Maersk Alabama repels 2nd pirate attack with guns

Nov 18, 2009 -   By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer Jason Straziuso, Associated Press Writer – 32 mins ago Source NAIROBI, Kenya – Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday for the second time in seven months, though private guards on board the U.S.-flagged ship repelled the attack with gunfire and a high-decibel noise device.   A U.S. surveillance plane was monitoring the ship as it continued to its destination on the Kenyan coast, while a pirate said that the captain of a ship hijacked Monday with 28 North Korean crew members on board had died of wounds. - 7 Comments

Obama indecision On three fronts -- South Korean trade, Ukrainian/Russian diplomacy and Afghan war fighting

Oct 21, 2009 - The World Won't Wait On Washington Indecision A Commentary By Tony Blankley On three fronts -- South Korean trade, Ukrainian/Russian diplomacy and Afghan war fighting -- the Obama administration is being increasingly pressured by unfolding events to shed ideology and rationalizations and come quickly to a realistic analysis of world events and their consequences. In each of these cases, in the absence of very prompt United States policy decisions and actions, we shall incur long-term irreversible economic, geopolitical or national security harm. I will discuss the Afghan war decision in a future column. - 0 Comments

Proposed 9/11 Memorial In Kent Causing Stir

Nov 11, 2009 - It is a bright, Indian summer afternoon in the Litchfield Hills, and the downtown streets of this tourist mecca look invitingly peaceful. But the communication lines connecting First Selectwoman Ruth Epstein to the outside world have been anything but peaceful for two weeks as the passions aroused by the 9/11 tragedy have turned Kent into a national lightning rod over terrorism, Islam and the role towns should play in memorializing the dead. Epstein, a former journalist who is stepping down after two terms as first selectwoman, was approached more than a year ago by Peter Gadiel, the father of James Gadiel, a young Kent native who worked as a trader in the World Trade Center and perished in the 2001 terrorist attacks. - 81 Comments

‘N Korean arms for Iran’ seized by UAE (Obama approach is working well)

Aug 30, 2009 - ‘N Korean arms for Iran’ seized by UAE By Simeon Kerr in Dubai and Harvey Morris in New York Published: August 28 2009 18:22 | Last updated: August 28 2009 23:59 The United Arab Emirates has seized a ship secretly carrying embargoed North Korean arms to Iran, say diplomats. News of the interception comes at a sensitive time. North Korea has invited the US for bilateral talks on nuclear issues and the UN Security Council’s western members are pressing for greater Iranian co-operation over its nuclear programme. - 1 Comment

North Korean Leader Kim Has Cancer

Jul 13, 2009 - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has life-threatening pancreatic cancer, South Korean TV news channel YTN says. YTN cited unidentified intelligence officials in Seoul and China as sources, but South Korea's spy agency said it could not confirm the story. YTN said Mr Kim was diagnosed with the illness last year, about the same time he was reported to have had a stroke. - 12 Comments