In what the Americans love to describe as the war on terror, there have been no clear winners even though it has been physically going on now for over three years. By the looks of it, the tussle between the United States of America and its perceived enemy will outlast the Second World War at least in terms of duration, if nothing else. If so, it certainly represents a horrible scenario for the planet.

What lies at the heart of the conflict between the two sides — if, indeed, there is a second side to it — is a total misperception of the other. In the words of the book in hand, Muslims worldwide have been “infected by hatred for the US” because of its “support for Israel, Russia, China, India, Algeria, Uzbekistan and others against Islamists; its protection of multiple Muslim tyrannies; its effort to control oil policy and pricing; and its military activities in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Arabian Peninsula and elsewhere.”

On the other side of the equation are the Americans, who insist on taking a simplistic view of the matter; their leadership doing its best to portray it as a worldwide grudge against the American lifestyle which revolves around democratic freedoms, civil liberties, intermingling of genders, and separation of the church and the state.

While the book has done well to point out that the American perception is wrong, and that foreign policy blunders are to be blamed for the situation as it stands today, it has provided a sort of cushion to the American leadership by suggesting that it is taking a fatuous view. However, there are many a Muslim who feel rather strongly that the effort of the American leadership to portray lifestyle grudge as the basis of the whole issue has more to do with political chicanery than with honest innocence. The book fails to take into account this vital factor, but that, for sure, is not the only thing on which it has maintained a discreet silence.

Before moving on to such debatable issues, it is in the fitness of things to have a quick look at the book’s raison d’etre and its author. The book is based on all the insight that one can have on the matter while dealing with the mass of background information and latest intelligence that is part of life at the CIA headquarters.

The author was heading the CIA bin Laden Unit in the 1990s before he was removed in 1999, and has since been kept out of the frame as far as the US war on terrorism is concerned. With almost two decades of exposure to issues related with national security, Afghanistan and South Asia, he is still with the CIA, which vetted the manuscript before allowing its publication with the condition that the author remained anonymous. Before the latest title, he had also authored Through Our Enemies’ Eyes: Osama bin Laden, Radical Islam and the Future of America. The two titles together represent a rare case of a serving intelligence officer being allowed to comment on government policy; in fact, to be highly critical of it.

Stressing that senior US intelligence officers knew much before the 9/11 catastrophe that “a runaway train was coming at the United States”, he has argued that the American leaders “ignored repeated warnings and generally behaved as what they so manifestly are, America’s greatest generation — of moral cowards.”

Without directly linking it with his own removal from the key CIA post, he writes, “US intelligence community leaders ensured that most officers who recognised the extent of the threat bin Laden posed before 11 September 2001 were banished to language training, jobs entailing no bin Laden-related work, or excluded from meetings that might afford a chance to present intelligence honestly.”

These are strong words, indeed, coming from a serving officer against his own bosses and the US leadership at large. However, he blames it all on a lack of vision, and a mindset that may “protect careers, but does little for our country.” Even though he has repeatedly talked about the necessity of understanding the enemy from “his point of view and not our own”, the author somehow found it relevant to ignore the sentiment among certain quarters in the Muslim world that more than hubris or a lack of vision, it was perhaps a case of willfully turning a blind eye. After all, the biggest beneficiary of the 9/11 crime has been the US government which has used it as a license to unleash an armed frenzy on the Islamic world.

Besides, the whole world — including its Islamic component, unfortunately — blames it all on Osama and Al-Qaeda only, repeat only, because the US says so. The US, on its part, has blatantly refused to share any evidence that it claims to have against the man and the organisation. Why? The book doesn’t tell us that.

The author’s contention that the hatred among the Muslims is “martial not intellectual” is reflective of his own lack of understanding in this regard. For instance, it is not a martial approach to question the past of both Osama and Saddam Hussein which have linkages to the American intelligence machinery. If they were such bad characters, the US has a lot of explaining to do regarding its interactions with them. Besides, if ‘jihad’ is such an anathema to the US, why was it promoting that very concept all through the 1980s when it needed blindfolded Muslim youth to fight the American war against the Soviets?

There are several other ‘intellectual, not martial’ questions in the minds of the Muslims, but the Americans have never bothered to answer them. That definitely is hubris of the imperialistic order.

Interestingly, after a 250-page homily about American foreign policy disasters — Iraq and Afghanistan inclusive — and the author’s dissatisfaction at it, he has outlined what he thinks should be the future course of action. In a nutshell, he wants the leadership to shun its policy of “cowardice and defeat” and stop worrying about such idiocies as “international comity, civilised norms, and high moral standards.” This, again, is a reflection of imperial hubris that the author is clearly suffering from.

Even though the book is a purely one-sided version of the whole episode, readers in the Islamic world will do themselves a lot of good to actually go through the whole text — which, by the way, includes out-of-context quotations from the holy scripts — in order to have a realistic understanding of the stubborn American mindset; a mindset that refuses to acknowledge the need to change.

Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror, by Anonymous. Published by Brassey’s Inc.

The writer is a senior Pakistani journalist, associated at present with the largest circulate English-language newspaper of the country, the daily Dawn, as its Assistant Editor. He is based in Karachi.

The recession can often be a scary situation for any small to medium firm, especially with the rate of businesses having to sack workers in the last 7 months. With the British credit crunch it particularly makes the greater part of company accountants to decide to reduce budgets for practically anything like office furniture. With that in mind, most owners are now looking at used furniture or low cost office furniture.

No more are the times when business owners would kit the office in oak and pine antique furniture from the Victorian era and appreciate marble flooring at reception. Various now use bargain furniture. The excellent thing about bargain office furniture is that business owners will probably actually get much more for your money than finance departments would expect. For the similar price of an antique oak office desk, finance departments may probably afford to acquire a woodchip reception desk, office chair, filing unit and office plant. Check out and purchase a Monitor Stand from the computer furniture store CFW.

With the credit crunch, loads of businesses will be looking for ways to minimise outgoings. Assessing the expenditure that is not necessary can often help legions of companies free up money to help with their financial situation. So next time companies are looking to get office chairs be aware that there is a less costly option out there if company owners look for it.

America must implement a policy on Election Reform that is equitable and fair to everyone. It is something we must do if we are to be a progressive society, a society for everyone, rich or poor. We, the people of the United States of America, must take back control of our lives by taking back control of our government. And the only way we can do that - be a government by the people - is with a logical Election Reform Bill. It is past due because our elected officials are thinking only of their careers and their futures. As our representatives, the only thing they should be thinking about is doing what is right for the American people who are their employers.

America must make radical changes in order to change and move forward, bettering our society.

We must elect a president who is willing to put forth to the American people and Congress a constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to sixteen. Teenage crime has risen over the last four decades because America’s youth feel alienated. They either feel apathetic about their future, or they fear it. Consequently, and sadly for them and society, today’s teenagers enter adulthood with a defeatist attitude. They have no hope because they have no say in their own future. It is time to give them their say; it is time to give them the responsibility of helping shape their future.

With the information highway, and cable television, our children are more intelligent and more worldly than children of similar ages were in any time in history. We need to treat our teenagers as young adults. Our forefathers said that taxation without representation is tyranny. America must abide by its own laws. If an American sixteen or older earns a salary and pays taxes, then he or she must have a say in electing their representatives.

We must also have a president who is willing to put forth to America a constitutional amendment to restructure Congress. All terms of office should be for four years. The U. S. Senate should go from six-year terms to four, and the House of Representatives should go from two-year terms to four. Six years is too long for our senators to go without being accounted for by the people who put them in office. Two-year terms in the House are unfeasible in that representatives must spend most of their time away from Washington raising funds for their next campaign. It is more efficient to have four-year terms for all the people’s representatives, with no term limitations. This includes the most important representative of the people, the president. It is the people’s right to elect whoever they want for as long as they want. A government by the people. If an elected official is doing an exemplary job, we should keep them there to continue that fine work. No one, not even our government, should be able to take away that inalienable right from us.

Implementing a campaign tax in the amount of $20 for every adult and dependent, which would be matched by the federal government, would take away the power of the special interest groups and their lobbyists. A family of four would pay $80 a year. Based on a population of approximately 250 million taxable Americans, it would mean $40 billion every four years for the approximately 2,500 incumbents and challengers who run for president, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and governors. No candidate could spend any more than the amount they receive. Equal amounts for each office. The presidential candidates would receive the most, then those running for U.S. Senate, and so forth down the line. Political campaigns have become a contest of who can raise the most money. It has become a contest of who can purchase the most advertising. That is not fair to the American voting public. Wealth should have nothing to do with a political campaign. Equal time is the most equitable way to hear what our candidates have to say about what they will do for America.

Shortly after the end of the election, their accountants would have to make public all monies spent. This plan would stop candidates from outspending their opponent, from spending one week of each month traveling to raise funds for their next campaign, from taking PACs, and from granting favors. Most of all, it would ensure honest voting in Congress; votes that represent the opinions and beliefs of each politician’s constituency.

In return for this free funding by the people and the government, our elected leaders would have to spend a minimum of four days every month in town meetings hearing the peoples’ views on forthcoming bills. The American people must be heard, and they must be represented. That was the philosophy of our forefathers, of a democratic government, a government upon which this nation was built.

To keep campaigns on a respectable level, candidates can only advertise what they will do for the country (if elected) and how. Any negative campaigning should reduce their funding by ten percent. The American people have had enough of the lies and deceit. Negative campaigning is why only 50% of our country votes. It is one of many reasons why America’s politicians are looked upon as demagogues, with one purpose in running for office: To gain as much power as possible.

It is about time our politicians represent us instead of their own interests and pockets. It is about time America’s voice returned to Washington, D.C. Politicians have turned our society aggressive, hostile, angry, and cynical. Taking control of our elected leaders means taking control of society, which means taking control of our lives and our future. Although it means a small amount of money out of our own pockets, America must rally behind it.

Regarding the infamous Electoral College, the president must be elected by the people. We cannot allow what happened in 2000 to happen again. It proves that the American vote is irrelevant, and it will only lessen the amount of people who vote, and make our country more and more distrustful of government. A constitutional amendment abolishing the Electoral College, allowing the popular vote to elect our president is essential in order for the people to legally have their say.

All votes will elect our leaders and they will run an above board campaign and serve the people in an honest, communicative, and dutiful way! This will be our legacy to our children and to America’s future.

Bruce Schwartz is a lifelong political activist. THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY, his novel on politics today, discusses this subject as well as others that affect every American. It is on sale on the Web at http://www.thetwentyfirstcentury.com and at http://www.amazon.com. All of the author’s royalties are being donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Pass A Marijuana Drug Test

Drug examination has grown into a general phenomena around the earth. Some societies perform drug screens on freshly employed individuals or present employees to insure a drug-free environment at work.

Insurance authorities and courts carry out drug tests on a frequent basis on suspected individuals. The important enquiry that comes to your brain, when you go for some exam is how to pass the drug exam?

Online sites much like Drug Testing Student Athlete provides the up-to-the-minute cleansing products including eternal cleansers, imitation weewee products, and saliva cleansing products, health drinks and home drug screen kits.

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Included on the new site is a humongous order of products for detoxification and examination intents. Permanent cleansers are offered in 3, 5 and 7, 10, 14, 21 and 30 day products, with a assortment of herbs, roots, barks and minerals that are experienced lipoids destroyers which run to break down fat cells and eliminate toxins altogether. Substitute weewee is provided, which carries all factors usually detected in weewee, specially balanced for pH with specific gravity, creatin and other urine features. A saliva cleansing mouthwash is tendered will cleanse toxins from your mouth with exactly 3 minutes of use. We sell a range of health drinks, every last one accommodating the best effective herbs and fiber to help rid the body of toxins that may have compiled.

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Sometimes senior citizens no longer need their policies which they had taken in their youth. They may not be able to pay the premiums anymore, or they may need the cash for some other purpose. Some years ago, the only options to get rid of unwanted policies were to cash them in at their surrender value, or, worse still, to allow them to lapse. Both these methods caused a serious loss to the policyholder.

But now there is a way out of unwanted policies. Unwanted policies can be settled for a cash value, which is higher than their surrender value at that moment. Settlement of a policy involves a third party which buys the policy from the senior citizen and becomes liable for all future premiums. The original policyholder, i.e., the senior citizen, gets a lump sum amount in cash.

Senior Policy Settlements are becoming hugely popular because of the direct cash compensation that they provide. Senior citizens can use the cash to invest in a more lucrative policy, such as a long-term care policy, or use it in some business which could be more profitable. Some seniors may want the cash to just fulfill some lifelong desire. Whatever be the purpose, the cash advantage is what is driving millions of senior citizens toward Senior Policy Settlements.

Life insurance settlements have spawned a number of financial organizations specializing in settling senior insurance policies. Actually, senior life settlement is an offshoot of the industry which caters to settling policies of terminally ill patients. Senior Settlements are provided to adults who have crossed the age of 65 years. There is also a minimum limit on the policy value to be eligible for settlement. Both these qualifications differ from state to state.

Broker companies handle the paperwork and introduce the policy in the market to be discerned by interested buyers. Actual bids are drawn by interested parties and the policyholder gets the liberty to choose the highest bid among those received.

Senior Settlements provides detailed information about senior settlements, senior life settlements, senior life settlement providers, licensed senior settlement company and more. Senior Settlements is the sister site of Cash For Annuities Info.

Digital Economy : What Is e-Marketing :
Internet Search Engines are new Marketplaces in todays digital economy. Companies operating new sales and marketing channels(websites) on Internet where customers can come from all over the world.

Todays Customer can place orders from any location and orders will be delivered to their home quickly.

Importance of Search Engines optimization in eMarketing :
Search Engines are an invaluable tools for reaching customers targeted market. The customers visiting companies website as a result of search engine query are specifically interested in the products or services provided by companies.

Keyword marketing:
Customers finding products and services through search engines. companies should select proper keywords for their products and services.

Keyword Selection :
Companies should include keywords in copy writing of their products and services information. Internet have no Geographical boundries but companies should use city name, country name, village town names in keywords, so that customers can find products in their nearest town, city, village or country.

Domain name, subdomain names and Directory names:
Search Engines giving main priority to domains name in ranking of keyword optimization. If your domain name is itself is keyword then your website can get top rank in search engines result. If you dont have domain name as a keyword then you can create subdomain for exact keyword. You can also use directory name names and file names as a keyword. This will help your website to get top ranking in search engines. example:

http://keyword.url.com

http://www.keyworld.co.in

http://www.url.in/keyword-phrase/

http://www.url.in/keyword-phrase.htm

How Search engines read Keywords :
Search Engines use small computer software programmes to browse through and read webpages on the Internet. such
Programmes are often refered to as “search engine spiders” or “search engines robots” or “bots”. When a search engine spider visit a page it fisrt reads the text on the page and then tries to follow links from that page off to other webpages and websites.

Yogesh Ahire is eMarketing consultant from mumbai/India and also Author of ebook “Discovery of e-Marketing”

URL: http://www.e-guru.org
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Algebra - what is it?

Algebra is a wide category of mathematics that uses abstraction by replacing alphabetic characters for numbers. It is this abstraction that often scares many and quivers some. topics of algebra range by working through simple tasks such as factoring polynomials and eventually progressing on to finding the product of matrices. In nearly all cases, just as in any other mathematics associated class, students start off by adding, subtracting and simplifying algebraic expressions . They then move on to understanding equivalent fractions, finding Least Common Multiples (LCM) and converting fractions to decimals.

Help!!! Exponents, Radicals and Graphing on the Way…

There are many higher level subjects. To start off with there are exponents. A power is the small number placed to the right and slightly above a number or algebraic expression. In this example (x + y)³ where the 3 is the exponent and refers the power to which that number is exponentiated. The above algebraic expression is expressed as, x plus y to the third power. In working with powers you can add, subtract, multiple or divide them. You can work with fractional and negative exponents. If that isn’t enough to make your head spin, then you can move on to radicals. A radical, in simple terms, is the reversing of an power. The V beside 4 denote a radical expression which means, the square root of 4, which equals 2. The inverse exponential equation is 2^2 which is read, 2 to the 2nd power, and equals 4. As with exponents, radical expressions can be added, subtracted, multiplied and divided. Radicals can be converted into powers and powers back into radicals. If exponents and radicals aren’t enough, there is always graphing. Start with graphing straight lines and observing if the line is horizontal or vertical or something else. Does the line have an x-intercept or a y-intercept? Furthermore, try and see if you can find the slope of a line. After you master graphing lines, a whole world of circles, parabolas and hyperbolas awaits you!

Need Help?

If you are learning algebra and this all seems a little too much, don’t scratch. It’s time to look around because there exists a wide array of resources that is able to help you master the discipline. The custom is to settle for a math tutor, but the cutting-edge algebraic software are no different. In fact, they are as good as math tutors. You can also use algebra calculators or algebra solvers. any of these tools can help you become an algebra expert in no time.

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Viatical settlement involves the selling of a life insurance policy by a terminally ill person to unrelated investors who can be banks, private companies, or brokers. The seller gets a lump sum amount as cash payment while the investor gets the death benefits on the person’s demise.

Grim as they may sound, viatical settlement can provide financial relief to the terminally ill people, provided they do not fall prey to unscrupulous elements who may take advantage of the vulnerability of the person.

A terminally ill person can sell his policy to a private funding company or to w broker, who will then sell to other viatical settlement companies. The physical and emotional demands of the terminally ill person are traumatic enough and so a lot of care needs to be taken to ensure that the policy is not sold to any fraudulent broker. In order to ensure this, you must ensure that the broker has a license to purchase viatical settlements. The New York State law has made it mandatory for all brokers to be licensed. Therefore, you must make it a point to check the license of the concerned broker. If you find that the broker is unwilling to show his license, do not continue with the transaction at any cost.

Another thing that you must keep in mind is that you must go through the copy of the agreement very carefully before signing it. The broker will purchase your policy for a reduced amount of the actual face value, but do not give in to pressure tactics and try to get the best bargain possible. You should contact your insurer and check if your policy contains any accelerated benefits, because these benefits allow a person to collect a part of their death benefits.

The viatical settlement broker will charge a fee for completing the life settlement agreement. This fee is based on the contract between both the parties and is approved by the New York Superintendent of Insurance.

Viatical Settlements provides detailed information about viatical settlements, viatical life insurance settlements, viatical life settlement associations, and more. Viatical Settlements is affiliated with Sell Structured Settlement Payment.

Often some derelict will be awarded some huge amount of money from a noble company due to a run away jury in a Kangaroo Court. Since many times the company paying the money out agrees on a structured over time settlement, the plaintiff of course is a lowly human and has lots of desires for riches and he has little if any cranial capacity to understand the enormous gift the courts have grated him as our nation turns in to a socialist quagmire of re-distributing wealth to those who do not deserve it. Yes a few have been damaged and do deserve something, but usually not. If you disagree with that, you are wrong and I am right.

Now then, since these folks who are future Darwin Award Winners and probably free T-Shirt Jerry Springer guest stars have these huge structured settlements you can make some money by buying these structured settlements from them. For instance if a man receives a 10 million dollar settlement over ten year, he will receive 1 million per year. But he may want all the money now instead so he can go buy stuff? So you may be able to give him 6 million in cash now and you get the 10 million over ten years. This means you get a 40% return guaranteed over the next ten years. Now then such an investment is not as good as others in that your annual rate of return is only 4% and many of us know that in the stock market over time we have seen 7.7% annual returns. But it is something to think about. Now then, what if some one receives 1.2 million over 5 years and you give them 500,000 in advance? Now things are looking a lot better aren’t they? Any way think on this.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/