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Dead Constitution See other Dead Constitution Articles Title: EU states monitor spread of civil unrest EU member states are "intensively" monitoring the risk of spreading civil unrest in Europe, as riots over the economic crisis erupt in Iceland following street clashes in Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Greece. EU member states are "intensively" monitoring the risk of spreading civil unrest in Europe, as riots over the economic crisis erupt in Iceland following street clashes in Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Greece. The worst street disturbances for 50 years struck Reykjavik on Thursday (22 January), as police streamed a hardcore of a few hundred anti-government protesters in the early morning with pepper spray and then tear gas after an earlier crowd of around 2,000 gathered outside the Althingi, the country's parliament, to demand the government resign. The crowds surrounded the building while banging pots and pans and shooting off fireworks. The demonstrators also lobbed paving stones, rolls of toilet paper and shoes. It was the second day of protests after on Wednesday protesters jostled Minister Geir Haarde's limousine, pummelling it with cans of soft drinks and eggs. The regular demonstrations have strained the government coalition, with the ruling Independence Party on Thursday saying it "realises that there will be elections this year." Iceland is not an EU member, but the protests could result in it being the first European country to see its government brought down by the economic crisis. "It's a democracy that has its problems like many other states as a result of the economic crisis," European Commission external relations spokeswoman Christiane Hohmann said. The events in Iceland come hot on the heels of anti-government clashes in Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria in recent days, where economic discontent mixed with local issues erupted in violence. Trade unions in Greece meanwhile warn that further strikes are still likely, after protracted street fighting by students and young workers in December that caused billions in damage. Concern about the spreading unrest is high on the EU agenda, as governments find it increasingly more expensive to borrow money, putting pressure on social programmes. "There are concerns. The EU shares them. It is one of the major challenges for the Spring European Council," said a senior EU official, referring to the quarterly gathering of EU leaders. EU ambassadors in Brussels are discussing the issue and receiving "regular updates", according to another official, although he added that more intelligence on the situation is needed to see whether the riots are "part of a social trend" or manipulation by opposition elements. Lithuania's interior minister visited Latvia to discuss public security problems related to the economic crisis even before the Vilnius and Riga riots last week. Lithuania is currently collecting "all available information about similar events in other member states" and sharing it with "concerned" countries Estonia, France, Germany and Latvia, a Lithuanian diplomat told the EUobserver. "Intensive share of information" is also taking place between the Baltic states and Poland, he added. Following the ructions in Vilnius, 11 further peaceful demonstrations were organised around the country by trade-unions. "Due to the declining economic [situation] and problems raised by it, a possibility of similar meetings still remains, but we hope that riots will not be repeated," he said. More to come In a Wednesday interview with the BBC, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, predicted that the economic downturn will cause more unrest. "[It could happen] almost everywhere, in Europe certainly, and also in emerging countries," he said. "You've had some strikes that look like normal, usual strikes, but it may worsen in the coming months." Asked which countries were most at risk, Mr Strauss-Kahn mentioned Hungary, Ukraine, Latvia and Belarus. "It can be my own country [France], the UK, it can be eastern Europe," he said. "The situation is really, really serious," he added. Posters's comment: pots and pans, paving stones, toilet paper, shoes...these can be weathered by any government and serve as a harmless relief-valve to pacify the un-armed peasants of Ye Olde Europe. We, OTOH, are armed. So, why are we waiting while Obummer and Congress give this nation the final gang-bang that will finish us off as a First World nation??
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 17.
#3. To: X-15 (#0)
(Edited)
I just deleted a 3 paragraph answer and realized you probably have the same answer. When is it EXACTLY time to act individually and/or act as a combined force ? It's obvious they are the only ones waging this war thus far.
August 21, 1992. On August 21, 1992, six marshals were sent to scout the area to determine suitable places away from the cabin to ambush and arrest Weaver.[2] The marshals, dressed in camouflage, were equipped with night-vision goggles and M16 rifles.[1] At one point, one of the marshals threw two rocks at the Weaver cabin to test whether the dogs would be alerted.[4] The dogs indeed became alerted, and Weaver's friend Kevin Harris, and Weaver's 14 year old son, Samuel, emerged and followed the dogs to investigate.[1] Harris and the younger Weaver were hoping that the dog had noticed a game animal since the cabin was out of meat.[5] The marshals initially retreated, but later took up hidden defensive positions. Accounts differ at this point as to who first opened fire,[6] but agree that the marshals shot and killed Weaver's dog. Samuel Weaver then became extremely agitated and a firefight arose. Samuel Weaver, who was shot in the back while retreating,[7] and US Marshal William Degan were killed during the initial gun fight.[8] Marshals then retreated from the hillside in order to request assistance from the FBI while Weaver, his wife Vicki, their two daughters and Harris holed up in their house. Samuel's body was placed in a shed near the cabin. A stand-off ensued for 12 days as several hundred federal agents surrounded the house and negotiations for a surrender were attempted. On August 22, the second day of the siege, an FBI sniper, Lon Horiuchi, shot and wounded Randy Weaver in the right arm, while he was lifting the latch on the shed to visit the body of his dead son.[9] Then, as Weaver, his 16-year-old daughter Sara,[10] and Harris ran back toward the house, Horiuchi took a second shot, which struck and wounded Harris, and killed Vicki Weaver. Vicki Weaver was standing behind the door through which Harris was entering the house, holding their 10-month-old baby Elishiba[10] in her arms.[11] A Justice Department review later found the second shot was unconstitutional and the lack of a request to surrender was "inexcusable", since Harris and the two Weavers were running for cover and could not pose an imminent threat. The task force also specifically blamed Horiuchi for firing through the door, not knowing whether someone was on the other side of it. While controversy exists as to who issued the orders that were being followed by the sniper, the task force also condemned the so-called "rules of engagement" allowing shots to be fired with no request for surrender.[9] The stand-off was ultimately resolved by a negotiating team including Bo Gritz, and Weaver and Harris surrendered and were arrested.[12] Weaver was ultimately acquitted of all charges except missing his original court date and violating his bail conditions, for which he was sentenced to 18 months and fined $10,000. Credited with time served, Weaver spent an additional 4 months in prison. Harris was acquitted of all charges. We're Late !!!
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