In London, the evening of 29 August saw the official opening of the 14th Paralympic Games, with Queen Elizabeth II (1926- ) welcoming the athletes. The opening ceremony began with a colourful performance, entitled “Enlightenment”, which spoke of the unique spirit of the Paralympic Games, a competition that pushes the borders of conventional notions of human capabilities. Then, a formal parade of the participating athletes, from 165 countries, ended the evening’s festivities.
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An overview of the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in East London on 29 August 2012.
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Queen Elizabeth II made the official announcement opening the 14th Paralympic Games.
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84-year-old athlete Margaret Maughan lit the Paralympic Torch. Maughan participated in the first-ever international Paralympic Games, which took place in Rome in 1960. She won the gold in archery.
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The Olympic Flame at the 14th Paralympic Games.
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The opening ceremony was held at the same Olympic Stadium where the 30th Summer Olympic Games had just concluded.
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The London Paralympic Games will be the largest in the history of the competition. For 11 days, more than 4,000 athletes will compete for 503 sets of medals.
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British Prime Minister David Cameron (1966- ) and his wife Samantha Sheffield (1971- ), Prince William (1982- ) and his wife Catherine (1982- ), Princess Anne (1950- ), and London Mayor Boris Johnson (1964- ) at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in London.
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British actor Sir Ian McKellen (1939- ) gazes through a giant telescope at the opening Ceremony of the 14th Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London.
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Opening Ceremony of the 14th Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London.
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Opening Ceremony of the 14th Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London.
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Opening Ceremony of the 14th Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London.
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Opening Ceremony of the 14th Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London.
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Opening Ceremony of the 14th Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London.
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The Russian Paralympic team consists of 182 athletes, competing in 12 of the 20 categories in the games.
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Opa! The Greek Paralympic team in the parade during the opening ceremony.
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The Icelandic Paralympic team in the parade during the opening ceremony.
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The Chinese Paralympic team in the parade during the opening ceremony.
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Fireworks lighting up the sky at the end of the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Paralympic Games.
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30 August 2012
Voice of Russia World Service
Voices from Russia 
Book Claims bin Laden Died Before SEALs had a Chance to Kill Him
Tags: 2012 US Presidential election, al-Qaeda, American terrorism, Barack Obama, global war on terror, global war on terrorism, Mark Owen, Mitt Romney, MV Maersk Alabama, Obama, Osama bin Laden, political commentary, politics, Republican, right-wing, terror, terrorism, terrorist, terrorists, United States, United States Navy SEALs, USA, war, war and conflict, War on Terror, War on Terrorism, wars and conflicts, Willard Romney
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The Pentagon version of Osama bin Laden’s death appears to be crumbling under an avalanche of witnesses’ accounts. Western media outlets published excerpts from a book by a participant in the raid on the Abbottabad compound, which contained claims that the al-Qaeda chief shot himself, or that a sniper killed him before the US Navy SEALs broke in. The controversial book entitled No Easy Day was written under the pseudonym “Mark Owen”, was due to hit the shelves by the 9/11 anniversary on 11 September 2012. However, due to the media feeding frenzy, the book will actually appear a week before that date. Fox News identified the author as 36-year-old Navy SEAL veteran Matt Bisonnette, a holder of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Other media outlets, including Business Insider, published his photo. Bisonnette’s photo also adorns the al-Qaeda website, captioned as “the murderer of great martyr Osama bin Laden”.
According to the book, the SEALs were climbing the stairs that led to bin Laden’s room when one of the officers saw the terrorist leader look out of the dark bedroom. Bin Laden immediately retreated into his room and, the next moment, they heard shots. As they rushed into the room, the SEALs found bin Laden, writhing in his death throes. One side of his head was bleeding and there were women sobbing over him. “Owen” (Bisonnette) and his comrade riddled him with bullets. The search of his room produced an AK-47 assault rifle, and a Makarov semi-automatic pistol, both with empty magazines. Official reports said that bin Laden was armed; he wasn’t going to surrender. The author of the book also refuted Washington’s claims that the US officers had demonstrated respect towards the prostrate enemy. As was elucidated by the book, one of the officers sat on the body whilst they were transporting it on board a helicopter afterwards.
The elimination of “Terrorist Number One” was one of Barack Obama’s “election assets”, along with the so-called “victory” over Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, which could hardly be deemed an “asset”. Oleg Glazunov, an expert at the Association of Military Analysts, said, “The raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound looked fairly odd. Obama had to build an image for himself ahead of elections. Given that the USA has seen no economic or other successes over the past four years, Obama positioned himself as the president who successfully secured the end of Osama bin Laden”.
Official accounts of the Navy SEAL raid came under severe criticism immediately upon publication. In anonymous interviews, participants in the operation described the official version of the raid as a “bad thriller”. US Special Operations Command chief Admiral William McRaven warned that anyone who attempted to disclose classified information would face criminal charges or even imprisonment. Nevertheless, the book came out and its author isn’t in hiding. Lev Korolkov, a retired Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) vet described the book as “election fluff”, saying, “There’ll be more ‘fluff’ as the November election draws nearer. Such moves are part and parcel of an election race. The two presidential candidates are trying to outdo one another in supplying compromising material against each other. The bin Laden story has been changing hands like a victory banner”.
In the meantime, media outlets are chewing on the biography of Matt Bisonnette, who dared to challenge Barack Obama. Bisonnette is reported to have taken part in operations against Somali pirates and is said to have been involved in the release of the captain of the MV Maersk Alabama, which was seized in 2009. However, the most important thing is that he makes no secret of his negative attitude towards President Obama.
30 August 2012
Andrei Smirnov
Voice of Russia World Service
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_08_30/Bin-Laden-died-before-killed-media/
Editor’s Note:
Remember the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth?” Everyone knows that their “disclosures” were a farrago of nauseating lies from stem to stern. The US Navy refuted their claims… after the election (no doubt, not wishing to compromise GWB’s chances of winning). In this case, we have a Hard Right nutter who went against his written pledge not to divulge classified information (everyone who deals with classified matters does such). In short, he’s a disgusting and self-centred TRAITOR. What’s more, he’s willing to lie for Wafflin’ Willy… one wonders how much he was paid. I’d NEVER want this weasel at my side… I wouldn’t be able to trust him. If he decided to, he’d betray me in a heartbeat. No one who breaks their oath so easily is decent or fit company for decent people. He’d best watch his back… Langley’s not known for charity. Bisonnette had best hope that Obama wins… otherwise, he’ll get a “reward” all right… nine grammes in the head, and Langley will make it look like an ordinary street crime. It’d be fitting, though… sic semper proditores (thus always to traitors).
BMD