier to die in these lightly armoured off roaders in Afghanistan with links to all previous posts.

2.Yesterday's missile strike from a Predator drone in the Pakistan's Kurram tribal agency as said to have targeted a training facility and logistical hub for the Shadow Army, the joint al Qaeda and Taliban paramilitary force operating on the Afghan-Pakistan boarder. (Launched in Pakistan/ Afghanistan ? )

"The Kurram compound served as a training camp and logistical facility for al Qaeda and Taliban fighters assigned to fight in Afghanistan," a "US intelligence official" is quoted .." ....The camp was a big, well guarded facility, one that needed taken out."

The Jackanory is that this "big, well guarded facility" was run by a local Taliban commander known as Fazal Saeed,he may / may not have been there when bombed , he may / may not be killed / inured.

More than 24 Pakistani and Afghan Taliban fighters and Arab al Qaeda fighters were killed in the strike, this on the basis of both Pakistan and Taliban sources.

This camp was ne of several .. another as attacked on Feb. 16 strike rsulting in on more than 30 al Qaeda and Taliban fighters. The camp was run by Bahram Khan Kochi,killed according to an "Afghan Taliban commander".

Last Year the CIA were claiming that The Taliban and al Qaeda last year was running 157 known training camps throughout Pakistani's tribal agencies and the greater Northwest Frontier Province.

This is the 6th strike inside Pakistan thiis calendar year there were 36 recorded cross-border US attacks and attempts in Pakistan during 2008, 29 of these 2008 attacks took place after Aug. 31. There were only 10 recorded strikes in 2006 and 2007 combined.

Healthcare in the EU - No 1 Cyprus

An ultrasound scanning machine is a basic piece of hospital diagnostic equipment - with many purposes , it has it's main clinical use in examining pregnant women - although other tests including checks for ovarian cysts or cancer, blocked bile ducts, and infertility checks are just as vital.

At Limassol General Hospital (2nd largest twn in Cyprus pop. 170 ,000) it has been broken (amd unrepaired or replaced) for 16 months, with little propesct of the situation changing soon.

This means pregnant women to either go private or travel to Paphos hospital for scans.

Meanwhile if you need a scan pay = OR - €100 by going to private clinics join the queue at Paphos hospital.

Andreas Georgiou, is described as the Supplies and Offers Officer at the Ministry of Healthand explains the bureaucratic delays.

“Although the bidding process has moved on substantially, it is unfortunately a long technical process that allows any bidder to make objections or comments and go to court challenging decisions. We are not evading responsibility, but it is a long process,” he said.

Further more the hapless and hopeless Georgiou explains that contracting a company to provide a new ultrasound machine was not the responsibility of the Ministry of Health, but of the Ministry of Communications.

“In the case of ultrasounds we may be responsible for supplying hospitals, but it is the Electromechanical Services, Public Works Department and the Ministry of Communications that is responsible for the bidding process,” Georgiou said.

According to Georgiou, they are making huge efforts to fix the existing ultrasound, so that it can operate until the new machine finally arrives. “I have asked that we buy a probe for the existing machine until the new one comes. I am making huge efforts for this to happen,” he said. - What no spares ? No maintenance contract ?

Surely a phone call to the manufacturers would be enough ?

Meanwhile medical tourism in the form of Plastic surgery and cosmetic dentistry is a booming business on the island .....

Constable Stephen Paul Carroll - a very professional hit - Barratt Sniper rifles in use again ?

The shooting of Constable Stephen Paul Carroll, 48, took place near Lismore High School at Brownlow,on Monday 9th March . Google Earth for this location says ... "we are sorry e don't have imagery available for this location"

This is a brief review of what the various media have reported since about the killing.

Two incidents, one of "suspicious activity", another involving a broken window and an agitated lady were apparently received by Craigavon Police.

The Police hesitated 45 inutes before responding to the calls for help, in what is a notoriuos area for Republican activity.(90% of public housing in NI is based on segregation)

After he arrived on the scene (with two unnamed officers) For some reason he entered the rear of the vehicle.

Constable Carroll was shot through the rear window of his car (remarkably a soft top unmarked Skoda saloon see pic ) at about 2145 GMT on Monday (it was dark). Tthe police arrived in so-called 'soft skin' vehicles - as part of the peace process, police have tried (it is said) to limit the use of their fortified Land Rovers

The assassin was located some 200 yds away on a grassy meadow / field overlooking the cul-de-sac where the Carroll was located .

Carroll was shot by a single and fatal head shot.

There were reports of someone fleeing wearing a light coloured coat.

This event was ;

1. Well planned.
2. The assassin was an exceptional shot.
3. The exit route was evidently well planned and probably rehearsed.

This was a very professional hit, well executed... and has so far sucessfully avoided detection.

It is interesting to speculate that there is some similarity with the death of the last British soldier to be killed by the IRA L/Bdr Stephen Restorick killed by a single bullet at a checkpoint in Bessbrook, south Armagh, in February 1997 shot by Bernard McGinn, of Castleblayney, Co Monaghan with a Barratt 50 (12.57mm x 9mm NATO ammunition) Lite sniper rifle

McGinn also admitted to murdering Lance Bombardier Paul Garrett in South Armagh 1993 and former Ulster Defence Regiment soldier Thomas Johnston in 1978.

Mc Ginn Bernard McGinn received 3 life sentences for the murder of Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick, he was also sentenced to a total of 490 years for a catalogue of terrorist offences including making the bombs destined for Canary Wharf, the Baltic Exchange and Hammersmith Bridge in London.

But under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement McGinn and his accomplices, who formed part of an IRA sniper unit, were freed under the early release scheme, all terrorist prisoners sentenced for crimes committed before the agreement were released by 28 July, 2000.

The SAS also arrestd Michael Caraher, of the South Armagh Brigade in 1997 and his Barrett sniper rifle was captured by British forces. He is said to have caused the death of 7 British soldiers and 2 police officers.

Are there still Barratt rifles out there ? ... there certainly is at least one very proficient marksman / sniper out there.

Many questions ... few answers so far.

IDF Chief in Washington - combined chat on bombing Iran and a little heavyweight shopping for military equipent

Whatever the state of (apparent) rapprochement between Syria / US the constant interchange between the IDF and the US Armed forces and suppliers of US military equipment go on - seemingly unstoppable.

This weekend IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi will make his 2nd visit (5 days scheduled) to the US along with accompanied by IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Avi Benayahu and Israel's Military Attache in Washington Maj.-Gen. Benny Gantz will be in Washington to meet National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones, a meeting Israeli officials said was of extreme importance due to the important role Jones plays in the Obama administration as far as setting policy vis á vis Israel and the Palestinians.

Ashkenazi will also hold intelligence consultations and meet Dennis Ross, who was recently appointed a "special adviser" to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Iran and looks after the varied interests of AIPAC of which he was a joint founder.Haartez says he will meet the heads of AIPAC.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen is off fishing in Wyoming for the weekend and during Ashkenazi's visit. Instead, the IDF chief will meet with top Navy, Air Force and Army commanders.

He will also be a guest of honor at the annual "Supporters of the IDF" convention in the New-York and will address its participants.

Lt. Gen Ashkenazi is also scheduled to conduct meetings with the staff of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations in New York, war criminal Mr. Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State as well as with the heads of the New York Jewish Federation country’s largest Jewish federation. ( They have just announced cutting 52 employees -- slightly more than 11 % of their staff.The layoffs, along with the decision to eliminate 20 staff positions that are now unfilled and other administrative cuts will save the federation an estimated $7.4 million)


Ashkenazi's agenda

1. The alleged Iranian nuclear threat. Earlier this week, Military Intelligence head Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin told the cabinet that Iran had crossed the technological threshold needed to develop a nuclear weapon.

Last week, Mullen said in an interview that Iran had obtained enough fissionable material to develop a single weapon - which raised a smile no doubt in Iran. Memories too of the wild, unreal and dishonest claims we now see were falsified by the JIC about Saddam's weapons by the A Cambell lying machine (prop T Blair , Vice President Mr J Powell) . Keep the steady beat for those drums of war Mike !


2. Israel's request to insert indigenous technology in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF now officially Lightning II) that the IAF intends to purchase (be given) in the coming year. The Pentagon has so far rejected a request to allow Israel to install its self-developed electronic warfare and radar systems.

Schizoid Gubment buying toxic debts with one hand and trying to flog / insure toxic debt with the other

One could be forgiven for thinking that theUK Government is not only confused but alarmingly schizoid - one bit is busily buying up toxic banks, toxic debts, with borrered money, mortages on the future tax payments of at least 2 generations and their newly minted / invented quasi money... or even going into the busiess of insuring bad debts.

A Parliamnetary Question yesterday laid bare the inconsistency of approach - lest we forget ur Local MP asked a very, very pertinent question. Evidently the student loan book is very, very toxic (no surpise there then !) and no-one will touch it your barge pole never mind theirs.

Paul Rowen (Rochdale, Liberal Democrat) Link to this | Hansard source

What progress has been made in selling the student loan book.

David Lammy (Minister of State (Higher Education & Intellectual Property), Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills; Tottenham, Labour) Link to this | Hansard source | Video match this

The Government still intend to make sales from the student loan book, but it is clear that that should be done only when we can get a good return for the taxpayer. For the time being, the market conditions do not allow that, but we will actively look to identify opportunities for a sale that represents value for money as market conditions improve.

How big is the Student Loan Book ?

Good Question , the Guradian in a report 6th November 2007 when Lord Triesman announced the sale

The student loan book is worth around £18.1bn and is expected to increase in value to £55bn over the next 10 years.

Mr Lammy was asked about this 12 Jan 2009 : Column 65W Hansard Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the monetary value of the last three valuations of the student loans book were. [243335]

Mr. Lammy: The student loan book valuation for 31 March 2008 and 31 March 2007 is disclosed in the resource accounts of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. (this is on line at http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc0708/hc08/0864/0864.asp but is unreadable / unopenable / cannot be de-crypted ) Prior to this, the student loan book valuation was disclosed in the resource accounts of the Department for Education and Skills.

More details on the valuation methodology for the student loan book can be found in note 21 of the resource accounts of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.(Ditto valuation for accessibility)

So what the Student Loan Book is worth is anyone's guess (our is a nominal £25 Bn. ) and Mr Lammy is not anxious to give it the oxygen of publicity - nor does anyone seem to want to buy this premier loan book .. perhaps he should pop round to see Mervyn at the BOE they seem to be on a spending spree.

There is no GOD

London Bus

The Mystery of Cyprus registered "Monchegorsk" - Iran / Syrian arms supplies / embargo / UN and Bill Rammell doesn't want to know about Israeli arms

Fun loving, conference hopping, Bill Rammell called to invite us to a London conference on prevention of arms smuggling to armed groups in Gaza, tommorrow 13th March run by his FCO chums (from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the USA.) at Lancaster House on Friday 13th March.

This, he reminds us is a follow up to the 5th February Copenhagen conference, when " participants agreed to explore and develop effective measures together with regional partners, such as enhancing information sharing, strengthening diplomatic co-operation, and reviewing international authorities and mechanisms."

In is inimitable style he readout what he is going to say ...." This is part and parcel of the elements needed to underpin a durable and sustainable ceasefire. We are also working hard on the other elements needed, including the re-opening of the crossings into Gaza for all legitimate traffic, not only for humanitarian aid. Together with the £50m we pledged at the Sharm el-Sheikh conference on reconstruction and our ongoing efforts to ensure humanitarian access, this demonstrates the UK's strong commitment to the region."

Mystery ship Monchegorsk at Limassol

Which coincides with the curious case of the mystery ship Monchegorsk registered in Cyprus which now lies off Limassol having been unloaded in mid February.

The Odyssey of this ship allegedly lies in Iran and came to light in February. On Tuesday Japan's U.N. Ambassador Yukio Takasu, chairman of the Iran sanctions committee, told the U.N. Security Council in an open discussion February 3rd 2009 the Committee received a letter from a member state (Cyprus) seeking guidance with respect to its inspections of cargo on a vessel carrying its flag that was found to be carrying arms related material and had been leased by an Iranian government shipping company .Guradian Reuters

A U.S. official is quoted in the Wall Street Journal relating that the incident occurred Jan. 19th and 20th, when the Cypriot-flagged Monchegorsk, which started it's journey in Iran, claimd to be bound for Syria, was boarded in the Red Sea by the USS San Antonio. The ship was ordered to port in Cyprus, where authorities there found 1,980 wooden cases of powder for 130mm guns and 1,320 cases of powder and powder pellets for 125mm guns, according to a Cypriot government report.

"The Committee responded to this letter on 6 February (asking for a response within 10 days ) stating that the transfer of the material in question constituted a violation of paragraph five of resolution 1747 (2007)", which prohibits export of weapons from Iran.

The report refers to a second letter from Cyprus, dated February 12, which gave more details about the issue. A reply was given to that letter on February 24.the shipment of conventional weaponry constituted a "violation" of Security Council resolution 1737, passed in 2006 to put pressure on Iran to suspend its nuclear enrichment program. According to the letters published Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line, that the cargo was loaded in Bandar Abbas, Iran, and that it was to be unloaded in Lataki, Syria.

The Cypriot government unloaded the vessel and has stored the arms in Government / Army warehouses. Three of the 98 containers onboard were too heavy to move and still haven't been searched.

Whilst Washington and Tel Aviv are worried Washington because the U.S. and Israel have long maintained that Iran and Syria supply Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza with armaments they have been remarkably low key in handling the shipment in public.

Hence very little Press coverage until Yukio Takasu, chairman of the Iran sanctions committee decided to go public on Tuesday.

Very little reaction as well - The British have offered Cyprus to help dispose of the cargo when the time comes and the French U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert expressed concern because the shipment of “explosives and … arms” violated sanctions imposed after Iran refused to suspend uranium enrichment.

Israeli arms sources

Anyway we explained to Bill that we could help with arms exports to Israel that they used in Gaza - Bunker busting bombs signed off by Condi Rice, standard issue F 16's with all their bits and pieces, Phosphorous anti personnel wapons courtesy of the US. Various bits and pieces from several Uk suppliers.

When we got on to supplying nuclear technology from the UK / France etc ., so that Israel has nuclear weapons - and hasn't signed up for the Nuclear proliferation treaty the line crackledand went dead.

UPDATE : FRIDAY 13th March

1 In interview with Emirate's Al-Khaleej daily Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says that Damascus has re-built the al-Kibar site which Israeli warplanes bombed two years ago.

He did not elaborate what the new construction was at al-Kibar. Some reports talk of a missile site.

2. Two senior U.S. diplomats met top officials in Damascus on Saturday. This is the first fac / face meeting since the Bush administration pulled the U.S. ambassador out of Damascus in 2005 after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The visitors were named as Jeffrey Feltman, acting assistant secretary of State for Near Eastern affair and and National Security Council official Daniel Shapiro They first visited visited Beirut, said to be part of an effort to allay long-standing fears that Washington might sacrifice Lebanon to improve Syrian / US relations.

3 Saudi King Abdullah, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his ageing and threatened electoraly challenged Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-ahmad al-Sabah, met in a 4 way Arab summit at Riyadh air base on Wednesday.

The meeting is seen as an attempt to thaw frosty relations between Syria on the one hand and Saudi Arabia and Egypt on the other.

The Government are doing a splendid job .....

Gordon or someone at the Cabinet Office has just sent a Press Release.

Cabinet Office
10/03/2009 08:45
Cabinet Office (National)
(Cab Office) Working Together - Public Services On Your Side

The Government will today set out its vision for the future shape of public services, building on a decade of unprecedented investment and rising standards.

There follows a list of previusly announced things on which the Government is spending our money on ....

It ends

* Across government delivering £35bn of value for money savings, equivalent to £1,400 per household that will be allocated to front line services and further savings to come in 2009 Budget.

Notes to editors

The document Working Together - Public Services On Your Side can be viewed at http://www.hmg.gov.uk/workingtogether.aspx from 00:01 on Tuesday 10 March.

Cabinet Office Press Office 22 Whitehall LONDON SW1A 2WH
Tel: 020 7276 2533
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk

" ....delivering £35bn of value for money savings, equivalent to £1,400 per household ".

Well they have been delivering savings of £35N (that's about 10% of Central Government Expenditure) for years so they should be spending nothing by now.

Setting the Agenda for the tame lickspittle press ? Diverting attention from the Armageddon of Global Financial Meltdown ?

No. Apparently we should be rejoicing because one of these great cost savings is "Giving Jobcentre Plus advisers greater discretion to personalise support, benefiting up to 80,000 jobseekers." There are of course 3 Mn Jobseekers at the moment .. and rising.

Economic gloom descends on town
by Pete Bainbridge Macclesfield Express March 11, 2009

"FURTHER economic gloom has descended on Macclesfield as new figures reveal the highest number of jobseekers in a decade coupled with a huge leap in home repossessions." read on

...... "Melanie, who wants to be a countryside ranger, said: "There used to be a job club in Macclesfield where they would help you with CVs and help you apply for jobs, but it’s not there anymore. I think it lost funding."

Iraq / Afghan bombing continues - IEDS kill 10 in Khost and Helmand

Air Force Link reports that yesterday In total, 76 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 25 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. 29 Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. In addition, three coalition and Air Force aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force MQ-9A Reaper used Hellfire missiles to target a group of anti-Afghan gunmen operating an illegal checkpoint near Kandahar.(indicating reprts arecorrect that Taliban forces are closing ) The group was spotted by a coalition ground unit in the area, who coordinated with the drone operator to ensure civilians were not in danger when the airstrike occurred.

In the vicinity of Malek Din, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II preemptively flew a show of force in the route of a coalition convoy, expending flares. The maneuver was intended to discourage enemy action while the convoy passed a point where enemy forces historically set up ambushes.

An Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle hit a group of anti-Afghan forces in an open field with a guided bomb unit-12 after an engagement between the enemy personnel and coalition ground units. The individuals had been firing their assault rifles at coalition soldiers which prompted the air response.

A Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet conducted a show of force and expended flares near Tarin Kowt for a friendly convoy under fire from enemy forces. The show of force caused the enemy to stop firing and retreat from the area. The convoy completed its mission successfully.

Meanwhile on the ground Seven Afghan soldiers were killed in an IED attack in Khost province. Four civilians were killed and six were wounded in an IED attack in Helmand province. Afghan and British forces have launched an operation in the Aaabi Toorah, Kanishin area of Helmand province according to NATO/ ISAF.

After being inserted into the Kanishin area by helicopter, Afghan troops, supported by the British 42 Commando Group, encountered a series of enemy-held compounds. The ANSF and ISAF combined efforts, including precisely targeted air support from helicopters, resulted in the insurgents’ defeat. Searches of the secured compounds uncovered weapons and suicide Improvised Explosive Device (IED) vests.

Massarene - who owns, whom, and what and why - target at random ?

Click here for actual Earth link.

Eton educated Stuart Wheeler made his fortune as the founder of IG Index in 1974.Whe he sold out he spent £7.3m, windfall from the sale of his third tranche of shares in IG Group, on buying the Grade I listed Jacobean Chilham Castle, in Kent fom John Whyte - Melville - Skeffington, 13th Viscount Massereene (Grenadier Guards) and is President of the Conservative Monday Club.

Stuart Wheeler gave the Conservative Party £5 Mn. the largest political donation ever to a British political party.

UK Government and SFO quietly let slip Kenyan crooks, offshore bank / tax havens with a scribbled note in the House of Lords

Yesterday Baroness Northover(Liberal Democrats Spokesperson on International Development in the House of Lords) received a written answer from The Attorney-General (Baroness Scotland of Asthal) to the question she raised further to the Written Answer by the Solicitor General, Vera Baird, on 11th February (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 1990W), why the investigation into Anglo Leasing was terminated in January 2009. [HL1591]See BBC report

The glass twiddling, scarf adjusting smug lawyer lost the opportunity to look smug,to twiddle and adjust and provided a terse (and unhelpful) written answer:

The director of the Serious Fraud Office exercised his discretion to terminate the investigation because there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction without evidence being obtained from Kenya.

If evidence is received from Kenya in the future, the director will consider reopening the investigation.

A detailed and fiull report on thism ulti million pound scandal (with associated scams in total some US$250mn) can be read at Wiki

Briefly in 2002, Sophisticated passport equipment system was sourced from France and forensic science laboratories for the police were sourced from Britain. The transaction was originally quoted at 6 million euros from a French firm, but was awarded to a British firm, Anglo Leasing Finance, at 30 million euros, who would have sub-contracted the same French firm to do the work.

The tender was not publicly advertised, and its details were leaked to the media by a junior civil servant. The Anglo-Leasing sales agent was Sudha Ruparell, a 48 year old woman who is the daughter of Chamanlal Kamani and sister of Rashmikant Chamanlal Kamani & Deepak Kamani. The Kamani family has been involved in various security supplies scandals in the past.

United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Office began to examine Anglo Leasing's affairs in July 2007 especially relating to offshore accounts in the British tax havens of Jersey and Guernsey, which were used to transfer more than $30m to a company called Apex Finance between April 2002 and February 2004.

Although the firm was not registered in Britain, the original contract was signed by a UK accountant, Colin Flynn, and gave an address in an elegant Victorian house near Liverpool city centre. This, it transpired, was the offices of a small property company, Saagar Associates. Saagar claimed it was simply acting as UK agent for Anglo Leasing which was based in Switzerland.

Saagar's owner was Mrs Ruparell sister of Deepak Kamani who at the time lived in Barnet London.

Mr Flynn, a father of three who lives in a modest semi-detached house in the suburb of West Derby in Liverpool, has declined to comment.

Another fascinating UK company is LBA Systems of Fife and Daventry, which specialises in body armour and has been owned and run by Andrew Macgill since 1975. LBA has two contracts with Kenya for the supply of four M17 helicopters to the police and a communications system to the prison department. The Guardian discovered that in September 1994 Mr Macgill married a Russian woman, Ludmila Kalushenko. Her maiden name appeared on the Anglo Leasing CID contract in 2001.

So this is how HMG - anxious developers of the third world accordingto Gormless Gordon quietly bury funds that have been stolen from Kenyan citizens with the aid of UK entities and citizens usingof shore accounts (and ank accounts) - absolves itself from any responsibility.

Guradian today .. "Gordon Brown yesterday promised that Britain would keep its pledge to raise its overseas development aid budget to an internationally agreed target of 0.7% of national income in spite of the growing budget deficit."

No Nimrods in use in Afghanistan - less on Home Defence and the rest in for urgent repairs - MOD business as usual

The examining board were able to identify the most probable location of the fire, a number of probable causes of that event and factors which possibly contributed to it:

a. The escape of fuel during AAR, occasioned by an overflow from No 1 tank, or a leak from the fuel system (fuel coupling or pipe), led to an accumulation of fuel within the No 7 tank dry bay. Although of a lower probability, the fuel leak could have been caused by a hot air leak damaging fuel system seals.
b. The ignition of that fuel following contact with an exposed element of the aircraft's crossfeed/ SCP pipe work.

CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS:

a. The age of the Nimrod MR2's non-structural system components.
b. Nimrod MR2 maintenance policy in relation to fuel and hot air systems.
c. The lack of a fire detection and suppression system within the No 7 tank dry bay.
d. The fact that hazard analysis did not correctly categorize the potential threat to the aircraft caused by the collocation of fuel and hot air system components within the No 7 tank dry bay.
e. The formal incorporation of AAR capability within the Nimrod did not identify the full implications of successive changes to the fuel system and associated procedures.

AGGRAVATING FACTOR:

a. The loss of flying controls through fire damage to the hydraulic systems or cables and pulleys.

All Overseas based Nmirods withdrawn

In a written statement to the House of Commons today , Defence Minister Bob Ainsworth says overseas basd Nimrods , will be withdrawn on 31st March in order to replace engine bay hot air ducts.

The coroner at the inquest on the crew called for the entire fleet to be grounded. see post Friday, May 23, 2008 Coroner grounds entire RAF Nimrod Fleet Des Browne another Scots politician , part time Defence Minister ready for a lonely walk in the countryside ?

At the inquest last May, coroner Andrew Walker said the aircraft had "never been airworthy," but Defence Secretary Des Browne insisted they were safe to fly. but then he didn't fly in them

Shadow defence secretary Dr Liam Fox said;

"It beggars belief that even after 18 months, the MoD and its contractors have failed to modify these aircraft which are undertaking critical surveillance operations in Afghanistan," he said.

"It is a further example of the complete inability of this government to get a grip on their defence procurement programme."

The MOD blithely states that the reallocation of engineering staff from RAF Kinloss the Nimrods' home base to RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire "will cause a temporary reduction in routine UK-based Nimrod flying but will not affect our ability to protect UK interests at home," he added.(please don't let Mr Putin know that)

The MoD said there would be no operational impact in Afghanistan because they plan to use other UK and coalition aircraft to cover any shortfall... without explaining why this couldnot be done previously.

If you have the stomach ... Reid sends ill equipped troops to certain deaths in S Afghanistan on Friday, January 27, 2006.

Real IRA claim responsibility for drive-by executions of two British soldiers and promise wave of new attacks

IRA has not gone away, Adams warns ministers Independent -August 14th 1995

"Speaking at a large republican rally in Belfast city centre, Mr Adams accused the Government of intransigence and of strangling the opportunity for peace, a man called out: "Bring back the IRA." Mr Adams was applauded when he responded: "They haven't gone away, you know."

Quinn murder shows IRA has not gone away Belfast Newsletter 02 November 2007


The Collins, Donaldson, McCartney and Quinn (see post Paul Quinn, IRA fuel smuggler, murdered by IRA - DUP assist in cover up and Westminster remains silent.Business as usual in Northern Ireland ) cases highlight the fact that the IRA has not gone away and if the IRA did not authorise the murders they are aware of who the murderers are, or could it be a case of collusion between IRA activists and criminals.

There is an uncontrollable element within the Republican family that needs to be removed from society by the law of the land. If Sinn Fein is serious about peace, justice and truth let us see these four families receive justice, let us see the murderers behind bars for life and if they are IRA members out on licence let us see Sinn Fein actively support tough sentences including completion of original sentences for these thugs.

Letter from Councillor Ross M Hussey
UUP, Omagh

Northern Ireland(and to some extent Eire) is still in the grip of gangsters whose roots lie in their sectarian communities, well armedwith the remnants of their massive armouries, funded by drugs, prostitution, protection and crime.

Lady Dame Jane Baroness Pauline Neville Jones - 1st rate analysis of global problems in view

The Conservative's Shadow Security Minister Dame Lady Jane Baroness Neville Jones ("Out Pauline") has been missing in the House - she was in sunny Jakarta delivering an excellent speech in the swanky Ritz Hotel , to the World Islamic Economic Forum,1,557 people, including 1,395 delegates, 85 speakers and 70 heads of state from 38 countries were present. The theme was "Food and Energy Security and Stemming the Tide of Global Financial Crisis"

Her JIC analysis of the effects of the current banking / financial / insurance / comodity crisis can be found at Conservative Home. eg and is well worth reading. Text

We could see a reversal of progress on international poverty: “According to the World Bank, from 1981 to 2001, the number of people living on less than $1 a day went down from 1.5 billion to 1 billion. Improvements in global literacy went hand-in-hand with this. This favourable trend could now go into reverse. Just one indicator of what is at stake.”

Private capital flows to emerging economies are set to collapse: “In 2007, net private capital flows to emerging economies were $898 billion… The Institute of International Finance estimates that net private capital flows to emerging and developing countries will be just $165 billion in 2009 – a decline of 82 per cent from 2007.”

Read this along with The Indepedent story yesterday 'Run on UK' sees foreign investors pull $1 trillion out of the City

A silent $1 trillion "Run on Britain" by foreign investors was revealed yesterday in the latest statistical releases from the Bank of England. The external liabilities of banks operating in the UK – that is monies held in the UK on behalf of foreign investors – fell by $1 trillion (£700bn) between the spring and the end of 2008, representing a huge loss of funds and of confidence in the City of London.

Some $597.5bn was lost to the banks in the last quarter of last year alone, after a modest positive inflow in the summer, but a massive $682.5bn haemorrhaged in the second quarter of 2008 – a record. About 15 per cent of the monies held by foreigners in the UK were withdrawn over the period, leaving about $6 trillion. This is by far the largest withdrawal of foreign funds from the UK in recent decades – about 10 times what might flow out during a "normal" quarter.

Some more headings .

The early stages of the world recession have already caused low level political instability:
One third of the world’s nations may struggle to cope with the economic challenge:
Under-pressure governments may become repressive and protectionist:
Extremists and terrorists may exploit the economic downturn:

The importance of increasing food supply in the years ahead: Food prices are likely to be driven up by autarky.” In response PNJ suggests reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, a greater proportion of aid spending to be devoted to food security and, possibly, “a more internationally organized system of storage for certain basic food stuffs.”

In the speech Dame Lady Jane warns against cartelisation of the energy market and against protectionism. She says that the G20 may now be a more appropriately diverse group of nations to manage the scale of international economic challenges we face:

“My protected market is your closed factory and angry workforce… Maintaining the open system – requires possibly unpopular decisions about keeping markets open and thus putting some local jobs at risk and is a much bigger immediate challenge to political leaderships."

Priness Anne "kidnap" - Ian Ball still inside after 35 years

On the 20th March 1974 Princess Anne and her freshly laundered wimpish first husband Capt. Mark Philips were rolling along Pall Mall in a RoyalRoller to Buckingham Palace after a charity filmscreening. (Note here that the "kidnapper" Ian Ball says, "In 1971 I was working at Filmatic Laboratories Ltd., Lonsdale Road, London, W1, as a van driver. I used to spend every working day travelling around the West End collecting and delivering cans of film. )

A light coloured car (Ford Escort) blocked their path and a man appeared who fired six shots (from 1 or 2 guns depending on source) . Insp. Beatson fired back (he got a George Cross) and he and royal chauffeur Alex Callender were wounded.

Ball was caught by PC Peter Edmonds, of Cannon Row was awarded one of the first Queen's Gallantry Medals as the Metropolitan Police officer responsible for capturing Ball. Edmonds was on duty as a temporary detective constable at Cannon Row police station when the call about the attack was received.

He drove to the scene in his own car, and saw a man with a gun running across St James's Park. Edmonds gave chase and, although threatened with the gun, threw his coat over the fugitive's head, forced him to the ground and arrested him.

Others at the scene who attempted to restrain Ball included Pc Michael Hills and Ronald Russell, a cleaning company manager who, having manoeuvred his car in front of Ball's to block his escape, ran across and punched the assailant. Both of them were shot, both later received the George Medal. A Fleet Street reporter, Brian McConnell, who heard shots and leaped out and tried to reason with Ball, was shot in the chest; he was awarded a Queen's Gallantry Medal, as was the chauffeur, Alexander Callender.

Rowena Brassey, the Princess's Lady-in-waiting, was also present and like the royal cople were unharmed . Indeed it looks like no shots were fired at them.

It appeared that the shooting was preliminary to a kidnap attempt on Princess Anne to hold her to ransom. A ransom letter demanding £3Mn. from the was subsequently found demanding £3m for her release.

Ian Ball, 26, was prosecuted for the attempted murder of the princess's detective, and various offences under the Offences Against the Person Act.

Ball was sentenced to life imprisonment and placed in a mental hospital - initially in Rampton and he is currently blieved to be in Broadmoor.

1. A curious untraceable website has appeared at least in 2005 - see ref in A-infos Anarchist website http://www.ianball.me.uk/ purporting to be a statement from Ian Ball.

On the 22nd May 1975 (1974) I was convicted, at the Old Bailey, of attempting to kidnap Her Royal Highness Princess Anne.

From the accompanying document entitled 'Hoax Explanation' you can see that I did not attempt to kidnap Princess Anne - the whole incident was just an elaborate hoax.

It continues as a lettermight from a Nigerian source ....

As I am desperate to get out of Broadmoor, I am offering a £1Million reward to the first person who proves the incident was a hoax.

The reward will be paid as follows:- £55'000 immediately (as this is the amount I currently have in my bank account), and the remainder when I have successfully sued the authorities and received the royalties from my autobiography. From the following you can see that the total amount I will get in damages and royalties will be more than enough to cover the cost of the reward.

This page then links to second page http://www.ianball.me.uk/hoax.html entitled Hoax Explanation which you might like to read.

2. Monsters and Critics on Jan 15th 2009 report that Channel 4 Films commenced filming a documentary about the "kidnapping" on Monday (19.01.09) in Bath, SW England with the intention of screening it in September 2009.

According to this M & C report The princess reportedly replied in an unprincesslybut beleivable way ,say "Not b****y likely!" before diving out the other side of the car.

One wonders how an inmate of Broadmoor can set up a website - is this clever viral marketing by Channel 4 ? He's been locked up 35 years now and didn't kill anyone...don't mess with the Windsors.

PS : "To Kidnap a Princess" with Russel Mabey as Ian Ball was made for TV film (ITV) in 2006 and portrayed Ball as a loner schizophrenic.

Role play - Invest Squander the Quantitative easing funds for Mervyn

Quantitative easing (QE)provides the BoE with the ability to buy assets, securities like corporate bonds or commercial paperand Govern/ ment bonds from commercial banks / insurance companies that currently hold them.

Here is your chance to play the bemused academic crossed fingers specialist .... Mervyn King

British Airways (The worlds favourite airline) have bonds they have issued ..lots of 'em.

Yesterday Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its rating on British Airways' long-term corporate credit from investment grade to "junk," falling from BBB- to BB+, .. plus a warning they might be downgraded further. (Moodys show them as equivalent Ba1 details here )

They gave resons, plenty of 'em why they had downgraded them.

S&P said Friday it was looking at;

1. BA's losses
2. Worsening demand, particularly on BA's high-dollar premium passengers across the Atlantic
3. Currency losses from the weakening British pound
4. Failing UK economy
... and er ... other factors... order book with Boeing for more planes etc.,

"As a result of the more challenging industry environment, we believe that BA's financial risk profile and credit measures are no longer, nor are likely to be, appropriate for an investment-grade rating over the next several years," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Leigh Bailey.

Now as Mervyn .. or one of his double firsted henchmen ... do you buy this crap ?

The holders will gladly take the proffered loot and run .... and invest it , squirrel it away on the busted balance sheet, handsome salaries, bonuses, boxes at Man United, sponsoring Rugby Union, Newcastle United, Newcastle Rugby ....

After all, what is there to stop them ? If there is Mervyn has not told us what it is..no doubt they will "monitor" the situation as did the BoE previously... with the same people doing the monitoring ... and the same bankers pissing the money away.

Now are you really convinced that QE is a really great idea to get the UK economy moving ?

Where are they Now ? No : 342 Huma Abedin , Shrillarys lover and "special advisor"

On her first trip abroad as US Secretary of State, Shrillary talked to an audience of women at Ewha Women University campus in Seoul the questions were not apparently about O'Bombers about, bombing campaigns in Pakistan , tax cuts or US healthcare, or even about looming North Korea's nuclear weapons or the global economic crisis.All eyes were on Shillarys pet Huma Abedin.

With her tried and trusty team of ex Clintonistas savvy smart lawyer Jake Sullivan, lurking in the shadows away from the cameas, her national politics adviser, Huma Abedin (her glamorous aide de camp - BBC speak for Love that dare not speak it's name) and Kiki McLean, a veteran Democratic strategist and press aide to husband Bill when he was Arkansas Governor.

Elsewhere the delightful, slim Saudi born and educated Hua is described as , "Clinton’s traveling chief of staff and “body woman”".Politico

According to Town Hall "Abedin carries the title "senior adviser." What she knows about foreign policy remains a mystery, but she knows the Clinton political operation. On this trip, according to The Washington Post/ Toronto Star , Abedin "silently will hand Clinton a glass of water when her voice rasps during a briefing."

In the New York Times Mark Landler reported on her swing through Japan and said, "Huma Abedin, Mrs. Clinton’s aide-de-camp and ubiquitous seatmate during the campaign, was never more than a few steps away from her boss. Ms. Abedin even accompanied Mrs. Clinton to her tea with Empress Michiko, though she was guided to an antechamber to wait."

When asked a difficult question , refuse to answer or lie - that's what bankers do - especially Fed Chairmen

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who usually votes with the Democrats, tackled Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and said he found it "unacceptable" that the central bank risked taxpayer money without detailing where the funds went.

"My question to you is, will you tell the American people to whom you lent $2.2 trillion of their dollars?" Sanders asked ..... referring to the size of the Fed's balance sheet.

When Sanders pressed on whether Bernanke would name the firms that borrowed from the Fed, the central bank chairman replied, "No."

Vermont Public Radio has the transcript of the exact exchange.

So now you know that Congress does NOT run the United States ... Uncle Ben's Lies will do instead.

Typhoon MRCA in action with the RAF as the Italians see it

The most recent issue of the Italian magazine Aeronautica & Difesa has a well illustrated story on the Typhoon now in use with the Royal Air Force. Here is one picture, but for those who like this sort of thing there are plenty more.

UK gas stocks at record lows as Energy Minister O'Brien whistles valiantly in the dark.

It was a chance for MP's to ask the wimpish, The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Mr. Mike O'Brien) questions yesterday.

Mrs. Ann Cryer (Keighley) (Lab)opened the batting with a shrewd Yorkie, " What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK’s gas storage capacity; and if he will make a statement." [260723]

O Brien was full of a correct but lamentably late catalogue of efforts to build gas storage over the next ten years - when it was blindingly obvious that gas stroage has been static whilst usage soaring - and will constitute 70% of our energy source for electricity by 2012.

Greg Clark (Tunbridge Wells) (Con) bowled a fierce boucer " On 20 February this year—two weeks ago—Britain hit a new low, with just four days-worth of gas in storage in the reserve. Does the Minister consider that an acceptable margin for safety?"

O' Brien lamely and uhelpfully remarked "It is not about how many days worth of gas there are. The amount of gas in storage at a given point cannot meaningfully be assessed in terms of days." ... so why does the National Grid publish the figures for short term , medium term and long term gas storage evey day on their website ?

O Brien admitted that As at 3 March 2009, the total volume of gas storage stocks in the UK was no more than 1.2 billion cu m. The UK’s total gas storage capacity is approximately 4.4 billion cu m. (Germany and France never drop below 100 days.)

If you wish to be more informedread Hansardfor the full account of the lamentable state of UK gas stocks .. but better stil, read
UK NAT GAS WINTER 2009, FEBRUARY UPDATE Posted by Rune Likvern on February 20, 2009
More posts by Rune Likvern on U.K. nat gas supplies this winter :

Will UK face a nat gas crisis during this winter (Part 1 of 2)

Will UK face a nat gas crisis during this winter (Part 2 of 2)

See also review of debate at e-politix

The Man in the Street - then banged up the DNA'd -sounds like terrism

Have a look at this news-video about Stephen Clarke, a man who was accused to taking pictures of sewer-gratings in Manchester and arrested ahead of the 208 Labour party conference

Stephen was held on suspicion of planning an act of terror, imprisoned for two days while the police searched his home, his phone and his computer and memory sticks etc., . When they couldn't find anything suspicious (or any pictures of grids of any sort) , they released him, but kept his DNA on file, as the biometric of someone who had been accused of plotting a terrorist act. See also story on Boing Boing Mach 3rd, film only at Channel M TV (part of Guradian group)

Gilbert Duclos film "La Rue Zone Interdite" Cannel 5 in French is available on You Tube

Lehman Bros liquidators ask awkward questions - Barclays dives 25% on news - Market Cap now £5. 5 Bn.

This Forbes / Reuters / FT report seemed to spook the market as it opened, Liquidators quiz Barclays over Lehman funds-FT .....

Liquidators for Lehman Brothers, Alvarez and Marsal asked Barclays in a letter of February 19th , to account for funds it received as part of its purchase of the failed investment bank's North American unit, the Financial Times reported on Thursday (today) Barclays questioned on funds.

Citing sources close to the situation, the newspaper said U.S. liquidators Alvarez and Marsal were seeking clarification on the fate of US$4.2 billion transferred to Barclays to cover Lehman's bonus and severance payments and other liabilities.

The liquidators calculate only US$900 million has been spent, the newspaper said.

Barclays booked a gain of £2.3bn ($3.3bn) in it's Annual accounts pulished last week, on the difference between the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired from Lehman and the price paid for them. The gain accounted for about a third of Barclays' pre-tax profits and helped Barclays Capital, its investment banking arm, to record a profit of £1.3bn.

Lehman Brothers Holdings, the bank's remaining businesses, now managed by Alvarez & Marsal, said it was "not making any allegations but is simply requesting factual information from Barclays as to certain discrepancies". Ho Ho. Ho ... but the liquidator wants his money back please.

The Daily Torygraph report Friday that "Sandy Chen, of Panmure Gordon, in a report on Barclays' monoline and structured credit exposures says : "If corporate defaults jump and structured credits undergo another wave of downgrades, we think that the structure of swaps with monolines and other counterparties that Barclays put in place to limit losses could buckle – leading to further impairments and/or writedowns."

Making money by printing money ,, winners and losers - and you ain't a winner pal ...

Boris Fyodorov, the late (died ,heart attack aged 50 Nov. 2008)reformist Russian Minister of Finance was a bastion of rectitude and struggled against the abuse of authority and the looting Oligarchs.

Confusion helps the powerful, he declared. Complex complicated bailouts, uexplained and unpublished (cf Paulsen's Pals Act) complicated government bailout schemes, multiple and vicious and volatile exchange rates, or high inflation, it is very hard (impossible) to keep track of market prices and to protect the value of firms. The result, if taken to an extreme, is looting (cf armed raid on Gazprom offices in Ukraine yesterday ) : the collapse of banks, industrial firms, and other entities because the insiders take the money (or other valuables) and run.

A noteworthy and powerful critique was his publication of a book of blank pages under the title The Economic Achievements of the Chernomyrdin Government.


Now that HMG / Treasury / BOE have decided today on their stop gap / stop go policy of £75 Bn (5% ish of GDP) (approved to the level of £150 Bn. by the MEPC) nothing is clearer. Confusion reigns.

Our analysis is that this move this is the same effect as a private limited company extending it's Purchase Ledger in the knowledge it cannot meet it's debts as they fall due . They become technically insolvent.

The major UK based banks will sensibly hoover up the funds pronto - including Barclays who the sleek jowled Varley assures us have no asset valuation problems.

Cui bono ?

The banks have greater liquidity which they will use as they please (owned by the taxpayer or not) and HMG have assets no-one (anywhere) is inclined to buy at any price.

So if £75 Bn doesn't work, we suck up another £75 Bn. Then what ?

On top of this we relentlesy dribble away tax payers funds ... as the following post shows.

Still Tranche 3 of the Eurofighter is to be cancelled anyday now, so that will save a bob or two on the Defence Budget.. probably enough to repair the Vanguard submarine loitering without intent under a French submarine sous l'Atlantique .

Next step 2 carriers sunk without trace ?

Kerching !!!!! £2.5 Bn. more tax payers money dribbles away ..

Item 1. Local Government nest eggs hatching in very cold, very empty, Icelandic bank accounts Bye Bye £1Bn. (ish)

According to Governmen figures rleased today , at the end of 2008 125 local authorities in England (Scotland looks after their own via Holyrood) had outstanding investments of around £923.2 Mn in Icelandic banks. Guradian list Oct 2008 here eg : Nottingham city council: £41.6m invested in Glitnir, Landsbanki and Heritable • Transport for London: £40m deposit with Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander

At the time the Prime Minister told the BBC that the Icelandic authorities' handling of accounts had been "effectively illegal" and "completely unacceptable".

Local Government Minister, Cambridge educated John Healey. Communities and Local Government (National) Minister since June 2007 has laid an order today before Parliament Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 [S.I. No. 321] under the Local Government Act 2003.

The effect of this is to enable enable authorities to postpone ( ie : fiddle their accounts) to apparently remove any possible budgetary impact of this until 2010-11.

Without this help, ( he claims) they would have to make immediate provision for possible losses in their revenue budgets - with potentially serious impacts on council tax or services.

" ...I am taking this exceptional step that gives authorities some breathing space that should allow them to be clearer what sums, if any, are still at risk. Meanwhile the Government will continue its efforts to ensure that investors recover as much as possible from the banks." ... which on current evidence looks like zero. Still, we can put off the accounting for it until after the election.

UPDATE : Friday newrelease with more information links details of Councils affected etc.,

Item 2 : DfT gets into train leasing via Diesel Trains Limited Kerching £ 1.5 Bn.

The beautiful and talented, unelected and unelectable, yet adorable, godlike , Transport Minister, Lord Adonis (Andew to frineds on the scarlet benches of our House) has quietly announced today yet more tax payers funds for railway companies.

Subsequent to its mention in the Chancellor's pre-budget review in November 2008 a company, Diesel Trains Limited, has been set up which will see an extra £1bn dedicated to accelerating major transport projects.

Initially this involves around £300m for an additional 202 train carriages (say £1.5 MN each) to relieve overcrowding in the Thames Valley, around Bristol and on longer distances in northern England. The trains (which will be rented by the DfT) are set to enter service by 2012 subject to negotiations with train operators First Great Western, Trans-Pennine Express and Northern Rail.

The DfT is currently negotiating with other train operators for the purchase of 120 new carriages, in addition to these DMUs, and, over the next 12 months, would expect to see orders for a further 250 carriages. By the end of next year, orders for over 1,000 new carriages are likely to have been placed = about £1.5 Bn. (ish)

A successful bidder (Bombardier are the sole UK manufacturer left in UK ) to build the new train carriages is expected to be announced in April. The DfT makes clear that it does not intend to be a long-term owner of trains (Ho.Ho.Ho.) and the new company is not intended to compete with other rolling stock leasing companies.

These are the major leasing companies who will benefit from these plans... . (ROSCO's)

* Angel Trains - owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland, and which claims to be the biggest rolling stock company in Britain, with some 5,000 assets... and is now owned by the taxpapyer anyway.
* HSBC Rail - a lessor of domestic passenger rolling stock, owned by HSBC.
* Porterbrook - owned by Abbey National, which leases some 3,500 locomotives, trains and freight wagons.

These were joined by 2 more companies in 2008:

* Sovereign Trains - a company that forms part of the same group as the open-access operators Grand Central and Grand Union. Sovereign Trains owns the rolling stock currently operated by Grand Central.(see pic)
* QW Rail Leasing - a joint venture between the National Australia Bank and SMBC Leasing and Finance to provide the EMU rolling stock to London Overground.

Which makes you wonder why the leasing companies don't just go out and buy the trains they need to meet the evident demand

PS : Pic is of a Grand Central DMU at York Station.

PPS : Meanwhile premium ticket and season ticket sales are declining.

If the US Treasury cannot sell US$2T of paper >end of 2010 then the Obama plan falls apart : Ditto UK

On January 22nd Tim Geithner in a written reply to Congress, in response to a question from Sen. Olympia Snowe, (R-Maine), that President Obama’s administration “backed by the conclusions of a broad range of economists - believes that China is manipulating its currency.”

Best estimates are that China bought US$374 billion of U.S. bonds in 2008. With the Obama administration proposing a deficit of more than $1 trillion in 2009, is it good policy to insult your best foreign customer?

Tim's comments were followed by a bond sell-of and Su Ning, vice governor of the People's Bank of China, countering that "these remarks are not only inconsistent with the facts, but they are misleading about the reasons for the financial crisis."

Yesterday Tim was testifying to Congress again. A Congressman asked a direct, simple question.

“Mr. Geithner can we sell the bonds necessary to fund this deficit? Are the Chinese still buying our bonds?”

Mr. Geithner responded with a full three minutes of non-answers to those questions. At the end of three minutes the Congressman repeated his questions.

For another two minutes Mr. Geithner ducked the questions.

If the US Treasury cannot sell about US$2T of paper up to the end of 2010 (at the current historical low rates), then the Obama plan falls apart. Period.

NB : Fleshy Gordon is in the same spot more or less, but his problems arise from selling UK Government securities in the next nine months to fund his banking payola, PFI bail out (which has only just started) etc.

Armageddon

If interest rates are (as widely rumoured) due to drop yet again in the morning - the job looks even harder.

Steve Bundred, (pic Nov200) chief executive of the Audit Commission,said in an article in the Times Feb 26th , "The measures that the government is taking to stimulate the economy may well be absolutely necessary but they involve unprecedented levels of public borrowing and public debt,"

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) say UK national debt rose to £703.4bn in January, or 47.8% of GDP the highest for 20 years - this will (say the ONS) increase sharply if the money being pumped into Britain's faltering banks was taken into account.

Mr Bundred warned that if borrowing pushed above 65% of GDP, there was a "distinct possibility" Britain could face "the Armageddon scenario most feared by the Treasury: that there will be insufficient lenders to match the planned level of borrowing".

PS : & UPDATE The 2008 Audit Commission report on the NHS included the first full year audit of payment by results bills, which found that up to £1bn of the bills hospital trusts have sent primary care trusts could be wrong.

UK Ex Ambasador / ex FCO xplains how Ministers sanctioned torture - OK if e don't use it as evidence ina court of law - othewise fine and dandy

This is a memo to Craig Murray http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/documents/Wood.pdf . you are advised to read the succinct , clear evidence about how Ministers (especiallly Jack Sraw) have consistently lied about participation in torture by the UK.Craig's blog 2nd March 2009 How Hard for the Truth to be Heard .... ain't that a fact.

Slump

Food prices up, Unemployment up, Government borrowing up, foreclosures up, House sales down, mortgage funding down, .... this is a slump..

Click BBC pic from today to enlarge and see where your 401K / Pension / Annuity has gone.

WSJ today The Obama Economy
As the Dow keeps dropping, the President is running out of people to blame.

"As 2009 opened, three weeks before Barack Obama took office, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 9034 on January 2, its highest level since the autumn panic. Yesterday the Dow fell another 4.24% to 6763, for an overall decline of 25% in two months and to its lowest level since 1997. The dismaying message here is that President Obama's policies have become part of the economy's problem."

Lord Haw - Haw remembered as UK Gubment seeks to twist the law for popular support

Harriet Harm , Fleshy Gordon and the rest who are hounding Sir Fred and his magic pension pot by the uncertain majesty of the law remind us how Governments never hesitate to twist the law to stoke public sentiment.

Wiliam Joyce "Lord Haw Haw" was tried for treason at the end of the war and hanged. Despite the fact that he was born in America, whose parents had become US citizens. He had also become a German citizen when he made his vile broadcasts from Germany and so could not possibly be tried for treason. (Although a new Actof Treason 1945 was brought in a rush, to allow only one judge to sit to put things all square)

The quite reasonable arguments of his publicly provided solicitor and QC based on the above were brushed aside and the jury and the public were happy to see him hung.

The Attorney General, Sir Hartley Shawcross,(who went on to star in more dodgy legal business at Nuremberg and hangings) convinced the jury, that Joyce's possession of a British passport, obtained fraudulently my lying about his nationality to obtain it, entitled him (until it expired) to British diplomatic protection in Germany and therefore he owed allegiance to the King at the time he commenced working for the Germans.

When Joyce appealed to the House of Lords they refused his appeal and even dissenting Lord Porter said it was matter of fact (for the jury to determine) whether this technicality afforded him protection from the court not the highest court in the land.

As Joyce had been an MI5 spy in Germany (he had been sent there in the 30's by the curious "M" or Maxwell Knight a proto - fascist and friend of Oswald Mosley who was head of section B5(b) responsible for infiltrating agents and based in Dolphin Square ). Documents released in 2001 show clearly this was something they wished to conceal they freed his wife - who had been as active as he was - to the Belgians and had indeed previously connived at letting her"escape".

In another contemporary slant Mosley defected from the Conservatives to the Labour Party in protest at the widespread and well known habit of torturing Sinn Fein prisoners by the "Gentle Black & Tans".

Judging by much public comment there are many RBS shareholders who would happily see poor old Fred tortured - or even like Joyce , well hung.

On the day when world markets slumped to record levels it does relieve Washington bound Fleshy Gordon of the worries of saving the world yet again.