New iPhone Faces High HopesExpectations are high for the unveiling of the new iPhone this week at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, though many details are widely known.Read Article     

 The Times Square bomb failed. What will we do when the next bomb works?
By Richard A. Clarke
Sunday, May 9, 2010
On Christmas Day, a 23-year-old Nigerian engineering student allegedly tried to destroy an airplane flying into Detroit. One week ago, an American citizen of Pakistani origin allegedly attempted to detonate a car bomb in New York's Times Square. Neither effort succeeded -- not because U.S. authorities intercepted the attackers, but because the bombmaking skills of the wannabe terrorists were lacking. In both instances, much of the subsequent debate has centered on how the attacks were able to get as far as they did. The unfortunate fact is that such cases represent a kind of terrorism that is virtually impossible to disrupt. These attempts will continue, and from time to time one of them will succeed, with many dead and injured. The more relevant question, therefore, is: How will we respond when that car bomb does go off? The reason such attacks are hard to stop is rooted in the identity of the attackers. They often seem to be successful or well-educated members of society, uninvolved in any form of radicalism. But then, the drip-drip of terrorist propaganda -- either on the Internet or circulated through friends -- has its effect. They quietly make contact with radical groups overseas, perhaps even traveling abroad for training and indoctrination. They throw away the life they have made in the West and agree to stage an attack. Faisal Shahzad, the alleged Times Square terrorist, fits that profile, as have others in the United States and Europe. For U.S. intelligence and law enforcement authorities, these newly minted terrorists are the hardest to stop. They may not be part of any known cell; there is no reason for their phones…

 Mexico Under SiegeDrug violence in Mexico's business capital and richest city has prompted an outcry from business leaders who have asked President Calderón to send in more soldiers to stem the violence.  Read Article   

 From the Los Angeles Times A divided congressional delegation may hinder help for California Democrats are pushing for federal loan guarantees while Republicans are opposed, leaving Congress' largest delegation with little power to persuade the White House to come to the state's rescue.  By Richard Simon

May 22, 2009

Reporting from Washington — California has by far the largest delegation in Congress, almost 10% of the membership. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, is a Californian, as are five of its committees' chairs -- a collection of powerful positions unmatched by any state. The state's two senators chair important committees, and one holds a coveted seat on the Appropriations Committee.

And in terms of electoral politics, California has been among the most reliably Democratic major states, as well as by far the party's most generous source of campaign cash.

So in California's hour of need -- facing a financial crunch so severe that the state is poised to release convicted criminals and close classrooms early -- how can Washington seem to be turning an unsympathetic ear to its appeal for help?

Especially when almost all of Washington's major power centers are controlled by Democrats?

The Obama White House insists that its response to California's fiscal crisis in no way resembles the tabloid headline when President Gerald R. Ford refused to bail out New York City in 1975: "Ford to City: Drop Dead." But the reaction to a second day of appeals for federal loan guarantees was less than enthusiastic -- from the White House or Capitol Hill.

And two major reasons for the tepid response emerged:

First, California's representation in Congress…

 Iran is not in the mood to make peace with the West over its nuclear programme  By Con Coughlin Defence Last updated: October 19th, 200920 Comments Comment on this article To judge by the hostile statements coming out of Iran following the terrorist attack against several senior Revolutionary Guards commanders, the omens do not look good for today’s crucial meeting in Geneva over Tehran’s nuclear programme.Today is the day the Iranians are supposed to give their response to the six nation delegation overseeing the nuclear negotiations as to whether or not they are prepared to cooperate with the West.But the prospects of Iran giving a positive response have nosedived after the regime blamed Britain and America for Sunday’s suicide bomb attack that killed more than 40 people, including several high-ranking members of the Revolutionary Guard. Rather than concentrating on the nuclear issue, the regime is now vowing revenge on Britain and America after claiming that the terrorists were trained by them in neighbouring Pakistan.If this allegation were true, it would be an act of rank stupidity by the West, whose main priority is to halt Iran’s drive for nuclear technology. It is for that reason that I very much doubt anyone in the CIA or MI6 had anything to do with Sunday’s bomb attack.