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Poland has sent two military observers to Ukraine as part of a 15-nation OSCE delegation which will attempt to stop further “military incursion” and encourage dialogue. 2 Polish officers will participate in the OSCE military observers mission from 15 countries, which will start tomorrow [5 March] in the Crimea at the request of Ukraine," Poland's defence minister Tomasz Siemoniak tweeted on Tuesday. Daniel Baer, the US's chief delegate to the OSCE, said the aim of the mission - which has a week-long mandate, although this could be extended at Ukraine's request - will be to try to prevent a possible...

Full Title: Statement by the North Atlantic Council following meeting under article 4 of the Washington Treaty The North Atlantic Council has met at Poland’s request to hold consultations within the framework of Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, which states that “the parties will consult whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the parties is threatened.” Despite repeated calls by the international community, Russia continues to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to violate its international commitments. These developments present serious implications for the security and stability...

President Putin claimed on Tuesday that "well prepared" and organized protesters in Kiev who brought down the Yanukovych regime were "trained in Poland and Lithuania". In his first in-depth comments since the Russian parliament gave the green light for military action in Ukraine on Saturday, Vladimir Putin told a press conference in Moscow, "look how well they were prepared." "They underwent preparation in bases in Lithuanian and Polish border areas, and [of course] in Ukraine itself. Their instructors were ready for a lengthy time, you saw how they were prepared, like special forces, they were even divided up into squads,"...

President Komorowski said after a meeting of the National Security Council on Monday in Warsaw that the US has given assurances on Poland's security, as the Ukraine crisis deepens. In a telephone call on Sunday, Bronislaw Komorowski said Barack Obama assured him "unequivocally as to Poland's security, knowing that Poland is not only a neighbour of Ukraine but Russia as well." Trying to solve disputes through military means, as Russia is doing in Crimea, "raises huge doubts and concern for the future," President Komorowski said after the National Security Council meeting, which brings together Poland’s prime minister, foreign and defence...

Full title: Secretary General announces North Atlantic Council to meet following Poland's request for Article 4 consultations The North Atlantic Council, which includes the ambassadors of all 28 NATO Allies, will meet on Tuesday 4 March, following a request by Poland under article 4 of NATO's founding Washington Treaty. Under article 4 of the Treaty, any Ally can request consultations whenever, in the opinion of any of them, their territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened. The developments in and around Ukraine are seen to constitute a threat to neighboring Allied countries and having direct and serious implications for...

The North Atlantic Council condemns the Russian Federation’s military escalation in Crimea and expresses its grave concern regarding the authorisation by the Russian Parliament to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine. Military action against Ukraine by forces of the Russian Federation is a breach of international law and contravenes the principles of the NATO-Russia Council and the Partnership for Peace. Russia must respect its obligations under the United Nations Charter and the spirit and principles of the OSCE, on which peace and stability in Europe rest. We call on Russia to de-escalate tensions....

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Traffic cameras have watched Lubbock streets before, but within six months, they were gone. That was five years ago, but the option may be back on the table. This time, it could be speeding cameras throughout Lubbock County. Recently, Lubbock County was approached by American Traffic Solutions about installing speeding cameras in the county's school zones. That's the same company that put up Lubbock's controversial red light cameras in 2008. But before the option is even considered, Precinct One commissioner Bill McCay tells us they're weighing every option. "If there's something broken that needs to be...

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - It's a partnership meant to keep drugs and the people who deal them off the streets. But now, the Lubbock County Sheriff says he doesn't want his office working with these federal agents. Our investigation has uncovered a letter written by Sheriff Kelly Rowe, terminating the county's relationship with the Drug Enforcement Agency. The issue stems from a massive drug bust which was executed on February 4th, 2013. The month-long investigation took law enforcement from Lubbock down to Odessa and up to Borger. "All in all, we ended up seizing two homes, obviously all of the...

The submarine, named HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh City, was built at Admiralty Verfi Shipyard in St. Petersburg. Due to harsh weather conditions in St. Petersburg, the naval diesel-electric submarine was loaded on to the Dutch heavy lift ship at Kaliningrad’s Yantar shipyard instead of Admiralty Verfi. The loading was supported by two tug boats and a canoe. The Dutch ship is now travelling to the Baltic Sea and then to Vietnam. It is scheduled to dock at Cam Ranh Port in one and a half months. Vietnam and Russia signed a document verifying the result of the vessel’s technical tests...

The zone includes a groups of islands known as Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku by Japan Continue reading the main story Related Stories Tensions rise across region Watch Viewpoints: China air zone tensions Why China air zone raises risk China has sent warplanes to its newly declared air defence zone in the East China Sea, state media reports. The vast zone, announced last week, covers territory claimed by China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. China has said all planes transiting the zone must file flight plans and identify themselves, or face "defensive emergency measures". But Japan, South Korea and the...

This news story appeared in a local news outlet, but the ultimate source is the AP. The story notes that former (Democrat) Speaker of the House of Representatives, Jim Wright, claims that he was denied an ID to vote. Yeah, I am supposed to believe that a former Speaker of the House has not one valid, government-issued photo ID in his possession. Anyone else smell a publicity stunt?

San Antonio City Council appears poised to plow ahead with a vote on that gay and lesbian non discrimination ordinance at its regular meeting tomorrow, despite concerns raised by opponents that the law is alarmingly vague and will be through out in court, 1200 WOAI news reports. One more opportunity for supporters and opponents of the law to speak out is set to take place tonight at 6 PM at City Hall. People who want to speak must sign up in advance starting at 8AM today. The City stresses that council will not discuss the proposal at today's work session....

One of the state's top lobbyists says sources are telling him that State Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Ft. Worth) who is a sudden national figure in Democratic ranks due to her 11 hour filibuster to kill a late term abortion bill, has decided to run or governor in 2014, 1200 WOAI news reports. "If she does run, I think it will probably be the most exciting race for Democrats since Ann Richards in 1990," Harold Cook, who is a democratic strategist, told 1200 WOAI news. Davis has said that she will run for either governor or re-election to the state senate...

WOLFFORTH, TX (KCBD) - Wolfforth has taken advantage of something that many other communities across the South Plains haven't. It's called the 1033 program, a program that makes outdated military equipment available to law enforcement agencies. The Wolfforth Police Department says it has received several useful multi-purpose vehicles worth several hundred thousand dollars. The department says the only cost was a $6,000 entrance fee to the program, and the expense of picking up the vehicles. Wolfforth Police Chief Rick Scott says one vehicle in particular, a humvee, was helpful back in June, when those powerful storms hit. "The highway was...

Tarrant County Community College southeast campus in Arlington is on lockdown midday Tuesday after reports of an armed suspect near campus. Scanner traffic indicates that Grand Prairie Police are looking for an armed burglary suspect who has a stolen .22 firearm. Suspect is reportedly wearing a black hoodie. Officials believe the suspect may be in a wooded area behind the campus. TCC sent out an alert to students telling them a lockdown is in effect. If they were in a building, students were told to stay in the room, turn out lights and stay away from doors and windows.

The White House on April 10 released a budget proposal that includes a $100-per-flight user fee—a charge AOPA warns could be disastrous for general aviation. “We are disappointed to see this misguided idea resurfacing after it has been repeatedly and overwhelmingly rejected in the past. This is the wrong way to fund our aviation system,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller. “Congress has said it will not tolerate user fees, and neither will the general aviation community.” Two previous budgets from the Obama administration have included similar user fee proposals, but in each case Congress has rejected the idea. And opposition...

PLAINVIEW, TX (KCBD) - Don Cheadle made a brief stop in Plainview Tuesday and Wednesday to film part of a documentary focused on climate change. The eight-part documentary, which will air later this year on Showtime is called Years of Living Dangerously and features Don Cheadle along with Alec Baldwin, Matt Damon and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Plainview portion of the documentary will focus on the recent drought, which led to the Cargill plant closure and the effect it's having on the city of Plainview. Cheadle interviewed Katharine Hayhoe, director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University and Associate...

For all the talk about President Obama’s liberalism, his immigration agenda is the last thing you might expect: conservative. His enemies might deny it. His staff might not recognize it. But the argument Obama presented Tuesday for a path to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants is rooted in economic and social conservatism. First, in a Las Vegas address that included the words “economy” or “economic” 10 times, Obama argued that immigration fuels corporate innovation. “It keeps our workforce young. It keeps our country on the cutting edge,” he said. “And it’s helped build the greatest economic engine the world...

This week, people were shocked when the Drudge Report posted a giant picture of Hitler over a headline speculating that the White House will proceed with executive orders to limit access to firearms. The proposed orders are exceedingly tame, but Drudge’s reaction is actually a common conservative response to any invocation of gun control. The NRA, Fox News, Fox News (again), Alex Jones, email chains, Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher, Gun Owners of America, etc., all agree that gun control was critical to Hitler’s rise to power. Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (“America’s most aggressive defender of firearms ownership”)...

In the ongoing dispute over the Spratly Islands claimed by China and Vietnam, the latest development is that China is opening up 3G services on the islands, not only to Chinese soldiers but also for the country’s fishermen. The development will be yet another drop of lemon in the souring of Sino-Vietnamese relations in the past year. The Vietnamese government even voiced its complaint on nguyentandung.org, the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s website. The island disputes recently ignited with anti-China protests in May 2011 after Chinese patrol boats attacked two Vietnamese oil exploration ships near the Spratly Islands. Chinese soldiers and fishermen...