Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Wali Karzai and drugs wikileaks

US diplomats recognize that Wali Karzai is involved in drug trafficking, according to Wikileaks cables.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Koreas

Good article on the steps toward reconciliation between North and South Korea and the breakdown of the process in the last 3 years.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Koreas

Raimondo has a good critical summary of the South North Korea issues.

Monday, November 22, 2010

US in Pakistan

The US is increasing its presence in Pakistan to conduct counter-insurgency with a new agreement to give freer access to its military personnel.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Ireland

Mark Weisbrot on Ireland who says that the drastic cuts imposed by the EU/IMF bailout don't ahve to be.

Iran nuclear

Sahimi on the recent history of US-Western negotiations and deals with Iran on nuclear issues and sanctions.

Friday, November 19, 2010

US dependence on warlords

Video on US dependence on warlords in Spin Boldak:

Iran Washington Post

The Washington Post editors are openly in favor of military threats toward Iran, against the UN charter.

Iran nuclear laptop

Gareth Porter raises doubts on the authenticity of the laptop documents in the Iranian nuclear file.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

US spies ni Mexico

The US has spies in Mexico under the pretext of the drug war. The Pentagon, FBI and CIA are involved.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Food hunger in US

Article on hunger in the US.
More than 50 million Americans — or 16.6 percent — had problems getting adequate nutrition last year.


Monday, November 15, 2010

Workers run businesses in Argentina

In the wake of the economic crisis in Argentina, more and more businesses left abandoned by their owners are now being run by workers.

China in Africa

Good article on China in Africa, which like the former European colonial powers, goes there to exploit resources on the back of African workers while African elites benefit:
Now, however, that exploitation has become so widespread and rank that the African people are turning against the increasing influence and presence of the Chinese on their continent. Reports of disgruntled Africans working on Chinese projects for what amounts to a slave's wage have come to epitomize Sino-African relations as much as any sparkling new infrastructure.

There was a particularly ugly reminder of this last month in the southern town of Sinazongwe in Zambia, where Chinese managers of the Collum Coal Mine fired on workers protesting against their dismal pay conditions. In the ensuing mayhem, 11 Zambians were wounded; three Chinese employees were also injured. Two Chinese managers of the mine, Xiao Li Shan and Wu Jiu Hua, have been charged with attempted murder and released on bail of $10,000 as an investigation into the shooting continues.

US nuclear START

Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates argue in favor of passing the New START Treaty. They mention that this won't hurt US defenses because:
-It will not restrict our ability to modernize our nuclear forces. On the contrary, the United States will continue to maintain a robust nuclear deterrent based on our "triad" of delivery systems: intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and heavy bombers for nuclear armaments. To sustain and modernize these systems, the administration has proposed spending well over $100 billion during the next decade.
-It will not limit our ability to develop and deploy the most effective missile defenses to protect America's forces and territory, and to enhance the security of our allies and partners. This administration is committed to sustaining and improving our missile defense capabilities and has proposed spending nearly $10 billion in fiscal 2011 to do so.
-Furthermore, the treaty permits us to make investments as needed to maintain a secure and effective nuclear stockpile. The administration has proposed spending $7 billion for this purpose in the current fiscal year - a nearly 10 percent increase - and more than $80 billion to modernize our nuclear weapons complex over the next decade, including a major life-extension program for current warheads. In all, the administration proposes spending more than $180 billion on the infrastructure that sustains our nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them - a substantial investment in the credibility and efficacy of America's nuclear deterrent.
-Finally, New START will not constrain our ability to develop and deploy the most effective conventional capabilities possible, including strike systems that could potentially hit a target anywhere on the globe in less than an hour.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Canada Afghanistan

Article on Canada in Afghanistan outlining the tortured, deaths and billions spent by Canada.

Guns Mexico drugs

A report says that US efforts to stem the flow of guns to Mexico are poor and not well organized. U.S. and Mexican officials estimate that more than 90% of the guns seized at the border or taken after raids and shootouts in Mexico originated in the United States, with California and Texas the largest providers.

Big tobacco

Big Tobacco companies are expanding markets to the developing world and fighting regulations worldwide.

Nazis in the US

A report by the US government says that the US protected many Nazis after WW2, used in the US for say weapons development. The Justice department tried to block the report (successfully) for a number of years).

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Dean Baker

Dean Baker on Obama's Commission to cut the deficit.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Iran sanctions

Article on the consequences of sanctions on Iran.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Top-100 best paid in education Ireland

Morgan Kelly's article is here.

And this article below is from here.

The top 100 best-paid in education

At a time of unprecedented budget cuts and the possible return of third-level fees, SEAN FLYNN and PETER MCGUIRE reveal the salaries of the highest earners in Irish education

OVER 75 per cent of the €8.59 billion education budget is absorbed by pay and pensions. This means that all other education services must be funded from the €2.14 billion non-pay element of the budget. Overall, Ireland has one of the lowest levels of education spending in the OECD. It is ranked close to the bottom of international league tables when it comes to spending in relation to GDP.

The consequences of this under-investment are evident throughout the sector. It can be seen in dilapidated classrooms, lack of adequate support for information technology, meagre investment in early childhood education, lack of basic school facilities, and so on.

But a striking feature of the Irish education service is the relatively high rates of pay for academics and bureaucrats – especially at senior levels.

Today’s survey of the high earners in education comes amid increasing calls for a €100,000 cap on public service salaries. Many of those featured on this page point out they have already taken pay cuts and absorbed the public service pension levy. The universities say they need to pay the best to attract the best. But the top earners also include senior figures from the huge number of education quangos.

In all, more than 60 staff in the education sector earn more than €150,000, according to The Irish Times survey. A further 476 staff earn more than €110,000. In all, 497 people are on the professorial salary scale, €113,573–€145,952.

The education sector has 95,554 full-time staff – about 27 per cent of total public sector employment. Of these, 59,000 are teachers, 10,400 are special-needs assistants and 20,000 work in third-level colleges. The cost of teacher salaries is €2.1 billion at primary and €1.9 billion at second level. The cost of pay in the university/IT sector is €1.3 billion.

A further €62 million is spent on pensions to 22,700 education staff in primary, second-level and in ITs.

Inevitably, there are other top earners within the system whose names do not feature on today’s list – some third-level colleges and other educational bodies were more cooperative than others when it came to disclosing salary details.

The figures in this survey were compiled by Peter McGuire

1 PROF DES FITZGERALD

Vice-president for research, UCD

€263,602

Fitzgerald may be Ireland’s highest-paid academic but he has actually seen his salary fall from €409,000 in the past year, as UCD came under pressure to justify his exceptional pay packet.

Headhunted from the College of Surgeons, UCD says research income has more than tripled under Fitzgerald’s watch. Critics say his salary level is inappropriate in a university facing severe budgetary cuts and one with debts of more than €12 million.

2 PROF FRANK GANNON

Director general, Science Foundation Ireland

€259,697

Gannon leaves SFI at the end of the year after being headhunted by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane. He made a major impact on national science policy, including at Cabinet level. Described as a key asset by Minister for Enterprise Batt O’Keeffe, his departure is regarded as a huge loss.

A spokesperson said that Gannon’s salary level is “required in order to secure the services of a uniquely qualified individual with the necessary international scientific reputation and managerial experience, to deliver on the ambitious agenda the Government has entrusted to SFI.”

3 DR MICHAEL MURPHY

President, UCC

€232,151

The highest-paid university president in Ireland. Last year, former education minister Batt O’Keeffe asked the seven university presidents to take a pay cut but they have not responded to this request. UCC has debts of more than €10 million. Under Murphys tenure, UCC has routinely outperformed both UCD and Trinity College in the battle to secure research funding.

A spokesman for the college said that the presidents salary is HEA-approved and reflects his previous clinical background. The president also retains a special adviser, Eamonn Sweeney, who earns €118,000 per year.

4 PROFESSOR TOM BEGLEY

Dean, School of Business, UCD

€231,575

Begley’s role as dean of the UCD School of Business means he oversees the undergraduate Quinn School and the graduate Michael Smurfit School. The Smurfit MBA held its top 30 spot in the Financial Times European chart this year. The school also came in 98th in the global rankings. With more than 3,000 students and 30,000 alumni, the UCD Business School has a long reach into Irish corporate life.

5 PROFESSOR NICK QUIRKE

Principal, College of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, UCD €227,659

Despite losing a special allowance last year, Quirke remains as one of the highest-paid academics in Ireland. His salary was sanctioned by the HEA under a special framework agreement, designed to help colleges attract top academics from Ireland and abroad.

Quirke fits the profile of the high-level international academic that Irish universities have been so eager to entice: he has published more than 110 papers in international journals and is editor-in-chief of the international journal, Molecular Simulation and chairman of the Journal of Experimental Nanoscience.

6 BRIGID McMANUS

Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills

€215,590

Only the fourth woman to reach the position of Secretary General and the first in the Department of Education and Science. Appointed in 2005. Regularly puts in 12 hour days (or longer) in Marlborough Street.

7 DR JAMES BROWNE (Joint 7th)

President, NUIG

€212,755

Became president four years ago after losing out in controversial circumstances more than a decade ago. Regarded as a tough, no-nonsense character who does not do small talk. That said, much respected across the sector and praised for NUIG’s strong links with local industry.

7 DR HUGH BRADY (Joint 7th)

President, UCD

€212,755

One of the most prominent and controversial figures in Irish education, Brady has brought about sweeping changes at Irelands largest university. Under fire at recent Dáil Public Accounts Committee and asked to justify €1.6 million in illegal, unauthorised bonuses to senior staff.

Credited with moving UCD swiftly up the world ranking. After languishing in 221st place, it is now in the worlds top 100 in the Times Higher ranking.

9 MARY COUGHLAN

Minister for Education

€208,526

Dubbed “Calamity Coughlan’’ during a controversial term in Enterprise and Employment. Has adopted a low profile and more cautious approach in Education. As Tánaiste, under pressure to deliver substantial education cuts in forthcoming budget.

10 EAMON DREA

Vice-president for staff, UCD

€202,913

A UCD graduate, he took an arts degree programme in the 1970s and went on to specialise in English and American literature. He then studied law at King’s Inns and was called to the bar in 1990. A civil servant for a decade, Drea worked at senior levels in the Department of the Environment and in the Department of Finance. Under Drea, an increasing number of lecturers at UCD are employed on short-term or hourly contracts.

THE OTHER TOP EARNERS

11.John Hegarty

Provost, Trinity College Dublin €202,118

12. Professor Brian Norton President, Dublin Institute of Technology

€193,843

12. Brian MacCraith

President, Dublin City University €193,843

12. Professor Don Barry President, University of Limerick €193,843

15.Paul OToole

Director general, FÁS

€189,115

16.Brian Cawley

Director general, Institute of Public Administration

€188,952

17.Tom Collins

Interim president, NUI Maynooth €184,150

18.Professor Frances Ruane

Director, Economic and Social Research Institute

€175,572

19.Professor Paul Giller Registrar/vice-president for academic affairs, UCC

€160,759

20. Professor Anne Scott Registrar, DCU €151,800 plus allowance of €14,145 –

total salary package €160,097

21.Dr Brendan Murphy

President, Cork IT

€156,630

21. Professor Kieran Byrne President, Waterford IT

€156,630

21. Marian Coy

President, Galway-Mayo IT

€156,630

21.Dr Philip Nolan

Registrar UCD

€156,249

21. Gerry OBrien

Bursar, UCD

€156,249

21. Professor Jim Ward

Registrar, NUI Galway

€156,249

21. Dr Séamus MacMathúna Secretary, NUI Galway

€156,249

21. Mary Dooley

Bursar, NUI Galway

€156,249

21. Professor Patrick J Prendergast

Vice-provost /chief academic officer, TCD

€156,249

21. Darina Kneafsey

Chief operating officer, TCD

€156,249

31. Con O’Brien

Vice-president for the student experience, UCC

€155,184

31. Professor Grace Neville

Vice-president for teaching and learning, University College Cork. €155,184

31. Professor Michael Peter Kennedy

Vice-president for research policy and support, UCC.

€155,184

34. Professor Eugene Kennedy Vice-president for research, DCU €153,685

35. Aíne Gibbons

Vice-president for development, UCD

€151,802

36. Professor Richard Kennedy Vice-president for learning and innovation, DCU

€151,800

36. Dr Maria Hinfelaar

President, Limerick IT

€151,800

36. Dr Ruaidhri Neavyn

President, IT Carlow

€151,800

36. Denis Cummins

President, Dundalk IT

€151,800

36. Prof Ciarán Ó Catháin

Athlone IT

€151,800

36. Dr Mary Meaney

President, IT Blanchardstown €151,800

36. Jim Devine

Director, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology €151,800

36. Paul Hannigan

President, Letterkenny IT €151,800

36. Professor Terri Scott President, Sligo IT

€151,800

36. Michael Carmody

President, IT Tralee

€151,800

36. Pat McLaughlin

President, IT Tallaght

€151,800

36. Mike OMalley

Bursar, NUI Maynooth

€151,800

36. Frank Soughley

Finance officer, DCU

€151,800

36. John Field

Director of finance, UL

€151,800

36. Secretary

UL (position currently vacant) €151,800

36. Professor Paul McCutcheon Registrar, UL

€151,800

36. Ian Matthews

Treasurer, Trinity College €151,800

36. Diarmuid Collins

Bursar, University College Cork €151,800

54. Padraic McNamara

Chief executive, State Examinations Commission €150,712 plus expenses of €1,318.21

54. Pat Curtin

Chief executive, National Council for Special Education.

€150,712

56. Executive Faculty Deans DCU

Salary scale rising to €150,667

– Jim Dowling

Dean of Engineering and Computing

– Professor Bernard Pierce

School of Business

– Professor Eithne Guilfoyle

Humanities and Social Sciences

– Professor Malcolm Smyth

Science and Health

60. Martin Conry

Secretary, DCU

€148,533

61. Stan McHugh

Chief executive, FETAC

€146,191

61. Padraig Walsh

Chief executive, National Qualifications Authority of Ireland salary scale of €127,796 to €146,191

63. Dr Martin Butler Vice-president for students, UCD Professorial scale rising to €146,022

63. Dr Padraic Conway Vice-president for university relations, UCD

to €146,022

63. College Principals, UCD salary scale rising to €146,022

–Professor Mary Daly

Arts and Celtic Studies

–Professor Brigid Laffan

Human Sciences

–Professor Maurice Boland

Life Sciences

68. David Redmond

Registrar, NUI Maynooth €146,001

69. Declan McGonagle

Director, National College of Art and Design.

€145,952

69. Dr Noel O’Connor

Director of student services, DIT Salary scale to €145,952

69. Paul Flynn

Director of finance and resources, DIT

to €145,952

69. Director/deans of colleges, DIT

– Bríd Grant

College of Arts and Tourism

– Mike Murphy

College of Engineering and Built Environment

– Paul OSullivan

College of Business

– Michael Devereux

College of Science and Health

Salary scale rising to €145,952

69. Professor Terry Smith

Vice-president for research,

NUI Galway

€145,952

69. Professor Rowena Pecchenino

Dean of the Faculty of Social Science, NUI Maynooth

€145,952

69. Professor Colm O’Morain

Dean of Health Sciences, TCD

€145,952 (Salary scale of professor consultant paid for by Tallaght Hospital, 50 per cent of which is reimbursed by TCD. The College pays in the order of €120,000.)

79. Tom Boland

Chief executive, Higher Education Authority

€145,392

80. Dr Pauric Travers

President, St Patricks College: €145,328

80. Dr Peadar Cremin

President, Mary Immaculate College

€145,328

82. Professor James Walsh

Deputy president, NUI Maynooth €144,607

83. Professor Caroline Fennell Head of College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Science, UCC €143,134

83. Professor Patrick Fitzpatrick Head of the College of Science, Engineering, and Food Science, UCC

€143,134

85. Attracta Halpin Registrar, National University of Ireland: €138,719 plus registration officer allowance of €635

86. Professor Michael Marsh

Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, TCD Salary scale of €108,048–€138, 655

86. Professor Chris Curtin

Vice-president for innovation and performance, NUI Galway €138,655

86. Vice-president for research Professor Terry Smith, TCD €138,655

86. Professor Ray ONeill

Vice-president for research NUI Maynooth

€138,655

86. Professor Gerry Lyons

Dean of engineering and informatics, NUI Galway

salary scale to €138,655

86. Anne Fitzgerald

Secretary, Trinity College. Salary scale of €108,048–€138,655

92. Dr Thomas OConnor

Dean of Arts, Celtic Studies and Philosophy

€133,001*

92. Dr Bernard P Mahon

Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering, NUI Maynooth

€133,001*

94. Gearóid Ó Conluain

Chief executive officer, Higher Education and Training Awards Council

€132,687 plus expenses of €7,009

95. Professor William Golden Dean of Business, Public Policy and Law, NUI Galway

€126,351

96. Anne Looney

Chief executive, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment €119,636

97. Éamonn Sweeney

Advisor to the president of UCC €118,000

98. Gerry Whyte

Dean of students at TCD

salary scale of €113,604–€145,952

98. Dr David Lloyd

Dean of research at TCD salary scale of €113,604–€145,952

100. Professor BG Loftus

Dean of medicine, NUI Galway €112,610

FOOTNOTES

– Assistant Director Generals FÁS: €134,523-€153,885 Average salary: €149,469

– Asst Secretary Generals

Department of Education and Skills: at upper end of pay scale, based on incremental service, can earn up to €146,191

– Professorial salary scale UCD, UCC, TCD, NUIM, NUIG, DCU, and UL (appointed after 1995) €113,573–€145,952

– Professorial salary scale UCD, UCC, TCD, NUIM, NUIG, DCU, and UL (appointed before 1995) €107,964–€138,719

– Chief executives of larger VEC areas: upper pay scale of €129,854

– Registrars, secretaries, heads of development, and financial controllers Cork IT, Galway-Mayo IT, Waterford IT, Limerick IT, Athlone IT, Dundalk IT, Sligo IT.

Top salary of €114,997

- Associate Professors: salary scale of €82,970–€110,058

*At NUI Maynooth, Dr Thomas OConnor and Dr Bernard Mahon (both at number 92) are not on professorial scale and are paid their academic salary plus an allowance, bringing them to point three on the professorial salary scale which is €126,525.

– For historical reasons, the salary of the Secretary at UCD, John Coman, is not paid at HEA rates (€156,249). The correct figure was not available.

Bush memoirs

Some points on Bush's memoirs from the Guardian, such as the fact that he planned an attack on Iran and Syria.

Al Qaeda Jason Burke

Jason Burke on the state of terrorism today and Al Qaeda:
In conclusion, a new way of looking at al-Qaida as a phenomenon would be to abandon the idea of a central group, an ideology and even of affiliates, and to see instead a huge matrix of interlocking networks all of which evolve simultaneously and in response to each other and to outside pressures informed by a common culture. Naturally individuals with particular resources – charisma, cash, learning, security, credibility – draw networks together and create nodes.

Clusters of these nodes form something that, at least from outside, looks like an organisation. One such cluster is currently centred on the Pakistani tribal zones. Another, somewhat less dense, is centred on Yemen. A third, less dense still, is in Somalia. Nodes that existed earlier in the decade in Algeria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia have now largely broken up. In the chaotic, shifting, multivalent world that is contemporary Islamic militancy we can expect the nodes that currently exist to break up too at some stage. Others inevitably will reform elsewhere. Predicting how and when they do so will not be an easy task.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Intelligence on terror groups

Intelligence agencies are using former Guantanamo detainees as moles in terrorist groups.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Obama cuts funding for AIDS

Article showing that Obama cut funding for AIDS by $1.1 billion a year.

British torture

British soldiers conducting torture in interrogation in Iraq. There is a video too. And another article here.

Guantanamo and US prisons

Good article comparing the US prison system to Guantanamo adn saying that there are many comparisons that can be made.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

UK France military cooperation nuclear

France and the UK will now be developing nuclear warheads together, along with other areas of military cooperation, with full US approval.

US sectarian strategy in Iraq torture

Gareth Porter says that the US adopted a strategy of supporting Shia death squads and commandos (like the Wolf Brigade) in Iraq against the Sunnis, under the supervision of Petraeus, which led to Al Qaeda in Iraq responding in kind during the civil war.

Monday, November 1, 2010

New Start Treaty

Article showing that the New START Treaty allows for much spending on modernizing the US nuclear arsenal.