Long Beach Times Newspaper
March 10, 2011 • Page 3A
U.S. Campaign against Libyan Leader Is Suspect
Money and Stress – Tips to increase fiscal fitness
America’s Efforts against Libya’sGadhafi Must Be Viewed with Suspicion
BY TINA ROBINSON UNION BANK, N.A. SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND REGIONAL BY ROBERT N. TAYLOR Withprotests and revolts against autocratic regimes taking place throughout MANAGER
theMiddle East and Arab world, the United States has been counseling nonviolenceas well as slow, stable change. The Obama administration says it wants to seedemocracy emerge in the affected countries. This is even though various U.S.administrations have been supporting most of the dictatorial Arab regimes forwell over 20 years. However,all the talk of non-violent, stable change ended last week when it came to thegovernment of Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi. Now the U.S. wants to go to war. Inaddition to imposing sanctions against Libya, seizing any assets they can gettheir hands on, the U.S. wants to send aid (including military) to the rebelsbattling Gadhafi. Further, it wants to impose a “no fly zone” over easternLibya in order to prevent Gadhafi’s planes from attacking the rebels. Secretaryof State Hillary Clinton even says “No option is off the Robert N. Taylor table.” In otherwords, America and its European allies are taking sides in what is essentiallya civil war in Libya. What is taking place is none of this country’s business. But it iswell known that the U.S. has wanted to overthrow Gadhafi since the 1980s.Remember when former President Ronald Reagan told the lie that Gadhafi had sent“hit squads” to the U.S. to kill him. It was not until 1986 that formerSecretary of State George Schultz admitted before a joint committee of Congressthat the Reagan allegations were “pure disinformation; Gadahfi had never madeany threats or hired any hit squads to kill President Reagan.” Despitethe lies, the U.S. has been financing anti-Gadhafi groups since the early1980s. Do not be surprised if it is revealed that some of the groups currentlybattling Gadhafi are being financed with American tax dollars. This all mustmake one suspicious about what lies we are being told today by administrationofficials and a compliant media in order to stir up public support for anotherwar on top of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The oddsare that the U.S. is simply pretending concern for the Libyan people as a coverto overthrow Gadhafi. For example, we know absolutely nothing about theseso-called rebels in Libya. Are they committed to democracy or simply a grab forpower? Does the U.S. really want democracy in Libya or simply desires toinstall a puppet regime through which it can control Libyan oil? The U.S.is rushing into another war with virtually no public discussion or solidevidence. Americans should be suspicious. Please remember Rafid Ahmed Alwanal-Janabi. He is the Iraqi who was a key source for America’s claim that SaddamHussein was developing weapons of mass destruction including mobile biological warfarelabs. Two weeksago in an interview with London’s Guardiannewspaper, al-Janabi publicly admitted that everything he claimed was a lie.But he suggested that U.S. officials wanted to hear the lies in order that theycould justify a pre-determined plan to overthrow Hussein. Again, I say “Be suspicious America!”
At a time when many Americans may be worried about losing their jobs, ongoing financial strains, or even the possibility of bankruptcy or losing their home, stress may be taking a heavy toll on their health. According to a national study commissioned by Union Bank, nearly 90 percent of Americans agree that monetary stress can negatively affect one's health. However, 60 percent of those surveyed may not be taking the necessary steps to improve fiscal fitness, raising questions as to whether they have the proper financial education to reach their goals. Tina Robinson Following are some tips to help reduce financial stress and in turn help improve your fiscal fitness this year: Write a plan to help you reach your financial goals. Research by the Consumer Federation of America has shown that adults who commit their plan to paper have twice as much savings and investments than those without written goals. According to the American Heart Association, this also holds true with physical health -- those who track their exercise and meals tend to lead generally healthier lives. Involve your family in developing your plan and budget. Check out user-friendly Web sites, such as HYPERLINK "http://www.AmericaSaves.org" www.AmericaSaves.org, for educational resources. Set up direct deposit into a savings account and pay yourself first each month. Keep track of your consumption habits and challenge yourself to spend only on necessities, such as rent or mortgage, transportation and groceries. Trim spending on "wants" to help jump start your savings plan. Calculate your net worth and use this number as a guideline to develop a plan to increase your net worth this year. Review your investments and make sure your portfolio is balanced and diversified. Develop a relationship with a financial advisor to help guide and track your progress. Just as fitness trainers or your physician may help support your health goals, a financial planner can help "train" you to save consistently. Whether you're seeking to improve your health or save more money this year, the key to success is to develop a regular routine and commit to a plan. The foregoing article is intended to provide general information about finances and stress and is not considered financial or tax advice from Union Bank. Please consult your financial or tax advisor. Tina Robinson is a senior vice president and regional manager for Union Bank, N.A., a full service commercial bank providing an array of financial services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, and major corporations. The bank operated 401 banking offices in California, Washington, Oregon and Texas, as well as two international offices, on December 31, 2010. UnionBanCal Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Union Bank is a proud member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG, NYSE:MTU), one of the world’s largest financial organizations. Visit HYPERLINK "http://www. unionbank.com" www.unionbank.com for more information.
Female Mexican Police Chief Fired
Garcia took the position. "I'm doing this for my people," she said then. "This is not for me. I'm tired of all the drug violence." ABC News tried to talk to Valles Garcia about her job in December, but was unable to. A person who answered the phone said her presence in the office is unpredictable, for obvious reasons. The downward spiral of drug violence in Mexico has touched nearly every community. "[Drug-related violence] could deter leaders from taking government positions, a very pernicious development," said Vanda Felbab-Brown, a professor at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. "We have seen more than 20 mayors in Mexico killed over the past three years."
Mother, College Student Reportedly Fled Across Border After Receiving Death Threats From Staff Reports Marisol Valles Garcia, the 20-year-old who became police chief of Praxedis G. Guerrero, one of the most violent towns in Mexico, has been fired. According to The Associated Press, the college student and mother was suspended today for leaving her job after receiving death threats for months. It had been reported previously that Valles Garcia was seeking political asylum in the United States; however, Andres Morales, secretary of the county in Mexico and second in charge after the mayor, told ABC News that he couldn't confirm that report. Valles Garcia did request a few days off to care for her sick son, he said. An unnamed relative of Valles Garcia told The New York Post that the chief had left Mexico with her young son. Valles Garcia, called "the bravest woman in Mexico," was sworn in in November 2010 as the head of a new program of crime prevention in a farming town located in one of the bloodiest regions in Mexico. Since her predecessor's head was left outside the police station over a year ago, no one wanted to fill the vacancy. Valles
Marisol Valles Garcia
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