Wednesday January 13th 2010

Image of the beast - posted at Online Journal
Must Read - A quote...."Up until now, the United States has been able to exert control over most of the earth just by controlling the narrative that reflects popular opinion about the war on terror. Whatever government spokesmen or reporters have said happened on a particular day, was what really happened; it was validated by popular consent. -- The ability to shape people’s thoughts and opinions is a power that every tyrant has dreamed about. Global trust in the good intentions of the people of the United States moves individuals and entire nations to give American leaders the benefit of the doubt, even when common sense cautions against it."

Pizza Shop Heckler: Bush Sr. a ‘Murderous, Zionist Piece of Sh-t' - Updated Video - (YuTb 2m54s Jan. 13, 2010)
Video - Special Note - The Video is BACK, (the original on YouTube was removed) and its been UPDATED, oh boy has it been updated.....mpg - (WARNING - grim photos) -- A quote...."January 12, 2010 "Raw Story" --  For a man whose son became one of the most polarizing, controversial and even hated figures in U.S. history, a mouthful of pizza may not be worth a mouthful of profanity. -- At an unidentified pizza shop visited by George H.W. Bush recently, one of the customers decided to give the former president a slice of his mind, replete with generous toppings." -- Check out ICH's comment section

Blunder and Plunder: The History of War
A quote...."Edmund Burke (1729-1797) claimed that "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." Perhaps. But more serious are those who know history but learn nothing from it." -- also posted at DProgram

Empire reloaded
Special Note - A quote...."As much as 9/11 was the "Pearl Harbor" dreamed of by the neo-conservatives to unleash the American Eagle - which started with the bombing of Afghanistan and morphed into the disastrous invasion of Iraq - Abdulmuttalab's failed attempt to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas Day in the skies above Detroit is a godsend mini-Pearl Harbor destined to advance the Pentagon's "full spectrum dominance" doctrine. -- Yemen could not be a more strategically mouth-watering proposition - with Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, the Gulf of Aden to the south leading to the Arabian Sea, and on the other side, in Africa, Somalia."

MSM: Obama wants record $708 billion for wars next year - posted at DProgram
You Obamatrolls out there had enough?  NO?  Don't worry, you ain't seen NOTHING yet from AIPAC's best butt boy! Just you wait. - mpg -- A quote...."(AP) – President Barack Obama will ask Congress for an additional $33 billion to fight unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq on top of a record $708 billion for the Defense Department next year, The Associated Press has learned – a request that could be an especially hard sell to some of the administration’s Democratic allies."

Do they hate us for something other than our freedoms?  - posted at Online Journal
Special Note - A quote...."We have spent more than eight years with the Bush doctrine of preventive wars, now continued and endorsed by Obama. After the 9/11 attacks President Bush declared a “war on terror” stating that al Qaeda attacked us because they hated us for our freedoms. The results of this policy and worldview: 5,321 U.S. service members dead"

• 35,000 with serious physical wounds
• Hundreds of thousands with serious mental wounds
• More than one million dead Iraqi and Afghan civilians
• Infrastructure, homes and economies of both countries destroyed

"Total cost in excess of $3 trillion for Iraq alone ($10,000 for each man, woman and child in the U.S.) --Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize-winning economist Saying nothing about whatever freedoms American citizens may believe they possess, bin Laden in 1996 declared his jihad against the U.S. based on the following three foreign policy initiatives of U.S. Empire: "

Ron Paul Powerful Speech – A Call for Revolution? - Alt - (YouTube - 4 min 15 sec - January 08, 2010)
Video - A quote...."Watch and listen this powerful Ron Paul's speech (where we're at): Slavery sold as liberty. Socialism to save capitalism. A psychotic nation. Exuberant taxation. Epidemic of cronyism. 700 military basis all over the world. Tortures of 21st century. We have forgatten what made America great. Revolutionary changes are needed and forseen. Is Ron Paul the ONLY honest man in American's politics??"

Judge Napolitano on Congressional Power - posted at DProgram
Videos - Alt/Vid1 - Alt/Vid2 - Alt/Vid3 --  FYI - This is from FOX (faux-news), it appears that Rupert Murdoch, FOX's owner, the man who made a deal with the Neocons not to ever tell the true facts regarding 9/11 or the Neocon’s trashing of the constitution, the man who did more than any other to help promote wars of aggression and all the thousands of other lies to support the PNAC Protocols and AIPAC's ambitions, is now becoming concerned for the "constitution" (read "his" civil rights).  Well too little too late.  One day, hopefully soon, Murdoch and his fellow traveling AIPAC/Neocons will experience true justice, under the constitution they so lavishly trashed during this last decade, for what they've done to this country and its people. - mpg -- A quote...."This week, Judge Napolitano is presenting a five part series entitled “The Constitution and Freedom,” where he explores the nature of our rights and looks at America’s constitutional history."
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More candidates may be banned from Iraqi elections
Must be more ol'dat Neo-Roman "freedom & democracy" everyone keeps talking about so much. - mpg -- A quote...." BAGHDAD --  Iraqi officials met late into the night Wednesday to determine how many candidates should be barred from running in the March elections after a panel determined that they had ties to Saddam Hussein's former Baath Party. -- The decision last week by the Justice and Accountability Commission, which handles Iraq's de-Baathification efforts, outraged Sunni Muslim voters and cast doubts on whether more than 400 contenders would be included in the parliamentary polls." -- also posted at Uruknet

US drone attack kills 10 in Pakistan
A quote...."At least 10 people have been killed in the latest American drone attack in the volatile region of North Waziristan in Pakistan. -- The attack targeted a compound in Pasalkot village on Thursday, according to Pakistan's security forces."

Kabul anxiously beckons Obama
A quote...."Rather than focus on the war with the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, the Barack Obama administration is lingering dangerously on its covert war of attrition with President Hamid Karzai. Still livid with Karzai's defiance, Washington is scrambling to wrest control of Kabul ahead of parliamentary elections and an anticipated gravy train of lucrative nation-building contracts." 

Exporting Corruption: 3/4 of Afghan Corruption Cases Involve Westerners
Contains Video - Alt - A quote...."The Afghanistan war is a breeding ground for corruption, and today McClatchy Newspapers reports that it’s not just the corrupt Afghan government that’s feeding at the trough. The Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) says about three-quarters of its active corruption investigations involved Westerners."

Brown refuses giving testimony on Iraq war
A quote...."British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is resisting calls to give evidence at a public inquiry into the Iraq war ahead of the general elections. -- On Wednesday, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg called on Brown to give his evidence before people decide how to vote on his record in government."

Houthis: Al Qaeda in Yemen a farce
Special Note - OH, OH, This is going to get the Saudis, Israelis and the US-NRE really angry.  They've spent months on that hilarious and ridiculously silly false-flag "lap-bomber" casus belli attempt.  Now the Houthis are making fun of them, one sure hopes they've dug a lot of bomb shelters for their civilians, especially their women and children.  They’re what the US-NRE likes to call either "al-Qaeda elements" or sometimes they’ll call them "militants". - mpg -- A quote...."Spokesman for the office of Mr. Abdel Malik al Houthi (Mohammed Abdul Salam) warned of the conspiracy hatched against Yemen and said: "The responsibility today is on the whole political spectrum in the country, scholars, and social figures, to reject any external interference whatsoever from any party".. In an exclusive statement to "Saada Online", "Mohammed Abdul Salam," described what is being covered in the media about the so-called war on al Qaeda in Yemen as a failed farce .. "

Regime change in Tehran? Don't bet on it
Special Note - A quote...."The dramatic images of protestors in Iran fearlessly facing - and sometimes countering - the brutal attacks of the regime's security forces rightly gain the admiration and sympathy of viewers in the West. They also leave many Westerners assuming that this is a preamble to regime change in Tehran, a repeat of history but with a twist. After all, Iran has the distinction of being the only Middle Eastern state that underwent a revolutionary change - 31 years ago - which originated as a mild street protest."

Larijani slams US for terror of Iranian scientist
A quote...."After Iran accused the US and Israel of involvement in the assassination of an Iranian nuclear physics scientist, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani moves to deplore the terrorist act."

Iran: We had information Israel, U.S. intended to attack us
A quote...."Iran received information days ago that Israeli and U.S. intelligence intended to carry out terrorist acts in Tehran, the country's parliament speaker said on Wednesday, one day after the assassination of a university scientist."

Iran criticises Saudi over Yemen conflict
A quote...."Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticised Saudi Arabia's military involvement in Yemen's conflict, calling on Riyadh to play a mediator's role rather than to bomb fellow Muslims. -- "I tell Saudi Arabian officials that it was expected of them to mediate in the domestic dispute ... and make peace ... not to get themselves involved in the war and use bombs and machine-guns against Muslims," he said. -- "If a part of Saudi Arabia's weapons had been used in favour of Gaza people and against the Zionists (Israel) ... today there would no trace of the Zionist regime," Ahmadinejad added in a speech broadcast live on state television." -- FYI - Before everyone gets overly excited about Ahmadinejad's comments....wait for the CORRECT translation. - mpg

Israeli actions harm ties with Turkey - CCTV 100113 - Alt - (CCTV-YouTube - 1 min 7 sec - January 13, 2010)
Video - Zionist Israelis are just a bumch of childish, murderous, bullies. - mpg

Turkey: Second Israel apology satisfactory, 'desired response'
A quote...."Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday declared that Turkey had received an official apology from Israel over what the Turkish ambassador termed "humiliating" treatment by Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister, saying that it was "the expected and desired response." -- Erdogan added more criticism of Israel, telling a news conference: "Israel must put itself in order and it must be more just and more on the side of peace in the region."

Hariri: Lebanon will soon sign free-trade deal with Turkey
A quote...."BEIRUT: Prime Minister Saad Hariri said during a meeting with Turkish and Lebanese businessmen in Istanbul on Tuesday a free trade agreement between Lebanon and Turkey will soon be signed. According to Hariri, the two countries have growing markets with high potential in the private sectors, which, he said is the driving force behind the economic vision of both countries. “Turkey and Lebanon have a joint goal to achieve economic prosperity in the region,” said the premier." -- also posted at WarInIraq & AlethoNews

US, Japan fail to reach deal on US military base dispute - CCTV 100113 - (CCTV-YuTb - 54 sec - Jan 13, 2010)
Video - What would have been said if the truth were told. -- US-NRE to Japan...."Do what we tell you, you little Nips, after all WE won the war." -- Japan to US-NRE...."Things are not quite what they seem you barbarous, bombing, baby-killing, blustering, broke, busted, bone-headed, bunch of Neo-Roman wannabes.  YOU...don't get to order us around anymore." - mpg
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More on the US-NRE's attempted "lap-bomber" false-flag fiasco

The Weird Factor
A quote...."What I call the Weird Factor, for lack of a better name, seems to have become a permanent feature of our post-9/11 world, a dark and sinister leitmotif that plays in the background. On 9/11, of course, the Factor was on full display as a whole string of unusual events and unexplained phenomena were visited on us. The 9/11 Commission did little to clear these matters up, for the most part because they didn’t address them. Just a few for the record: Bush reading My Pet Goat to schoolchildren after being told of the attacks, the sudden appearance of the "Israeli art students" – and their buddies, the "laughing Israelis" – in the months and weeks leading up to the attacks, and the apparent passivity of US air defenses on that fateful day." -- For more on this issue see....US-False Flag Ops - Detroit's "Lap-Bomber"
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ICE Officials Accused of Covering Up Immigrant Deaths in Detention
A quote...."The Obama administration has promised to overhaul immigration detention. But a scathing report in the New York Times last weekend reveals that federal officials used their role as overseers to prevent media from reporting deaths and abuses inside the nation’s immigration prisons. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, now admits 107 immigrants died in ICE custody since October 2003, but for years the deaths went uncounted in the public record. [includes rush transcript]" - bold by website editor -- ||  Real Video Stream  ||  Real Audio Stream  ||  MP3 Download  ||  More…  || 

Protest Greets Hillary Clinton at the East West Center
Action Update - A quote...."Today in Honolulu, a lively protest outside the East West Center greeted U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who delivered a speech on the U.S. vision for the Asia-Pacific region. Protesters represented a wide range of groups and issues including anti-bases movements in Okinawa, Guam, The Philippines and Hawai’i, Palestinian support groups, peace and anti-war groups and Hawaiian sovereignty groups."

Got Fascism? : Obama Advisor Promotes 'Cognitive Infiltration'
Must Read - Propaganda Warning - A quote...."Cass Sunstein is President Obama's Harvard Law School friend, and recently appointed Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. [a.k.a. Joseph Goebbels by any other name] -- In a recent scholarly article, he and coauthor Adrian Vermeule take up the question of "Conspiracy Theories: Causes and Cures." (J. Political Philosophy, 7 (2009), 202-227). This is a man with the president's ear. This is a man who would process information and regulate things. What does he here propose?"


"Read this paragraph again. Unpack it. Work your way through the language and the intent. Imagine the application. What do we learn?" - also posted at PalestinianThinkTank & AlethoNews & BLN - For more on this sort of issue see....US Fake Intel / Propaganda
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Has Obama given tacit approval to Israel’s next Gaza massacre?
War Alert - Special Note - A quote...."When Israel was destroying Gaza in December 2008, Obama was preparing to take office as president. Progressives around the world turned to him to use his surging diplomatic power to pressure Israel to end the massacre. He stayed silent, for days and weeks, the negative space created by his newfound lack of words filled with the explosions of Israeli bombs and the death cries of women and children." -- also posted at Uruknet -- For more on this issue see....No Leadership From Obama. - Oh Contraire! - 12-28-08 - mpg

Ongoing Israeli air strikes on Gaza: a prelude for a new military offensive?
War Alert - A quote...."Alarming news was reported last week in both Palestinian and Israeli newspapers, accounting a new Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip."

50 European MPs to visit Gaza
A quote...."The largest delegation of European MPs will visit the besieged Gaza Strip, in Friday, to be updated with the conditions in Gaza after a year of the Israeli war which left thousands of victims."

Israel Detains Ma'an's Chief English Editor
Censorship Alert - Special Note - A quote...."Ma’an News Agency, the largest independent news network in the Palestinian territories, is deeply concerned that its chief English editor, Jared Malsin, an American citizen, was detained upon arrival at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on the afternoon of Tuesday, 12 January 2009." -- also posted at Uruknet

Israeli Prohibitions Against Free Expression and "Enemy Alien" Contacts
Censorship Alert - A quote...."Adalah is the legal center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel advocating on their behalf in a nation affording rights only to Jews. In September 2009, its report titled "Prohibited Protest" exposed how Israel's law enforcement authorities restricted free expression protests against Operation Cast Lead."

Israeli authorities deny American journalist entry
Related Article - A quote...."The English Desk at Ma’an News Agency, the largest independent news network in the Palestinian territories, is deeply concerned that its chief editor, Jared Malsin, an American citizen [and graduate of Yale University], was detained on Tuesday afternoon upon arriving at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. He is slated for imminent deportation."

[Palestinian] Farmers prevented from planting trees [by the IOF]
A quote...."Hebron – Ma'an – Two Palestinians and one child were injured on Tuesday as Israeli forces prohibited farmers from tending to their land in Safa village in the northern Hebron governorate, solidarity workers said." -- also posted at WarInIraq

Egypt's new wall threatens Gaza's lifeline
A quote...."GAZA CITY - The construction of a new underground wall and recent border clashes have frayed relations between Hamas and Egypt and could threaten Gaza's main lifeline in Gaza, analysts say." -- also posted at WarinIraq

Tons of flowers, strawberries piled up at closed Gaza crossing
A quote...."Gaza – Ma'an – For the first time in years, Gazan farmers were told a semi-regular system of exports for flower and then strawberries would be put in place at Israeli crossings."

Mohammad Othman and Jamal Juma’ freed from Israeli detention thanks in part to international pressure
A quote...."After almost four months in Israeli custody without charge, nearly half that time spent in the legally dubious administrative detention, Mohammad Othman left the prison walls behind, taking his first free steps in months, before crossing Israel’s wall, heading home."
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More on the US-NRE's Honduran Coup....

From Coup-Lite to Truth-Lite: 10 Ways the US Fought Democracy in Honduras
A quote...."In his essay “Top Ten Ways You Can Tell Which Side the United States Government Is On With Regard to the Military Coup in Honduras,” Mark Weisbrot correctly illustrates U.S. backing for the coup regime and the lack of U.S. support for democracy. For more than 100 days, I have been holed up with President Manuel Zelaya inside the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, covering the story for “Democracy Now!” and other independent media. In case Weisbrot’s points were not convincing, here are another 10 ways the U.S. has undermined democracy in Honduras."

Mass murder of activists in Honduras - (DeMint supports the coup leaders)
A quote...."In June of last year, I watched in horror as the democracy-loving individuals on the American political right celebrated the military coup in Honduras, calling it democracy in action. -- I spent a good deal of time trying to explain to these freedom-loving individuals what a military (and in this case, a "paper") coup is, to no avail. Let freedom ring. -- As with all authoritarian installed governments via a coup d'état, the human rights abuses have grown and include mass murder of activists." -- For more on this issue see....Hideous Hillary's New Honduran Death Squads

Honduras:Why Does Garifuna Community's Radios Burn?
A quote...."In the early morning hours of Wednesday January 6, the Garifuna community radio Faluma Bimetu (“Sweet Coconut”) based in Triunfo de la Cruz was burnt down by unknown armed individuals who proceeded to loot the station's radio equipment. This is not the first time the radio has been attacked and its equipment stolen."
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US Economy Hit by Perfect Storm - Alt  - (MSNBC Vid - 9 min 28 sec - 01/13/2010)
Must View Video - Telling it like it was, and still is, regarding the Banksters and their on going threat to this nation's economy. - mpg

December Budget Deficit Hits $91.9 Billion, $389 Billion So Far In Fiscal 2010
Chart - A quote...."The December budget numbers are out and they are ugly. December was the record 15th straight budget deficit in a row with -$91.9 billion more in outflows than inflows, compared to a $51.8 billion deficit in December of 2008. Fiscal 2010 budget deficit so far is -$388.5 billion, and $1.47 trillion for the trailing twelve months."

Don’t Blame China
A quote...."The Chinamen did it. In the great American tradition of finding foreign scapegoats for our problems, the hunt is on to somehow hold China responsible for the misery that Wall Street financiers inflicted upon the world. Even the normally restrained New York Times editorial page argued Tuesday that China’s tying its currency to the dollar was a devious trick that “is exacerbating economic weakness around the globe.”

SEC suit: Bank of America failed to disclose ’staggering financial losses’ to shareholders
A quote...."Federal regulators sued Bank of America Corp. on Tuesday, accusing the company of failing to disclose "staggering financial losses" at Merrill Lynch before shareholders approved a combination of the companies."

Fitch: U.S. Prime Jumbo RMBS Delinquencies Nearly Triple to 9%; CA Drives Trend
Deflation Alert - Financial Alert - A quote...."Overall, prime RMBS 60+ days delinquencies rose to 9.2% for December 2009, up almost three times compared to the same period last year (3.2% in December 2008). The 2006/2007 vintages combined rose to 12.7% from 4.3%."

S&P Downgrades California To A-, Outlook Negative
A quote...."SAN FRANCISCO (Standard & Poor's) Jan. 13, 2010--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered to 'A-' from 'A' its ratings and underlying ratings (SPURs) on California's $63.9 billion of general obligation (GO) debt, and to 'BBB+' from 'A-' its ratings and SPURs on the state's $9.4 billion of appropriation-backed lease revenue bonds."

China tries to cool down
A quote...."MONTREAL - China has now entered, or is trying to enter, a cooling phase of the economic stimulus that, according to reliable estimates, accounted for as much as 95% of the country's economic growth through the first nine months of 2009."

China's move to raise bank reserve ratio draws global response
CHINA : Makes stuff people want and protects their currency.  US-NRE : Makes wars and occupations people don't want and could care less about its currency.  RESULT : China wins. - mpg -- A quote..."BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The decision of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, to increase the deposit reserve requirement ratio has drawn worldwide attention and fluctuations in global markets."

Tuesday January 12th 2010

The swine flu is fake!
Global Warming is fake!
The bird flu pandemic was fake!
WMDs in Iraq were fake!
Al-Qaeda is fake!
Osama bin Laden is fake!
“Death Panels” are fake!
“Joe The Plumber” was fake!
Saddam Hussein statue toppling was fake!
Homeland Security Terror Threat Levels were fake

Monday January 11th 2010

No posts - mpg

Sunday January 10th 2010

A Citizens Guide to Understanding Corporate Media Propaganda Techniques
Must Read - A quote...."Following this brief introduction is an attempt to enumerate powerful propaganda techniques being used on the American public by the corporate or so called "mainstream" media. Give this a good read, and my guess is that after you are armed with this important information, you will be able to spot these techniques as they are being deployed against you. The best way to counter propaganda is to understand the techniques and how they are used." -- also posted at DProgram -- An educated viewer of the parasitic class's info-tainment garbage is their worst customer....become educated. - mpg

The Implosion of the American Political Consciousness
Must Read - A quote...."January 10, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- Presidents like to say, in their annual messages to Congress and the country, that "The state of the union is strong". Maybe Obama is bold enough to tell a whopper that big even in 2010. I guess when you've taken an entire country over the cliff lying about "hope" and "change", even a stinker that rude wouldn't be so egregious, relatively speaking. -- In fact, the health of this country is tenuous, and that's on a real good day. All the obvious and tangible manifestations are there: massive unemployment, polarized wealth suitable for any banana republic, broken government and political system, environmental catastrophe and more. It's almost as if our goal is to commit national suicide in order to keep a whole next generation of Jared Diamonds employed or something." -- also posted at CommonDreams

‘The Transparent Cabal’ - YTAlt/Vid - (YouTube - 6 min 52 sec - January 05, 2010)
Video - A quote...."Press TV interview with Dr. Stephen Sniegoski (Author of ‘The Transparent Cabal’) [GoglBkSrch]* - *links added

Who are we Really Fighting for in Afghanistan?
Contains Video - A quote...."The war in Iraq was conceived by 25 neoconservative intellectuals, most of them Jewish, who are pushing President Bush to change the course of history. Two of them, journalists William Kristol and Charles Krauthammer, say it's possible. -- What is the war about?....It is being fought to consolidate a new world order, to create a new Middle East."

Irish4Palestine's News Roundup 10 January
A quote...."So, George Mitchell goes on television and impersonates Clint Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” character, and tells Israel “Under American law, the United States can withhold support on loan guarantees to Israel." Never mind, Israel‘s not worried in the least. It’s money has been well spent throughout the US Congress and Senate. Defense Minister Ehud Barak tells U.S. Senators: I know your support for Israel will continue."

Torture Is Continuing Under the Obama Administration, Creating More Terrorists and Further Destabilizing the Economy -- A quote...."The U.S. has imprisoned 2,500 children since 9/11 as "enemy combatants", in violation of the Geneva Convention against classifying children as POWs ... Pulitzer-prize winning reporter Seymour Hersh says that the U.S. Government has videotapes of boys being raped at Abu Ghraib prison (and see this; see also this - General Taguba discusses the sexual humiliation of a father with his son - see this and this)."

The COIN Myth
A quote...."The U.S. military’s fabled counterinsurgency field manual (FM 3-24) is an authoritative-sounding 281-page volume of balderdash. Even the legend of its origin is a fabrication. Gen. David Petraeus, former commander of forces in Iraq and now in charge of Central Command, supposedly "wrote the book," but the book was actually hammered together from plagiarized material in 2004 by Dr. Conrad Crane and others at the Army War College. "
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More on the US-NRE's attempted "lap-bomber" false-flag fiasco

Flight 253: Anatomy of a Cover-Up
Special Note - A quote...."New revelations about the failed Christmas Day attack on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 continue to emerge as does evidence of a systematic cover-up." -- also posted at AntiFascist & RogueGov

Mossad Tied to ‘Underwear Bomber’
A quote..."His explosives couldn’t have blown up his own seat. Even if full power, it wouldn’t have worked.” These were the words relayed to me during a Jan. 2 interview with military analyst and counterinsurgency specialist Gordon Duff in regard to the attempt of Christmas Day underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab [sometimes referred to as Abdulmutallab] to ignite 80 grams of the explosive PETN on a flight destined for America. He also explained how the patsy’s country of origin, Nigeria, is clandestinely controlled by the Israeli army and Mossad." -- also posted at InfoWarsIreland & PakDaily

Israeli firm blasted for letting would-be plane bomber slip through
A quote...."The Israeli firm ICTS International (not to be confused with ICTS Europe, which is a different company), and two of its subsidiaries are at the crux of an international investigation in recent days, as experts try to pinpoint the reasons for the security failure that enabled Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to board Northwest flight 253 and attempt to set alight explosives hidden in his underwear. -- A Haaretz investigation has learned that the security officers and their supervisor should have suspected the passenger, even without having early intelligence available to them."

For more on this sort of issue see....US-False Flag Ops - Detroit's "Lap-Bomber"
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Obama's Yemeni odyssey targets China
A quote...."A year ago, Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh made the startling revelation that his country's security forces apprehended a group of Islamists linked to the Israeli intelligence forces. "A terrorist cell was apprehended and will be referred to the courts for its links with the Israeli intelligence services," he promised."

Mutually beneficial Pakistan-US relationship is a pipedream
A quote...."Pakistan-US relations that had soured after 1990, warmed up after 9/11 when Pakistan agreed to fight US coined war on terror as a frontline state. Their relations are apparently still friendly but clouded in suspicions and mistrust. Whatever steps taken by government of Pakistan for the benefit of US interests and at the cost of earning displeasure of the people of Pakistan are received with mixed feelings."

Dozens killed in Karachi
Special Note - Nation Destroying Operation in Progress -- It's starting, exactly what the US-NRE did to Iraq, they're doing, RIGHT NOW, to Pakistan.  This is what will happen every single time anyone does "business" with the US-NRE's parasitic class, it's as inevitable as the tides.  This website editor sincerely hopes all the peoples of the world are watching....because most of them are next. - mpg -- A quote...."A wave of violence in Karachi has left four dozen political activists dead over the past four days. -- “At least 48 workers belonging to different political parties have lost lives in the targeted killings in the city since Thursday,” a senior security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Sunday." -- For more on this issue see....It Will Happen Every Single Time - 01-01-08 - mpg

UK troops 'tortured and executed' Iraqi grandmother
A quote...."Allegations that a 62-year-old Iraqi grandmother was tortured and executed by British soldiers after her family home was raided three years ago are being investigated by the Royal Military Police." -- also posted at Uruknet

Alastair Campbell had Iraq dossier changed to fit US claims
A quote...."Fresh evidence has emerged that Tony Blair's discredited Iraqi arms dossier was "sexed up" on the instructions of Alastair Campbell, his communications chief, to fit with claims from the US administration that were known to be false."

The Shadow War - Making Sense of the New CIA Battlefield in Afghanistan
Must Read - A quote...."It was a Christmas and New Year’s from hell for American intelligence, that $75 billion labyrinth of at least 16 major agencies and a handful of minor ones.  As the old year was preparing to be rung out, so were our intelligence agencies, which managed not to connect every obvious clue to a (literally) seat-of-the-pants al-Qaeda operation.  It hardly mattered that the underwear bomber’s case -- except for the placement of the bomb material -- almost exactly, even outrageously, replicated the infamous, and equally inept, “shoe bomber” plot of eight years ago. -- That would have been bad enough, but the New Year brought worse...."

Blackwater wants $1 billion to train the new Afghan police force
A quote...."Blackwater was basically kicked out of Iraq for wantonly killing civilians in Baghdad while providing "security" for the State Department in 2007. Even though a US court failed to bring them to justice, Iraq is still pursuing the case and has so little trust in Blackwater or the people it hires that the government has explicitly said former Blackwater employees are not welcome in the country. -- American forces are already on thin ice with the Afghan populace because we’re killing civilians left and right with, among other things, our drones. Now Blackwater, mercenaries known around the world for their brutality, might get the contract to train the Afghan police? In what world does this seem like a good idea?"

Dialogue only solution to Iran nuclear issue, China says
A quote...."The Chinese ambassador to Iran says all the parties involved in the discussions on Iran's nuclear program should settle their differences in a constructive manner through continued negotiations and should refrain from taking any actions that might further complicate the situation."

Iranian FM Heads to Syria
A quote...."Iran, January 11, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - Today, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki launched his official visit to Syria."

Houthis: 18 Saudi air raids target Yemeni villages
A quote...."Saudi Arabia's fighter jets are still attacking northern Yemen, carrying out more than 18 airstrikes only on Sunday, Yemeni Houthi fighters say. -- The Shia fighters declared that the attacks targeted villages in the Malaheet and Mount al-Madoud regions." -- and yet, see the article shown below.....

Yemen Eyes al-Qaeda Deal
A quote...."Faced with an unwelcome level of attention in its newfound war against al-Qaeda, the Yemeni government is now taking the virtually unprecedented step of suggesting they would be willing to come to some sort of deal with the international terror organization."

A Call to the People of the World to Support Iceland Against the Financial Blackmail of the British and Dutch Governments and the IMF -- A quote...."(TarpleyNet) – Note: Birgitta Jónsdóttir is the leader of The Movement, a group within the Icelandic Parliament which has emerged from the mass struggle of Icelanders against the financial blackmail brought to bear against their country by the governments in London and The Hague, with the backing of the IMF, in the wake of the insolvency of three large Icelandic banks in the midst of the Lehman Brothers-AIG world financial panic of September-October2008. Birgitta Jónsdóttir is a courageous leader in the fight for national sovereignty, independence, dignity, and the economic well-being and future of her country."

New Bolivian Parliament to Implement the Constitution
A quote...."La Paz, Jan 10 (Prensa Latina) Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia stated that the first Pluri-National Legislative Assembly, to be established on January 22, must implement the new Constitution, the first approved by the popular will. The aim of the Assembly is the implementation of the new Political Constitution of the State and make a big industrial step needed for our development, stressed Garcia."
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Goats, Handlers and the Attack on Gaza - Alt - (YouTube - 1 min 27 sec - January 08, 2010)
Video - It's rather catchy and it sure is funny, - mpg -- A quote...."Although some faces may have changed, the video still expresses the reality today." -- editor's note: not responsible for any written content.

It's a long march to freedom
A quote...."Just one year ago, Gaza and its people were subject to the ultimate crime, victims (both living and dead) of the genocide of the Palestinian people. It is a genocide that began 61 years ago, and it’s had moments of escalation, the peak of which was reached with the attempted destruction of part of Palestine; Gaza, although this is just the most macroscopic attack. The genocide began the moment that it was “decided” to take Palestine away from Palestinians. Responsible for this genocide is the State of Israel and its various lobbies, which is aided and abetted by the governments of the United States, the EU and most of the Arab countries as well as getting logistic coverage from the Nato and biased support from the mass media of most of the West." -- also posted at Creative-i

Letter to Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs about Egypt’s actions against convoys to Gaza  January 10, 2010
A quote...."In the last month, I have watched with horror as Egypt has denied entry to both the Gaza Freedom March convoy and the Viva Palestina convoy, deployed riot police to stop protests against this indefensible measure in both Cairo and Al-Arish port, while grossly misrepresenting its activities on the website of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.What Israel is doing in Gaza, both to the infrastructure and population, clearly qualifies as genocide under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Article 2 states that “genocide” is defined as...."

Diaries From East Jerusalem
A quote...."The Palestine Monitor has been following the situation in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, since 2008. As some residents face evictions to make way for Jewish settlers, a solidarity movement originally consisting of a handful of Israeli and international activists has grown into a weekly protest where participants march from West Jerusalem to East Jerusalem, spreading the message of "free Sheikh Jarrah." Here are some images from the development of this story. All photographs are by Brady Ng."
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More on the US-NRE's Honduran Coup....

Honduras is Broke
WOW!  That was quick, first "American" style "freedom & democracy" courtesy Hideous Hillary's New Honduran Death Squads....now, Honduras is going to also have an "American" style "economy" too.  Isn't that just great?!?! -  mpg -- Eighteen days after Porfirio Lobo Sosa takes office, the country of Honduras will run out of cash and be unable to pay its debts without the help of international aid, says Gabriela Nuñez. The only way the country has survived the last six months is by living off its cash income and paying its debts off in a prioritized fashion, or rather, not paying some of them. "The most important thing is to comply with the priorities," she said, "even if there are pending payments that remain....its a work from week to week."

De Facto Government Can't Make Payroll for January
A quote...."The Finance Minister for the de facto government, Gabriela Nuñez announced today that she does not currently have access to sufficient funds to pay government employees for January. It all boils down to cash flow. She said she has access to about 400 million lempiras, and needs a total of about 1,500 million lempiras. In addition, she noted that the government has run up large debts with suppliers, including 450 million lempiras for medical supplies, and a further 700 million lempiras owed to road construction and paving contractors. She noted that the priority of the de facto government is to pay employees, and creditors will just have to wait. Nuñez expects that when the sales tax payments are received in mid-January, there might be enough for the government to pay its employees. Micheletti previously had assured us that they had sufficient funds to last through March.
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Top Economists – Another Economic Disaster Coming - Alt - (YouTube - 8 min 23 sec - January 08, 2010)
Video - The Turk takes on the Banksters, it's a pretty funny video.- mpg --  posted by the TheYoungTurks

Why Deflation Is Not Inevitable (Sadly) -- Part 2: The Deflationists’ Myth of Japan
Special Note - A quote...."The deflationists have had only one representative economist with experience as a mega-banker and a central banker: John Exter. I devoted my previous report to an explanation of his major error. It was this: he confused rising and falling prices of investment assets with rising and falling prices of consumer goods. He said that the debt load associated with investment assets will someday cause a collapse of asset prices. This will create a collapse of prices in the economy. -- I demonstrated that the rise or fall of asset prices do not affect the rise and fall (rare) in consumer prices, except when the fall in asset prices bankrupts commercial banks, and the central bank and the government fail to bail out these banks. Then the money supply shrinks, as it did, 1930–33." -- For more on this issue see....Price Deflation, Black-Scholes & The Fed - 12-01-09 - mpg

America slides deeper into depression as Wall Street revels
Related Article - A quote...."The labour force contracted by 661,000. This did not show up in the headline jobless rate because so many Americans dropped out of the system. The broad U6 category of unemployment rose to 17.3pc. That is the one that matters. "

Geithner’s Fed told AIG to hide “backdoor bailout”
A quote...."The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, during its $180 billion bailout of American International Group, Inc., instructed AIG to omit details of its purchase of certain toxic assets from a December 24, 2008, Securities and Exchange Commission filing, according to e-mails between the company and the Fed released Thursday." -- also posted at DProgram

It May Be Financially Irresponsible to Pay Your Mortgage
A quote...."Roger Lowenstein has written one of the best articles I have read on the topic: walking away from your house. The prominent author and journalist published a January 7, 2010 article in the New York Times with the headline, "Walk Away From Your Mortgage!" Lowenstein acknowledges that it may be financially careless for homeowners who are upside down on their mortgage to keep paying it in order to hang onto a fantasy of ownership and avoid the shame of default. In this article, Lowenstein’s subject is the borrower who can afford to pay the mortgage but considers opting out for reasons of financial benefit and survival. This is referred to as a strategic default."

[Briton's] Food costs to soar as big freeze deepens
A quote...."Britons have been warned to brace themselves for an increase in food prices as plunging temperatures leave farmers unable to harvest vegetables and hauliers struggle to distribute fresh produce." -- also posted at RogueGov

China's top 500 companies beat US rivals
A quote...."CHINA'S top 500 companies outperformed their US counterparts for the first time last year, a survey conducted by a business group has revealed, as the financial crisis wreaked havoc in the US." -- For more on this issue see also....China overtakes US as world's biggest car market - posted 01-08-10- & China passes Germany as top world exporter - posted 01-08-10

Venezuela devalues bolivar by at least 17%
A quote...."This is to boost the productive economy, to reduce imports that aren't strictly necessary and to stimulate exports," Hugo Chavez said Friday night in comments on state television. "We need to stop being a country that only exports oil."

Saturday January 9th 2010

Mondo Hondo: Obama Goes Traditional in Latin America
Must Read - A quote...."For  almost 200 years, since the proclamation of the Monroe Doctrine, the United States has continally asserted – and often physically exerted – its self-awarded right of dominion over all the lands south of its border. Military "partnerships," exploitative sweetheart deals for U.S. corporate and financial elites, and general servility toward Washington's political and economic agenda have been the chief characteristics of this "special relationship." -- Whenever these elements are to Washington's liking, the Latin American country in question is considered a "good neighbor" – however heinous it might be to its own people. But if any one of these elements is not pleasing in the eyes of the Beltway lords, then the offending nation becomes a pariah, a dangerous hotbed of radicalism, terrorism and that most dread condition of all: instability. -- Two recent articles reaffirm the unfortunate vitality of this dreary truth." - also posted at Uruknet - For more on this issue see....Hideous Hillary's New Honduran Death Squads

Hard Lessons from Decades Past  - posted at ConsortiumNews
A quote...." In 1974, I landed a job with the Associated Press first in Baltimore and later Providence, Rhode Island, (where I broke stories about the corrupt Democratic political establishment) before being transferred to Washington to be part of AP’s national staff in 1977. -- But it turned out that I arrived in Washington as the national journalism tide was turning; the enthusiasm for hard-hitting investigative journalism was ebbing away. -- As the next decade began, I found myself in the middle of this historical current. After the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, I was named to AP’s investigative team and took the opportunity to focus on Reagan’s aggressive foreign policy, especially against leftist movements in Central America."

Afghanistan: only the first move in the grand chess game for control of Central Asian resources
Special Note - A quote...."Though not being reported in the mainstream American press, there is a very intense struggle going on between the U.S. and China to determine which nation will emerge as the dominant presence in Central Asia. These two economic giants, the U.S. declining and China rapidly growing, know full well that their economic future depends entirely on their ability to acquire critical resources; in the case of the U.S., it's primarily oil, while with China it's both oil and natural gas." -- also posted at Uruknet

Scott Horton Interviews Karen Kwiatkowski
Audio Interview - A quote...."Karen Kwiatkowski, columnist at LewRockwell.com and retired USAF lieutenant colonel, discusses the dogged determination of Bush supporters who still believe the Iraq war lies, the laser-like neoconservative focus on Middle East policy, how several well-placed neocons hijacked the US government and started the war in Iraq, Donald Rumsfeld’s ultimate success at establishing military outpost “lily pads” and how George W. Bush let loose the neocon “crazies in the basement” his father warned about. -- MP3 here. (26:32)" -- Background articles on Karen Kwiatkowski’s interaction with Douglas Feith’s Office of Special Plans: -- “The new Pentagon papers”,  "2006 CSPAN interview by Brian Lamb",  “Career Officer Does Eye-Opening Stint Inside Pentagon” & “The Lie Factory”
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US-Pakistan bickering gets ugly as ISI fingers American diplomats
A quote...."The wheels seem to be coming off US-Pakistan relations with the once close allies squabbling publicly even as Islamabad is whipping up hysteria over the so-called Indian threats and American machinations to weasel out of its obligation to combat home-grown terrorism."

US insists Pak ease limits on staffers:
A quote...."The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad demanded that Pakistan stop detaining American diplomats at police checkpoints on the country's roads -- an unusual public complaint intended, in part, to counter rumors of U.S. plots against Pakistan."

Two US diplomats arrested in Gwadar
Special Note - Related Article - Pakistan's getting real tired of all these false-flag operatives running around -- A quote...."GWADAR: Gwadar police have arrested two US consulate employees for traveling on a fake number plate here on Saturday. -- Police have also registered a case against them after verification from the excise and taxation department for possessing fake documents, DawnNews reported." -- For more on this sort of issue see....

Pakistan detains 5 Americans near Iran border
Pakistan: ‘Blackwater’ men nabbed, released
Two more US consulate vehicles intercepted in Lahore
Pakistani Security Agencies catch an U.S. Consulate employee taking pictures of a sensitive checkpost bridge....
Pakistan arrests 3 US embassy employees

For more on the articles shown above see....It Will Happen Every Single Time - 01-01-08 - mpg

Pakistan: unlawful US drone war kills 140 innocent civilians for 1 CIA-alleged terrorist
A quote...."Pakistan’s government reported US drones killed only civilians in 39 of 44 attacks on their country in 2009; with over 700 innocent civilians killed, according to Pakistan's most widely-read English newspaper. Pakistan has repeatedly publicly denounced the US attacks, making the US guilty of War Crimes as they do not have explicit permission from Pakistan’s government." -- also posted at Uruknet
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Taliban make 'undetectable' bombs out of wood
Weapons Tech Note - The Germans and Italians did the same thing during WWII - mpg -- A quote...."Taliban fighters have developed a deadly new generation of their most lethal weapon, the improvised explosive device, or IED, which is almost undetectable because it has no metal or electronic parts, military experts said last week." - also posted at Uruknet

Iraq confiscates arms in private security crackdown
A quote...."BAGHDAD, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Security forces confiscated hundreds of rifles, thousands of rounds of ammunition and other military gear in a crackdown on private security contractors in Iraq, officials said on Saturday."

Iran to soon finalize joint bank with Syria
A quote...."Iran's Deputy President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi has expressed hope that the setup of a joint Iranian-Syrian bank would be finalized soon."

Iran, Turkey plan to set up joint industrial zone
A quote...."Iran and Turkey plan to set up a joint industrial zone on their shared border, a Turkish official has announced. -- Turkish Industry and Trade Minister Nihat Ergun made the remarks after a meeting with Iran’s Industry Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian in Ankara on Friday. -- Ergun noted that the two sides have agreed to form a committee to discuss the establishment of the joint industrial area in a way to boost economic cooperation." - From PressTV

US drops strongest hint of Iran blitz in months
War Alert - A quote...."In the strongest hint of war in months, a top figure in the US military warns of a series of 'contingency plans' in dealing with Iran's refusal to accept Western demands over its nuclear program."

Okinawans urge US troops expelled
A quote...."Okinawa governor has urged Japan's chief cabinet secretary to back the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma off the island."

Africom - Latest U.S. Bid to Recolonise the Continent
A quote...."African revolutionaries now have to sleep with one eye open because the United States of America is not stopping at anything in its bid to establish Africom, a highly-equipped US army that will be permanently resident in Africa to oversee the country's imperialist interests." - also posted at GlobRsrch & ICH - For more on this issue see....Africa - the Next Target - 02-28-08 - mpg

Oil talks fail between Russia, Belarus: news agencies
A quote...."MINSK (AFP) – Belarus and Russia failed Saturday to overcome their dispute over oil supplies, but they remain willing to keep talking, a Belarussian government spokesman said, quoted by Russian news agencies."

Another Member of the Bautista Triqui Family Murdered in San Juan Copala
A quote...."Another Triqui member of the family of Teresa Bautista, the 24 year old radio broadcaster killed in an ambush in April of 2008, has been murdered. Her brother, a 17-year-old named Isaias Bautista Merino, was killed on Friday while attending the inauguration of new municipal leader Anastasio Juarez in San Juan Copala, the Triqui autonomous town located some 350 kilometers (217 miles) west of Oaxaca city, where more than a dozen indigenous Triqui have died in clashes and ambushes."
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New York Times Re-runs Retracted Story on Guantanamo Detainees' "Return to Terror"
Propaganda Alert - A quote...."You may recall that on this site, I posted a piece nine months ago castigating New York Times reporter Elizabeth "you can't say the President is lying" Bumiller for writing an absurd story claiming that 1 in 7 Guantanamo detainees had "returned" to terrorism. Put to one side that none of the released detainees had been convicted of terrorism prior to their release--Bumiller was basing her story entirely on a "secret" Pentagon report which the Times had a copy of but refused to release. I posted this blog piece, prompting Bumiller to call me (!) and suggest that I take my complaints and put them in a letter to Clark Hoyt, the Public Editor of the Times. I did. Two weeks later, the Times retracted the story."

German Business Journal Questions 9/11- “We do not believe you!”
A quote...."We do not believe you!” – The magazine “FOCUS Money” questions the official version of 9/11 -- “More and more doubts” -- The new issue of the german business magazine “Focus Money” (Nr. 2/2010) carries a detailed story on  9/11."
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Amnesty urges Israel to release or try three Palestinians
Great photo, wad'da'ya think, the Palestinian was complementing the IOF soldier on his uniform or what? - mpg -- A quote...."OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Human rights group Amnesty International urged Israel on Friday to release or fairly try three Palestinian jailed for protesting against the West Bank separation barrier. The three, two of whom are held without charges, may be “prisoners of conscience, held for legitimately voicing their opposition to the fence/wall,” Amnesty said in a letter to Defense Minister Ehud Barak."

Palestinian farmer seriously wounded in IOF shelling
A quote...."GAZA, (PIC)-- A Palestinian farmer was seriously wounded on Saturday when Israeli occupation forces (IOF) shelled residential neighborhoods and farms east of Breij refugee camp in central Gaza."
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Bill Moyers Journal - To Big To Jail
Must View Video Interview - Bill Moyers interviews David Corn and Kevin Drum -- A quote...."Mother Jones journalists David Corn and Kevin Drum offer a hard look at the obstacles to real reform of the financial industry. " --
||  Transcript  ||  Listen to the Podcast Mp3  || -- For more on this issue see....Michel Chossudovsky's "Circular Process" - 09-17-09 - mpg

CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN -- Speculation heaven
Related Article - A quote...."For the five quarters ended September 30, 2009, combined growth of federal government (Treasury) borrowings and outstanding government-sponsored enterprise-guaranteed mortgage-backed securities (MBS) jumped to an unprecedented US$2.810 trillion. This massive growth/inflation of "federal" finance was arguably one of history's great credit splurges. No discussion of 2009 is near complete without examining the government's momentous role in stabilizing the US credit system and economy."

The Surge in U.S. Personal Bankruptcies, Foreclosures and Job Losses
A quote...."The number of Americans filing for personal bankruptcy rose by nearly a third in 2009, a surge largely driven by foreclosures and job losses. -- And more people are filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which liquidates assets to pay off some debts and absolves the filers of others. That is significant because a 2005 overhaul of federal bankruptcy laws aimed to encourage Chapter 13 filings, which force consumers to sign onto debt-repayment plans in exchange for keeping certain assets."

There Is NO Economic Recovery Happening
Charts - A quote...."It is axiomatic that you can pump yourself full of speedballs (e.g. government spending) and stay up for days at a time.  It is also true that if you do too many speedballs you will have a heart attack and die, and there is no way to know precisely which is the "one too many" until you shoot it - at which point it's too late to change your mind! -- The so-called "recovery" has been driven by pump-priming, which has had at its root one primary intent - to drive citizens into herd behavior and get them to spend more and more (that they don't have!)"

The Military-Industrial Compex is Ruining the Economy
A quote...."Everyone knows that the too big to fails and their dishonest and footsy-playing regulators and politicians are largely responsible for trashing the economy. -- But the military-industrial complex shares much of the blame.
Nobel prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz says that the Iraq war will cost $3-5 trillion dollars."

Why The Staggering U.S. Debt Load Is Sure To Prevent Economic Growth
Charts - (click to enlarge) - Related Article - A quote...."The insightful authors of "This Time It's Different" Carmen Reinhardt and Ken Rogoff are at it again, doing a simple yet crucial empirical analysis correlating sovereign debt (both government and external), and inflation (in some case) with GDP growth. It will come as no surprise to anyone that the more indebted a country is, with a government debt/GDP ratio of 0.9, and external debt/GDP of 0.6 being critical thresholds, the more GDP growth drops materially. Alas for the US, which is on the wrong side of this threshold, at the rate Geithner is issuing debt, the US economy will be able to grow organically, and not through stimulus after Keynesian stimulus, only after the administration manages to find a way to reduce its massive and growing debt load. In other words never."

The Venture Capital Catastrophe
Related Article - A quote...."Investors put $30.4 billion into venture capital during 2007 and $29.8 billion in 2008, according to the National Venture Capital Association. During the first three quarters of 2009 the total sank to only 12.4 billion, or an annual rate of 16.3 billion — half of the two prior years. Where are the jobs going to come from? Small startups in new industries accounted for two-thirds of all job growth during the economic recoveries of the past twenty-five years. There are no signs of life from the small business sector."

Horizon Bank first U.S. bank failure of 2010
A quote...."U.S. regulators closed Horizon Bank (HRZB.O) of Bellingham, Washington, on Friday, kicking off what has been forecast as a peak year for small bank failures. -- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp said Horizon Bank had approximately $1.3 billion in total assets and $1.1 billion in total deposits as Sept. 30. -- Friday's bank failure is expected to cost the FDIC's insurance fund a total of $539.1 million." -- From Reuters

Frozen Britain seen from above
Great photo, could also be a picture of the current state of Britain's and the US-NRE's economy. - mpg

Friday January 8th 2010

IRAN:  New Revelations Tear Holes in Nuclear Trigger Story
Propaganda Exposed Alert - Special Note - A quote...."WASHINGTON, Jan 5 (IPS) - New revelations about two documents leaked to The Times of London to show that Iran is working on a "nuclear trigger" mechanism have further undermined the credibility of the document the newspaper had presented as evidence of a continuing Iranian nuclear weapons programme." -- also posted at DProgram & CommonDreams - posted 01-05-10

Hezbollah weapons rights draw Israel ire
Oh My Gawd!!  The Labanese can actually defend themselves against Israeli agression!  How utterly awful. - mpg -- A quote...."Tel Aviv has warned that it will hold Beirut responsible for any Hezbollah attempt against Israel after Lebanon endorsed a bill allowing the movement to keep its arms. -- "The Lebanese government and Hezbollah are becoming entwined and they will bear responsibility for any attack against Israel," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday." - bold by website editor --  Like this is a new policy!?!?  Have people gone totally stupid lately!?!?  Does anyone remember the last Israeli invasion of Lebanon where the Israelis attacked power plants, roads, bridges, apartment complexes, hospitals, and just about everything else in that poor country?  And then at the very end, during the last seventy two hours of their withdrawal, in a vicious display of cowardice, bad sportsmanship, craven disregard for international law and pure, malevolent, spite at getting their collective butts kicked, they carpeted the whole of South Lebanon with over three million cluster bomblets?  What a DISGUSTING people the Israelis are!!  - mpg - posted 12-07-09

Thursday January 7th 2010