Agenda 21, Water

WND EXCLUSIVE

Farmers plead to use their own wells

Warn that drought is costing crops, income, tax revenue

Published: 22 hours ago

By Jack Minor
GREELEY, Colo. – Lawmakers in Colorado say they want a study of groundwater issues in the northeastern part of the state where farmers have been banned from pumping from their wells for several years.

But farmers and local officials there say this historic drought is an emergency and the governor should use his executive authority to bypass the judiciary.
WND previously reported how farmers in Weld County are facing the possibility of losing their crops because the courts have refused them permission to use water right under their feet, groundwater that is rising and actually seeping into basements.
Now an estimated 200 farmers have met in a show of solidarity, signing a statement to the government that if they are not allowed to turn on their wells and irrigate their crops they will not be able to pay taxes next year.
This year’s snowpack is only 2 percent of average, tying a record low set during another historic drought in 2002.
Over the decades, wells were drilled to supplement low water usage during times such as this. However, several years ago the courts ordered the wells shut down because farmers were not “augmenting” or replacing the water they removed from the ground.
The reasoning was that any groundwater not used is water that will eventually flow into the South Platte River Basin at some point in the future and by using this water, farmers were depriving senior water right holders of their portion of water from the river.
Glen Fritzler, a farmer who operates a corn maze in LaSalle and hosted the event, disputed the contention that allowing area farmers to turn on the wells would deprive senior water holders.
“Our groundwater is at historically high levels to where it is flooding basements, septic systems are overflowing … but the river is still at historic lows,” he said. “The reason the river is low is because of the snowpack, not from farmers pumping the groundwater to save their crops.”
Several farmers testified that if the state did not give them the ability to pump within a matter of days they would be in danger of losing entire fields.
Gene Kammerzell, who operates a large nursery, said that he doesn’t have enough water to keep crops alive.
“Without turning on the wells, I have an $8.34 million dollar crop in jeopardy unless we get substantial rainfall in the next 10 days.”
He went on to point out that the volume of groundwater in the aquifer they were seeking to pump from consists of 10.5 million acre-feet. One acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons.
“We have five Lake McConaughys under our feet and because of the political morass and the mismanagement it has been removed from our ability to tap it,” Kammerzell said.
He was not the only farmer facing these concerns. Third generation farmer Dave Patroco said he was on the brink of losing thousands of acres in corn, hay and other crops.
“If presidents can issue disaster declarations for places like New Orleans and other places where there are floods that need assistance, there is no reason they cannot do the same for us.
“We are only asking for around 90 days to be able to use the water during this drought,” he said.
Rather than simply complain about the issue, local authorities are taking action in an attempt to persuade the governor to turn the wells back on.
John Meininger, an attorney who has been representing many of the farmers on this issue pro bono, said while the courts have ordered the wells turned off, there is a solution available.
“The governor has the authority to order the wells turned on based on his authority to declare the imminent possibility of a disaster whether natural or man-made and this certainly qualifies,” he said. “The groundwater issue is man-made because of the wells being shut down. This is a very real disaster today and the government has a responsibility to protect people in times like this.”
County officials stated they agree with the farmers and plan to take swift action.
Sean Conway, chairman of the Weld County Commissioners, said they are going to pass a resolution on Monday morning declaring a natural disaster in the county.
“We’re going to pass an emergency declaration and send it on to the governor,” Conway said. “We’ll ask him to declare one too.”
The declaration will call on the governor to use his executive authority to turn on the wells for at least 30 days.
“We’ll also ask him to convene the drought task force,” said Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer, a fourth generation farmer.
Jim Yahn, who represents Colorado farmers near the Nebraska border, indicated that if the disaster declaration is issued, he will challenge it in court. Yahn’s fear is that by letting the farmers use the groundwater this summer it could impact their ability to have their reservoirs refilled from the South Platte River this winter.
“When you pump, there’s an effect,” Yahn said. “It may not be today. It may not be tomorrow, but there will be an effect.”
Commissioner Doug Rademacher disputed the contention that farmers were not being efficient users of their water, “Water from the South Platte is used an average of seven times before it leaves the state. It provides an economic return of 10 to 1 making it one of the most efficient rivers in the nation.”
Kirkmeyer said Yahn would not be able to succeed as the governor’s disaster order to turn on the wells for 30 days would override any court order on the matter. He could subsequently extend the order on a month by month basis to help the farmers get through this season.
However, there appear to be troubling signs that the state may not be so quick to provide relief until it is too late.
John Stulp, the governor’s water policy adviser, told Channel 7-KMGH Denver, the only television station present at the meeting, that he was skeptical that what was happening amounted to a disaster declaration at this time.
Stulp said the threshold for a disaster threshold is a 30 percent crop loss in a designated area and no one has lost any crops yet.
The farmers said the reason no crops have been lost is they are not ready to give up yet and they will be using the water as long as they can, hoping the governor will take action before the loss.
“We want to close the barn doors before the horses get out,” Conway said.
Recent legislation was passed ordering a study of the groundwater issue, but it is not expected to be completed until next year. Bob Sakuta, a senior farmer from Brighton, said turning the wells on for 90 days would actually help with the study, because they could monitor the usage and see how it affects river flow.
Wayne Stewart, a farmer from Eaton, said he wanted to send a clear message to government officials that they were not looking for a handout. “No one here is asking for money from the government. All we are asking is for the right to turn on our wells and we will use our own hard-earned money to pump the water.”
WND previously reported on the issue that has been created by the state Supreme Court’s decision in 2006 to order 440 wells shut down and another 1,000 curtailed.
Under Colorado water doctrine, water is distributed under the principle of first in use, first in right whereby prior users have senior rights to junior users. Senior right holders such as the cities of Boulder, Centennial, Highlands Ranch and Sterling, which had experienced phenomenal growth in the 1990s, became concerned their water supply in the river basin was being depleted by junior water-right well owners who were pumping water from the Alluvium Aquifer, which flows into the South Platte River Basin.

To be Nuked or not Nuked is the Question! Or Suffer with a man made Chemicals

Obama gave them too much time and they developed an atomic war head to be used against the USA and the world to bring America to it's knees. The real Enemy of the USA is Obama and our wonderful Congress along with the Judges. All of them must be voted out. I mean ALL.
We need to change the law back to where ordinary CITIZENS can be Judges and stop the GOOD OLD BOYS CLUB of attorney's.
Vote for Leah Lax and lets change America back to We the People owning it . Visit LeahLax.com and donate

Iranians warn they'll carry out military strikes on U.S. interests worldwide if Americans attack

• Warning today from Iran's ambassador to Moscow
• U.S. trying to force Tehran to scrap nuclear work
• Iran says attack on them would be 'suicidal' for U.S.

By Mark Duell
Last updated at 5:25 PM on 8th February 2012


Iran today warned it is capable of carrying out military strikes on U.S. interests around the world if America attacks the Islamic Republic.
The U.S. has tried to force Tehran to scrap sensitive nuclear work through sanctions targeting Iran's central bank and Iranian government assets.
But Iran's ambassador to Moscow said on Wednesday that the U.S. would be making a mistake akin to suicide by risking a military strike on them.

Warning: Iran's ambassador to Moscow Ambassador Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi said the U.S. would be making a mistake by risking a military strike

‘The Americans know what kind of country Iran is,’ Ambassador Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi said. ‘They are well aware of our people's unity.’
‘And that's why Iran is fully able to deliver retaliatory strikes on the United States anywhere in the world,’ he added through an interpreter.

More...

• The bloodiest 24 hours yet: '18 premature babies die in Homs hospital after power cut caused by fifth day of shelling by Assad troops'
• 'Kill all Jews and annihilate Israel!' Website close to Iran's Ayatollah lays out legal and religious justification for attack

The U.S. has only said a military option is always on the table if Iran cannot be otherwise prevented from developing atomic weapons.
‘Even if it attacks, we have a list of counter actions,’ Mr Sajjadi added, saying that the U.S. would be ‘disappointed with their huge mistake’.

Fears: A worker rides a bike in front of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran. The country has issued threatening statements against the West recently

Iran has issued threatening statements against the West in recent weeks as tension has soared over its uranium enrichment programme.

'The Americans are well aware of our people's unity. And that's why Iran is fully able to deliver retaliatory strikes on the United States anywhere in the world'

Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi, Iran's ambassador to Moscow

The oil-rich country moved the operation last month to a mountain bunker better protected from possible air strikes.
Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful while Western powers fear Tehran is trying to build a nuclear bomb.
‘The issue of a military attack from America on the Islamic Republic of Iran has been on the agenda for several years,’ Mr Sajjadi said, adding Iran would never strike first.

Key area: Sailors man a machine gun at sea onboard the USS Kitty Hawk in the vital Strait of Hormuz, used by one third of the world's seaborne oil traffic

Iran has warned its response to any such strike would be ‘painful’, threatening to target Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf.

'The issue of a military attack from America on the Islamic Republic of Iran has been on the agenda for several years'

Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi

It has also suggested closing the vital Strait of Hormuz, used by one third of the world's seaborne oil traffic.
Russia, the world's biggest energy producer, opposes further U.N. Security Council sanctions over Tehran's nuclear programme.
It has also criticised U.S. and EU sanctions over Iran, which is the second-biggest Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries oil exporter


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2098326/Iranians-warn-theyll-carry-military-strikes-U-S-interests-worldwide-Americans-attack.html#ixzz1lonubXnQ

To be Nuked or not Nuked is the Question!  Or Suffer with a man made Chemicals

Details of secret experiments on deadly man-made bird flu that kills over half of the people it infects WILL get out, says bioterrorism watchdog

• 'The infrastructure to stop a pandemic is not there,' says Professor Paul Keim

By Ted Thornhill
Last updated at 1:19 PM on 8th February 2012


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2098128/Bird-flu-Details-deadly-H5N1-inevitably-leak-says-bioterrorism-expert.html#ixzz1lov9Qjkw

H5N1 warning: Professor Paul Keim

Details of secret experiments by scientists who have created the most deadly form of bird flu in the lab will inevitably be leaked - potentially into the hands of terrorists - an expert has warned.
A furore erupted in December over the decision by the U.S National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) to censor details of the virus being made public, which can be transmitted by coughs and sneezes.
But now the head of that board claims they will enter the public domain anyway.
Professor Paul Keim has issued a stark warning to governments to begin preparing for an outbreak.
‘We recognise that, in the long term certainly, the information is going to get out, and maybe even in the midterm,’ he told The Independent.
‘But if we can restrict it in the short term and motivate governments to start getting busy in terms of building up the flu-defence infrastructure, then we’ve succeeded at a certain level.’
Chillingly, he added: ‘The infrastructure to stop a pandemic in this area is not there. We just don’t have the capabilities. Even if we spotted it early on, I don’t think we have enough vaccines. The vaccines aren’t good enough, and the drugs are not good enough to stop this emerging and being a pandemic.’
When H5N1 bird flu erupted over seven years ago, out of the 584 people known to have caught it, 335 died.
What stopped it from becoming a world-wide killer was its inability to jump from birds to humans easily.
However, a mutation of the virus was made by Ron Fouchier and his team at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam in Holland, which was just as deadly and passed easily between ferrets, the animal that best indicates whether humans will catch it.
In December, the NSABB asked the journals Nature and Science to censor publication of the study, and similar research conducted by American scientists, setting off a furious debate in the scientific and public health communities.

More...

• Could Spider-Man become a reality? Bizarre white cobweb found on nuclear waste that could have come from a 'mutant' spider

The move followed a voluntary 60-day suspension of a study into the virus by the researchers themselves, who became worried that their work could lead to a pandemic.
Fears were raised that the engineered viruses may escape from the laboratories - not unlike the frightful scenario in the 1971 science fiction movie The Andromeda Strain - or possibly be used to create a bioterror weapon.
In a letter published in Nature and Science, 39 scientists defended the research as crucial to public health efforts.

Deadly: The new H5N1 virus can be transmitted by coughs and sneezes

Among the scientists who signed the letter were leaders of the two teams that have spearheaded the research, at Erasmus Medical College in the Netherlands and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, as well as influenza experts at institutions ranging from the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the University of Hong Kong.
The letter in full can be read here.
The researchers, however, were critical of the NSABB's decision to partially censor their work.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2098128/Bird-flu-Details-deadly-H5N1-inevitably-leak-says-bioterrorism-expert.html#ixzz1louwrtxM

Pause on avian flu transmission studies

• Ron A. M. Fouchier,¹
• Adolfo García-Sastre,²
• Yoshihiro Kawaoka³
• & 36 co-authors

• Affiliations
• Corresponding author

Journal name:

Nature

Year published:

(2012)

DOI:

doi:10.1038/481443a

Published online

20 January 2012            

The continuous threat of an influenza pandemic represents one of the biggest challenges in public health. Influenza pandemics are known to be caused by viruses that evolve from animal reservoirs, such as birds and pigs, and can acquire genetic changes that increase their ability to transmit in humans. Pandemic preparedness plans have been implemented worldwide to mitigate the impact of influenza pandemics. A major obstacle in preventing influenza pandemics is that little is known regarding what makes an influenza virus transmissible in humans. As a consequence, the potential pandemic risk associated with the many different influenza viruses of animals cannot be assessed with any certainty.
Recent research breakthroughs identified specific determinants of transmission of H5N1 influenza viruses in ferrets. Responsible research on influenza virus transmission using different animal models is conducted by multiple laboratories in the world using the highest international standards of biosafety and biosecurity practices that effectively prevent the release of transmissible viruses from the laboratory. These standards are regulated and monitored closely by the relevant authorities. This statement is being made by the principal investigators of these laboratories.
In two independent studies conducted in two leading influenza laboratories at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, investigators have proved that viruses possessing a haemagglutinin (HA) protein from highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses can become transmissible in ferrets. This is critical information that advances our understanding of influenza transmission. However, more research is needed to determine how influenza viruses in nature become human pandemic threats, so that they can be contained before they acquire the ability to transmit from human to human, or so that appropriate countermeasures can be deployed if adaptation to humans occurs.
Despite the positive public-health benefits these studies sought to provide, a perceived fear that the ferret-transmissible H5 HA viruses may escape from the laboratories has generated intense public debate in the media on the benefits and potential harm of this type of research. We would like to assure the public that these experiments have been conducted with appropriate regulatory oversight in secure containment facilities by highly trained and responsible personnel to minimize any risk of accidental release. Whether the ferret-adapted influenza viruses have the ability to transmit from human to human cannot be tested.
We recognize that we and the rest of the scientific community need to clearly explain the benefits of this important research and the measures taken to minimize its possible risks. We propose to do so in an international forum in which the scientific community comes together to discuss and debate these issues. We realize that organizations and governments around the world need time to find the best solutions for opportunities and challenges that stem from the work. To provide time for these discussions, we have agreed on a voluntary pause of 60 days on any research involving highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses leading to the generation of viruses that are more transmissible in mammals. In addition, no experiments with live H5N1 or H5 HA reassortant viruses already shown to be transmissible in ferrets will be conducted during this time. We will continue to assess the transmissibility of H5N1 influenza viruses that emerge in nature and pose a continuing threat to human health.
A full list of signatories to this Correspondence is available here.

If they are going to panic over the Nuclear disaster in Fukushima then what is going to happen when Iran strikes the USA from within with homegrown terrorist. These terrorist could be your next door neighbor who convert. 

Emails reveal panic at U.S. nuclear agency as experts were kept in the dark following Fukushima disaster

• One email reads: 'We have very little factual information as an agency'
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission inundated with requests over safety of U.S. nuclear facilities in wake of disaster
• Experts disagreed over best way to contain Fukushima disaster
• Worst-case scenario would have seen high levels of radiation reach Alaska

By Wil Longbottom
Last updated at 11:55 AM on 8th February 2012

 Emails posted on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission website after the Fukushima disaster last March have revealed the agency was kept in the dark about the scale of the crisis.
The correspondence, posted after the earthquake and tsunami caused catastrophic damage to the nuclear plant in Fukushima, Japan, reveals experts in the U.S. disagreed over how to deal with the disaster.
And while assuring the U.S. population that there was no danger, the NRC did not disclose a worst-case scenario which could have seen high levels of radiation affecting Alaska if Fukushima could not be brought under control.

Panic: Smoke rises from the shell of reactor No 3 at Fukushima. Emails from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission reveal experts were kept in the dark about the scale of the disaster

Stricken: Hydrogen explosions causes structural damage to four of the reactors at the plant after the earthquake and tsunami struck on March 11 last year

One email, hours after the magnitude nine earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on March 11, and reported in the Washington Post, said: 'THIS IS NOT A DRILL. This may get really ugly in the next few days.'
Three days later, another official said: 'It's frustrating, but we have very little factual info as an agency.'

More...

• How to stay safe in the atomic age: Charming posters from 1947 which show the health risks from radiation

The NRC said it was on standby to help Japan cope with the disaster, but struggled to get through 'the fog of information' surrounding the damage at Fukushima, the Post reported.
The emails also reveal experts disagreed on how to advise Tokyo Electric Power Co., which ran the plant. One idea, by physicist Richard Garwin, suggested using a 'shaped' explosion to break through the containment structure of damaged reactors to allow them to be cooled.

'Fog of information': U.S. experts said they were not getting accurate details of the scope of the Fukushima disaster after reactors melted down last year

Edwin Lyman, a nuclear expert at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told the Post: 'The emails provide a candid picture of the level of uncertainty and confusion within the U.S. government and indicates that even U.S. experts had major divisions about what was going on and how to best mitigate the crisis.'
The agency was asked by several countries about pools used to house spent nuclear reactor fuel.
At Fukushima, these peoples were either above or next to the reactors and NPR officials were worried they could leak or dry up - causing more radiation to escape.
France, Germany and Japan sought access to NPR information on the pools on March 17, but it was reluctant to share the data over fears of potential attacks on reactors triggered by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Impact: Debris and stranded boats in Namie, Japan, after the tsunami last year. The NRC did not disclose the worst-case scenario which could have seen high levels of radiation reach Alaska

Mr Lyman added: 'There is a whole base of information about spent fuel fires and pools that the NRC is not sharing with the public.
'We understand that when you're concerned about terrorist attacks that you want to conceal information, but I don't think there's any reason to maintain such a broad blackout over this type of information.'
Other emails reveal people in the U.S. calling for all nuclear power stations to be temporarily shut so tests could be carried out as well as Freedom of Information Act requests for details of correspondence on Fukushima.
The emails, available on the NRC website, also reveal concerns over a U.S. reactor similar to one of the stricken units at Fukushima.
The agency had been due to issue a licence extension to the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor on March 16, but postponed it in the wake of the Japan disaster.
A 20-year extension was eventually approved on March 21.

Deserted: An empty shopping street in Namie, inside the 12-mile exclusion zone around the crippled Fukushima plant. The Japanese government has repeatedly been accused of withholding information on the disaster

It comes after a secret report by the Japanese government revealed last month that tens of millions of people may have had to be evacuated if the worst-case scenario hit Fukushima.
The 15-page internal document, which was not released over fears of widespread panic, cast doubt on whether the Japanese government could have coped with an evacuation on such an unprecedented scale.
Written on March 25, two weeks after the tsunami devastated the power plant, causing three reactors to melt down and generating hydrogen explosions that blew away protective structures, it revealed contingencies that would have required evacuation orders for residents within a 105-mile radius of the plant, including the whole of Tokyo.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2098067/Emails-reveal-panic-U-S-nuclear-agency-experts-kept-dark-following-Fukushima-disaster.html#ixzz1lot5S2D8

Iran Plot and the 12th Iman

Rep. Rogers: Iran Assassination Plot Crosses 'Very Dangerous Threshold'

Thursday, 13 Oct 2011 06:09 PM

By Martin Gould and Ashley Martella

Read more on Newsmax.com: Rep. Rogers: Iran Assassination Plot Crosses 'Very Dangerous Threshold'
Important: Do You Support Pres. Obama's Re-Election? Vote Here Now!

The foiled Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington D.C. crosses a "very dangerous threshold," says House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Mike Rogers — one that demands an unprecedented level of action from the Obama administration to stop the rising Islamist power.

“The longer we put off an aggressive international approach to this, the worse off we are all going to be,” said the six-term Michigan Republican in an exclusive Newsmax.TV interview.

“Imagine a nation state that’s engaged in trying to kill U.S. soldiers and coalition forces in Iraq; that is plotting to kill an ambassador, the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, here in Washington D.C.; oh, and by the way, they’re going to get nuclear weapons.”

President Obama also will have to make the case to the world for action against Iran, and that will mean pressuring China and Russia to fall in line. The two UN Security Council permanent members need to be told they have to stand with the rest of the world in opposition to the Tehran government, Rogers said.

“It is important for us, us, as the international community, to band together and say, ‘Hey, wait a minute, you have to make a choice here, you have to be for them and for a state sponsor of terrorism, or you are going to be with the rest of the international community. This is your chance.’

“I’m not pollyannaish enough to believe they are all of a sudden going to change their minds but we need to make them very uncomfortable,” he added.

Rogers was speaking just as Obama told reporters that Iranian involvement in the thwarted plot was “part of a pattern of dangerous and reckless behavior."

“What you're going to see is folks throughout the Middle East region questioning their ability to work effectively with Iran," added the president.

Rogers said he agrees with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Iran is about two years away from getting a nuclear weapon, and that must be stopped at all costs. He believes that the reason the plot targeted Saudi ambassador Adel al-Jubeir was due to Riyadh’s strong position opposing a nuclear Iran.

“They have been aggressive about saying that it is really dangerous if Iran gets a nuclear weapon,” said Rogers. “It’s destabilizing to the whole region and it unleashes the hordes of their intelligence service to do really bad things.”

The plot to kill al-Jubeir by blowing up a Washington restaurant as he ate was revealed by Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday. Rogers, Obama and other leaders had known about it since being briefed in June. Two Iranians have been charged in connection with the plot, one is in custody and the other is still on the run.

Iran has denied any link to the plot, but Rogers was adamant that the plot was real and that senior officials in the Iranian government were behind it.

“Evidence is evidence,” he said. “I’m a former FBI agent and I can tell you, I’ve looked at the case, I’ve looked at the evidence, I was briefed when this thing started to unfold months ago and they have nowhere to go.

“The evidence in this case is incredibly strong and that’s why you see such a widespread agreement of Republicans and Democrats and senior intelligence officials and DOJ officials. Yes this happened. Yes, it was tied to Iran. Yes, this crossed a very dangerous threshold.”

Rogers said Manssor Arbabsiar, the man who is in custody, is cooperating and has admitted to ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds force and to the very top in Tehran.

“This was an operation that would have cost $1.5 million, so you know someone senior in there has already been involved,” he said. “You know that the Quds force has a direct command relationship (with) the Supreme Leader.”

He said that because of the brazenness of the assassination plot it is safe to assume that it is not the first time – nor will it be the last – that Quds operatives have killed their enemies.

”It’s important to know the Quds force has been up to no good and dangerous activities for years, and went relatively unmolested by the rest of the world, unchallenged by the rest of the world. This is what led to this very brazen activity and, one could extrapolate, there is likely to be other plans… in the works.”

He said Quds operatives have been operating with impunity in both Iraq and Afghanistan in killing American and coalition soldiers.

Now, he said, it is time to “ratchet up” sanctions on Iran. “It would be a serious mistake if they didn’t feel some pain as a result of what was a very aggressive operation to commit an act of violence for political gain in the United States.”

But he said he does not agree with House Homeland Security Committee chairman Rep. Peter King of New York, who has called on Obama to expel all Iranian diplomats from the United States. “We don’t have a formal diplomatic relationship as it stands, there’s a consulate up in New York that we do some dealings with,” he pointed out.

“I always believe that even in a time of extreme tension, you need at least somebody to talk to, to either de-escalate or make an agreement about why they ought to change their ways. So I would be a little careful about going there.

“But that doesn’t mean we should not be incredibly aggressive about targeting Quds force people in Iraq and Afghanistan, and about making sure that the Quds force operatives, wherever they are in the world, are going to have difficulty operating, and that we continue to put pressure on Iran.”



Read more on Newsmax.com: Rep. Rogers: Iran Assassination Plot Crosses 'Very Dangerous Threshold'
Important: Do You Support Pres. Obama's Re-Election? Vote Here Now!

Cutting the Aid Money for Palestinians

At last the US Congress sees the West bank and Gaza uses that money to attack Israel. Why should America finance attacks on America's only real friend in the middle east.

Abbas is punished by $200m cut in aid from US

Congress makes Palestinians pay for seeking UN recognition

By Donald Macintyre in Jerusalem

Saturday, 1 October 2011

The United States Congress has blocked nearly $200m in aid for the Palestinians, threatening projects such as food aid, health care, and support for efforts to build a functioning state.

The decision to delay the payments runs counter to the wishes of the Obama administration and reflects Congressional anger at Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's so far unrealised pursuit of Fatah-Hamas reconciliation and statehood recognition at the UN.

The freezing of the funds, which were to have been dispersed in the US fiscal year that ends today, is the most tangible sign yet of the seriousness of Congressional leaders' threats of an even wider halt to funding in the coming year if Mr Abbas continues with his actions at the UN. It was strongly condemned yesterday by the Palestinian Authority.

There have been persistent demands in Congress to withhold up to $600m – the average amount given by the US in bilateral assistance to the West Bank and Gaza every year since 2008 – in the next financial year over the issue.

The administration remains, as does Congress, opposed to the Palestinians' application for full UN membership, which Mr Abbas submitted last week. But it argues that assistance to the Palestinian people is what a US official described as "an essential part of the US commitment to a secure future and two-state solution for Palestinians".

Former President Bill Clinton, among others, this month warned legislators to leave the issue of aid to the administration, adding: "Everybody knows the US Congress is the most pro-Israel parliamentary body in the world. They don't have to demonstrate that."

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Speech 2011: Delegates Leave General Assembly Hall

EDITH M. LEDERER   09/22/11 06:16 PM ET  

UNITED NATIONS — American diplomats led a walkout at the U.N. General Assembly Thursday as Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fiercely attacked the United States and major West European nations as "arrogant powers" ruled by greed and eager for military adventurism.
The two U.S. diplomats, who specialize in the Middle East, were followed out of the chamber by diplomats from more than 30 countries. They included the 27 European Union members, Australia, New Zealand, Somalia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Macedonia, a U.N. diplomat said. Israel boycotted the speech.
Ahmadenijad's fiery anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli rhetoric has been a staple of the General Assembly's ministerial meetings.
Last year, Ahmadinejad provoked a walkout by the U.S., EU, and others when he said a majority of people in the United States and around the world believe the American government staged the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks in an attempt to assure Israel's survival.
The provocative comments prompted the U.S. delegation to walk out of Ahmadinejad's U.N. speech, where he also blamed the U.S. as the power behind U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a technology that can be used as fuel for electricity generation or to build nuclear weapons.
Ahmadinejad's speech pitted the poverty and unhappiness of most countries against the riches and power of the U.S. and unnamed European nations that he accused of perpetuating wars, causing the current global economic crisis and infringing on "the rights and sovereignty of nations."
He attacked the United States and European colonial powers for abducting tens of millions of Africans and making them slaves, for their readiness "to drop thousands of bombs on other countries," and for dominating the U.N. Security Council He singled out the U.S. for using a nuclear bomb against Japan in World War II and imposing and supporting military dictatorships and totalitarian regimes in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
"It is as lucid as daylight that the same slave masters and colonial powers that once instigated the two world wars have caused widespread misery and disorder with far-reaching effects across the globe since then," Ahmadinejad said. "Do these arrogant powers really have the competence and ability to run or govern the world?"
The Iranian president answered by calling for "the shared and collective management of the world in order to put an end to the present disorders, tyranny and discriminations worldwide." Last year, he said "the future belongs to Iran" and challenged the U.S. to accept that his country has a major role in the world.

Ahmadinejad made no mention of his disputed re-election in June 2009 when security forces systematically crushed opposition protests, the current internal political turmoil that has sharply diminished his power, or Iran's nuclear program which the U.S. and its allies believe is aimed at producing nuclear weapons.
"While President Ahmadinejad is lecturing the world from the U.N. podium," Human Rights Watch's U.N. Director Philippe Bolopion said, "dissent is still being crushed ruthlessly in Iran and basic rights demanded by millions in the Arab world are brutally denied to Iranians who are demanding the same."
"The world assembly should take with a grain of salt the remarks of a leader who said nothing about the public hanging yesterday of a 17-year-old in his own country," he said.
In his speech, Ahmadinejad noted "the widespread awakening in Islamic lands ... (in) the pursuit of the realization of justice, freedom and the creation of a better tomorrow." He said "our great nationa stands ready to join hands with other nations to march on this beautiful path."
The Iranian leader accused the U.S. of threatening to place sanctions on anyone who questions the Holocaust and the Sept. 11 attacks with sanctions and military action.
Without naming the United States, he asked: "Who imposed, through deceits and hypocrisy, the Zionism and over 60 years of war, homelessness, terror and mass murder on the Palestinian people and on countries in the region?"
Ahmadinejad accused some unidentified European countries of still using the Holocaust "as the excuse to pay fine or ransom to the Zionists." He also said any question about the foundation of Zionism is condemned by the U.S. "as an unforgivable sin."
Mark Kornblau, spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, said: "Mr. Ahmadinejad had a chance to address his own people's aspirations for freedom and dignity, but instead he again turned to abhorrent anti-Semitic slurs and despicable conspiracy theories."
When the idea of an independent fact-finding investigation of "the hidden elements" involved in the Sept. 11 attacks was raised last year, he said, "my country and myself came under pressure and threat by the government of the United States."
"Instead of assigning a fact-finding team, they killed the main perpetrator and threw his body into the sea," Ahmadinejad said, referring to the U.S. military's killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in early May.
"Would it not have been reasonable to bring to justice and openly to trial the main perpetrator of the incident in order to identify the elements behind the safe space provided for the invading aircraft to attack the twin world trade towers?," he asked.

Obama is a Liar Liar his pants on Fire about Israel

'No!' Palestinian U.N. diplomat seen shaking his head as Obama calls on Palestine to drop bid for independence

• President Barack Obama speaks at U.N. General Assembly in New York
• Frustrated at lack of Israel-Palestine progress and urged face-to-face talks
• Hailed 'remarkable year' for peace after Gaddafi's fall and Bin Laden's death
• Obama wants Palestine's Mahmoud Abbas to end U.N. full membership bid
• Palestinian U.N. representative seen shaking his head when Obama calls for both parties to 'see the world through the other's eyes'

By Mark Duell
Last updated at 7:12 PM on 21st September 2011

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Barack Obama's attempt to take charge of the Middle East peace talks was met with an instant rebuff today when a Palestinian representative was filmed shaking his head during the President's address to the United Nations.
The delegate was clearly seen expressing his disapproval as Mr Obama called on Palestinians to withdraw their U.N. resolution for independence.
Addressing the U.N. General Assembly in New York, the President spoke of his frustration at a lack of progress in the Israel-Palestine conflict and urged both parties to resolve their differences through negotiations.
Scroll down for videos and transcript

Talks: President Obama addresses the 66th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York

On camera: A Palestinian U.N. representative, centre, was seen on TV shaking his head when Mr Obama said the Palestinians and Israelis must learn to 'see the world through the other's eyes' (scroll down for video)

But the Palestinian representative at the venue was seen on television shaking his head when Mr Obama said the Palestinians and Israelis must learn to 'see the world through the other's eyes'.
The graphic show of displeasure will enrage White House aides who are keen to promote the President's determination to play a central role in finiding a breakthrough in the Middle East.
However, it is likely to be well received by many Jewish voters in America who have frequently accused Mr Obama of being pro-Palestinian.

More...

• Obama criticises fat cats... then meets them for dinner and asks for their money (but conveniently forgets to mention his tax hikes)

In his speech, the President also hailed a ‘remarkable year’ for peace in which Colonel Gaddafi’s regime fell in Libya and former Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan.
He said 2011 has already been a year of ‘extraordinary transformation’ after a ‘difficult decade’ and told the Middle East it has 'a chance to move decisively in the direction of peace'.
The President is pushing for the Palestinians to drop a statehood bid and will follow up his speech with separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to coax both back to direct peace talks.

Big speech: President Obama said 2011 has already been a year of 'extraordinary transformation' after a 'difficult decade' and told the U.N. it has 'a chance to move decisively in the direction of peace'

'Peace is more than just the absence of war,’ President Obama said. ‘A lasting peace for nations and individuals depends on a sense of justice, opportunity, dignity and freedom.'

President Barack Obama speaks on...

• LIBYA: 'After decades of iron rule by one man, it will take time to build the institutions needed for a democratic Libya'
  
• AL QAEDA: 'Bin Laden is gone, and the idea that change could only come through violence has been buried with him'
  
• ISRAEL-PALESTINE: 'It is Israelis and Palestinians - not us - who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them'
  
• U.S. TROOPS: 'When I took office, roughly 180,000 Americans were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. By the end of this year, that number will be cut in half'

He praised President Franklin Roosevelt’s role in setting up the UN - and quoted him as saying: 'We've got to make not merely a peace, but a peace that will last.’
‘One year ago I stood at this podium and I called for an independent Palestine,’ President Obama added. ‘I believed then and I believe now that the Palestinian people deserve a state of their own.’
‘A genuine peace can only be realised between the Israelis and the Palestinians themselves. Israelis must know that any agreement provides assurances for their security.
‘I know many are frustrated by the lack of progress. I assure you – so am I. The question is: how do we reach that goal? Ultimately it’s the Israelis and Palestinians who must live by side by side.’
Mr Obama said they must reach an agreement on borders, security, refugees and security - and talked about the lessons learned from previous conflicts in Northern Ireland and Sudan.

Talk: He spoke to the U.N. General Assembly today about a 'remarkable year' for peace in which Colonel Gaddafi's regime fell in Libya and former Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan

Point: Mr Obama praised President Franklin Roosevelt's role in setting up the UN - and quoted him saying: 'We've got to make not merely a peace, but a peace that will last'

‘We seek a future where Palestinians live in a sovereign state of their own where there are no limits on what they can achieve,’ he said.
_________________________________________________________

(Obama: The first Jewish President?

Democrats claim that Mr Obama is pro-Jewish and pro-Israel - and he was even labelled as 'the first Jewish President' in the latest issue of New York Magazine.
But Mr Obama's aides are worried about him losing Jewish voters after his party lost Anthony Weiner's seat in the 9th congressional district of New York City, which has a large proportion of Jews.
Earlier this month Bob Turner became the first Republican to win the two-fifths Jewish district since 1920 - and Mr Obama's policy on Israel and the Middle East was blamed for the loss.
A poll showed 54 per cent of Jewish Americans approved of Mr Obama's performance in September - down from 68 per cent in May.
Since Obama was NOT born from a Jewish Mother he is NOT JEWISH. END OF STORY!!!! 
However his father was MUSLIM which makes OBAMA MUSLIM)
_____________________________________________________________

‘America’s commitment to Israel’s security is unshakable. Our friendship with Israel is deep and enduring.’
He also spoke about the importance of peace worldwide and repeated the phrase: ‘Peace is hard.’ President Obama added: ‘We still live in a world scarred by conflict and plagued by poverty.
‘Something’s happening in our world,’ he said. The way things have been is not the way they will be.’
President Obama also said the U.S. military operation in Iraq will soon be ending and talked about 'building an enduring partnership with the Afghan people'. 'The tide of war is receding,’ he said.
President Obama was pressuring his Palestinian counterpart, trying to persuade Mahmoud Abbas to end his bid for full U.N. membership and to instead seek upgraded status in the world body.
U.S. officials conceded they cannot stop Mr Abbas from officially launching his case for the Security Council's approval of the statehood effort.
But they have also made the case for the Palestinian leader to essentially drop the move for statehood recognition after delivering his letter of intent to the U.N.

Religious unrest: Palestinian demonstrators carry a slingshot and rocks past a burning rubbish bin during clashes with Israeli soldiers today

Violence: A Palestinian holds a slingshot as others roll tires to burn during clashes with Israeli soldiers, at the Qalandia checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem

Mr Abbas was expected to announce a formal request for statehood recognition on Friday when he speaks to the General Assembly. But it could take months for the U.N. to act on the request.

'America’s commitment to Israel’s security is unshakable. Our friendship with Israel is deep and enduring'

President Barack Obama

While Mr Obama will formally ask Mr Abbas not to pursue the statehood bid, the mission is actually directed at containing the fallout by urging him not to push for an actual vote in the Council.
The U.S. has promised a veto. A delay would give international peacemakers time to produce a statement that would be the basis for resumed Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Mr Obama will also meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who arrived in New York early on Wednesday.

Enlarge  

Diagrams: These maps show the possible land swap scenarios for Israel and Palestine in the Middle East

In carefully orchestrated demonstrations, thousands of flag-waving Palestinians rallied Wednesday in towns across the West Bank to show support for their president's bid for U.N. recognition.

'Something’s happening in our world. The way things have been is not the way they will be'
President Barack Obama

A new poll indicated an overwhelming majority supports Mr Abbas' quest for U.N. recognition of a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, the areas Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War.
Were the Palestinians to bow to the ideas of Mr Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, they would become a non-member observer state, a status similar to that of the Holy See. 
That would give them an opportunity to seek membership in U.N. agencies and join treaties, including the Rome statute that established the International Criminal Court.
See video of Palestinian U.N. representative shaking his head here (go to 1:50)

President Barack Obama's full speech to the U.N. General Assembly in New York

Mr President, Mr Secretary-General, fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen: I would like to talk to you about a subject that is at the heart of the United Nations – the pursuit of peace in an imperfect world.
War and conflict have been with us since the beginning of civilization. But in the first part of the 20th century, the advance of modern weaponry led to death on a staggering scale. It was this killing that compelled the founders of this body to build an institution that was focused not just on ending one war, but on averting others; a union of sovereign states that would seek to prevent conflict, while also addressing its causes.
No American did more to pursue this objective than President Franklin Roosevelt. He knew that a victory in war was not enough. As he said at one of the very first meetings on the founding of the United Nations: ‘We have got to make, not merely a peace, but a peace that will last.’
The men and women who built this institution understood that peace is more than the absence of war. A lasting peace – for nations and individuals – depends upon a sense of justice and opportunity; of dignity and freedom. It depends upon struggle and sacrifice; on compromise, and a sense of common humanity.
One delegate to the San Francisco Conference that led to the creation of United Nations put it well – ‘Many people,’ she said, ‘have talked as if all we had to do to get peace was…to say loudly and frequently that we loved peace and hated war. Now we have learned that no matter how much we love peace and hate war, we cannot avoid having war brought upon us if there are convulsions in other parts of the world.’
The fact is, peace is hard, but our people demand it. Over nearly seven decades, even as the United Nations helped avert a third World War, we still live in a world scarred by conflict and plagued by poverty. Even as we proclaim our love for peace and hatred of war, there are convulsions in our world that endanger us all.
I took office at a time of two wars for the United States. Moreover, the violent extremists who drew us into war in the first place – Osama Bin Laden, and his Al Qaeda organisation – remained at large. Today, we have set a new direction.
At the end of this year, America’s military operation in Iraq will be over. We will have a normal relationship with a sovereign nation that is a member of the community of nations. That equal partnership will be strengthened by our support for Iraq – for its government and Security Forces; for its people and their aspirations.
As we end the war in Iraq, the United States and our coalition partners have begun a transition in Afghanistan. Between now and 2014, an increasingly capable Afghan government and Security Forces will step forward to take responsibility for the future of their country. As they do, we are drawing down our own forces, while building an enduring partnership with the Afghan people.
So let there be no doubt: the tide of war is receding. When I took office, roughly 180,000 Americans were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. By the end of this year, that number will be cut in half, and it will continue to decline. This is critical to the sovereignty of Iraq and Afghanistan, and to the strength of the United States as we build our nation at home.
Moreover, we are poised to end these wars from a position of strength. Ten years ago, there was an open wound of twisted steel and broken hearts in this city. Today, as a new tower rising at Ground Zero symbolizes New York’s renewal, al Qaeda is under more pressure than ever before. Its leadership has been degraded. And Osama bin Laden, a man who murdered thousands of people from dozens of countries, will never endanger the peace of the world again.
Yes, this has been a difficult decade. But today, we stand at a crossroads of history with the chance to move decisively in the direction of peace. To do so, we must return to the wisdom of those who created this institution. The UN’s Founding Charter calls upon us, ‘to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security.’ And Article 1 of this General Assembly’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights reminds us that: ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.’ Those bedrock beliefs – in the responsibility of states, and the rights of men and women – must be our guide.
In that effort, we have reason to hope. This year has been a time of transformation. More nations have stepped forward to maintain international peace and security. And more individuals are claiming their universal right to live in freedom and dignity.
One year ago, when we met here in New York, the prospect of a successful referendum in South Sudan was in doubt. But the international community overcame old divisions to support the agreement that had been negotiated to give South Sudan self-determination. And last summer, as a new flag went up in Juba, former soldiers laid down their arms; men and women wept with joy; and children finally knew the promise of looking to a future that they will shape.
One year ago, the people of Cote D’Ivoire approached a landmark election. And when the incumbent lost, and refused to respect the results, the world refused to look the other way. UN peacekeepers were harassed, but did not leave their posts. The Security Council, led by the United States, Nigeria, and France, came together to support the will of the people. And Cote D’Ivoire is now governed by the man who was elected to lead.
One year ago, the hopes of the people of Tunisia were suppressed. But they chose the dignity of peaceful protest over the rule of an iron fist. A vendor lit a spark that took his own life, but ignited a movement. In the face of a crackdown, students spelled out the word freedom. The balance of fear shifted from the ruler to those that he ruled. Now the people of Tunisia are preparing for elections that will move them one step closer to the democracy they deserve.
One year ago, Egypt had known one President for nearly thirty years. But for 18 days, the eyes of the world were on Tahrir Square, where Egyptians from all walks of life – men and women; young and old; Muslim and Christian – demanded their universal rights. We saw in those protesters the moral force of non-violence that has lit the world from Delhi to Warsaw; from Selma to South Africa – and we knew that change had come to Egypt and to the Arab World.
One year ago, the people of Libya were ruled by the world’s longest serving dictator. But faced with bullets and bombs and a dictator who threatened to hunt them down like rats, they showed relentless bravery. We will never forget the words of the Libyan who stood up in those early days of revolution and said: ‘Our words are free now. It’s a feeling you can’t explain.’
Day after day, in the face of bullets and bombs, the Libyan people refused to give back that freedom. And when they were threatened by the kind of mass atrocity that often went unchallenged in the last century, the United Nations lived up to its charter. The Security Council authorized all necessary measures to prevent a massacre. The Arab League called for this effort, and Arab nations joined a NATO-led coalition that halted Qadhafi’s forces in their tracks.
In the months that followed, the will of the coalition proved unbreakable, and the will of the Libyan people could not be denied. Forty-two years of tyranny was ended in six months. From Tripoli to Misratah to Benghazi – today, Libya is free. Yesterday, the leaders of a new Libya took their rightful place beside us, and this week, the United States is reopening our Embassy in Tripoli. This is how the international community is supposed to work – nations standing together for the sake of peace and security; individuals claiming their rights. Now, all of us have a responsibility to support the new Libyan government as they confront the challenge of turning this moment of promise into a just and lasting peace for all Libyans.
So it has been a remarkable year. The Qadhafi regime is over. Gbagbo, Ben Ali, and Mubarak are no longer in power. Osama bin Laden is gone, and the idea that change could only come through violence has been buried with him. Something is happening in our world. The way things have been is not the way they will be. The humiliating grip of corruption and tyranny is being pried open. Technology is putting power in the hands of the people. The youth are delivering a powerful rebuke to dictatorship, and rejecting the lie that some races, religions and ethnicities do not desire democracy. The promise written down on paper – ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights’ – is closer at hand.
But let us remember: peace is hard. Progress can be reversed. Prosperity comes slowly. Societies can split apart. The measure of our success must be whether people can live in sustained freedom, dignity, and security. And the United Nations and its member states must do their part to support those basic aspirations.
In Iran, we have seen a government that refuses to recognize the rights of its own people. And as we meet here today, men, women and children are being tortured, detained and murdered by the Syrian regime. Thousands have been killed, many during the holy time of Ramadan. Thousands more have poured across Syria’s borders. The Syrian people have shown dignity and courage in their pursuit of justice – protesting peacefully, standing silently in the streets, dying for the same values that this institution is supposed to stand for. The question for us is clear: Will we stand with the Syrian people, or with their oppressors?
Already, the United States has imposed strong sanctions on Syria’s leaders. We have supported a transfer of power that is responsive to the Syrian people. Many of our allies have joined us in this effort. But for the sake of Syria – and the peace and security of the world – we must speak with one voice. There is no excuse for inaction. Now is the time for the United Nations Security Council to sanction the Syrian regime, and to stand with the Syrian people.
Throughout the region, we will have to respond to the calls for change. In Yemen, men, women and children gather by the thousands in towns and city squares every day with the hope that their determination and spilled blood will prevail over a corrupt system. America supports their aspirations. We must work with Yemen’s neighbours and our partners around the world to seek a path that allows for a peaceful transition of power from President Saleh, and a movement to free and fair elections as soon as possible. In Bahrain, steps have been taken toward reform and accountability, but more are required. America is a close friend of Bahrain, and we will continue to call on the government and the main opposition bloc – the Wifaq – to pursue a meaningful dialogue that brings peaceful change that is responsive to the people. And we believe the patriotism that binds Bahrainis together must be more powerful than the sectarian forces that would tear them apart.
Each nation must chart its own course to fulfil the aspirations of its people, and America does not expect to agree with every party or person who expresses themselves politically. But we will always stand up for the universal rights that were embraced by this Assembly. Those rights depend upon elections that are free and fair; governance that is transparent and accountable; respect for the rights of women and minorities; and justice that is equal and fair. That is what our people deserve. Those are elements of a peace that lasts.
Moreover, the United States will continue to support those nations that transition to democracy – with greater trade and investment, so that freedom is followed by opportunity. We will pursue a deeper engagement with governments, but also civil society – students and entrepreneurs; political parties and the press. We have banned those who abuse human rights from travelling to our country, and sanctioned those who trample on human rights abroad. And we will always serve as a voice for those who have been silenced.
Now I know that for many in this hall, one issue stands as a test for these principles – and for American foreign policy: the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.
One year ago, I stood at this podium and called for an independent Palestine. I believed then – and I believe now – that the Palestinian people deserve a state of their own. But what I also said is that genuine peace can only be realized between Israelis and Palestinians themselves. One year later, despite extensive efforts by America and others, the parties have not bridged their differences. Faced with this stalemate, I put forward a new basis for negotiations in May. That basis is clear, and well known to all of us here. Israelis must know that any agreement provides assurances for their security. Palestinians deserve to know the territorial basis of their state.
I know that many are frustrated by the lack of progress. So am I. But the question isn’t the goal we seek – the question is how to reach it. And I am convinced that there is no short cut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades. Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the UN – if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians – not us – who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them: on borders and security; on refugees and Jerusalem.
Peace depends upon compromise among peoples who must live together long after our speeches are over, and our votes have been counted. That is the lesson of Northern Ireland, where ancient antagonists bridged their differences. That is the lesson of Sudan, where a negotiated settlement led to an independent state. And that is the path to a Palestinian state.
We seek a future where Palestinians live in a sovereign state of their own, with no limit to what they can achieve. There is no question that the Palestinians have seen that vision delayed for too long. And it is precisely because we believe so strongly in the aspirations of the Palestinian people that America has invested so much time and effort in the building of a Palestinian state, and the negotiations that can achieve one.
America’s commitment to Israel’s security is unshakeable, and our friendship with Israel is deep and enduring. And so we believe that any lasting peace must acknowledge the very real security concerns that Israel faces every single day. Let’s be honest: Israel is surrounded by neighbours that have waged repeated wars against it. Israel’s citizens have been killed by rockets fired at their houses and suicide bombs on their buses. Israel’s children come of age knowing that throughout the region, other children are taught to hate them. Israel, a small country of less than eight million people, looks out at a world where leaders of much larger nations threaten to wipe it off of the map. The Jewish people carry the burden of centuries of exile, persecution, and the fresh memory of knowing that six million people were killed simply because of who they were.
These facts cannot be denied. The Jewish people have forged a successful state in their historic homeland. Israel deserves recognition. It deserves normal relations with its neighbours. And friends of the Palestinians do them no favours by ignoring this truth, just as friends of Israel must recognize the need to pursue a two state solution with a secure Israel next to an independent Palestine.
That truth – that each side has legitimate aspirations – is what makes peace so hard. And the deadlock will only be broken when each side learns to stand in each other’s shoes. That’s what we should be encouraging. This body – founded, as it was, out of the ashes of war and genocide; dedicated, as it is, to the dignity of every person – must recognize the reality that is lived by both the Palestinians and the Israelis. The measure of our actions must always be whether they advance the right of Israeli and Palestinian children to live in peace and security, with dignity and opportunity. We will only succeed in that effort if we can encourage the parties to sit down together, to listen to each other, and to understand each other’s hopes and fears. That is the project to which America is committed. And that is what the United Nations should be focused on in the weeks and months to come.
Now, even as we confront these challenges of conflict and revolution, we must also recognize once more that peace is not just the absence of war. True peace depends upon creating the opportunity that makes life worth living. And to do that, we must confront the common enemies of human beings: nuclear weapons and poverty; ignorance and disease. These forces corrode the possibility of lasting peace, and together we are called upon to confront them.
To lift the spectre of mass destruction, we must come together to pursue the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. Over the last two years, we have begun to walk down that path. Since our Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, nearly 50 nations have taken steps to secure nuclear materials from terrorists and smugglers. Next March, a Summit in Seoul will advance our efforts to lock down all of them. The New START Treaty between the United States and Russia will cut our deployed arsenals to the lowest level in a half century, and our nations are pursuing talks on how to achieve deeper reductions. America will continue to work for a ban on the testing of nuclear weapons, and the production of fissile material needed to make them.
As we meet our obligations, we have strengthened the treaties and institutions that help stop the spread of these weapons. To do so, we must continue to hold accountable those nations that flout them. The Iranian government cannot demonstrate that its program is peaceful, has not met its obligations, and rejected offers that would provide it with peaceful nuclear power. North Korea has yet to take concrete steps toward abandoning its weapons, and continues belligerent actions against the South. There is a future of greater opportunity for the people of these nations if their governments meet their obligations. But if they continue down a path that is outside international law, they must be met with greater pressure and isolation. That is what our commitment to peace demands.
To bring prosperity to our people, we must promote the growth that creates opportunity. In this effort, let us not forget that we have made enormous progress over the last several decades. Closed societies gave way to open markets. Innovation and entrepreneurship has transformed the way we live and the things that we can do. Emerging economies from Asia to the Americas have lifted hundreds of millions from poverty. Yet three years ago, we confronted the worst financial crisis in eight decades. That crisis proved a fact that has become clearer with each passing year – our fate is interconnected; in a global economy, nations will rise, or fall, together.
Today, we confront the challenges that have followed that crisis. Recovery is fragile. Markets are volatile. Too many people are out of work. Too many others are struggling to get by. We acted together to avert a Depression in 2009. We must take urgent and coordinated action once more. Here in the United States, I have announced a plan to put Americans back to work and jumpstart our economy, and committed to substantially reduce our deficit over time. We stand with our European allies as they reshape their institutions and address their own fiscal challenge. For other countries, leaders face a different challenge as they shift their economies towards more self-reliance, boosting domestic demand while slowing inflation. So we will work with emerging economies that have rebounded strongly, so that rising standards of living create new markets that promote global growth. That is what our commitment to prosperity demands.
To combat the poverty that punishes our children, we must act on the belief that freedom from want is a basic human right. The United States has made it a focus of our engagement abroad to help people to feed themselves. And today, as drought and conflict have brought famine to the Horn of Africa, our conscience calls on us to act. Together, we must continue to provide assistance, and support organizations that can reach those in need. And together, we must insist on unrestricted humanitarian access so that we can save the lives of thousands of men, women and children. Our common humanity is at stake. Let us show that the life of a child in Somalia is as precious as any other. That is what our commitment to our fellow human beings demands.
To stop disease that spreads across borders, we must strengthen our systems of public health. We will continue the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We will focus on the health of mothers and children. And we must come together to prevent, detect, and fight every kind of biological danger – whether it is a pandemic like H1N1, a terrorist threat, or a treatable disease. This week, America signed an agreement with the World Health Organization to affirm our commitment to meet this challenge. Today, I urge all nations to join us in meeting the WHO’s goal of making sure all nations have core capacities to address public health emergencies in place by 2012. That is what our commitment to the health of our people demands.
To preserve our planet, we must not put off the action that a changing climate demands. We must tap the power of science to save those resources that are scarce. Together, we must continue our work to build on the progress made in Copenhagen and Cancun, so that all of the major economies here today follow through on the commitments that were made. Together, we must work to transform the energy that powers are economies, and support others as they move down that path. That is what our commitment to the next generation demands.
And to make sure our societies reach their potential, we must allow our citizens to reach theirs. No country can afford the cancer of corruption. Together, we must harness the power of open societies and open economies. That is why we have partnered with countries from across the globe to launch a new partnership on Open Government that helps ensure accountability and empower their citizens. No country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere. And no country can realize its potential if half its population cannot reach theirs. This week, the United States signed a new Declaration on Women’s Participation. Next year, we should each announce the steps we are taking to break down economic and political barriers that stand in the way of women and girls. That is what our commitment to human progress demands.
I know that there is no straight line to progress, no single path to success. We come from different cultures, and carry with us different histories. But let us never forget that even as we gather here as heads of different governments, we represent citizens who share the same basic aspirations – to live with dignity and freedom; to get an education and pursue opportunity; to love our families and our God. To live in the kind of peace that makes life worth living.
It is the nature of our imperfect world that we are forced to learn this lesson over and over again. Conflict and repression will endure so long as some people refuse to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Yet that is precisely why we have built institutions like this that bind our fates together – because those who came before us believed that peace is preferable to war; freedom is preferable to suppression; and prosperity is preferable to poverty. That is the message that comes not from capitals, but from citizens.
When the corner-stone of this very building was put in place, President Truman came here to New York and said: ‘The United Nations is essentially an expression of the moral nature of man’s aspirations.’ As we live in a world that is changing at a breath-taking pace, that is a lesson that we must never forget.
Peace is hard, but we know that it is possible. Together, let us resolve to see that it is defined by our hopes and not our fears. Together, let us work to make, not merely a peace, but a peace that will last. Thank you.

 Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2040087/Obama-calls-Palestine-drop-UN-independence-bid-claims-tide-war-turning.html#ixzz1YcN3Upo8