THE SLOW SUICIDE OF THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE

Written by Paul Fromm

Sunday, 03 January 2010 06:37

*The Slow Suicide of the Russian People* *A Dying Population* The nation is succumbing to a low birthrate, disease and despair. Leaders see the trend as a security threat. THE VANISHING RUSSIANS THE VANISHING RUSSIANS / First of three parts October 08, 2006|Kim Murphy, Times Staff Writer *Kstinovo, Russia — Welcome to Kstinovo, population one.* *Antonina Makarova, 78, spends her days watching news and soap operas in her peeling wooden dacha, the only inhabited structure in two lanes of sagging cottages that once were a village. Her nearest neighbor, 80-year-old Maria Belkova, lives in adjacent Sosnovitsy, population two. But she can't hear anymore, and all in all, Makarova finds the television better company.* *"All the houses here were filled with people. There was a cheese factory. But now everyone else has died. God has taken care of them, and he's still making me suffer," Makarova said. "Even the thieves have disappeared."* *The Tver region, along the upper reaches of the Volga River 130 miles north of Moscow, is dotted with more than 1,400 villages such as Kstinovo labeled nezhiloye -- depopulated. Since 1989, the number of people here has shrunk by about 250,000 to about 1.4 million, with deaths outnumbering births more than 2 to 1.* *The Tver region is far from unusual in this country.* *Russia is rapidly losing population. Its people are succumbing to one of the world's fastest-growing AIDS epidemics, resurgent tuberculosis, rampant cardiovascular disease, alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, suicide and the lethal effects of unchecked industrial pollution.* *In addition, abortions outpaced births last year by more than 100,000. An estimated 10 million Russians of reproductive age are sterile because of botched abortions or poor health. The public healthcare system is collapsing. And many parents in more prosperous urban areas say they can't afford homes large enough for the number of children they'd like to have.* *The former Soviet Union, with almost 300 million people, was the world's third-most populous country, behind China and India. Slightly more than half of its citizens lived in Russia. The country has lost the equivalent of a city of 700,000 people every year since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, only partially offset by an influx of people from other former Soviet republics.* *A country that sprawls across one-eighth of the globe is now home to 142 million people.* *The losses have been disproportionately male. At the height of its power, the Soviet Union's people lived almost as long as Americans. But now, the average Russian man can expect to live about 59 years, 16 years less than an American man and 14 less than a Russian woman.* <http://d1.openx.org/ck.php?n=n25603&cb=1278401130&pi=34&cat=computers+%26+electronics&tv=ap-LA5-G02&ci=4857888&pm_mode=p&tn_kw=dying+population:population+decline:current+population&rn_kw=drug+therapy:drug+therapy:alcohol+and+drug+abuse:mortgage:aids+test&subj=russia:population:birth+rates:public+health:quality+of+life&pm_slug=s%3Do%26n%3Do%26ci%3D4857888%26iv%3D0%26pi%3D34%26sessid%3Db73703b5a09fe7c1341167b25e329ab0301d5128%26uuid%3Db73703b5a09fe7c1341167b25e329ab0301d5128%26prt%3D1262499783%26pgtp%3Darticle%26t_v%3Dv%26u_ip%3D70.52.255.184%26tv%3Dap-LA5-G02%26h_d%3Darticles.latimes.com%26cat%3Dcomputers%2B%2526%2Belectronics%26pe_id%3D4857888%26rna%3Dpub-0227802054925200%26rn%3Dg%26rnp%3Dc%26rt%3Dcpc%26rnrci%3D5212128158%26rnrcn%3DCMI-A-002%26rncci%3D4294304580%26rnccn%3DCMI-A-008%26rnpci%3D%26rnpcn%3D%26rntci%3D%26rntcn%3D%26rnlci%3D2177975555%26rnlcn%3D2177975555%26pe%3Db73703b5a09fe7c1341167b25e329ab0301d5128>

 

TARGET YOUNG, MALE RADICAL MOSLEMS, NOT LONG SUFFERING AIR TRAVELLERS

Written by Paul Fromm

Thursday, 31 December 2009 09:01

*Target Young, Male Radical Moslems, Not Long Suffering Air Travellers* On Christmas Day, a 23 year old Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, tried to detonate an explosive device carried aboard in his underwear on a Northwestern Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterday to Detroit. He failed to ignite the explosive concoction and was overpowered by a Dutch filmmaker. Like Jamaican-born, British Moslem convert Richard Reid (the shoe bomber) in 2001, Abdulmutallab, the underwear bomber, tried to ignite the chemical explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate. Howewver, it is diffficult to detonate. "It is not as simple," reports the *Globe and Mail*, "as putting a match to it or using a blasting cap." The failed attempt has resulted in a further war on the long-suffering flying public, already beaten up by high fares, no meals, and long sheep lines to go through ever more invasive security. Most gels and water bottles have been banned. Now, a whole new series of indignities are being inflicted on the innocent. On U.S. bound flights, no carry-on luggage will be allowed. Passengers are not allowed out of their seats in the hour before landing and there will be hand searches of items carried aboard. Toronto's Pearson Airport cancelled over 100 flights on December 27; there were 7 hour delays to go through security. *It now emerges that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was not some slick operative but an incredibly lucky disturbed radical Islamist who should have been caught by existing security measures and who was already on a 550,000 person U.S. watch list*. U.S. President Obama admitted: "'A systemic failure had occurred and I consider that totally unacceptable.' ... U.S. officials confirmed that CIA agents met with Mr. Abdulmutallab's father, a retired Nigerian banker, in the U.S. embassy in Abuja on Nopvember 19 to discuss his concerns over his son's radicalization. 'It now appears that weeks ago this information was passed to a component of our intelligence community but was not effectively distributed so as to get this suspect's name on the no fly list, Mr. Obama said." (*Globe and Mail*, December 30, 2009) He had studied Islam in Yemen a failed state and hotbed of radical Islamists. The *Globe and Mail* (December 30, 2009) editorialized: "In a sense, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, allegedly representing a Yemeni branch of al-Qaeda, did the aviation world a favour. He did exactly what intelligence agencies should be doing on a regular basis: try to beat the airport security system, and, thereby, reveal the soft spots. Those soft spots turn out to be surprisingly like the ones from Sept. 11, 2001. Mr. Adbulmutallab paid for a one-way fare in cash. He boarded an overseas flight without any luggage. His father, a wealthy banker in Nigeria, had reported his concerns about Mr. Abdulmutallab's apparent radicalism to the U.S. embassy in that country in October. When taken together, these red flags should have been enough, at the very least, for strong secondary questioning and a secondary search, either one of which would have stopped him from boarding in Amsterdam. ... The public expects that passenger names are entered into computer data bases and matched with terrorist watch lists, as the U.S. 9-11 Commission recommended. As it turns out, the system is not fully functioning. Mr. Abdulmutallab's name went on a long list of 550,000 names, but not a shorter no-fly list. His visa to enter the U.S. until [next] June was not revoked." Abdulmutallab had studied engineering in Britain but the U.S. was not prepared to renew his student visa, whether for security reasons or because he was not, in fact, an active strudent is not known."Before attempting to bomb an American airliner, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was president of the Islamic Society of London's University College, which has come under criticism along with other British education institutions for allowing extremist preachers to hold events on campus." Also, "Anwar al-Awlaki, a Yemen-based [imam] who provided spiritual guidance to both Mr. Abdulmutallab and the Fort Hood gunman, Nidal Malik Hasan, ... has given several talks at British campuses in the past. " (*Globe and Mail*, December 30, 2009) Even more galling is the fact that the U.S. had warnings of an al-Qaeda plot to try to blow up an airplane using a Nigerian over the Christmas period. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (December 30, 2009) reported: "U.S. officials had intelligence before Christmas that al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen were talking about "a Nigerian" being prepared for an attack, according to reports. The information did not include the name of the man, the *New York Times* reported.However, officials told the newspaper that if that intelligence had been compared with information about Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a connection could have been made, and an attempt to blow up a U.S. bound plane on Christmas Day might have been stopped." To sum up: ** The U.S. had been warned of a Yemeni-based plot using a Nigerian to blow up a U.S. plane over Christmas* ** Abdulmutallab had studied Islam in radical circles in Yemen.* ** His conduct had so worried his father, as he drew away from his family, that he warned the U.S. Embassy and was amazed that the son's visa to the U.S. was granted;* ** He bought a one way ticket at the last minute with cash* ** He carried no luggage for an overseas flight* Travel professionals tell me that the sort of police state screening and restriction of passengers will destroy the North American airline industry. People, except those forced by bereavement or urgent business, will not fly. Should disorganized politically correct authorities let one not very bright, would be terrorist inconvenience millions and ruin theair travel industry., which employs hundreds of thousands? No! Since 2001, the only people trying to bomb airplanes are young radical Moslem males. It's not the little old lady form Montreal flying to visit her grandchildren in Chicoutimi. It's not the young couple off to ski in Whistler or Vail. It's not the retired couple flying as snowbirds for a few months to Florida. There's a terrorist profile. It's time to use it. Subject those who fit it -- young, male, Moslem (those from much of North Africa, the Middle East , Pakistan, Indonesia and Moslems from European countries) -- to secondary inspection and leave the vast majority alone. Of course, most Moslems are not terrorists, but the experience of the past 10 years proves that NO non-Moslem has tried to bomb a plane. Target the likely and leave the peaceful majority alone. Political correctness contends that all people are equal and the same. They are NOT. It's not Whites or Chinese or American Blacks who are blowing up planes.Target those who may fit the profile. The present system of punishing everyone is as lame as saying that fish live in water and so I will send one friend to fish in a bathtub and one friend to fish in a child's backyard swimming pool and one to fish in a river because they're all bodies of water and all bodies of water are equal.

 

POLL: PEW AND PULPIT DISAGREE ON IMMIGRATION

Written by Paul Fromm

Wednesday, 30 December 2009 06:55

*Poll: Pew and Pulpit Disagree on Immigration* *Zogby Survey Finds Religious Leaders and Members at Odds* WASHINGTON (December 29, 2009) - In contrast to many national religious leaders who are lobbying for increases in immigration, a new Zogby poll of likely voters who belong to the same religious communities finds strong support for reducing overall immigration. Moreover, members strongly disagree with their leaders' contention that more immigrant workers need to be allowed into the country. Also, most parishioners and congregants prefer more enforcement to cause illegal workers to go home, rather than legalization of illegal immigrants, which most religious leaders prefer. The survey of Catholic, mainline Protestant, born-again Protestant, and Jewish voters used neutral language and was one of the largest polls on immigration ever done. Among the findings: Most members of religious denominations do not feel that illegal immigration is caused by limits on legal immigration, as many religious leaders do; instead, members feel it's due to a lack of enforcement. Catholics: Just 11 percent said illegal immigration was caused by not letting in enough legal immigrants; 78 percent said it was caused by inadequate enforcement efforts. Mainline Protestants: 18 percent said not enough legal immigration; 78 percent said inadequate enforcement. Born-Again Protestants: 9 percent said not enough legal immigration; 85 percent said inadequate enforcement. Jews: 21 percent said not enough legal immigration; 60 percent said inadequate enforcement. Unlike religious leaders who argue that more unskilled immigrant workers are needed, most members think there are plenty of Americans to do such work. Catholics: 12 percent said legal immigration should be increased to fill such jobs; 69 percent said there are plenty of Americans available to do such jobs, employers just need to pay more. Mainline Protestants: 10 percent said increase immigration; 73 percent said plenty of Americans are available. Born-Again Protestants: 7 percent said increase immigration; 75 percent said plenty of Americans are available. Jews: 16 percent said increase immigration; 61 percent said plenty of Americans available. When asked to choose between enforcement that would cause illegal immigrants to go home over time or a conditional pathway to citizenship, most members choose enforcement. Catholics: 64 percent support enforcement to encourage illegals to go home; 23 percent support conditional legalization. Mainline Protestants: 64 percent support enforcement; 24 percent support legalization. Born-Again Protestants: 76 percent support enforcement; 12 percent support legalization. Jews: 43 percent support enforcement; 40 percent support legalization. In contrast to many religious leaders, most members think immigration is too high. Catholics: 69 percent said immigration is too high; 4 percent said too low; 14 percent just right. Mainline Protestants: 72 percent said too high; 2 percent said too low; 11 percent just right. Born-Again Protestants: 78 percent too high; 3 percent said too low; 9 percent just right. Jews: 50 percent said it is too high; 5 percent said too low; 22 percent just right. Discussion Most major denominations agree that illegal immigrants must be treated humanely. But the leadership often goes much further and takes the position that illegal immigration is caused, at least in part, by not letting in enough legal immigrants. They then call for increases in the number of workers and family members allowed into the country. For example, early this year, the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) issued a resolution stating that, "Due to the limited number of visas, millions have entered the United States without proper documentation." The NAE then calls for increases in the number of immigrant workers allowed in. The Catholic Church states that the law must be reformed so that more "laborers from other countries can enter the country legally." The Episcopal Church adopted a resolution in July of this year stating that, "Immigrants are filling the jobs that go unwanted and unfilled by U.S. citizens." The resolution makes clear more immigrant workers need to be allowed in legally. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in November 2009 adopted a document that states illegal immigrants do jobs that "citizens often will not do" and that legal immigration should be increased to meet, "the annual need for foreign workers." A Commission of the Union for Reform Judaism argues that limits on immigration contribute to illegal immigration, and calls for legislation that "Increases the number of visas allowing unskilled laborers to work in the U.S." Most parishioners believe that enforcing the law and improving the wages and working conditions of unskilled workers to attract more Americans is the best way to deal with illegal immigration. The huge divide between leaders and members means that if there is a full-blown immigration debate next year it will be all the more contentious, with Jewish and Christian leaders on one side of the issue, their members on the other, and elected officials in the middle. Methodology Zogby International was commissioned by the Center for Immigration Studies to conduct an online survey of 42,026 adults. Zogby used its online panel, which is representative of the US population. Zogby International weighted the data slightly to more accurately reflect the U.S. population. Zogby conducted the survey from Nov 13 to 30, 2009. The margin of error for the three Christian groups is +/- 1.1 percent and +/- 2.4 percent for likely Jewish voters. # # # The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent research institution that examines the impact of immigration on the United States.