The New Scramble For Africa West Africa already provides 17 percent of U.S. oil imports. With Washington keen to ease its reliance on the volatile Middle East, the National Intelligence Council, a CIA think-tank, forecasts this will rise to 25 percent by 2015. Washington has already raised its military profile in the Gulf, launching a permanent naval presence and seeking a site for its new African command. But money may talk more than military might. Thirsty for oil to feed their booming economies, China and India are pouring billions of dollars into acreage in Nigeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, and they are reaping the benefits. Hmm...They provide 17% of our oil and several of their countries are led by a corrupt dictators...I think I've seen this one before. Read It

The Last Person You'd Expect To See In Andong Linda Carter.

Guy Smiley Attacks!

Gutter Talk Many Democrats seem positively apoplectic due to the fact that Clinton and Obama seem to be resorting to name-calling and distortion in order to score political points. As for me, I'm unperturbed. Bill Clinton once famously remarked "Americans will never vote for a candidate that shows any sign of weakness. They'd rather have a president that is strong and wrong than weak and right". He was, of course, obliquely referring to the doddering imbecile currently residing in the oval office; a man who is never more convinced he's right than when he's completely wrong...As an explanation for his re-election, I can think of no better. I want a strong candidate more than I want a civil, polite candidate who posits him/herself above the fray. If someone attacks you, defend yourself and your position. If your opponent displays weakness or hypocrisy, rip them to shreds. If you think the way the democrats are sparring is despicable, it's nothing compared to what the republicans will throw at the eventual nominee. If we don't have someone who can fight, we'll be screwed all over again. Why get upset about solid candidates fighting in the gutter? That's where the fight begins after the dems pick their nominee. If we're down in the gutter, we're in a better position to kick the republican candidate back in the sewer. ...Is that a bit harsh? What else can you say about a likely nominee who wants to double the size of Guantanamo Bay?