2011_07_10-140143
Tags
Families
Jeremy Wootton
Outdoor
Outdoors
Outside
Photo
Photograph
Photography
Relationships
Safe
Summer
2011_07_10-140143
Tags
Families
Jeremy Wootton
Outdoor
Outdoors
Outside
Photo
Photograph
Photography
Relationships
Safe
Summer
Kenworth C508
Regal Transport Group South Guildford WA
Tags
Australia
truck
Kenworth
C508
Regal
Transport
Group
Amigos
Tags
Amsterdam
Amsterd
BW
Europa
Europe
Fotografia
Holand
Holanda
Mochilo
Preto e Branco
Tour
Valentim
Nefertiti
Tags
Berlin
Alemania
museo
egipcio
escultura
antiguedad
Pergamomuseum
Egyptian
Museum
Germany
ancient
sculpture
woman
mujer
busto
South Garden, late November
There is still some warmth to be found in the garden.
Tags
Chicago
South Garden
Art Institute
autumn
winter
tree
trees
hawthorn
grey
gray
Dan Kiley
museum
grid
geometric
64 | 365
Fotografa N 64. Me gusto la fotografia luego de haberla sacado por que sin darme cuenta hay como "dos manos" que en realidad es cesped, queriendose tocar entra ellas, pareceria eso. Jajaja. Espero que tengan un buen da. Gracias por todos los comentarios, Saludos.
Photo No. 64. I liked the photograph after it has been taken without realizing that there are as "two hands" is actually grass, wanting to touch them go, it would seem that. Hahaha. Hope you have a good day. Thanks for all the comments, Greetings.
My pgina en Facebook
Mi Twitter
Mi Tumblr
Mi 500px
Mi Vdeos
Tags
Nikon
D3100
Nikon D3100
art
nature
foto
fotografa
cmara
summer
new
nueva
argentina
perspectiva
enfoque
nitido
nitidez
2011
live
love
light
top
luz
color
colors
contraste
encuadre
colores
luces
photo
365
da
day
explore
explored
photos
photography
brillo
reflejo
macro
bokeh
reflection
sun
franco
rostan
naranja
orange
amarillo
verde
green
yellow
francorostan
fotgrafo
sky
day323
day324
week47
geo
flickr
i365
naturaleza
jpg
nov21
dof
pring
primavera
day21
proyect365
proyecto365
proyect
sin darme cuenta, Jajaja, dos manos, fotografia, realidad, Gracias por todos, pareceria eso, cesped, the photograph, Hahaha
Metallic bee
Not a good shot, but I don't think I've found this bee before. It was small - the flower cap is 5mm.
Tags
Australia
Tasmania
Hobart
Knocklofty Reserve
Canon EOS 550D
Insecta
Hymenoptera
bee
Apoidea
bee, Macro Lens
Tichu
Friday, 2pm
Tags
boardgames
Euro Quest
Euro Quest 2011
Euro Quest 9
Euro Quest IX
gaming
Sigma 10-20mm
Sony DSLR-A700
Tichu
Pikesville
Maryland
United States
Weeping Willow
Tags
brooksbos
nature
summer
water
boston
masschusetts
ma
newengland
bostonma
thatsboston
lurvely
geotagged
urban
city
photo
photography
sonycyber-shot
cyber-shot
sony
hx5v
dsc-hx5v
backbay
02116
“boston
public
garden”
“reflections
pool
pond
lake
lagoon
colour
colours
green
willow
weeping willow
cityscape
skyline
hancock
skyscrapers
church
arlington street church
steeple
sky
Goff Brook 2
Another shot of Goff Brook.
Tags
Goff
brook
goff brook
sidney
maine
usa
kennebec
kennebec county
water
Celestial Blades
i have to say that all of my photos are editing in a calibrated monitor! i'm deeply sorry, but the colors might be different in yours!
copyright 2011
(please press L for large view)
Tags
nikon
d700
nikkor
16
25
afs
landscape
seascape
ocean
sea
water
clouds
sunset
sunrise
golden
hour
rock
celestial
long
exposure
heraklion
crete
greece
waterscape
depth
field
photography
surise
sun
-----------------------------
Canon EOS 7D | Sigma 10-20mm
f/8 | 1/125s | 10mm | ISO 160
HDR from 1 RAW
Tags
Canon
EOS
7D
Sigma
10-20mm
HDR
photomatix
nature
paysage
landscape
suisse
switzerland
melchsee-frutt
wide angle
montagne
mountain
alpes
alps
eau
water
lac
lake
reflets
reflection
chapelle
chapel
architecture
Philippe Saire
canon eos 7d, canon eos online, melchsee, sigma, canon, switzerland
photo" width="640" height="480" onload="F.imageChecker.load(this);" onerror="F.imageChecker.error(this);">
POLIZIA LOCALE - ITALIA, Milano 363
A M B R O S I A N A . P I C T U R E S
Amateur Photographers Team
© All rights reserved
WEB SITE:
www.ambrosianapictures.com
MAIL CONTACT:
INFO@ambrosianapictures.com
INFO COPYRIGHT © and LICENSING POLICY:
www.ambrosianapictures.com/info-license
(ENGLISH) This image is Copyright © Ambrosiana Pictures. All rights reserved. This photo may not be used under any circumstances without written consent. Please visit the site (www.ambrosianapictures.com) to receive information about licenses and to require high-resolution versions.
(ITALIANO) Ambrosiana Pictures proprietaria del Copyright © di questa immagine. Tutti i diritti sono riservati. Questa foto non pu essere utilizzata in alcun caso, senza autorizzazione scritta. Si prega di visionare il sito (www.ambrosianapictures.com) per l'utilizzo delle Licenze e per richiedere le versioni ad alta risoluzione.
Tags
VIGILI
VIGILE URBANO
CAVALLO
POLICEMEN
APTAG023
VIGILI URBANI
POLIZIOTTO
POLIZIOTTI
POLICEMAN
MILANO
MILAN
ITALIA
ITALY
ITALIE
ITALIEN
GHISA
POLIZIA
POLIZIA MUNICIPALE
CITY POLICE
POLIZIA LOCALE
POLICE
FOTO
IMMAGINI
IMAGES
PHOTO
NIKON
D90
PATTUGLIA
POLIZEI
rtliche
Местная
полиция
POLICA
policia
picture
pictures
HORSE
A CAVALLO
LOCAL POLICE
ambrosiana pictures
ambrosiana online, resolution versions, high resolution, photographers, milano, circumstances, photo
Manny Pacquiao, left, and Juan Manuel Marquez pose for the cameras during their weigh-in Friday in Las Vegas. It may not be the fight everyone wants to see, but the third bout between Pacquiao and Marquez has some intriguing story lines. (Steve Marcus / Reuters / November 11, 2011)
From Las Vegas — Boxing will give its fans another nice appetizer Saturday night. Promoter Bob Arum, a master of such things, has kept hamburger sliders as a mainstay on his fight menu.
Manny Pacquiao, the world's current top fighter, both in the ring and in fans' perception, will take on Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden. They will fight at 144 pounds, a catchweight and a concept that is becoming the norm in making big fights. The WBO welterweight title is at stake, but the only people who care about that are the WBO sanctioning people, who are here on expense accounts.
Bill Dwyre
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Also
Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez exude confidence at weigh-in
Photos: Pacquiao vs. Marquez weigh-in
Cain Velasquez takes on Junior Dos Santos for UFC title
Boxer Marquez's strength coach has received scrutiny
Boxing's pre-show is better than the show
It's prime time for UFC's Dana White
See more stories »
X
In death, Joe Frazier finally gets some separationBattling for lord of the ring in trilogyThese bouts worth more than a sequel in boxing
This has been an easy promotion for Arum. There are multiple story lines.
PHOTOS: Pacquiao vs. Marquez weigh-in
This will be the third fight between Pacquiao and Marquez. Boxing loves trilogies. Rubber matches seem to bring with them a finality that speaks to sports fans.
This one isn't exactly a rubber match, but it's close. Pacquiao fought Marquez to a draw in 2004, then won a close decision in 2008. After the second fight, Marquez, a Mexican, flew to Pacquiao's country, the Philippines, and walked around wearing and passing out T-shirts that read: "We Were Robbed," and "Marquez Beat Manny Pacquiao Twice."
Pacquiao never said so publicly, but those close to him say he was offended. His trainer, Freddie Roach, said Pacquiao considered Marquez's actions "a slap in the face." When Pacquiao got to Roach's Wild Card Gym in West Hollywood to begin his training, Roach pasted a picture behind the speed bag of Marquez wearing the T-shirt.
Marquez shrugs off any view of that as bulletin-board inspirational material for Pacquiao.
"Our goal was to get him to give us a third fight," Marquez said. "And here we are."
There are other story lines, such as Marquez's apparent attempt to sacrifice speed for strength by bulking up under the direction of a new strength coach, who, unfortunately for the image of Marquez, has been involved in documented distribution of performance-enhancing drugs to a dozen or so athletes, most of them in track and field.
The Pacquiao camp, which has undergone similar scrutiny over the apparent ease with which Pacquiao has gone from a 106-pound fighter at the start of his career to somebody who also fights effectively against opponents at 150, has taken the high road on the Marquez drug story.
Asked to comment, Roach said, "I'm tired of that crap. You work hard, you get in shape, you fight well, and then all you hear is that. I won't do that to them."
Other pre-fight discussion has centered on the assessment that Pacquiao was essentially a one-handed boxer both times he faced Marquez. Now, with ensuing victories against bigger, stronger fighters the likes of, in order, David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley, there seems little doubt that only a big left hand would not have been enough. He knocked out Hatton, won on TKO's against Diaz, De La Hoya, and Cotto and demolished Clottey, Margarito and Mosley in 12-round decisions.
The people who set the gambling lines here, and who cannot afford to be swayed by hype, had Pacquiao an 8-1 favorite. The financial split also says a lot. Pacquiao will get $22 million, Marquez $5 million. Plus, each will get a percentage of the ever-lucrative HBO pay-per-view deal, which costs mom and pop at home $54.95.
The fight sold out in two weeks, and this one — unlike most in which attendance figures are the figment of a promoter's imagination — seems like a real paid packed house. The New York Times quoted one ticket broker as estimating the average ticket price as $1,044.
There is the ever-present parade of Pacquiao promotions: He has his own line of perfume (Scent of the Champion), his own line of produce (Feeding Our Future Champions), his own musical recordings ("Sometimes When We Touch"). He sings on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and even does a long interview for a CNN segment with Piers Morgan. Arum added to that with a four-page pullout section in Friday's USA Today that spoofed the Manila Bulletin, splashing Pacquiao stories all over.
At fight time in Las Vegas, Pacquiao is as omnipresent as slot machines.
But not to be lost in all this is the reality that this is still a lot of wine tasting. The main course lives right down the road, but so far, Floyd Mayweather Jr., is not coming to dinner. That is the fight everybody wants to see, a match for which boxing wouldn't have to pay for four-page sections, because every newspaper would want to do its own.
Arum likes Mayweather and his people the way Rick Perry likes presidential debates.
Arum wants the fight for all the obvious reasons, including money. But he also knows that it may never happen, that deals like that come hard. So he always has a lurking alternative for Pacquiao. This time, it is unbeaten Tim Bradley, a new member of Top Rank's stable. He will fight an aging, crafty Joel Casamayor in the main undercard bout, and a Bradley victory, especially an impressive one, could validate a sales pitch for a Pacquiao fight in the spring.
In the midst of all this, Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe announced that May 5 would bring a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. Nobody was quite sure where that came from.
Roach responded, "Ellerbe's a gofer. What does he know?"
Arum said, "There can't be a fight until they pick up the phone and ask to negotiate. That hasn't happened."
So, until such time as Pacquiao-Mayweather actually takes place, boxing fans will keep on nibbling.
PHOTOS: Pacquiao vs. Marquez weigh-in
Nabors Industries Ltd., the oil-drilling contractor whose chairman is set to receive $100 million for relinquishing his chief-executive title, said Wednesday that the Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation into perks received by its executives, including personal flights on company jets.
The disclosure of the SEC inquiry came in a regulatory filing by Nabors, a Bermuda-registered company whose operational headquarters are in Houston. A Nabors spokesman couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Previously
Corporate Jet Set: Leisure vs. Business
06/16/11
For the Highest Fliers, New Scrutiny
05/21/11
See flights by jets registered to Nabors.
The use of Nabors's jets for potentially personal travel by executives was a focus of a broader June 17 page one article in The Wall Street Journal on corporate jets that frequently travel to resort destinations.
Using Federal Aviation Administration flight records, the Journal reported that Nabors's jets made frequent stops in Palm Beach, Fla., and Martha's Vineyard, Mass., both spots where Nabors Chairman Eugene Isenberg has residences.
The Journal estimated the flights cost a total of about $704,000, yet Nabors didn't provide a dollar figure for the cost of aircraft perks for Mr. Isenberg in 2009 or 2010. In June, a Nabors spokesman said the company "complies with all IRS guidelines and SEC disclosure requirements with respect to the use of company aircraft by its executive officers." The company didn't return a call for comment Thursday, and an SEC spokesman declined to comment on the investigation.
Under SEC rules adopted in 2006, companies generally must annually disclose the cost of executives' personal use of corporate planes if it exceeds either $25,000 or 10% of the cost of all perks.
Enlarge Image
Close
Nabors Industries/Associated Press
Nabors Industries Chairman Eugene Isenberg
The SEC has brought actions against companies for failing to disclose executive perks. In a civil action brought in January against a Kansas-based website-services firm, NIC Inc., the SEC said the company had failed to disclose executive perks, including payments for its former CEO to commute via private jets from the Wyoming ski lodge where he lived to NIC's headquarters. NIC and three current and former executives paid a total of $2.8 million to settle, without admitting or denying the allegations.
Mr. Isenberg's employment contract with Nabors, filed with the SEC in April 2009, entitles him to establish company-subsidized offices at or near his principal residence in Palm Beach, "and/or at any other residence maintained by him." The contract also entitles him to perform his duties "from offices in or near his places of residence."
In the filing Wednesday, Nabors said the company was cooperating with an "informal inquiry" by the SEC "related to perquisites and personal benefits received by the officers and directors of Nabors, including their use of noncommercial aircraft."
Late last month, Nabors announced that it was promoting a lieutenant of Mr. Isenberg's to the position of CEO, but Mr. Isenberg would remain as chairman. Even though he wasn't leaving the company, the change triggered a clause in Mr. Isenberg's contract that entitled him to a $100 million payout under various scenarios, including his removal as either CEO or chairman.
Write to Tom McGinty at tom.mcginty@wsj.com and Mark Maremont at mark.maremont@wsj.com
nabors industries ltd, federal aviation administration, eugene isenberg, nabors industries, irs guidelines, personal flights, corporate jets, sec disclosure, securities and exchange commission, wall street journal, executive title, disclosure requirements, executive perks, company aircraft, flight records, drilling contractor, operational headquarters, sec inquiry, dollar figure, sec rules
Mission Possible
Tags
bags
sunglasses
sandals
minidress
fashion
feet
shopping
streetphotography
woman
walking
legs
wales
europe
candid
cardiff
girls
photo" width="640" height="512" onload="F.imageChecker.load(this);" onerror="F.imageChecker.error(this);">
mudskipper
500px: 500px.com/photo/3057805
Tags
Depth of Field
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Wetland Park
New Territories
Tin Shui Wai
Wetland Park
Animals
Asia
Bokeh
China
DOF
Fish
HK
Mudskipper
Nature
Ocean
Sea
Wetland
marine
wetland, photo
Canada Goose on Eastville Park Lake
Tags
Branta canadensis
Canada Goose
Eastville Park
Pentax K100D Super
Smc Pentax-DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED
2010
Anatidae
Bird
Goose
January
Lake
Winter
water
eastville, canada goose, pentax, bristol
Manhattan oder nd
Back from the States with new pictures in my bag.
Music
Tags
New York
NYC
Manhatten
USA
Skyline
New York City
Wolkenkratzer
skycraper
buildings
Gebude
Stadt
City
Town
sea
Meer
Hudson River
Aussicht
Panorama
view
Freiheitsstatue
Statue of Liberty
Liberty
Freedom
Freiheit
WTC
Freedom Tower
One World Trade Center
1WTC
Downtown
Midtown
Helikopter
sony alpha 200
WSJ's Adam Entous details a shift in policy by the U.S. on the use of drones. The change in policy follows complaints after civilians were killed in recent large strikes. Photo: Reuters/U.S. Air Force/Lt Col Leslie Pratt/Handout
The Central Intelligence Agency has made a series of secret concessions in its drone campaign after military and diplomatic officials complained large strikes were damaging the fragile U.S. relationship with Pakistan.
The covert drones are credited with killing hundreds of suspected militants, and few U.S. officials have publicly criticized the campaign, or its rapid expansion under President Barack Obama. Behind the scenes, however, many key U.S. military and State Department officials demanded more-selective strikes. That pitted them against CIA brass who want a free hand to pursue suspected militants.
Enlarge Image
Close
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Chanting marchers carry a replica of a U.S. drone during a recent protest in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The disputes over drones became so protracted that the White House launched a review over the summer, in which Mr. Obama intervened.
The review ultimately affirmed support for the underlying CIA program. But a senior official said: "The bar has been raised. Inside CIA, there is a recognition you need to be damn sure it's worth it."
View Interactive
Getty Images
Among the changes: The State Department won greater sway in strike decisions; Pakistani leaders got advance notice about more operations; and the CIA agreed to suspend operations when Pakistani officials visit the U.S.
The Pakistan drone debate already seems to be influencing thinking about the U.S. use of drones elsewhere in the world. In Yemen, the CIA used the pilotless aircraft in September to kill American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a suspected terrorist. But the White House has for now barred the CIA from attacking large groups of unidentified lower-level militants there.
The CIA concessions were detailed by high-level officials in a series of interviews with The Wall Street Journal. But in a measure of the discord, administration officials have different interpretations about the outcome of the White House review. While some cast the concessions as a "new phase" in which the CIA would weigh diplomacy more heavily in its activities, others said the impact was minimal and that the bar for vetting targets has been consistently high.
"Even if there are added considerations, the program—which still has strong support in Washington—remains as aggressive as ever," said a U.S. official.
Last year, Mr. Obama expanded the CIA program to 14 drone "orbits." Each orbit usually includes three drones, sufficient to provide constant surveillance over tribal areas of Pakistan. The CIA's fleet of drones includes Predators and larger Reapers. The drones carry Hellfire missiles and sometimes bigger bombs, can soar to an altitude of 50,000 feet and reach cruise speeds of up to 230 miles per hour.
The drone program over the past decade has moved from a technological oddity to a key element of U.S. national-security policy. The campaign has killed more than 1,500 suspected militants on Pakistani soil since Mr. Obama took office in 2009, according to government officials.
To some degree, the program has become a victim of its own success. Critics question whether aggressive tactics are necessary following the eradication of senior al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan, including Osama bin Laden, killed in a helicopter raid by Navy Seals in May after drone and satellite surveillance of the compound where he was living.
Many officials at the Pentagon and State Department privately argued the CIA pays too little attention to the diplomatic costs of air strikes that kill large groups of low-level fighters. Such strikes inflame Pakistani public opinion. Observers point to the rising power in Pakistan of political figures like Imran Khan, who held large rallies to protest the drones and could challenge the current government.
All this comes at a time when the State Department is trying to enlist Pakistan's help in advancing peace talks with the Taliban, a key element of a White House drive to end the war in neighboring Afghanistan. Top officials of the CIA, Pentagon, State Department and National Security Council have been pulled into the debate. Among those voicing concerns was Gen. David Petraeus, who commanded the war in Afghanistan before becoming CIA director in September. A senior intelligence official said Gen. Petraeus voiced "caution against strikes on large groups of fighters."
Changing the handling of the drone program doesn't mean the CIA is pulling back. The agency in recent weeks has intensified strikes in Pakistan focusing on the militant Haqqani network, a group believed to be behind a series of attacks in Afghanistan. The Pentagon and State Department have backed those strikes as serving U.S. interests.
The debate in Washington was fueled by a particularly deadly drone strike on March 17. It came at a low point in U.S.-Pakistani relations, just a day after Pakistan agreed after weeks of U.S. pressure to release a CIA contractor who had killed two Pakistanis.
Infuriated Pakistani leaders put the death toll from the drone strike at more than 40, including innocent civilians. American officials say about 20 were killed, all militants.
The March 17 attack was a "signature" strike, one of two types used by the CIA, and the most controversial within the administration. Signature strikes target groups of men believed to be militants associated with terrorist groups, but whose identities aren't always known. The bulk of CIA's drone strikes are signature strikes.
The second type of drone strike, known as a "personality" strike, targets known terrorist leaders and has faced less internal scrutiny.
Signature strikes were first used under former President George W. Bush. His administration began arming unmanned aircraft to hunt al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks. As al Qaeda militants fled to Pakistan, the CIA began a secret drone program there, with quiet backing from Islamabad.
For the first years, U.S. officials used drones only to target known, top terror suspects. The drone strikes quickly became unpopular with the Pakistani public. In 2008, when Pakistani leaders bowed to public pressure and began to block U.S. requests for strikes, President Bush authorized a major expansion, allowing the CIA to conduct strikes, including signature strikes, without Pakistani permission.
Initially, the CIA was skeptical of the value of expending resources on lower-level operatives through signature strikes, a former senior intelligence official said. Military officials, however, favored the idea. The debate eventually would lead to the CIA and the military reversing their initial positions.
Mr. Obama was an early convert to drones. The CIA has had freedom to decide who to target and when to strike. The White House usually is notified immediately after signature strikes take place, not beforehand, a senior U.S. official said.
The program had some early skeptics, but their concerns gained little traction. Dennis Blair, Mr. Obama's first director of national intelligence, recommended that the CIA measure the program's effectiveness beyond numbers of dead militants, U.S. officials said. It didn't happen.
The CIA and the State Department had been at odds for months over the use of drones. Tensions flared with the arrival in Islamabad late last year of a new ambassador, Cameron Munter, who advocated more judicious use of signature strikes, senior officials said.
On at least two occasions, Leon Panetta, then the CIA director, ignored Mr. Munter's objections to planned strikes, a senior official said. One came just hours after Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, visited Islamabad.
State Department diplomats weren't alone in their concerns. Adm. Mike Mullen, then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other military leaders, who initially favored more aggressive CIA methods, began to question that approach.
The debate erupted after the March 17 strike, when National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and others at the White House, taken aback by the number of casualties and Pakistan's sharp reaction, questioned whether the CIA should for large groups, at times, hold its fire. Officials asked what precautions were being taken to aim at highly valued targets, rather than foot soldiers.
"Donilon and others said, 'O.K., I got it; it's war and it's confusing. Are we doing everything we can to make sure we are focused on the target sets we want?'" said a participant in the discussions. "You can kill these foot soldiers all day, every day and you wouldn't change the course of the war."
A senior Obama administration official declined to comment on Mr. Donilon's closed-door discussions but said that he wasn't second-guessing the CIA's targeting methodology and pointed to his long-standing support for the program. The official said the White House wanted to use the drone program smartly to pick off al Qaeda leaders and the Haqqanis. "It's about keeping our eyes on the ball," the official said.
In the spring, military leaders increasingly found themselves on the phone with Mr. Panetta and his deputy urging restraint in drone attacks, particularly during periods when the U.S. was engaging in high-level diplomatic exchanges with Pakistan. "Whenever they got a shot [for a drone attack], they just took it, regardless of what else was happening in the world," a senior official said.
Mr. Panetta made his first concession in an April meeting with his Pakistani counterpart. He told Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha that the U.S. would tell the Pakistanis ahead of time about strikes expected to kill more than 20 militants, officials said.
The debate over the future of the drone program intensified after the death of Osama bin Laden the next month. Pakistani leaders were embarrassed that the U.S. carried out the operation in their country, undetected. They demanded an end to the signature drone strikes.
Mr. Donilon, the National Security Advisor, launched a broad review of Pakistan policy, including the drone program. Officials said the internal debate that ensued was the most serious since the signature strikes were expanded in 2008.
CIA officials defended the signature strikes by saying they frequently netted top terrorists, not just foot soldiers. Twice as many wanted terrorists have been killed in signature strikes than in personality strikes, a U.S. counterterrorism official said.
Adm. Mullen argued that the CIA needed to be more selective. Then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates feared that the Pakistanis, if pushed too hard, would block the flow of supplies to troops in Afghanistan, officials said.
For Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has supported the CIA's strikes in the vast majority of cases, the biggest focus has been to make sure political ramifications are properly assessed to avoid a situation where the political opposition in Pakistan becomes so great that the country's current or future leaders decide to bar the drones outright.
Independent information about who the CIA kills in signature strikes in Pakistan is scarce. The agency tells U.S. and Pakistani officials that there have been very few civilian deaths—only 60 over the years. But some senior officials in both governments privately say they are skeptical that civilian deaths have been that low.
Some top officials in the White House meetings this summer argued for a broader reassessment. "The question is, 'Is it even worth doing now? We've got the key leadership in al Qaeda, what is it that we're there for now?" one of the officials recalled some advisers asking.
The White House review culminated in a Situation Room meeting with Mr. Obama in June in which he reaffirmed support for the program.
But changes were made. Mr. Obama instituted an appeals procedure to give the State Department more of a voice in deciding when and if to strike. If the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan objected to a strike, for example, the CIA director or his deputy would first try to talk through their differences with the ambassador. If the conflict was unresolved, the secretary of state would appeal directly to the CIA director. If they couldn't reach agreement, however, the CIA director retained the final say.
Since the changes were made, officials say internal tensions over the strikes have eased and agencies were acting more in concert with each other.
Though Mr. Petraeus voiced a preference for smaller drone strikes, officials said the agency has the leeway to carry out large-scale strikes and hasn't been formally directed to go after only higher-value targets and avoid foot soldiers. Since Mr. Petraeus's arrival at CIA, some strikes on larger groups have taken place, the senior intelligence official said.
To reduce the number of CIA strikes on Pakistani soil, the military moved more of its own drones into position on the Afghan side of the border with Pakistan, according to participants in the discussions. That makes it easier for the CIA to "hand off" suspected militants to the U.S. military once they cross into Afghanistan, rather than strike them on Pakistani soil, U.S. officials said.
U.S.-Pakistani relations remain troubled, but Islamabad recently expanded intelligence cooperation and has toned down its opposition to the drone strikes, both in public and private, officials said. Pakistani officials had sought advance notice, and greater say, over CIA strikes so they could try to mitigate the public backlash.
"It's not like they took the car keys away from the CIA," a senior official said. "There are just more people in the car."
1. 7 fur; $20,000; clm($10,000); 3up
LAUNCH N RELAUNCH drops in class and goes turf to dirt while cutting back to sprint after showing some closing ability last out. TIZ CLEAR drops in class after tiring badly as the favorite in seasonal debut for new barn. HAMMERSMITH finished third when going turf to dirt.
PN Horse, Wt.
Jockey
Last 3
Trainer
Odds
1 Controversial ,120
A Lezcano
8-8-5
H Jerkens
4-1
2 It's the Big Cat(L),120
A Smith
2-9-6
Gyarmati
10-1
3 Launch N Relaunch(L),115
R Curatolo
6-5-2
R Dutrow
2-1
4 Pavlov's Dog(L),120
J Rodriguez
3-5-6
Fisher
15-1
5 Tiz Clear(L),120
D Cohen
8-3-1
Levine
3-1
6 Hammersmith(L),119
J Bravo
3-9-1
Pletcher
7-2
7 Cella Muffler(L),119
C Montalvo
6-7-5
Toscano
30-1
8 Saratoga Squier(L),119
J Samyn
5-9-10
Goodwin
15-1
2. 1 1/16 miles(T); $51,000; mdn; 2YO
LONGWOOD LANE adds blinkers after being a beaten favorite this distance on both career starts. COACH ROYAL had the lead and tired to second two back in last start on turf. KNOCK ROCK finished third on yielding turf in return to maiden ranks.
PN Horse, Wt.
Jockey
Last 3
Trainer
Odds
1 Shaun Washington ,120
A Smith
x-x-x
J Jerkens
15-1
2 Grandpa Len(L),115
I Ortiz, Jr
4-3-4
Donk
12-1
3 Longwood Lane(L),120
J Bravo
4-2-x
Pletcher
7-2
4 Get Right(L),120
J Espinoza
2-6-x
J Jerkens
10-1
5 Silver Max(L),120
M Mena
2-2-2
Romans
9-2
6 Dupes(M),120
A Lezcano
x-x-x
Lewis
15-1
7 Terminus(M),120
C Marquez, Jr
x-x-x
Pletcher
12-1
8 War Hitch(L),120
D Cohen
5-x-x
Contessa
20-1
9 Which Market(L),120
A Garcia
3-x-x
McLaughlin
6-1
10 Coach Royal(L),120
J Chavez
6-2-4
Mott
5-1
11 Saturday's for Fun(L),115
R Curatolo
3-x-x
Tagg
20-1
12 Knock Rock(L),120
M Luzzi
3-5-3
Schwartz
6-1
13 Z Camelot(M),120
x-x-x
Romans
6-1
3. 6 fur; $18,000; clm($16,000); 3up
CUP OF CEE adds Lasix after tiring in the slop this distance and level in career debut. GYPSY WARRIOR closed to finish third at this distance and level. ZEPPE had the lead and tired to second in most recent.
PN Horse, Wt.
Jockey
Last 3
Trainer
Odds
1 Zeppe(L),121
S Husbands
2-7-6
DeMola
8-1
2 Pegasus Papou(L),116
R Curatolo
6-4-10
Persaud
15-1
3 Gypsy Warrior(L),121
J Rodriguez
3-2-2
Bush
7-2
4 Sandican ,121
N Galarza
x-x-x
L O'Brien
15-1
5 Oasis of Chance(L),116
I Ortiz, Jr
2-3-5
Servis
5-2
6 Cup of Cee(M),121
A Lezcano
7-x-x
R Dutrow
6-1
7 Bourbon Bandit(L),122
M Mena
8-10-10
Levine
6-1
8 Myrlanski ,122
M Studart
9-7-x
Simeone
15-1
9 Legions Star(L),119
A Smith
2-7-9
Smith
15-1
10 All Zipped Up(L),122
J Pezua
4-3-6
F Martin
15-1
11 A Used Gun ,122
J Chavez
x-x-x
DeMola
15-1
12 Spencerific(L),122
J Samyn
8-7-5
Cedano
50-1
Next >
1
2
career debut, seasonal debut, silver max, zeppe, papou, blinkers, clm, mdn, lasix, big cat, pavlov, hammersmith, cella, squier, longwood, slop, 5h, muffler, launch, cee
FIGHT CLUB (100x120)
@ www.pierbo.com
Tags
Fight
Club
Tyler
Durden
Marla
Singer
Fincher
Brad
Pitt
Edward
Norton
cult
movie
first
rule
U.S.A.
ikea
IMGP8010 Cockatoo Island [2011-10-28]
Paste Modern 3 setup. Attribution?
Preview of Outpost, the Cockatoo Island street art festival, which runs from between 4 November - 11 December 2011. The island is open to visitors, so even though the festival isn't open for another week, people can come watch the setup preparations.
Tags
Sydney
Street art
Paste Modern 3
Cockatoo Island
Art
Graffiti
Mr Sweet
Australia
NSW
Outpost
cockatoo island, art festival, street art, 11 december, outpost, november 11
LONDON—Manufacturing activity in the euro zone contracted in October at its steepest rate since July 2009, adding to signs that growth in the region is grinding to a halt just a day before the European Central Bank decides whether or not to cut its key interest rate.
Germany, the driving force for manufacturing in the region, saw activity fall back into contraction for the first time since June 2009. Factories were less active than a month ago in all countries except Ireland.
Markit Economics said its purchasing managers index for the 17 nations that use the euro fell to 47.1 in October, from 48.5 in September.
The sub-50 reading means activity has now been shrinking for three months. A gauge of new orders also contracted, for the fifth month running, suggesting no recovery is in prospect for some time.
A renewed recession in the currency bloc is now almost certain, said Alan Clarke, economist at Scotia Capital.
"If there was any doubt that the euro zone was headed for recession, these data should confirm it," he said. While a third-quarter contraction is unlikely given the data already published for that period, a fall in output "seems nailed on for the fourth quarter."
Official data earlier this week showed that euro-zone unemployment in September rose to the highest level since records began in 1998, and quarterly growth in economic output slowed sharply in the second quarter to 0.2%, from 0.8% in the first quarter.
The ECB on Thursday will announce its latest decision on its benchmark rate, currently at 1.50%. But economists polled last week said they don't expect the rate-setting council to lower the rate just yet. Inflation in October held firm at 3.0%, significantly above the ECB's target of just below 2.0%.
A renewed economic downturn would compound euro-zone governments' problems as they seek to slash debt levels and end an increasingly complicated debt crisis that has forced them to bail out Greece, Portugal and Ireland.
Markit said Wednesday that factory activity in Germany fell back into contraction, with the PMI dropping to 49.1 from 50.3. But German manufacturers still fared better than those in neighboring countries.
Italian manufacturers reported a particularly steep fall in activity, with a reading of 43.3—a sharp drop from September's 48.3 and the country's weakest level since June 2009.
French factory activity shrank for a third-straight month, albeit at a slightly reduced pace, with a reading of 48.5 from 48.2 in September.
Separately, Germany's labor agency said the country's rate of unemployment inched up slightly in October, marking the first increase in more than two years. However, the overall number of jobless fell further below the closely watched three million mark.
The rate of unemployment increased to 7% in October, after seasonal adjustments. Economists had forecast a 6.9% rate. The unemployment rate was 6.9% in September.
German Economics Minister Philipp Roesler welcomed the "good news" about the job market but acknowledged signs of a slowdown.
"Progress in the labor market is admittedly slowing, and moderation in economic development is becoming noticeable," Mr. Roesler said in a statement.
Economists pointed to the increase as a sign that the euro zone's largest economy was proving susceptible to the broader economic slowdown infecting its neighbors.
"October's rise in German unemployment confirms that the euro zone's largest economy is experiencing an underlying economic downturn," said Jennifer McKeown, Senior European Economist at Capital Economics Ltd.
Ms. McKeown further warned of spillover effects into the broader economy, as rising unemployment coupled with high inflation curbed consumer spending among notoriously thrifty German consumers.
Consumer price inflation in Germany slowed slightly in October from a three-year high in September, but remains well over the European Central Bank's target of just below 2%, data showed last week.
The number of seasonally adjusted jobless increased by 10,000 during October, after a drop of 22,000 recorded a month earlier. The September jobless figure was revised from a preliminary drop of 26,000 reported at the end of September. Economists had forecast a drop of 10,000 for October.
The labor agency said the unexpected jump in the October jobless rate was skewed by the exceptionally positive jobless figure recorded in September.
"The condition of the labor market has all-in-all improved," the head of the labor agency Frank-Juergen Weise said in a statement in Nuremberg. He said demand for labor is "still high."
Total unemployment, unadjusted for seasonal effects, fell to 2.7 million in October, from 2.8 million a month earlier.
The unemployment figures compare to more upbeat data from Germany's industrial sector Wednesday.
New orders in September for Germany's plant and machinery industry rose 1% from a year earlier in real terms, the industry group VDMA said Wednesday. Domestic orders fell 2%, but foreign orders more than offset the dip with a 3% gain.
—Christine Popp in Nuremberg and Todd Buell and Margit Feher in Frankfurt contributed to this article.
Write to William Launder at william.launder@dowjones.com
purchasing managers index, economic downturn, markit, alan clarke, benchmark rate, scotia capital, euro zone, economic output, debt levels, debt crisis, target, ecb, contraction, driving force, recession, fourth quarter, economists, factories, bloc, economist
Lisa's Dinner Party
Lisa's Dinner Party
Tags
Donelson
HIK
Nashville
Tennessee
USA
United States