Netanyahu Lobbies Obama

""WASHINGTON – The brief press conference that followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s White House meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama Monday mainly showed that both leaders have grown up.

The two men have a long history of well-publicized spats, derogatory briefings and mutual smears. But in recent months, ever since Obama visited Israel in March, a truce has prevailed. So when the journalists were allowed into the Oval Office after a talk that lasted almost 90 minutes, both men behaved accordingly: no barbs, no criticism, plenty of smiles and mutual praise. At the end, Obama asked Netanyahu, “Are you hungry? I am. Let’s go eat.”

An abyss yawns between Netanyahu’s view of the Iranian issue and Obama’s. For the Israeli premier, Iran is Amalek, the Biblical nation described as the Jews’ bitterest enemy. In addition, he views stopping Iran’s race toward nuclear arms as just a means toward the greater goal of preserving Israel’s status as the Mideast’s only regional power. He has little faith, therefore in dialogue with Iran, preferring sanctions and military force."(1)

Hopefully they're just words. But yes, managed to get Obama to say 'all' options are on the table."

Hopefully they're just words. But yes, managed to get Obama to say 'all' options are on the table.

Note:
(1) http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.549814

Conservatives protest to UN over 'bedroom tax' report

"Conservative chairman Grant Shapps has condemned as an "absolute disgrace" a UN official's critical comments on the government's housing benefit changes.

Mr Shapps said he would be writing to the UN secretary general to protest.

He claimed the UN official Raquel Rolnik failed to meet any ministers or officials, was biased and had wrongly called the "spare room subsidy" policy "the bedroom tax"."

Either the criticism was correct or incorrect. Speaking ot UK ministers deoesn't change that.

Source:
(1)  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24046094

Coalition won 2013, but Hotham still ALP

The Coalition of the Liberal and National parties in Australia's federal election have won a majority in our lower federal house. But the Australian Labor Party (ALP) retains the seat of Hotham I live in.


Hopefully the Senate will be able to obstruct Abbot's likely cuts and wreckage of our country.

The ALP also "defied dire predictions and preserved its young talent, giving it a more solid foundation than most pundits predicted as it heads into opposition.

Young frontbenchers of the new generation whose seats were considered in danger, such as Chris Bowen, Kate Ellis and Jason Clare, will be returned to the next parliament."(1)

Note:

(1): http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/labor-preserves-young-talent-despite-loss-20130907-2tcty.html#ixzz2eHEAWUcl