Where did the $700B figure come from?

You know where that very important $700-billion figure came from?

"It's not based on any particular data point," a Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com Tuesday - see this Forbes article. "We just wanted to choose a really large number."

They made it up to be sufficiently ginormous to frighten everyone into rapid action. And it worked. --- Andrew Malcolm

You know, it's kinda, sorta like, the 6 million holocaust number....

Should US bail out Jewish bankers?

Millions of Americans are up in arms over the “bailout,” decrying it as an illegal power grab by Jewish bankers and their puppets in the Bush administration. Hank Paulson, the Secretary of the US Treasury, is himself the former Chairman of the Jewish bank, Goldman Sachs, one of the banks asking for a free lunch from the “dumb goyim” US taxpayers.

Arab country "cooperates with Mossad"

Assassinated Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh

Israeli sources confirmed on Monday that Mossad chief Meir Dagan's reliance on cooperation with an Arab country was the reason behind the successful completion of Israeli operations in various countries, IRNA reported.

Stressed Indians leave call centres

Indian call centre workers are seeking more rewarding careers elsewhere.

A 23-year-old man, barely out of college, has been recovering from a heart attack in a hospital. The doctor's diagnosis: modern lifestyle - stress and odd hours of work.

Hello, computer technical assistance? Hello?? Anyone there??? Hello, Hello????

Egyptian TV show gives away homes

Teachers Rabab and Ashraf, the proud and happy owners of a new flat

Every night during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan a popular television programme has been giving away a new flat to a couple who cannot marry simply because they cannot afford a home.

Mother Jailed After Bodies Of 2 Children Found in Freezer

Renee Bowman. (Courtesy of the Calvert County Sheriff's Department)

The sheriff's office said in a statement that Bowman told investigators the remains in the freezer were those of her older two adopted daughters. She told them she wrapped one of the children in a plastic garbage bag and the other in a rug, officials said. She said the remains had been in the freezer since February, when she moved to Lusby from Rockville, the sheriff's office said.

Janet Jackson hospitalized

Singer Janet Jackson performs during her concert, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

According to statement released by W&W Public Relations, the singer canceled her concert in Montreal on Monday after she "got suddenly ill" during her sound check and had to be rushed to the hospital just before show time.

White House, lawmakers plan new bailout deal

Top congressional and White House officials, stunned when the House rejected a massive rescue plan for the nation's economy, scrambled to structure a new bailout proposal that would attract reluctant lawmakers and still soothe the unnerved financial markets.

"Doing nothing is not an option," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said after seeing the $700 billion emergency package for the nation's financial systems fail 228-205 on Monday.

US stock plunge wipes record 1.2 trillion dollars off market value

Monday's record stock plunge saw approximately 1.2 trillion dollars wiped off the market value -- the first-ever trillion-dollar one-day loss, according to the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000, the broadest measure of market activity.

Karzai seeks Saudi help in Taliban peace talks

"For the last two years, I've sent letters to the king of Saudi Arabia, and I've sent messages, and I requested from him as the leader of the Islamic world, for the security and prosperity of Afghanistan and for reconciliation in Afghanistan ... he should help us," Karzai said.

144 killed in stampede at Hindu temple

Mother's grief ... at least 144 people were killed and scores injured today in a massive stampede at a Hindu temple in Rajasthan.

The disaster occurred as more than 25,000 worshippers clamoured to reach the 15th century Chamunda Devi temple in Jodhpur's hill-top Mehrangarh Fort at the start of Navaratri, a major Hindu festival.

Why Israeli settlers are lashing out

Armed and building: An Israeli settler worked on a synagogue along with Palestinian laborers earlier this year in the unauthorized West Bank outpost of Bruchin. Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images

"We're at a turning point of great significance," Ezrahi says. "What happened in the occupied territories was a growth of a culture of illegalism, and when this culture is allowed to flourish for a long time, violence enters and people think they will be invincible to any repercussions from the apparatus of the state."

In other words, Israeli settlers have been allowed to murder and perpetrate terror on the Palestinians for years while the Israeli government turned a blind eye. Now, the settlers are turning their anger towards the Zionist state. Now, suddenly, they are called "radicals" and "something must be done."

Israel slams Arab move to isolate it at IAEA

Israel on Monday condemned a renewed Arab effort to isolate it at a U.N. atomic watchdog assembly. Arab League states with Iran's backing prepared to table a resolution called "Israel's nuclear capabilities" urging all Middle East states not to test or develop atom bombs and not to stand in the way of a regional nuclear-free zone.

Israel doesn't need any Arab help isolating herself - as the only Middle Eastern country with nuclear weapons of mass destruction, Israel is clearly the odd country out...

Netanyahu: I'll resume settlement activity

Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu. Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski

"I don't understand why there can be natural growth in Arab neighborhoods, but not in Jewish neighborhoods," he said. "There is a difference between the plans of a family that has more children and wants to close off its balcony and the building of additional neighborhoods. There is no reason why there shouldn't be development of existing [Jewish] neighborhoods."

For once, Congress heard as voters protested bailout plan

Almost until the early afternoon vote Monday on the financial rescue plan, voters bombarded congressional offices, protesting almost in unison: Don't bail out renegade financial executives and companies.

New Africa command raises suspicions about U.S. motives

U.S. officials have billed the new command, known as Africom, as a sign of Africa's strategic importance, but many in Africa see it as an unwelcome expansion of the U.S.-led war on terrorism and a bid to secure greater access to the continent's vast oil resources. Several countries have refused to host the command, and officials say Africom will be based in Stuttgart, Germany, for the foreseeable future.

Dow Jones Industrial Average - Plummets

Dow Loses 777 Points After Vote

Stocks tumble as bailout plan fails in House

Trader Daniel Lomeli, left, watches the numbers as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday Sept. 29, 2008. Markets remain strained ahead of a planned House vote on an unpopular $700 billion plan to rescue troubled financial companies and as investors look over a deal for Wachovia Corp.'s banking operations. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Fear swept across the financial markets Monday, sending the Dow Jones industrials down as much as 705 points, after the government's financial bailout package failed the House.

House votes down massive bailout measure

"Many of us feel that the national interest requires us to do something which is, in many ways, unpopular," said Rep. Barney Frank, the Financial Services Committee chairman. Frank was a key leader in negotiating the deal over the bailout.

The House on Monday defeated a $700 billion emergency rescue package, ignoring urgent pleas from President Bush and bipartisan congressional leaders to quickly bail out the staggering financial industry. Stocks started plummeting on Wall Street even before 228-205 to reject the bill was announced on the House floor.

BAILOUT BILL FAILS IN HOUSE

Developing!!!

Anger on main street

But, somehow, I don't think their representatives are listening...

Muslim Children Gassed at Dayton Ohio Mosque

On Friday, September 26, the end of a week in which millions of copies of Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West - a rabid anti-Islam, anti-Muslim documentary designed to created fear and hatred - was distributed in swing voting states, a "chemical irritant" was released through a window of the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton. The room where the chemical was released was being used as the Mosque's nursery, where children and babies were kept while their mothers were engaged in evening Ramadhan prayers.

Until now, I haven't heard a word about this in the Zionist controlled main-stream media. Can you imagine the national outcry had this TERRORIST ACT been perpetrated against a Jewish yeshiva or synagogue? No doubt they would have preempted the presidential debates with breaking news bulletins.

Jewish Lobby Vetoes Candidate Over 9-11 Views

You're an "anti-Semite" if you remark that the "Jews" control the world. So please ignore the fact that the Canadian Jewish Congress had a candidate removed by her party Friday for a 2003 article suggesting Israel had foreknowledge of 9-11.

Citigroup to buy Wachovia banking operations

A Wachovia Bank sign is seen inside an ATM booth in New York's financial district, September 18, 2008. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Citigroup will absorb up to $42 billion of losses in the deal, with the FDIC covering any remaining losses, the government agency said Monday. Citigroup also will grant the FDIC $12 billion in preferred stock and warrants.

Another one bites the dust...

Where Have All The Skilled Workers Gone?

The next time someone tell you that America's workers are the most creative and productive in the world - show them this video...

China calls for end to 'force' against Iran

Days after the US failed to convince the United Nations Security Council permanent members plus Germany to impose further sanctions against Tehran, China has urged world powers not to resort to 'force' over Iran's nuclear program.

Understanding Iran: The line between Judaism and Zionism

Iranian Jews, Yousefabad Synagogue, Tehran

While Israel, the United States and the majority of media outlets strive to portray any country that does not support Zionist crimes as anti-Semitic, Iran continues to rise to greater heights of respect and tolerance without attention to Western propaganda. "Anti-Semitism is not an eastern phenomenon, it's not an Islamic or Iranian phenomenon - anti-Semitism is a European phenomenon," says Tehran Jewish Committee director Ciamak Morsathegh, who is also a physician and the director of Dr. Sapir Hospital and Charity Center.

Iranian students raise question for UN

Most children in the Gaza Strip have been tear gassed, have had their homes searched and damaged, and have witnessed shooting, fighting and explosions.

In their letter to the UN secretary general, the Iranian students said they are "grief-stricken" over the inability of Palestinian children to live in peace. "Our dear friends are being killed; we cannot remain calm, study our lessons and play games while witnessing the condition of children in Gaza," the letter reads.

The Iranian children posed a simple question: "What can be done to stop the killing and the war and bloodshed?"

Muslim group fasts for homeless

About 200 people are expected to attend the event, which involves fasting from food, drink and negative thoughts and behavior from sunrise to sunset - as is observed during the religious month of Ramadan. An Eid Celebration Dinner will follow in the Memorial Hall Ballroom at 7 p.m. "I want the participants to feel like their fast did not go to waste, they helped out the community just as everyone else did," said Madiha Memon, a sophomore from Marietta and vice president of the organization. "I want them to have an idea of what Ramadan, Islam and Muslims are all about."

Sold to US taxpayers for $700B: banks' bad assets

What started as a fairly simple three-page proposal giving the Treasury Secretary unchecked power to orchestrate a bailout of the country's financial system ended up as a complex rescue package, with enhanced congressional oversight, some added protections for taxpayers and a slap on the wrist to highly paid, underperforming executives.

West, Islamic nations split at nuclear meeting

As in the past two years, Islamic IAEA members are expected to put forward a resolution urging all Mideast nations to refrain from testing or developing nuclear arms and urging nuclear weapons states "to refrain from any action" hindering a Mideast nuclear-free zone.

Well, isn't that the stated policy of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty? What's so controversial about that?? Ohhhh, I see - Israel has nuclear weapons and they won't agree "to refrain from testing or developing nuclear arms...," and the "West" won't pressure them to change their policy. Now, I get it...

Pastor Hagee's Fixation on Iran: A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?

This video, which was written and produced by JewsOnFirst.org, examines how Pastor John Hagee's belief in the end times drives his hard-line political position on Iran. For several years televangelist John Hagee has campaigned for an aggressive U.S. policy toward Iran. Hagee's campaign has been in conjunction with his leadership of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), the nation's leading Christian Zionist organization. Megachurch leader Hagee preaches that Iran will attack Israel in the battle of Armageddon presaging Jesus' return; CUFI leader Hagee warns that Iran will launch a nuclear attack on Israel.

Olmert: We must leave most of W. Bank

Olmert tours Kiryat Shmona last week. Photo: AP

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel will have to leave much of the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, and give the Palestinians a state in an area equal to the size of the entire West Bank and Gaza. In an interview published Monday in Yediot Aharonot Olmert also said peace with Syria required a pullout from the Golan Heights.

When, one might ask, did the good (former) Prime Minister acquire such clarity of vision?

Unpopular Muslims, Superior Aussies

"There's stronger levels of social distance or fear of Islam or concern about Islam than of any other group at the moment," Dunn said. (Google)

A recent governmental report revealed that Muslims are facing deep-seated Islamophobia and race-based treatment like never before.

Touring US to Save Palestinian Village

The activists will meet Congressmen and government officials to highlight Aqaba village plight.

"The Israeli administration of Area C has made most of the 120,000 Palestinian residents in Area C into law-breakers just by living in their own homes on the land they own," says Groag.

Ever tried pissing in the wind? Try talking to a Zionist about Israel and Palestine. Yea, it's something like that...

Muslim holiday "Eid Al-Fitr " Tuesday or Wednesday

Moon sighting has always been a controversial issue.

The majority of world Muslims will sight the new lunar moon, which marks the end of Ramadan and start of `Eid Al-Fitr, on Monday, September 29, though some have already decided its beginning based on astronomical calculations.

To smother Chechen insurgency, a campaign of house burning

Valentina Basargina, in her house, burned last month by arsonists. The police suspected her nephew of joining the insurgency. (C. J. Chivers/The New York Times )

In a campaign to punish families with sons suspected of supporting the insurgency, at least a dozen homes have been set ablaze since midsummer, residents and a local human rights organization said.

Post Debate Blues

On Friday, presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain squared off in Oxford, Mississippi, for the first of three presidential debates – and the debate followed that pattern. Following the debate, Real News Senior Editor Paul Jay and Senior Analyst Pepe Escobar shared their collective disappointment with the debate here.

Chavez accepts Russia nuclear aid

Mr Chavez said he wanted nuclear power for energy and medical uses

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced that he wants to develop a nuclear programme with the aid of his country's ally, Russia.

Al-Qaeda not weakening - BBC poll

US-led efforts to tackle the al-Qaeda group are not regarded as successful, an opinion poll carried out for the BBC World Service suggests.

Atlanta motorists stalk fuel trucks

Atlanta police officer J.L. Santa helps with directing traffic into the BP Station from North Ave., in downtown Atlanta where wait times to buy gasoline were 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Joey Ivansco / jivansco@ajc.com

A line of cars literally followed a fuel-filled truck Sunday as it pulled into a QuikTrip tucked between Lawrenceville Highway and the North DeKalb Mall around 11 a.m. And it wasn’t long before more motorists swooned, seemingly under the spell of some petro perfume.

Christians protest attacks by Hindus in India

“We are quite disappointed with both the federal government and state governments as violence against Christians has spread to several states in the past month,’’ said Dominic Emmanuel, a spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. The clashes between Hindus and Christians started in the Kandhamal district of Orissa state on Aug 24 following the killing of a Hindu religious leader. At the time, police blamed Maoist rebels active in the area, but right-wing Hindu groups blamed local Christians and set fire to a Christian orphanage.

Activists Challenge L.A. City Council’s Expensive June Junket to Israel

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

“Please put down your phones and listen to what I have to say. I’ve witnessed what Israel does at its airport in the name of security. My 80-year-old Holocaust survivor friend was subjected to a cavity body search and I was detained and interrogated for eight hours because both of us advocate justice for the Palestinians. Now our mayor wants Israeli security to turn LAX into this apartheid system where Jews, dignitaries and the rich stand in one line and everyone else in the other line?”

Israeli settlers threaten to kill British film crew, curse Jesus

This is a video that ALL Christians everywhere, and especially American Christian Zionists, should see. The video shows an Israeli settler threatening a British film crew and cursing Jesus ("You and you're fucking Jesus can kiss my ass... We killed Jesus and we're proud of it"). The JEWISH TERRORIST goes on to threaten to kill Palestinians on whose land the settlers are trespassing.

Iraqi Christians protest end to legislative quotas

Iraqi Christians carry Assyrian Church flags, during a protest in Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008. Hundreds of Iraqi Christians rallied in northern Iraq on Sunday to protest a new provincial elections law they say denies them their rights because it fails to give them a guaranteed number of seats on provincial councils. Amid growing criticism over the issue, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appealed to parliament and the electoral commission to restore the quota guaranteed in the old election law. (AP Photo)

Parliament last week approved a new law mandating elections in most of Iraq's 18 provinces. But the law removed a system that reserved a few legislative seats for Christians and other religious minorities.

Religious quotas?? I wonder how that would go over in the American Congress???

$700B rescue plan finalized; House to vote Monday

The plan, bollixed up for days by election-year politics, would give the administration broad power to use taxpayers' money to purchase billions upon billions of home mortgage-related assets held by cash-starved financial firms.

Olmert said to offer Palestinians Jordan Valley land swap

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has offered the Palestinians sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, in exchange for Israel retaining three main settlement blocs in the West Bank, Army Radio reported on Sunday.

Olmert offers..., Hey wait! Didn't Olmert resign as Israel's Prime Minister??? What kind of bull-sh*t game is Israel running now??? Simply amazing...

Olmert decries 'evil wind of extremism' in Israel

"An evil wind of extremism, of hate, of maliciousness, of violence, of losing control, of lawbreaking, of contempt for the institutions of state, is passing though certain sections of the Israeli public," Olmert told the Cabinet.

Like a dead fish, Israel stinks from the head down - a corrupt former Prime Minister expressing concern for the terror perpetrated by a corrupt people...

What Caused Our Economic Crisis?

Excellent video on the current financial crisis.

Two Portraits of a Bioterror Suspect

Bruce E. Ivins was a caring father and Red Cross volunteer, friends and family say. The FBI says he carried out the deadly anthrax attacks of 2001.

"For everything they want to pin on him . . . there is a counter to it, an alternate explanation," said Katie Carr, the former deputy commander at USAMRIID, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, where Ivins worked for 27 years. "There are an awful lot of us in the community that surrounded Bruce who are not satisfied. Please prove it."

The real culprit of this caper has, believe it or not, never been investigated. One Lt. Col. Philip Zack, a Zionist and Arab hater who was "transferred" from Fort Detrick for harassing an Egyptian born colleague, was observed entering the lab building at night after his transfer.

You can read the entire sorted details here