1. QUOTE from:
    Obama Pushes Hatoyama to Adhere to U.S.-Japan Military Base Agreement
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    The two spoke today in a call Obama initiated to explain his decision to postpone his arrival in Japan by one day to Nov. 13 in order to attend a memorial for victims of last week’s shootings at an Army base in Texas. "It’s perfectly appropriate for the new government to want to re-examine how to move forward ... I’m confident that once that review is completed that they will conclude that the alliance we have, the basing arrangements that have been discussed, all those things serve the interest of Japan and they will continue." Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said he and U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos today agreed on setting up a cabinet-level group to resolve the issue. Full Article at Bloomberg.com
    It’s perfectly appropriate for the new government to want to re-examine how to move forward ... I’m confident that once that review is completed that they will conclude that the alliance we have, the basing arrangements that have been discussed, all those things serve the interest of Japan and they will continue.
    Barack Obama – Barack Obama SOURCE: Bloomberg.com 3 weeks ago

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Actresses Amy Poehler (L) and Christina Applegate pose for photographs during a photocall for the film "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquell" in Los Angeles December 5, 2009.
  2. Winner Malaysia's Wong Mew Choo (R) poses with Germany's Juliane Schenk during the medal presentation of the World Super Series badminton tournament in Johor Baru December 6, 2009.
  3. Doris Chen poses for a photo while dressed up as a character from a Taiwanese puppet show, before the start of a cosplay competition in Taipei County, December 6, 2009.
  4. U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy for North Korea Stephen Bosworth arrives for his North Korean trip, at Incheon international airport, west of Seoul, South Korea December 6, 2009. Paranoid and reclusive North Korea will try to defend what groups and governments see as a systemic abuse of human rights in the country when it faces unprecedented questioning at the United Nations on Monday. The North has sat down for international nuclear disarmament talks, and will host U.S. envoy Bosworth who visits Pyongyang on Tuesday, but it has denounced global criticism of its rights record saying it is part of a conspiracy to topple its leaders.
  5. U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy for North Korea Stephen Bosworth (C) arrives for his North Korean trip, at Incheon international airport, west of Seoul December 6, 2009. Paranoid and reclusive North Korea will try to defend what groups and governments see as a systemic abuse of human rights in the country when it faces unprecedented questioning at the United Nations on Monday. The North has sat down for international nuclear disarmament talks, and will host U.S. envoy Bosworth who visits Pyongyang on Tuesday, but it has denounced global criticism of its rights record saying it is part of a conspiracy to topple its leaders.
  6. MAGUINDANAO PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES - DECEMBER 06: Philippine security forces inspect a sophisticated weapon dug up on December 6, 2009 in the restive southern Philippine township of Datu Hoffer town in Maguindanao as Manila imposed a military rule in the restive province. The weapons and ammunition are believed owned by a Muslim clan linked in late last month's massacre of 64 people, including journalists. On November 23 supporters of local vice-mayor Ismail Mangudadatu and 30 journalists were killed as they prepared to launch his candidacy for the governance of the Maguindanao Province.
  7. MAGUINDANAO PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES - DECEMBER 06: Filipino soldiers are seen at the site where sophisticated weapons and ammunition were dug up on December 6, 2009 in the restive southern Philippine township of Datu Hoffer town in Maguindanao as Manila imposed a military rule in the restive province. The weapons and ammunition are believed owned by a Muslim clan linked in late last month's massacre of 64 people, including journalists. On November 23 supporters of local vice-mayor Ismail Mangudadatu and 30 journalists were killed as they prepared to launch his candidacy for the governance of the Maguindanao Province.
  8. Yin Ya-lan rehearses backstage before the start of a cosplay competition in Taipei County, December 6, 2009.
  9. Facing camera from left, Indian players V.V.S. Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rahul Dravid celebrate after winning the third cricket test match against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
  10. ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 06: Brad Haddin of Australia drives as Sulieman Benn of the West Indies fields off his own bowling during day three of the Second Test match between Australia and the West Indies at Adelaide Oval on December 6, 2009 in Adelaide, Australia.
  11. U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, center, arrives for his North Korea trip for talks aimed at restarting nuclear disarmament negotiations, at Incheon International airport in Incheon, west of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
  12. U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth arrives for his North Korea trip for talks aimed at restarting nuclear disarmament negotiations, at Incheon International airport in Incheon, west of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
  13. U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth arrives for his North Korea trip for talks aimed at restarting nuclear disarmament negotiations, at Incheon International airport in Incheon, west of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
  14. Indian bowler Zaheer Khan, center, celebrates with teammates after dismissing Sri Lankan Nuwan Kulasekara during the third cricket test match between India and Sri Lanka in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
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  17. ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 06: Marcus North of Australia tries to play a sweep shot and is caught during day three of the Second Test match between Australia and the West Indies at Adelaide Oval on December 6, 2009 in Adelaide, Australia.
  18. ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 06: Michael Clarke of Australia walks from the field after being dismissed by Sulieman Benn of the West Indies during day three of the Second Test match between Australia and the West Indies at Adelaide Oval on December 6, 2009 in Adelaide, Australia.