"He (Obama) chairs the subcommittee on Europe. ... He's held not one substantive hearing to do
Posted By: sam on 2008-09-12
In Reply to: No points for you or - for SP. sm
Fischer, who is a minority staff member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said something as major as NATO’s role in Afghanistan would typically be held before the full Foreign Relations Committee, rather than Obama’s European subcommittee.
In fact, the Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on Afghanistan on Jan. 31, 2008, and NATO was a part of the discussion. Obama attended a Democratic debate in California that day. Clinton is not on the committee.
The Clinton campaign put out a statement reiterating Clinton’s comments to reinforce the theme that Obama is more about talk than action.
“Given the opportunity to take the reins of leadership and shape two critical areas of U.S. foreign policy — Afghanistan and our alliances in Europe — Senator Obama has done next to nothing,” the statement said.
Obama’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
So let’s look at Clinton’s statement:
“He chairs the subcommittee on Europe.” Yep.
“It has jurisdiction over NATO.” Yep.
“NATO is critical to our mission in Afghanistan. He’s held not one substantive hearing to do oversight, to figure out what we can do to actually have a stronger presence with NATO in Afghanistan.” Yep.
Some may argue that the issue of NATO’s role in Afghanistan typically and more appropriately would come before the full Foreign Relations Committee. But Clinton is right when she says Obama’s subcommittee has been largely dormant while Obama has campaigned for president. We rate her comment True.
Foreign policy advisors
Barack Obama is currently advised on foreign policy by a support group of approximately 300 people organized into 20 teams based upon subject.[89] A core group of advisors, led by Susan E. Rice and Anthony Lake, filters hundreds of papers and messages daily to provide the Senator with more concise positions on foreign policy and more specific reactions to international developments. Obama's foreign policy advisers have included Richard Danzig, Mark Lippert, Gregory Craig, Dennis McDonough, Daniel Shapiro, Scott Gration, Sarah Sewall, Ivo Daalder, Jeffrey Bader, Mark Brzezinski, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Richard Clarke, Roger Cressey, Philip Gordon, Lawrence Korb, James Ludes, Robert Malley, Bruce Riedel, Dennis Ross, Mona Sutphen, and Samantha Power (resigned March 7, 2008).[90][91][92]
If he is such an expert why does he need 300 advisors?
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Obama will get every excuse in the world. "He is
nm
Speaking of Europe, lol, they love Obama.
nm
Why do you think Obama campaigned in Europe/Germany last year? sm
Were they voting for him?
Huge red flag went up for a lot of us on that one.
The writing was on the wall, but so many refused to see it.
You hope it's wrong, and so do I. But only time will tell.
Obama has held public office since 1997. Why then
to his eligibility prior to August 2008? His eligiblity to run for public office has been certified in 1996, 1998, 2002 and 2004. So why did it take the republican party so long to bring up this issue?
Because when they have nothing substantive to give...
they ridicule and belittle. Second nature.
There is a substantive statement. nm
nm
What part of "he has" do you not comprehend?
the same piece of paper over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. Got it? Evidently not, because you fools will bankroll the attys and their law suits to nowhere over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again and still won't be satisfied. That's why nobody cares about this stupidity. The entire notion is, how shall I say this....INSANE.
Did they say "he makes me sick" or did you?
You were giving more than figures.
"He (MCSAME) will expand free trade so we can be even more competitive.” NM
1
Hmmm...Gives new meaning to "He's an empty suit", doesn't it?
x
Europe
Almost whole Europe was sponsoring Barack Hussein Obama! Victory!
europe
Europe is trying to encourage Pres Elect Obama to join with the EU to ensure economic stability for the US
And then there is Europe
We are nothing like Russia, therefore should not compare our nation to Russian.
Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. They do quite well as the European nation.
I've lived there for 12 years.
yeah, in EUROPE
.
A lot of Europe, even though they hate us....
are tied our markets. I think at least one German bank has already failed...and other european banks as well. He should be calling his buddy Obama...well I bet he already has. lol.
I was BORN in Europe, So what? What does this have to do
with anything and it is none of your business.
I assume that you are jealous that I am European born, therefore you are literally 'following' me around the forum with your pathetic comments.
Nothing better to do?
Look for another past-time.
Is Pakistan in Europe?
Just wondering...
China, India, Europe.....
I was in Italy once and couldn't swim because the local shoe factory had just poured all their dye into the Med and it was red. Most of the world drive cars with leaded gasoline. We do more to preserve the environment than many countries.
personally i have used the healthcare in Europe
and in France and England (several times in France) and I have to say that national healthcare over there works wonderfully well.....costs are minimal (though taxes are high) and all rxs in England cost the same and I was treated fabulously (married French) at American Hospital in Paris and Gap Hospital in France in 1980.....I did England in 71-72 and again, got treated well and for less than $40. I believe national healthcare can work but the govt and medical professions here in the states don't want it - because they, the MDS, will make less. But know this, that I saw the life of a doctor in France and his family in Michael Moore's movie SiCKO and they are living like kings, well not kings, but living VERY VERY WELL.
So, based on my own experiences in Europe - and the experiences to date of my in-laws over in France - I have to say the healthcare over there is FAR better and FAR LESS EXPENSIVE than over here but again, their taxes are somewhat higher.
Hillary screwed it up once before, I don't want to give her a second chance regarding healthcare.
Who cares what Europe thinks? They are no
nm
Why do you care what Europe thinks?
__
When is that debate going to be held?
I agree people are fed up with politics as usual and with all the reasons you gave. I don’t understand why some people are saying Mr. Obama is running for president of the world just because he calls himself a citizen of the world. I thought he was talking about American diplomacy and trying to improve international relations. He was in Europe and I think the Europeans want to see that happen instead of war. The accusations don’t seem very important. You already know what is important to you so all you can do is listen to the debate between Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama and make up your mind about which candidate sounds like he would care about those things the most and then vote for that one. It is too bad that people think politicians are liars but sometimes the campaign managers try to make the other candidate look like a liar. I just try to believe in what the candidate says about himself and his ideas. I wish Mr. Obama would ask Hillary to join him on the ticket because she had so much support and they would make a good team.
You think expecting someone to be held
lacking compassion?? I think it's the key to life. Case in point, I read today where once again we have a major hurricane and 250,000 chose not to heed evacuation warnings. And guess what? NOW they want to be bailed out, want rescuers to risk life and limb to save them from their own bad choices. You're right, though, I suppose. While I do have much compassion for the TRULY needy, I don't think there are as many of them in this country as the numbers using programs would reflect. I don't have a lot of compassion for lazy people who think they deserve life's best handed to them on a silver platter. I know a guy who hasn't worked in years and makes more money on disability than I make slaving at my computer for 50 hours a week, and there's not a thing wrong with him. They even have the guy on video doing heavy lifting and the whole 9 yards but he still gets those checks. I guess I'll just smile and be compassionate toward him and his sorry lot in life. lol
Has the election already been held?
And the answer is - Most definitely NOT. You and your pompous dems that say Obama WILL be the next president. You don't know. Me, I don't care. Whoever gets in gets in. If its Obama fine, if its McCain fine. But the truth of the matter is the election has not been held, we still have a few weeks and nobody knows. This election is very very close. Are you planning to do something personally that is illegal that will throw the election to Obama? Even the guy who is in charge of polls (Mr. Rasmussen) said because the polls are so close that goes to show you that anything can happen. So with that said - No election yet, no winner yet!
You may say your going to write in Lou Dobbs, but I believe that is just a smoke screen to make people think you are not for Obama, but your message shows strongly who you want to win.
It's the Obama supporters who are saying he WILL be the next president, he has WON already. Then you bash McCain while in the same breathing saying McCain supporters are picking on you.
So once again let me repeat myself....no election yet, no winner yet.
They should all be held accountable s/m
Especially given Cheney's brazen admission to not only knowing about, but giving the green light on the types of torture that we used to deem punishable by death. If we as Americans don't stand up and demand accountability for these heinous acts, we are no better than the other despotic nations that allow this.
Look up the 80 year old U.S. man who is being held
He is being held there unlawfully, even though he has done nothing. He is sleeping on a hard concrete floor, dying a slow agonizing death of pneumonia with NO medical care.
Even the mayor of this small Mexican town has reviewed the situation and asked that this elderly man be returned to his country but their corrupt government won't do it. BUT, they certainly have no problem pushing them all up here for me to take care of and when tens of thousands of them end up in prison while murdering, raping, stealing, etc., we give them medical care, feed their sorry butts, and even make sure they have an education at my expense if they want one, all to the tune of billions of dollars a year.
Believe me, if that little girl's family still cannot speak English, I can almost guarantee you they are not here legally. No doubt the girl was born here, which makes her an anchor baby, and should have made her illegal as well.
All those that want to fall for that pity thing will soon find themselves without and at the mercy of a Mexican-driven society with Mexican-driven beliefs. Talk to some citizens in bordertown states and the proof is in the crap going on in their towns.
Reserves being held, yes. New oil and gas
kept quiet from everyone but the government...until the internet, of course.. These are new oil and gas finds.
The so-called reserves are held in case of emergency, so the prez and cabinet members can get out of the way of a red alert. Not for the citizens.
You sound bitter and should just stay in Europe
I'm no Bush fan (now), but let me tell you why I voted for him. I was tired of the dems taxing the you know what out of us. In my whole life I had never been taxed as much as when Clinton was in, and Gore was going to continue on with those taxes. I couldn't afford anything. DH and I had good jobs, but close to 38% of those paychecks were going for taxes and then each year in addition to that we ended up not paying enough and would have to fork over an additonal $1500 to 2000. We didn't own a house, we didn't have an expensive car, no fancy wardrobes, no vacations, nothing, zip, nada. We had to pass on going out to eat a lot with family because we didn't have it. We lived in a one bedroom apartment in the silicon valley. We had enough of the Clintons. We had enough of the high taxes, the bumbling yahoo from the south. The guy who said he was going to do this for us and that for us and once he got into the white house all that changed and he catered to his rich friends. He didn't have a clue as to what the average American citizen was going through. He just kept imposing taxes to fund his phony programs. He brought in NAFTA. Lots of people lost their jobs and then he created these "false" jobs (i.e. the ones that paid minimum wage and people still had to go on food stamps). People were losing their homes. You want to talk about a Hillbilly you need to start with Bill and Hillary Clinton (please no offense to the Hillbillies). Those two were a disgrace to the country and made us look like fools to other countries. His phony gaffaw to make it seem as though he thought something was funny (not presidential at all!). Then on their overseas trips the insulting mannerisms of Hillary who is suppose to be first lady but acting as though she was the Queen. When graciously given a gift from another country if she didn't like it she was overhead telling people what a piece of $*$@ it was and there was no way she was going to put it on (it was a piece of homemade jewelry). She disgraces the country and made me ashamed to call it my country (I served the country under Regan and was very proud and they yanked that out when they came into power). Then you have his lying to congress, lying to the American people, Bill & Hillary's fights in the white house. The mysterious deaths of people, the affairs, the scandels, them acting as though they are King and Queen of America. Calling people to be there at a certain time then waltzing down the stairs making sure everyone was their watching their "grand entrance". Then you had the disgraceful people he had on his staff. People stuffing classified documents into their pants pockets to hide stuff, Janet Reno, Waco Texas, Elian Gonzales, drug runs, missing people only to be found having taken a "dirt vacation", etc, etc. They were the two biggest disgraces to ever step foot into the white house and clearly did nothing of any benefit while in there.
Bush is not the brightest but neither was his predescessor. Sure Bush has a lot of faults, sure he should be impeached like Clinton was - remember that detail - Clinton is an impeached ex-president and in my opinion has lost the right to still be called Mr. President.
Gore as VP was one of the most worthless VPs we've had. I put him right up there with Quayle. Good for absolutely nothing. But I guess we should remember. He created the internet and he and Tipper were the role model for the movie "Love Story". Wait a second...I'm going to barf here... Sorry but I did not want Mr. Stiff as the next President. Especially when he was hiding and covering up what the President and Hillary were doing. He was a weakling and I did not want them in there. Do I believe the election was stolen? Yes I do. Am I sorry it was? No. Gore would have not done any better and nobody can tell me otherwise. He's an imbi*cile pushing this global warming thing of his, which he won't even listen to the expert scientist and weather people who know what is happening in the world. I still wonder what he's going to tell his kids when they ask him one day why he lied about global warming. I'd love to be there when that happens.
Am I going to vote for McCain? Are you out of your mind. No I don't like Bush. Yes I don't think he's running on all cylinders. As someone once said to me "He's one fry short of a happy meal". I'm not going to continue on with another term of Bush.
Who are you to "warn" other people. Who are you to "tell" other people who to vote for. You are entitled to your opinions, but it is this elitist attitude that gets very tiresome. There are plenty of very good reasons why half of the country did not vote for Gore. I actually did not vote for Bush, but voted against Gore. As my mom told me you have to pick the lesser of the two evils. Nobody, including you, knew Katrina was going to happen when Bush was running, you didn't know that 911 would happen. You didn't know any of the disasters that happened would happened unless you have a crystal ball, and now you act as though "you warned everyone this would happen". How someone reacts to crisis is a whole different story. Clintons were no better with the disasters that happened when they were in. Yes it could have all be handled better.
You mentioned stem cell research. Funny how that wasn't approved when Clinton was in there. Gay marriage...I heard nothing about Clinton approving it. Gay couples were struggling back then as they are now fighting for their rights to the equality that opposite sex marriages have. You make it sound as though Bush took all of this away - this is rubbish!
No, I am no Bush fan and am glad he's on his way out. I'm sure in his last days he too will be handing out pardons like Clinton did as if they a K-Mart blue light special.
Yes, this is a free country and you are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine and mine is that you have an elitest attitude and I hope you stay in Europe.
No wonder Europe thinks this country is full of
nm
She posted articles about the big 3 in Europe, not European car cos.....(nm)
And I can visit Europe and actually TALK to people, without
How refreshing will THAT be? To not be embarrassed to death about what country we live in?
I was BORN in Europe, So what? What does thishave todo
with anything and it is none of your business.
I assume that you are jealous that I am European born, therefore you are literally 'following' me around the forum with your pathetic comments.
Nothing better to do?
Look for another past-time.
Hallelujah! Leftists in EU elections across Europe are
Don't think this will go unnoticed on this side of the pond as well. Obama's numbers shriveling, the Democratic-dominated Congress even worse numbers...and the Republican gubernatorial candidate in New Jersey, of all places, is leading the Democrat incumbent by double digits in the polls. Those who crowed prematurely about the demise of conservatism are going to find that the toe tag has been switched - and they're the ones who will end up wearing it. Why? Because they got above themselves and WENT TOO FAR. It's so true, isn't it - "pride goeth before a fall".
Conservatives Racing Ahead in EU Parliamentary Elections:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090607/ap_on_re_eu/european_elections
really, how many people held the baby, 4?
The middle sister, Cindy McCain, the father, and the youngest daughter?
OMG HOW HORRIBLE!!!
Labor not held to same standard as
other parties in the negotiations, i.e., double standard. During the debates on TARP funds, aside from the parachutes, when were white collar salaries ever examined?
Bush has no say in if election will be held
You'll be the first to say he can't even read a book, but then turn around and he's suppose to be intelligent enough to be able to stop the elections. That moronian can't find his left hand from his right. Think it takes a little more brains to be able to stop an election. Whatever Bush has done it's been at the direction of the people who are over him. He's just a talking head and puppet and does whatever he's told to do.
With that said though, I believe the election should be put on hold until this mess is straightened out. I heard Lou Dobbs yesterday give both sides a good lashin. I'm tellin you, never seen anyone so mad and disgusted with both candidates for not doing what's right. Neither side got a free pass on that one. That is the way news is suppose to be. When you have one side praising up and down their candidate while trying to destroy the other (goes for both sides) that is not fair and not any news I can trust. Hold them both accountable for what they do (or don't do).
At least O held the book right-side up......
Justified Rage! . . . . .Held in!! . . .How,
please, how can you justify the rage you display here? Actually, I see more hate than rage displayed. Also, who has been holding it in for the past 8 years???? Certainly no one on this board has been guilty of holding it in.
I hope GWB is the closest you ever come to having a dictator as your president, but just in case, please keep an open mind.
Loony Left is LOSING Clout in Europe
Once again (how many times do we have to do this?) socialist ideas are being thrown 'on the trash heap of history' where these losers belong.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124425154944290829.html
Update: Pat's finally being held accountable
for his hateful words. Israel now refuses to do business with him because of his bizarre remarks about Sharon.  Needless to say, I was very happy to see this.
 MSNBC.com |
Israel pulls plug on Pat Robertson deal
Officials angry over evangelical leader's comments about Sharon's stroke
The Associated Press
Updated: 8:14 a.m. ET Jan. 11, 2006
JERUSALEM - Israel won't do business with Pat Robertson after the evangelical leader suggested Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's massive stroke was divine punishment, a tourism official said Wednesday, putting into doubt plans to develop a large Christian tourism center in northern Israel.
Avi Hartuv, spokesman for Israel's tourism minister, said officials are furious with Robertson's suggestion that the stroke was retribution for Sharon's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip last summer. We can't accept this kind of statement, Hartuv said.
Robertson is leading a group of evangelicals who have pledged to raise $50 million to build the Christian Heritage Center in Israel's northern Galilee region, where tradition says Jesus lived and taught.
Under a tentative agreement, Robertson's group was to put up the funding, while Israel would provide land and infrastructure. Israeli officials believe the project will generate tens of millions of tourism dollars.
But the project now is in question in light of Robertson's comments, said Hartuv.
We will not do business with him, only with other evangelicals who don't back these comments, Hartuv said. We will do business with other evangelical leaders, friends of Israel, but not with him.
A day after Sharon's stroke on Jan. 4, Robertson suggested the prime minister was being punished for dividing God's land, a reference to the August pullout from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements.
God considers this land to be his, Robertson said on his TV program The 700 Club. You read the Bible and he says 'This is my land,' and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, 'No, this is mine.'
Robertson's comments also drew condemnation from other Christian leaders and even U.S. President George W. Bush.
The ministry's decision was first reported in Wednesday's edition of The Jerusalem Post.
Christian center planned near Galilee
Robertson's Christian Heritage Center was to be tucked away in 35 acres of rolling Galilee hills, near key Christian sites such as Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes, where tradition says Jesus delivered the Sermon of the Mount, and Tabgha -- on the shores of the Sea of Galilee -- where Christians believe Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fish.
The project underlines how ties have strengthened in recent years between Israel and evangelical Christian groups that support the Jewish state.
Israel was considering leasing the land to the Christians for free. Tourism Minister Avraham Hirschson predicted it would annually draw up to 1 million pilgrims who would spend $1.5 billion in Israel and support about 40,000 jobs.
Hirschson, however, is one of Sharon's biggest supporters, and a member of the centrist Kadima party recently founded by the prime minister.
Hartuv left the door open to continuing the project, but only with people who don't back Robertson's statements.
We want to see who in the group supports his (Robertson's) statements. Those who support the statements cannot do business with us. Those that publicly support Ariel Sharon's recovery ... are welcome to do business with us, Hartuv said. We have to check this very, very carefully.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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well have you ever held a baby? "grasping" is the word of the day
everyone wants to hold babies! PLUS YOUR ARMS GET TIRED!
wasn't it the republicans that held out for more stuff? nm
x
it wasn't held back. See post below
nm
I will, provided courtesy is held on the conservative board as well.
/
That's awful! Praying all those held will be released safely...
they are saying a woman and child have been released, and that is a good thing...praying this will end with no innocent folks being hurt.
This is exactly how elections are held in Vermont, no voting machines. nm
.
Held my nose and watched the same O'Reilly blather
made his pathetic atempt to delcare war on the NY Times, Rasmussen, etc. This is what sore losers do when they feel themselves in freefall. O'Reilly got his drawers in an uproar because he and Focks are down in the ratings and is'nt used to the idea of being #3 behind Olbermann, Cooper et all. Poor Bill.
Bush lost the respect we held for him years ago.
and in no small measure is responsible for the divisions that we all find ourselves grapping with at this very moment. The election is over and the time is here for us to move on into the new age our fellow Americans have delivered to our feet.
Pastors would be held responsible from the pulpit just teaching
XX
It that garage sale is held every weekend - see message
it's a business. Just like the regular religious gatherings with the congregation. There are different building codes for different business. When you have a business you have to abide by fire codes, etc. If this couple that wants to have their regular business meetings in their home gets a permit then I have no problem with it. I have to have a business license for my MT work, they should have to have a business license for their regular business meetings.
You cannot compare this with someone who once every few years has a yard sale or tupperware party or BBQ.
The people from this article are conducting a business without a permit.
Europe - Swastika vigilantes kill foreign students to keep their city 'clean' ...see article.
Swastika vigilantes kill foreign students to keep their city 'clean'From Jeremy Page in Moscow
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![src=http://images.thetimes.co.uk/images/trans.gif]() |
THE African students did not even see the man raise the swastika-emblazoned shotgun as they emerged from the Apollo nightclub in St Petersburg.
When he opened fire from the shadows behind them, some of the group thought it was a firecracker going off.
Then they saw Samba Lampsar Sall, a 28-year-old student from Senegal, lying dead on the pavement with his throat blown apart.
Within hours, a sinister message had appeared on the website of a group called the Party of Freedom. “The clean-up of the city continues,” it said.
Mr Sall had come to study at St Petersburg’s State Communications University in 2001 in the hope of finding a better life when he went back home.
Instead, around dawn yesterday, he became the latest victim of a hate campaign by neo-Nazi extremists on the streets of Russia’s cultural capital.
“How can people be so evil?” asked Michael Tanobian, an African student who was with Mr Sall when he was killed. “We come here just to study, for nothing else. We don’t take anything here.”
Mr Sall’s brutal murder exposes one of Russia’s most disturbing problems as President Putin prepares to host the G8 summit in St Petersburg in mid-July. For all its grandeur and impressive art collections, Russia’s second city is fast becoming the racist capital of the world.
Critics say that the authorities are not doing enough to combat the extremists who routinely attack, and kill, Africans, Asians and immigrants from the Caucasus or Central Asia.
Seven people have been killed, and 79 injured, in more than 40 racist attacks this year, according to Sova, a non-governmental organisation that monitors extremism in Russia.
Last year, 28 people were killed and 366 injured in racially motivated crimes, it says.
The Interior Ministry sent a team of special investigators from Moscow to work on yesterday’s murder. The Foreign Ministry expressed “sincere condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the deceased”. The Prosecutor’s Office said that the case was being treated as a racist killing.
But dozens of similar cases have been treated as “hooliganism”, a crime that carries a far lighter sentence. One of the most shocking attacks occurred in 2004, when teenagers stabbed to death a nine-year-old Tajik girl in St Petersburg. Last month, a court convicted them of hooliganism, giving six of them 18-year jail sentences and one of them five years.
Desire Defaut, chairman of the local community group African Unity, urged Mr Putin to lead the fight against neo- Nazism. “They must make an announcement at a state level that such a problem exists and state organs must work on it,” he said. “We can’t say they are doing enough if there are two attacks within one week.”
Last week, the nine-year-old daughter of a Russian woman and her African husband was wounded in a knife attack in St Petersburg. “What more proof of extremism do they need in St Petersburg?” asked Juldas Okie Etoumbi, chairman of the Association of the African Students of Moscow. But, he added, the problem is not confined to St Petersburg. In the past week, skinheads in Moscow beat up a journalist of Caucasian origin and the culture minister from the Caucasus region of Kabardino-Balkaria.
Mr Putin has called racism “an infection” and pledged to stamp it out. But critics say that the Kremlin has tolerated, and even encouraged, ultra-nationalist groups to foster loyalty to the State and make itself look relatively liberal.
MURDER CITY
Sept 2003 Tajik girl, 5, beaten in St Petersburg
Feb 2004 Tajik girl, 9, stabbed
Mar 2004 Syrian student pushed in front of train
June 2004 Anti-Nazi campaigner shot dead
Oct 2004 Vietnamese student stabbed
Sept 2005 Congolese student beaten
Dec 2005 Cameroonian student stabbed
Feb 2006 Malian medical graduate stabbed
Apr 2006 Senegalese student shot |
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