Gilles Marini Rates the New Season of 'Dancing with the Stars'

Last season's "Dancing with the Stars" runner-up, Gilles Marini, who has joined the cast of "Brothers and Sisters" for five episodes -- possibly more, talks to ET about the new cast of the hit dance competition.

"I want to see Mark Dacascos rise and show amazing things because I know he is athletic and I know he can pull out some amazing dances. I cannot wait to see him," Gilles tells ET.

"The other front runners, I think, would be Mya, Aaron Carter and Donny Osmond," he continues. "Those three are really professional entertainers and dancers. There is no doubt about it. For me, it is hard to relate to them. I like to relate to the people who are dancing on 'Dancing with the Stars,' so for me, I need to relate to someone who has never danced before. I want to see that person commit to it and have a very hard work ethic. I believe this is what I did last year. I was proud of what I accomplished with Cheryl Burke."

"Dancing with the Stars" airs tonight on ABC at 8 p.m.

Read more...

Mysteries of Meghan McCain Twitter, Usher 911 Call, Tess Taylor Solved

Wondering why Meghan McCain Twitter, Usher 911 Call and Tess Taylor are surging in Google Trends? We can shed some light on the mystery. Google Trends provides the hottest keywords of the hour. Though the results change frequently, at any given time the list offers a snapshot of what's on people's minds. Here are the hottest pop culture trending topics today...

---

Tess Taylor - Drake Bell of 'Drake and Josh' fame is kind of a big deal. His show was a Disney smash success, he's a mega pop star in Mexico, and he played young John Cusack in 2000's 'High Fidelity.' Oh, and the ladies love him. 20-year-old model/Playboy bunny Tess Taylor sure seems to like him. She was photographed with Drake Bell walking into Hollywood's Roosevelt on Tuesday night and everyone now wants to know who she is. Well, according to Model Mayhem, she's a model, and a ballerina, and a pole-dancer, and she likes to smile.

Meghan McCain Twitter - John McCain's 24-year-old blogging daughter posted a racy pic on her Twitter account and the Googleverse is a-buzzing over Meghan McCain. Twitter shows the busty blonde nearly busts out of her shirt while she shows off an Andy Warhol book to her now 60,000 Twitter followers. Meghan's fifteen minutes of fame have now been extended many fold as the pic has been viewed 152,000 times as we published this story.

Yovanna Guzman - Yovanna Guzman's tale is one of the most viewed stories on CNN.com right now . "Luxuries Dazzled Gangster's Girlfriend" tells of the Colombian beauty's seedy romance with cocaine kingpin Wilber Varela. "There were the vacations, the cars and the luxury SUVs and, of course, jewelry. There was always jewelry. But there were small details too like flowers," she tells CNN. But "he had two faces. I saw him so tender with the ones he loved, then you see the cartel killings." The only reason she's speaking out now, she says, is because Varela is dead, murdered by a jealous lieutenant last year. Oh, and she has a book coming out.

Usher 911 Call - Celebrities call 911, too. OK, maybe they do so more than the average person, at least that's what TMZ would lead us to believe. Yesterday audio was leaked of an Usher 911 call from September, complaining to the dispatcher about a key scratch on his car. Yes, you heard that right. "Uh, I would like to report a situation where my car has been keyed," the R&B star calmly says. It's a pretty uneventful phone call, though he insinuates the property damage was perpetrated by his ex-wife Tameka Raymond. After a brief investigation, the police dropped the case for lack of evidence.

Lou Albano Bio - Wrestling legend Captain Lou Albano kicked the bucket yesterday. Maybe you've got vague recollections of the charismatic cornerman's '80s antics and you want to get the full lowdown on the man. Maybe you were his biggest fan and you want to re-live his greatest moments in the ring, such as when he guided The Russian Bear to an improbable victory over Bruno Sammartino in 1971. Maybe you have no idea who he is and you wanna see what the hype is all about. If that's the case, you probably think he's just a burly music video extra. Check out the Lou Albano bio and you'll quickly realize he was much bigger than that.

Paulina Sherwood - Few people can turn ordinary women into stars like Howard Stern. And that's what he's doing with Paulina Sherwood, a brunette undergrad at Arizona State University, who has won the title of "Miss Howard T.V. November." She formerly won Tempe 12's "Miss May 2009," but Tempe 12 CEO says in a congratulatory press release that his girls aren't bimbos. They're "educated, driven, and down-to-earth college girls who just happen to be drop-dead gorgeous." Did he mention they're gorgeous?

Read more...

BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY RIOT

COLUMBUS, OH – A riot broke out at a clothing store when a woman lied about paying for everyone’s items!

Linda Brown pulled up to Burlington Coat Factory in a rented stretch Hummer limousine. She walked up to the register and announced she had won the lottery and would pay for every customer’s merchandise up to $500.

People immediately began grabbing clothes and flooding the registers with purchases. Others called their relatives to come down and enjoy the woman’s generosity.

At least 500 people were running amok, while another 1,000 were waiting to get inside. After about an hour, Brown went to the bank claiming she would withdraw the money, but came back empty-handed. She soon fled the store in her rented limo.

“She was telling people she won $1.5 million,” Sgt. Lt. Michael Deakins said. “But it ends up she didn’t win anything. She had no money to pay for anything.”

When employees she was not coming back with the money, customers began rioting, throwing merchandise on the ground or running off with stolen clothes.

“Everybody was like, ‘I still want my free stuff,’ and that started the riot,” said Detective Steven Nace. “It looks like (Hurricane) Katrina went through the store.”

Once the limo driver realized he would not be getting paid, he turned Brown in to police. She had outstanding warrants for aggravated menacing, misuse of a 911 system and causing false alarms, but charges have been delayed pending a psychiatric evaluation.

Police said they were attempting to track down customers who stole clothing by reviewing surveillance video.

Tags: burlington coat factory, burlington coat factory riot, clothing riot, columbus, linda brown, lottery hoax, lotto hoax, ohio

Read more...

U.S. Mint gold coin prices increase

Unless the London gold price average on Wednesday falls below $1035 an ounce, the US Mint will again increase the price of its gold collector coins, marking the fourth straight week it has adjusted prices.

With gold hitting an all-time high of $1,065 an ounce Tuesday, it would seem unlikely, although it is possible, for gold prices to fall overnight by $30. (The final London PM price the US Mint will use in its calculation to determine price adjustments is fixed around 10 a.m. Eastern Time.)

Read more...

Tomorrow is National Boss Day?!

There are a lot of ridiculous fake holidays, from the highly publicized Talk Like a Pirate Day to National Be Late For Something Day (September 5th…or in my case, every day). But according to Reuters, tomorrow is National Boss Day, and that just kinda ruffles my subordinate feathers. The news outlet calls it “a time for employees to thank their bosses for the job they do, and also to realize the daily pressures bosses face.”

I mean, isn’t every day National Boss Day? Your boss tells you to do something ridiculous, you do it, and then he or she changes their mind about what was wanted in the first place. You toil away, doing the dirty work with little or no recognition all year long, and then you’re supposed to take a day in October and say thanks to your overlord? I think not.

Maybe there are some people out there who really love their bosses and find this kind of holiday appropriate – let me know. Reuters also says that “individuals often fail to think about the challenges of being the boss,” especially during tough economic times. Well, I doubt the boss is the one getting laid off.

So go ahead, celebrate National Boss Day. I suggest sending a passive-aggressive e-card from someecards.com, or the gift of firsthand knowledge. See if your boss can handle using the fax or copy machine all by himself.

Read more...

Garth Brooks un-retires from the music biz, readies Vega

According to a report today in Reuters, country superstar Garth Brooks is abandoning his self-enforced nine-year retirement (barring occasional appearances between 2005 and 2007, and a lucrative Wal-Mart deal ) and reportedly preparing a sixteen-week concert run, most likely at Las Vegas’s Wynn Casino.

“I know this is a young industry,” he told gathered press in Nashville today, “so I’m not sure I’ll be welcomed back but, if the fans want me, I still want to pursue my music.” Brooks, who has sold some 123 million records, is the top-selling American artist of all time, second only to the Beatles’ 170 million.

What do you think, readers — did absence make your hearts grow even fonder, or does it feel like he never really left? How do you think his return will hold up to the comebacks of other “retirees” like Cher, Barbra Streisand and Jay-Z?

Read more...

Marley & Me’ writer featured speaker at Cooper series

By Peggie MillerPerforming arts columnist

Updated: 10.09.09

Writer JOHN GROGAN, who penned the acclaimed “Marley and Me,“ comes to THE JOHN COOPER SCHOOL Wednesday, Nov. 11, as featured speaker in Cooper’s fifth Annual Signatures Author Series. Tickets are available to the public at $75 each.

“Marley and Me” is an autobiographical work based on Grogan’s life with wife, Jenny, after they acquired a yellow Labrador retriever named Marley in 1991. Subtitle of the book is “Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog.” Although Marley, whose name honored reggae singer Bob Marley, owned a lot of bad habits, he brought a wealth of humor, pathos and love into Grogan’s life.

“Parents should give children a good education first of all, and then a dog,” Grogan once said in an interview. “Dogs exhibit the most valuable qualities of life: Loyalty, devotion, selflessness, optimism and love — all examples of commitment that matters.”

Grogan, 52, grew up in a devout Catholic family close to Detroit.

After his Michigan days, Grogan eventually became a Pennsylvania Inquirer newspaper columnist. He sometimes wrote about the antics of Marley so that his readers developed an association. When Marley died in 2003 after living with Grogan for 12 years, he was buried under an arc of cherry trees and wild raspberry bushes in Grogan’s backyard. The columnist wrote so touchingly about the death of his beloved, but incorrigible pet that over 800 readers responded, whereas his columns typically drew only 40 to 50 replies. From this reaction he was encouraged to expand that piece into a nonfiction book about life with Marley. Eventually the book became a movie that starred Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson.

The reader reception to “Marley and Me,” published in 2005, made Grogan wealthy enough to move his family of five from a modest Pennsylvania home into a restored manor on a wooded Pensylvania hillside.

A year ago this month, another Grogan narrative titled “The Longest Trip Home” was released. It describes a childhood where he was a gleefully mischievous boy; and his journey into adulthood, particularly after meeting strong willed Jenny whom he married when he was a police reporter for a small Michigan newspaper. Described as painfully funny and poignant, “The Longest Trip Home” relates amusing happenings of his religious confessions at mass, how he and other altar boys got into the ceremonial wine and comparable tales, and maturing to accepting his parents’ humanity.

“The Longest Trip Home” ultimately deals with somber, adult grief, “the fateful call, onset of illness, and the final trip home that every one of us who has parents has made, or will make, to say goodbye to them.” Grogan’s father died in 2004 at age 89.

The Nov. 11 luncheon also presents local authors on hand to sell and autograph their books. John Grogan will autograph a chair that goes to the highest bidder at a silent auction.

The Nov. 11 luncheon at THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY MARRIOTT HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER begins at 11:30 a.m. It is presented by JCS Fine Arts Council through sponsors TEXAS MONTHLY; CANDI AND GERALD GLENN; LORRIE and BRIAN PETRASKUS; AMY LECOCQ; RICK SHAPIRO; JOANNE and JOHN TIKKANEN. Individual reservations cost $75, with table sponsorships going from $1,250 to $7,500. To reserve, please call (281) 367-0900, extension 441, or visit www.johncooper.org.

If you were planning to see THE CRIGHTON PLAYERS’ comedy “Biloxi Blues” at the Owen Theatre this weekend, put that idea on hold until Oct. 16 to 18. Instead, go to the CONROE CAJUN CATFISH FESTIVAL opening today in downtown Conroe and continuing through Sunday eve. JOE VISER directs “Biloxi Blues” two more weekends, ending with a matinee Oct. 25.

Although six of the seven major characters are young males undergoing the rigors of boot camp, MELISSA SINGLETON and RACHEL MOORE create lesser, though pivotal, female roles.

From her latest role as a warm and tender mother of 10 children in STAGE RIGHT’S “Cheaper by the Dozen,” Melissa made a hairpin turnaround — this time she plays a jaded prostitute who introduces chief character Eugene to a seedy side of army life, in Neil Simon’s autobiographical vehicle. JORDAN REAL quite capably handles the role of Eugene (Simon).

RACHEL MOORE depicts Daisy, a young Catholic high school girl and love interest to Eugene, whom she meets at a dance strictly supervised by nuns. Also pulling off superb renderings are JAKE DELL, W. WILLINGHAM and THOMAS WHITE in this unrelenting portrayal of youths becoming soldiers. To reserve at $20 call (936) 539-4090 weekdays between 3 and 6 p.m.

Read more...

October 11th One Year Bible Readings

Old Testament - There are a lot of great verses in Jeremiah's readings today! Jeremiah 17:5 stands out: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the Lord." I think oftentimes we put more trust in others than the Lord - our spouses, our pastors, our friends, our family, and even ourselves. The risk here is that people are human and are not perfect. They will eventually disappoint at some point. God is the only perfect option to place our ultimate trust in. I do think we can still "trust" others to a degree - marriage of course being a prime example of this trust in another human. But, marriage will really only ultimately work if God is the "third cord" in the marriage (see Ecclesiastes 4:12). Overall, this verse wisely cautions that our highest level of trust should be reserved for God! Who will not fail us. Ever. Who do you trust these days the most? Do you trust God above anything or anyone else? Do you trust God more than you trust yourself?

Jeremiah 17:7-8 has some great imagery! ""But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit." These verses remind me a lot of Psalm 1, verses 1 through 3. Is God your hope and confidence? If so, do you feel like a tree planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water? How deep are your roots in God's living water these days?

Jeremiah 17:19-27 are some powerful verses on the Sabbath! I talk a lot with my friends about taking Sabbaths. I am really bad at it... and I know I need it. And I know my friends need it too. I'll have to remember verse 27 next time I'm having the Sabbath discussions with my friends... :) "`But if you do not listen to me and refuse to keep the Sabbath holy, and if on the Sabbath day you bring loads of merchandise through the gates of Jerusalem just as on other days, then I will set fire to these gates. The fire will spread to the palaces, and no one will be able to put out the roaring flames.'" How are you doing on taking a Sabbath each week? What would your response be to a modern day Jeremiah standing at the gate and telling you to keep one day a week as a holy day unto the Lord?

I like this verse in Jeremiah 18:15 - "They have stumbled off the ancient highways of good, and they walk the muddy paths of sin." I like that metaphor - the ancient highways of good. These sound nice! You want to be on these. And not veering off into the muddy paths of sin...

New Testament - The First Thessalonians verses today are great teachings on living to please God and the hope of the resurrection. A verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:2 that I actual use fairly frequently is: "the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night." I confess that I don't get too into predicting "end times" scenarios. Pre-trib, post-trib, etc. I know many good friends who are into all of this. I guess I just come back to this verse about the day of the Lord coming unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. I think this also applies to each of our own lives. We don't know how many years we have - hopefully many. But, you just don't know. And I don't really dwell or worry about it. The end of our lives will likely come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. And if we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we do not need to fear the day of the Lord!

In First Thessalonians 4:3-5 today we read this teaching of Paul’s: "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust." Are these verses contrary in any way to what you might see in our culture today? Are these verses contrary to any way that you might live your life? Do you see the value in this teaching of Paul’s? Is the lust / sexual immorality that our culture sells full of life or emptiness? Is this teaching of Paul’s full of life or emptiness? Are you controlling your own body in a way that is holy and honorable? What does Paul mean when he says it is God’s will that you should be sanctified? Do you want God to sanctify you? Will you participate in the sanctification process with God? Will you avoid sexual immorality?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in First Thessalonians chapter 4 titled "The Call to Holiness" is at this link. Below is a great image for 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 from today's readings:

Read more...

Kandi Burruss Fiance Funeral, Aj Jewell s Funeral

Kandi Burruss Fiance Funeral, Aj Jewell s Funeral, As per the references, the final funeral of the reality Television superstar, Kandi Burruss’ x fiancé, A. Jewell who according to the reports have passed out previous week after yielding to head wounds within a suspected drunken bash that occurred on prev Friday.

This funeral was tended to by Kandi Burruss herself along with various others which includes the team of “Real House-wives of Atlanta” and protagonists of the bygone A. Jewell. The funeral happened in Georgia and at the time of it happening A. Jewell was thirty four years old.

quite a tormented 1 for Kandi burruss, who was involved in an extended kinship with A. Jewell.

Just a day earlier of the funeral, Kandi burruss was found tweeting through her Twitter profile as she wrote that tomorrow will be hard. Many thanks for the prayers, all of you have been raising my spirits up everyday…A.J will sincerely be missed.

Beforehand, the cops had caught F. Richardson for the involution in the suspected bash ‘tween him and A.J. The suspected affray reportedly happened at a parking area out of the Body Tap Atlanta strip club. Inner sources disclosed that Richardson has been blamed off and charged with willful man-slaughter.

For the whole day, the users of the internet have looked for the pictures of the funeral of A.J in order to pay a last tribute to him. Informants disclosed that various Kandi Burruss buffs and good wishers have been directing commiseration to the reality Television superstar who appears to be at a muddle from the very day she had learned of the demise of her ex fiancé. Even the casts of real house-wives of Atlanta were picked up tweeting around regarding the matter ahead of the funeral taking place.

Read more...

Bus carrying high school marching band tips over on Idaho highway, killing 1

Report: High school band’s bus crashes in Idaho

INKOM, Idaho — An Idaho television station is reporting that a bus carrying members of a high school marching band has tipped over on an Idaho highway, killing one adult.

KPVI-TV says that at least three people remained trapped inside the bus Saturday evening. The crash took place on Interstate 15, about 50 miles north of the Utah border.

KPVI about two dozen students are on their way to hospitals.

The high school band was heading home to American Fork, Utah, after a competition in Pocatello, Idaho.

Read more...

Bus carrying high school marching band tips over on Idaho highway, killing 1

Read more...

Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat

The young couple Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat invites you to a Paranormal Activity wherein, 85-minute-horror awaits you. Katie and Micah are brave enough to consult an expert despite obvious, terrifying physical evidence that their bedroom is not private anymore. The Paranormal Activity has engulfed several United States cities since Sep. 25.

Though only limited theaters across major cities of the United States are running a no-budget ghost story named “Paranormal Activity” since September 25, 2009 but it’s likely that the craze may expand to further screens. Paramount Pictures have a lot of expectations from the movie and they strongly believe that it’s not a typical formula horror movie with scary-faced boring monsters rather they’re comparing it with a past masterpiece “Blair Witch Project” due to the absolutely new and unique concept of its own kind.

If the “Blair Witch Project” movie audiences would find themselves in the panic of being lost in some horrible sinister forest, the “Paranormal Activity’’ creates an atmosphere whereby one truly feels almost there with the panicked couple that goes through a meek discomfort and shocking quietness of an under furnished home they don’t wish to leave at any cost despite plenty of nerve breaking moments. The film director (and writer) Oren Peli, must be credited for holding the audiences in ‘uncertainty’ for at least 50 out 85 minutes.

The supernatural invisible presence though ruins the life of the couple yet they decide not to give up rather stay on and fight it out. Micah Sloat acquires HD video equipment to capture the invisible entity’s every evil doing and encourages his girlfriend by a brave statement; ‘It’s my house and no one can mess with my girlfriend.” There’s a trailer of the movie available on the Web that suggests it’s a ‘must watch’ movie.

It is a 2007 movie, premiered at the Screamfest Film Festival (US) on 14 October 2007 for the first time and again at January 18 2008 Slamdance Film Festival.

Paranormal Activity - Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat

Read more...

USA Honduras Live Stream | Watch USA vs Honduras Live Free

Watch USA Honduras Live Stream, I know football fans are really making this one hot on the trends. Also honduras vs estados unidos en vivo, us soccer vs honduras and televicentro de honduras en vivo gratis.

Read more...

Legends of the Fall

I miss these old NFL films

I remember the old NFL films they’d play at halftime back in the 70s. Narrated by “The Voice of God”, John Facenda and with a soundtrack so good it even earned its own box set, there was nothing to get you juiced on Sunday morning than seeing one of these.
I think it was Super Bowl VII on January 14, 1973, I recorded the whole pregame show on a little cassette deck which did a recap of the previous 6 Super Bowl games, it’s a set I’d like to buy today if I could find it.
That booming voice, military-like music, and the slow motion pads crashing, mud flying, snow and rain falling; it was God’s own game back then. He controlled it all before domed stadiums and Astroturf (not the political kind) isolated players from the elements.

Read more...

Regina Spektor SNL Performance

I just figured it would be wrong having consecutive weeks of SNL news on previous Sunday and not have something this week! Following headlining grabbing, but perhaps still miss-shows the last couple of weeks with Lady Gaga/Madonna and Megan Fox/F-Bombs.

Read more...

Sybil paints the streets pink for charity

Dressed from head to toe in pink, Sybil Barrington wasn't about to let the weather ruin his chance to steal the limelight.

The Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre rearranged its Wednesday night annual fundraising walk due to high winds and the threat of rain.

But Bermuda's very own drag queen was ready and raring to go and refused to change his plans. Determined Sybil, aka Mark ­Anderson, did his own thing and walked the 3k route around Hamilton.

Sybil's stylist of 15 years Lemington Ridy had flown in from New York for the event and Sybil was determined to show off his latest 'pretty in pink' creation. To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sybil wore a two-piece in pink sparkling mosaic-print lycra with matching three-and-a-half inch pink heels, pink nails and pink hairband.

Sybil took part in the walk in memory of his grandmother Sylvia ­Simons and grandfathers Russell Simons and Erskine Brangman, who all died of cancer. He left Barr's Bay Park at 6pm on Wednesday to shouts and cheers from his faithful fans.

Sybil said: "Rain, blow or shine, the show must go on. I always have a plan B and doing the walk on my own turned out to be plan B!

"Wednesday night was the only night I could do the walk. My stylist flew in that day and I had taken the day off work just to take part.

"I can't make next week's rearranged date for the walk as I'm working and I can't phone in sick!

"There was no way I was going to miss it! I walked for the whole entire country and I will continue to do whatever I can for the cancer charity."

Pauline Girling, marketing fundraising director at Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, was there to support Sybil in his solo fundraising quest.

She said: "This was the event Sybil really wanted to partake in and he certainly stuck to his word. He didn't use the weather as any kind of excuse.

"We really appreciate everything he does for us, he's very much part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month."

The charity's Annual Fun Walk has been rearranged for Monday, October 12, starting at Barr's Bay Park at 6pm. After the walk there will be vendors, information tables, music and speakers honouring survivorship.

As part of the month's fundraising events, Sybil will be hosting 'The Celebrity Look-Alike Party' at City Hall on Friday, October 23. International look-alikes will include Diana Ross, Celine Dion, Tina Turner and Madonna. Tickets are $65 or $75 for VIP, available online at www.bdatix.bm

For more information on both these events visit www.chc.bm

Read more...

Pak's great game: Evict India from Afghanistan through terror

WASHINGTON: Afghanistan has boldly stepped up where even India has been discreet in treading, bluntly accusing the Pakistani intelligence agency
ISI of masterminding the latest bombing of the Indian Embassyin Kabul which killed 17 people

"Yes, we do," Afghan Ambassador to the US Said Jawad told the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in an interview here when asked if he was pointing the figure at Pakistan for the suicide bombing that took place on Thursday.

"We are pointing the finger at the Pakistan intelligence agency, based on the evidence on the ground and similar attack taking place in Afghanistan," Jawad said. He did not elaborate on the evidence.

Jawad was following up similar charges from Afghan officials in Kabul, who were quick to identify Pakistani intelligence as the mastermind even though India’s foreign secretary Nirupama Rao was initially circumspect in suggesting that New Delhi would let the investigations take its course before reaching any conclusion.

The previous attack referred to by Jawad and other Afghan officials was the bombing of the Indian Embassy in July 2008, which US officials disclosed was conducted by the ISI-backed Haqqani network. That network was heard being described by Pakistan’s army chief Pervez Ashfaq Kiyani as Islamabad’s “strategic asset” in intelligence intercepts, result in the suspicion in Washington and New Delhi that Pakistani’s military-intelligence apparatus masterminded the attack on the embassy. That attack killed 58 people, including a popular young Indian diplomat and a senior military attaché.

On Saturday though, India’s Nirupama Rao also stepped up to the plate, saying Thursday’s embassy attack was the handiwork of the enemies of India-Afghan friendship and their "patrons across the border," but not directly naming Pakistan.

"The attack was clearly the handiwork of those who are desperate to undermine Indo-Afghan friendship and do not believe in a strong, democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan," Rao, who has rushed to Kabul for assessment, said, while reiterating India’s “unwavering commitment” to Afghanistan.

Pakistan has been pressing unsubtly with Washington that it resents Indian presence in Afghanistan, where New Delhi has invested more than $ 1.5 billion to build hospitals, school and other civil infrastructure, while expanding its soft power influence.

Pakistan, in contrast, is now widely reviled in Afghanistan and is regarded as the source of all its troubles, beginning with the training and infiltration of the Taliban in the early 1990s to take over Kabul after the eviction of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War.

Getting Islamabad to unhitch its obsession with Afghanistan with the idea of using it as “strategic depth” against India, whose ties with Kabul pre-date Pakistan’s 1947 creation, is part of the Obama administration’s long-term solution for the region.

But Pakistan has been insisting on its right to challenge Indian presence in Afghanistan because of the perceived threat it poses. Earlier this week, the Pakistani military high command issued a thinly-disguised rebuff to US efforts, saying "Pakistan is a sovereign state and has all the rights to analyse and respond to the threat in accordance with her own national interests.” The embassy bombing took place around the same time.

Read more...