Wednesday January 27th 2010

Freeze Frame: Flopsweat and Farce in the Hollow Halls of Power
Special Note - Some quotes...."Yet another day, yet another bout of liberal handwringing over yet another jilting by Barack Obama. This time, their hero has let them down with his planned freeze on "discretionary" spending. (Which doesn't include funding for the war machine and the security organs, of course; as always, that's "imperative" spending – we are allowed no "discretion" whatsoever when it comes to gorging our fat cats on blood money and fear-profiteering.)"  --  "But the shocked and injured tone with which this move has been greeted in some quarters seems entirely misplaced. Many of the writers seem to be operating on the assumption -- or under the delusion -- that Obama actually had some kind of political-economic-social agenda that he wanted to enact as president, and that he is now "failing" to enact it, "squandering" his opportunity. There still seems to be a belief that he ran for president because he wanted to do something with all that power. - But Obama is not "failing"; he is doing exactly what he set out to do: be the president. That's it. That's all he wanted to do. And he's doing it. The panic now emanating from the White House is not that of a man watching a chance to realize his deeply held ideals for a better world slipping away from him; it's just the flopsweat of a guy trying to stay perched on top of the greasy pole for another term."

Obama State of the Union: Guns For the Pentagon, Butter For Wall Street, A Spending Freeze For You
Special Note - Related Article - A quote...."After signing off on the biggest military budget in human history, and giving 23 trillion dollars of free money to Wall Street, much of it directly through the Federal Reserve without Congressional oversight, the president is expected to announce a “spending freeze” in his State of the Union address tonight. In keeping with his policy of waiting for “all boats to rise” the First Black President will not announce any special measures to address joblessness in African American communities, which in many urban areas has reached 50% of working age males, and has historically been double the white jobless rate, and is rising faster than unemployment among whites." -- also posted at Uruknet

“I Welcome Their Hatred!” What A Real Leader Would Say - Alt - (YouTube - 2 min 39 sec - Jan 27, 2010)
Video - Related Video - A quote...."We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace — business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering. -- They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob. -- Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me — and I welcome their hatred." -- *FDR*

Presidential assassinations of U.S. citizens
Special Note - A quote...."Just think about this for a minute.  Barack Obama, like George Bush before him, has claimed the authority to order American citizens murdered based solely on the unverified, uncharged, unchecked claim that they are associated with Terrorism and pose "a continuing and imminent threat to U.S. persons and interests."  They're entitled to no charges, no trial, no ability to contest the accusations.  Amazingly, the Bush administration's policy of merely imprisoning foreign nationals (along with a couple of American citizens) without charges -- based solely on the President's claim that they were Terrorists -- produced intense controversy for years.  That, one will recall, was a grave assault on the Constitution.  Shouldn't Obama's policy of ordering American citizens assassinated without any due process or checks of any kind -- not imprisoned, but killed -- produce at least as much controversy?" -- also posted at ICH

Pentagon calls for ‘Office of Strategic Deception’ - a.k.a. another lie factory....so what else is new? - mpg
A quote...."WASHINGTON -- Remember the Pentagon Office of Special Plans that helped collect dubious intelligence that led to the war in Iraq? Or the program where the Pentagon secretly briefed military analysts to promote the Iraq war? -- Meet the would-be Office of Strategic Deception." - also posted at ICH - For more on this issue see....US Fake Intel / Propaganda

How Bush's grandfather helped Hitler's rise to power
Special Note - A quote...."Rumours of a link between the US first family and the Nazi war machine have circulated for decades. Now the Guardian can reveal how repercussions of events that culminated in action under the Trading with the Enemy Act are still being felt by today's president" -- also posted at DProgram

‘Russian offer rejection [by Pakistan] proved disastrous’
Book Extracts - A quote...."Washington—Afghanistan would have been a peaceful nation with good governance if Pakistan had agreed to a Russian offer in 1989 for the former Communist regime to share power with mujahideen, according to the English translation of ex-ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef's book."*links added -- also posted at GlobalRsrch
      
Islamabad may boycott London moot
A quote...."Islamabad—Pakistan may boycott the London Conference on Afghanistan if certain states try to use the gathering to promote India’s increased role in Afghanistan. -- Reliable sources told this reporter that Islamabad is strongly opposed to any Indian military role in Afghanistan not only because it would complicate the efforts for peaceful negotiations between various Afghan parties but would also increase threats to Pakistan’s strategic interests."

UN removes Taliban officials from blacklist
A quote...."The United Nations has removed five former Taliban officials from its blacklist as part of reconciliation efforts in war-weary Afghanistan. -- The de-listing, which came on Wednesday, was approved by a special Security Council committee.."

Taliban commanders in talks with U.N. envoy
A quote...."LONDON (Reuters) - Members of the Taliban's leadership council have met secretly with the United Nations representative for Afghanistan to discuss the possibility of laying down their arms, a U.N. official said on Thursday." - From Reuters

Taliban term reintegration plan a ‘trick’
Of COURSE IT IS! We're talking about the US-NRE here for heaven's sake along with its bought and paid for lackeys.  A country that has violated every agreement or tore up every international treaty it has ever signed, and a country that has even trashed its own constitution. Yet the question the Taliban must ask themselves is how much is trick....and how much is treat. - mpg -- A quote...."KABUL/LONDON: The Taliban on Wednesday dismissed an Afghan government plan, aimed at persuading fighters to lay down their arms in return for cash, as a “trick”, saying the only solution to the war would be the withdrawal of foreign troops. -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai is to announce details of a plan to reintegrate thousands of lower- to mid-level Taliban fighters, which diplomats said would include job training and money, at a London conference on Afghanistan on Thursday." - also posted at Uruknet

Afghan resistance statement - Statement of the Leadership Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regarding the London Conference. -- A quote...."The war-mongering rulers under the leadership of Obama and Brown want to deceive the people of the world by holding the London conference to show that people still support them. Thus they hope to dodge the wrath of their own people. Certainly, they invaded our country in contravention of all moral and legal norms and principles. Therefore, all Afghans and Muslims are duty-bound to safeguard and defend their life, property, honor and religious values. The Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are the sons of this land; they know every peak and gorge of this country and are ready for its defense . The final defeat and infamy will be fate of the invaders."

80% of Germans against troop surge in Afghanistan
A quote...."A recent survey by the Independent Polling Institute Forsa indicates that four out of five Germans disagree with Berlin having a stronger military role in Afghanistan. -- Forsa indicated even among supporters of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Union, 77 percent said they objected to adding soldiers to the 4,300-strong force currently in the war-ravaged country. -- The survey says 32 percent of Germans are calling for an immediate withdrawal from Afghanistan."

US troops shoot and kill Afghan cleric near Kabul
A quote...."KABUL — U.S. soldiers shot and killed an Afghan cleric as he drove Thursday with his young son near an American base on the eastern edge of Kabul, underscoring the dangers facing civilians despite NATO efforts to minimize casualties."

Protests after NATO troops kill Afghan cleric
A quote...."NATO-led forces opened fire on a civilian vehicle in the Afghan capital Kabul on Thursday, killing a local cleric and sparking demonstrations. -- Dozens of people protested in front of a military base over the killing by NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which said it deeply regretted the death. -- "In an unfortunate incident this morning, an ISAF convoy fired on what appeared to be a threatening vehicle. Regrettably, an Afghan civilian was killed during the incident," the force said in a statement." -- also posted at WarInIraq

Obama Did Not "Inherit" Afghan, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Somali and Other Wars
Must View Video - Alt - (BlipTV - 29 min 59 sec) -- An outstanding summation of the "Great Game" including the very salient point of how "finance capital" in the US-NRE had a plan to military dominate countries to the south and east, especially in resource rich Eurasia, to provide the goods and services they covet while using their unfair advantages to collect all the profits. -- And how that plan failed....for the momment. - mpg -- A quote...."At the Black Is Back conference in Florida last week, Glen Ford explains that President Obama didn't 'inherit' the imperial wars around the world.  Obama embraces and promotes American global hegemony.  He campaigned long and hard to be head of the empire, and the job was purchased for him with more than $600 million in direct campaign contributions, mostly from the same large donors that financed George Bush four and eight years ago."

Pakistan, Iran finally sign gas pipeline accord
A quote...."ISLAMABAD: After fourteen years of delayed negotiations over the Iran–Pakistan–India (IPI) gas pipeline project, Pakistan and Iran have finally signed the initial agreement in Tehran on Sunday."

No [US-NRE] pressure to drop Pak-Iran gas project: Qamar
The US-NRE's parasitic class appear to be trying to placate Pakistan for some reason.  A)  It won't last, and B)  It usually means they're about to do something really awful and truly decitful that will get a lot of innocent people killed.  It's just the way they are. - mpg -- A quote...."ISLAMABAD: Petroleum Minister Syed Naveed Qamar has said there is no pressure from the United States or any security agency to abandon the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project."

Pakistan not to give guarantee for Iranian gas flows to India
A quote...."ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided not to give any guarantee for gas flows to India through the multi-billion-dollar Iran gas pipeline, it is learnt."

What is the American Plan for Iraq ? 2.
Special Note - A quote...."The American plan for Iraq so far has given the following; again to freshen you up even though I full know that it is a fruitless endeavor but I will repeat it again and again, for the record : From 2003 - present1.5 Million Dead (Lancet report" "I am NOT including in the above, the number of those imprisoned, in the thousands, nor the number of those who have been/are tortured...not knowing if they have survived or are dead by now..." -- also posted at Uruknet

Qaddafi son links Germany to Israel war crimes
A quote...."Libyan Leader Muammar Qaddafi's son leveled criticism against Germany's military aid to Israel, accusing the European power of complicity in war crimes committed in Gaza. -- In a letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel, Muammar Qaddafi's eldest son, Saif al-Islam, urged the German leader to clarify her position on Germany's alleged free military aid to Israel." - also posted at WarInIraq

It’s Not a New Turkey, It’s The Right Time
Special Note - A quote...."Uri Avnery’s assessment of the recent Israeli-Turkish diplomatic and political row – that “the relationship between Turkey and Israel will probably return to normal, if not to its former degree of warmth” – seems sensible and daring. In my view, however, it is also inaccurate. -- Simply put, there is just no going back."

Russia maintains stance on Iran arms deal
A quote...."Russian arms-export giant Rosoboronexport said Thursday it would not drop its arms deal to sell the sophisticated S-300 anti-aircraft system to Iran. -- "I just don't quite understand why supplies of the S-300 system to Iran trouble you so much," the head of Rosoboronexport, Anatoly Isaikin, told reporters at a news conference on Thursday." - also posted at WarInIraq

The Crisis in Haiti
A quote...."Global Research Dossier of 50+ articles and reports." - weblist

Haiti Gets a Penny of Each U.S. Aid Dollar
A quote...."January 27, 2010 -- AP-- Only 1 cent of each dollar the U.S. is spending on earthquake relief in Haiti is going in the form of cash to the Haitian government, according to an Associated Press review of relief efforts."

Traffickers targeting Haiti's children, human organs, PM says
Ahhhhh yes, the New Roman Empire. - mpg -- A quote...."(CNN) -- Trafficking of children and human organs is occurring in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated parts of Haiti, killed more than 150,000 people, and left many children orphans, Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said Wednesday. -- "There is organ trafficking for children and other persons also, because they need all types of organs," Bellerive said in an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour."
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Potential False Flag Attack To Be Blamed On Muslims Foiled
Special Note - A quote...."A possible false flag terror attack to be blamed on Muslims has been foiled after a Navy vet was busted with a grenade launcher, assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, as well as Arab headdress, in New Jersey yesterday. Initial media reports speculated that the man was planning a terrorist attack on a U.S. military base in the area." - also posted at WarInIraq

How to Get Out of Being Held Indefinitely Without Charge
A quote...."So the Obama administration’s Guantanamo task force has decided that about 50 people ought to be held indefinitely without charge. What’s the remedy to for that? Basically, there’s habeas corpus, the procedure by which a detainee requests that a court determine the validity of the government’s claim to hold him (in this case) because of his status as a belligerent in the conflict with al-Qaeda. Notice that’s not the same thing as asking a court to decide whether the government in the first place has the power to detain someone indefinitely without charge. According to lawyers for Guantanamo detainees and prominent civil liberties advocates, any lawyer who asks a court to decide that broader question will immediately be told, “Your client has the right to a habeas hearing. File a habeas petition and then come talk.” So here’s what the procedure is for the 50 or so detainees in this indefinite-detention-without-charge category."
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Canadian students launch campaign to divest from the occupation
Must View Video - Action Alert - Alt - (YouTube - 6 min 51 sec - January 20, 2010) - Boycott, Divest and Sanction - Because it'll save lives and an entire people. - mpg -- A quote...."Students at Carleton University in Ottawa have launched a campaign asking the university to divest from five corporations benefiting from the Israeli occupation, and to establish a socially responsible investment policy. Above is a powerful video they produced to promote the campaign, and here is a statement they issued:" -- For more on how to Boycott, Divest and Sanction the state of Israel see the upper-left-corner of the "Front Page" of this website. - mpg

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory 21-27 Jan. 2010
Every week, week in and week out. - mpg -- A quote...."
also posted at Uruknet

Israeli Navy Fire Upon Gazan Fishermen
A quote...."Israeli military boats have fired upon Gazan fishermen in Palestinian water this Thursday. The attack allegedly occurred in waters near the Rafah border crossing, off the southern coast of Gaza." - also posted at Uruknet

Mohammed Khatib, coordinator of West Bank Coordination Committee arrested
A quote...."At a quarter to two AM tonight, Mohammed Khatib, his wife Lamia and their four young children were woken up by Israeli soldiers storming their home, which was surrounded by a large military force. Once inside the house, the soldiers arrested Khatib, conducted a quick search and left the house." -- also posted at Uruknet & AlethoNews

Testimony: New intel officer harasses Nablus residents
A quote...."Nablus – Ma'an – Stripped almost naked in the January cold, Issam Mismar, 42, a father of five, was introduced to an Israeli soldier claiming to be the new intelligence chief in Nablus district.-- "I’m the officer Oren, a new officer in the area, I came to personally get to know you. How are you and how are your kids?” Mismar remembered the man, holding a computer and sitting in a military jeep, telling him." - also posted at AlethoNews - While he stood there half naked, isn't that sweet? - mpg

On the Lack of Interest in the Goldstone Report
A quote...."Many American Jews who are liberals, supporters of Israel, and generally well informed about events of the day suppress their knowledge of Israel-Palestine to a second-rate level of almost innocence. An inadequacy which (out of pride) they wouldn’t allow themselves in approaching any other subject. They do it because they are afraid if they knew more, they would have to condemn much of Israel’s conduct toward the Palestinians."
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Congratulations! You’re Donating $2,000 per Family to Wall Street’s Bonuses
A quote...."President Obama won’t tell us in his State of the Union address. The deficit hawks won’t crow about it. Don’t expect the Tea Party or Rush and Beck to highlight our generosity either. But the sad fact is this: During the worst year since the Great Depression, with 30 million people out of work or forced into part-time jobs, Wall Street is awarding itself $150 billion in bonus money…..and it comes from us! -- That’s $500 for every man, women and child in the country — $2,000 for a family of four. (Maybe we should try deducting it from our income taxes as a charitable donation.)" - also posted at DProgram - For more on this issue see....Having Fun With Your Tax Dollars

Tuesday January 26th 2010

Anti-Israelism: Why Zionism Doesn’t And Can’t Get It
Must Read - A quote...."January 26, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- There is no doubt it. More and more people all over the world, and probably many of their governments behind closed doors, are beginning to see the Zionist state of Israel for what it really is - not only the obstacle to peace but a monster apparently beyond control; and they, more and more so-called ordinary folk everywhere, are beginning to turn against it. - That explains why Prime Minister Netanyahu is leading Zionism’s hysterical call for the world to stop demonizing Israel." 

Auschwitz survivor: ‘Israel acts like Nazis’
Quote of the Day - (in bold) -- A quote...."Speaking as his tour got under way, Dr Meyer said there were parallels between the treatment of Jews by Germans in the Second World War and the current treatment of Palestinians by Israelis.-- He said: “The Israelis tried to dehumanise the Palestinians, just like the Nazis tried to dehumanise me. Nobody should dehumanise any other and those who try to dehumanise another are not human. -- “It may be that Israel is not the most cruel country in the world … but one thing I know for sure is that Israel is the world champion in pretending to be civilised and cultured.”  ---  "Dr Meyer also insisted the definition of “anti-Semitic” had now changed, saying: “Formerly an anti-Semite was somebody who hated Jews because they were Jews and had a Jewish soul. But nowadays an anti-Semite is somebody who is hated by Jews.”

Wall Street Journal: Ivins Not the Anthrax Killer
Special Note - A quote...."I noted in August 2008: According to the FBI, Ivins made the killer anthrax in his lab at Fort Detrick all by himself in something like 12 hours (pages 8-9). -- Is that plausible? -- Well, one of the handful of people who actually can produce the kind of high-tech weaponized anthrax used in the attacks said:

"In my opinion, there are maybe four or five people in the whole country who might be able to make this stuff, and I'm one of them," said Richard O. Spertzel, chief biological inspector for the U.N. Special Commission from 1994 to 1998. "And even with a good lab and staff to help run it, it might take me a year to come up with a product as good."

"In addition, scientists at Ft. Detrick say that no one there had the equipment or knowledge to make weaponized anthrax of the type used in the letters (more on this in a later esasy)." - also posted at BLN - For more on this issue see....US-False Flag Ops - Bruce Ivans

Bush Pentagon Hired Conspiracy Theorist As Al Qaeda Specialist
Special Note - A quote...."When the Pentagon's internal think tank decided in 2004 it needed a better understanding of Al Qaeda, it turned to an unlikely source: the terrorism analyst Laurie Mylroie, who was known as the chief purveyor of the discredited idea that Saddam Hussein was behind Sept. 11 and many other attacks carried out by Al Qaeda." -- also posted at ICH - For more on this issue see....US Fake Intel / Propaganda

"Iraq war was a crime of aggression: The damning verdict of top Whitehall lawyers which No. 10 refused to accept 27 Jan 2010 Tony Blair and Jack Straw brushed aside repeated warnings from Government lawyers that they would not have a 'leg to stand on' if Britain invaded Iraq. Devastating evidence at the Iraq inquiry yesterday revealed that every senior legal adviser at the Foreign Office believed the conflict was in breach of international law. Astonishingly, Downing Street asked lawyers to assess what the consequences would be if Britain toppled Saddam Hussein without legal authority. When they received the lawyers' memo, No.10 demanded: 'Why has this been put in writing?' Sir Michael Wood, then the Foreign Office's senior legal adviser, warned ministers again and again that to go to war without approval from a UN Security Council resolution would constitute a 'crime of aggression' in international law." -- Paragraph quote from CLG

Wanted: Tony Blair for war crimes. Arrest him and claim your reward
A quote...."The only question that counts is the one that the Chilcot inquiry won't address: was the war with Iraq illegal? If the answer is yes, everything changes. The war is no longer a political matter, but a criminal one, and those who commissioned it should be committed for trial for what the Nuremberg tribunal called "the supreme international crime": the crime of aggression." -- also posted at ICH

Gagging order on David Kelly records could be lifted -- Oh oh, Tony better get some more lawyers. - mpg
A quote...."Lord Hutton has responded to reports that a 70-year gagging order he imposed on records and photos relating to the death of the government scientist Dr David Kelly could be challenged by stating that the documents could be revealed to doctors. -- In a U-turn, Hutton said the information could be released to five doctors who are seeking to reopen the inquest into Kelly's death."

U.S. Ordered to Produce Detainee Abuse Evidence
A quote...."(CN) - A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ordered the government to produce evidence of alleged prisoner abuse and torture in response to a Guantanamo detainee's bid for release."

'Israel behind murder of Iranian particle physicist'
A quote...."Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar says the assassination of nuclear physics professor Massoud Ali-Mohammadi was a premeditated act carried out by the Israeli government."

Report faults State Department, DynCorp for missing $1 billion
A quote...."The State Department cannot account for more than $1 billion it paid out to contractor DynCorp to train police during the first years of the Iraq war, in just one example of management shortcomings that have put at risk $2.5 billion worth of money spent on training policemen around the world, according to a damning new report." -- also posted at ICH

Police chief found dead on eve of Davos meeting
A quote...."AFP - The Swiss police commander overseeing security for the World Economic Forum in Davos was found dead Tuesday, police said, adding that it appeared to be a suicide."
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Bases, Missiles, Wars: U.S. Consolidates Global Military Network
Special Note - Geo-Political Analysis -- A quote...."The pattern that has emerged is that of the U.S. shifting larger concentrations of troops from post-World War II bases in Europe and Japan to smaller, more dispersed forward basing locations south and east of Europe and progressively closer to Russia, Iran and China."

A War Against Human Rights and the Environment - Obama's War for Oil in Colombia
A quote...."This past summer, President Obama announced that he had signed an agreement with Colombia to grant the U.S. military access to 7 military bases in Colombia. As the UK’s Guardian newspaper announced at the time, “[t]he proposed 10-year lease will give the US access to at least seven Colombian bases – three air force, two naval and two army – stretching from the Pacific to the Caribbean.” And, these bases would accommodate up to 800 military and 600 civilian contractors of the United States. As the Guardian explained, this announcement caused outrage in neighboring Latin American nations and “damaged Barack Obama's attempt to mend relations with the region.”

Sarkozy reaffirms no combat troops for Afghanistan
Special Note - A quote...."French President Nicolas Sarkozy reaffirmed Monday that France will not send combat troops to Afghanistan but groups of trainers on a prime-time television appearance, days ahead the crucial Afghan conference to be held in Britain."

Merkel Says Germany May Reduce Afghan Troop Presence in 2011
Full quote...."Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Germany aims to hand over security in parts of Afghanistan during the first half of 2011 and may reduce its troop presence in the country by the end of that year, Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a speech to parliament today."

What Is the Purpose of the London Conference on Afghanistan?
Must Read - Some quotes...."All the players in the world claim that they want to get it right in Afghanistan, so that the Afghan people might be freed from the burdens of the thirty year war, which keeps them in the Stone Age.  The problem with Afghanistan is that everyone invokes false piety, claiming concerns for the well-being of the Afghan people, while promoting war as the solution to their problems.   We head into an international conference looking for these answers through the prism of the same old lies." -- "The London conference is NOT a “peace conference,” it is a search for an easier and less expensive American war.  Just as millions of American jobs were “outsourced” to India, to save American corporations labor costs, the military job of cleaning-up Afghanistan and guarding sub-contractors (who will partially rebuild there, as they build roads and pipelines of Western commerce) will be outsourced to Indian troops.  American plans for India are being hampered by Indian/Pakistani conflict, which is the only reason for the “peace” overtures being made to them by American diplomats." -- also posted at the PeoplesVoice

Turkey helps Pak keep India out of Afghan group
Related Article - A quote...."Jan. 26: With Turkey's help, Pakistan has given notice of keeping India isolated from future regional plans to stabilise Afghanistan that are likely to be part of the discussion package at Thursday's high-level London co-nfabulations on Afghanistan to be co-hosted by President Hamid Karzai, PM Gordon Brown and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon." -- also posted at WarInIraq

Luxembourg`s FM slams Israel`s ``colonization`` in Palestine
A quote...."Luxembourg`s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn on Monday lashed out at what he branded Israel`s ongoing ``colonial`` policies in the occupied territories, German press said."
    
Yemen Shiite fighters say withdrawal from Saudi soil completed
A quote...."Yemeni Shiite fighters said on Tuesday they had withdrawn completely from the Saudi territory as part of their truce offer. However, Yemeni tribal sources alongside the Yemeni government denied the rebels had withdrawn, Reuters reported."

Unforeseen rise of Asia creates new world order
A quote...."The transformation since then has been nothing short of extraordinary. I do not recognise the countries I visited during my first trip to Asia, in 1984. With average annual growth rate of nearly 6 per cent in the past ten years, Asia’s share of the global economy has risen to a third. The strength of Asia’s economies has helped them to weather the global financial crisis, as both governments and households avoided the excessive leverage prevalent in the Western economies. The IMF expects Asia to grow by nearly 6 per cent next year — almost double the rate forecast for the global economy."

US Marines in Haiti: Back to colonialism
A quote...."The US media’s coverage of the catastrophe in Haiti has increasingly included articles and broadcast reports extolling the supposed humanitarian role of US soldiers and Marines in the Caribbean country. They generally describe how “combat-hardened” veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are lending a helping hand to the survivors of the earthquake."
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Could Vancouver 2010 be the next 9/11? (UPDATED)
False Flag Warning - Special Note - A quote...."WARNING:  I now believe I have reasonable grounds to bring into suspicion that there may be a “false flag” terrorist attack during the Olympics in Canada, which take place in Vancouver and Whistler from Feb. 12th until Feb. 28th. I have compiled the following suspicious activity that I have found through various media sources. I’m not going to go as deep into each point as I could, and I will try to source information as best as I can, but some of it also comes from my own sources which I am not able to provide a link to"

John Kiriakou Unwittingly Exposes Brian Ross as an ABC News “Mockingbird”
Propaganda Alert - A quote...."The other day I posted an article about why I think Brian Ross should be fired from ABC News.--Time and time again Brian Ross has not only ended up on the wrong side of every single important issue since 9/11, but he also has a disturbing tendency to rely almost exclusively on unnamed sources to support his arguments (arguments that are almost always on the side of the CIA backed imperialist agenda). 1. The Iraq connection with the anthrax attacks (wrong, Mr. Ross), 2.  illegal use of torture as a justifiable and “useful” practice (wrong again, Mr. Ross), 3.  Iran having enough material to make a nuclear weapon by 2009 (so, so wrong, Mr. Ross), and finally what I pointed out as his latest forray into his imperialist collaborations… 4. the president  and possibly the CIA has the right to kill U.S. citizens at will (apparently this is a “law” that George W. Bush just made up after 9/11… but Mr. Ross fails to point out the root of this assumed presidential authority in his recent article)." -- For more on this issue see....US Fake Intel / Propaganda - Brian Ross

U.S. Navy Veteran Arrested With Heavy Arsenal; Also Found Was “Middle Eastern Red and White Traditional Headdress” -- A quote...."Somerset County investigators seized a cache of weapons including a grenade launcher and hundreds of rounds of ammunition today from the Branchburg motel room of a Virginia man, who also had maps of a U.S. military facility and an out-of-state civilian community."

RIGHTS-US: Indefinite Detention "Defies Common Sense"
A quote...."NEW YORK, 25 Jan (IPS) - U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to detain 47 of the just-under 200 remaining prisoners at Guantánamo without trial indefinitely is drawing scorn from legal experts and human rights advocates, who charge that the government simply does not have enough evidence to convict the detainees it says cannot be tried but are "too dangerous to release."

Alex Jones Tv – Alex Calls Upon All Gun Owners in Texas to Make A Stand!!
Videos - A quote...."Alex calls upon all Texans to call for an end to Austin’s Police Dept’s harassment of law biding gun owners in Texas! Alex will be giving out phone numbers and people to call on this matter, so please make the most of this and stand up for your 2nd amendment right to own guns!!"

Rep. Donna Edwards intros Constl. Amendment to undo Corporate "free speech" - Alt - (YuTb - 1m24s - 01/27/10)
Video - A quote...."On January 27, 2010, Congresswoman Donna Edwards announced that she would introduce an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to undo the damage caused the the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. FEC. "

Amateur Filmmaker Accused of Entrapping ACORN Employees Arrested by Federal Agents
You couldn't make this stuff up. - mpg -- A quote...."Federal law enforcement officials on Monday arrested conservative filmmaker James O'Keefe and three other men for allegedly trying to wiretap the phone system in Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu's New Orleans office. -- Also arrested was Robert Flanagan, 24, son of the acting US Attorney in western Louisiana, William Flanagan."

Focus on Israel: Harvesting Haitian Organs - Alt - (YouTube - 10 min 07 sec - January 23, 2010)
Video - Special Note - A quote...."Ynet, an Israeli newspaper which receives comments primarily from Israelis first reported on the concern of there being transparency in Haiti, especially due to Israelis involvement in illegal human organ trafficking. This concern was based on Israeli previous involvement in this behavior in the State of Israel and elsewhere in the world. As citizens of the State of Israel viewed the videos, hundreds of comments were made. The majority of those comments were quite negative and vicious, as they defended the Israeli actions, often regardless of the facts." -- For more on this issue see....Israeli Organ Thefts
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

If Americans Knew What Israel Is Doing! VIDEO WAS CENSORED! - Alt/Vid#1 - Alt/Vid#2 - Alt/Vid#3
Videos - From the history file - -- A quote...."Those who want to suppress the facts have dishonestly contacted YouTube and claimed that the video "If Americans Knew What Israel Is Doing!" was a Terms of Service Violation. The video is clearly NOT a TOS violation. You can see why they don't want you to see it. The user "rbdevon4" was a smartass contacting me with this message: "You have violated YouTube terms of use policy with your anti-Semitic hate videos. You must remove them IMMEDIATELY! Thank you for your cooperation." Soon after that, he and his buddies succeeded in getting my video removed."

Danish pension funds divest from Israeli companies
Action Update - Boycott, Divest and Sanction - Because it's the only way to change their policies. - mpg -- A quote...."Bethlehem - Ma'an - Two Danish pension funds announced on Tuesday their decision to divest from two Israeli companies implicated in the construction of Israel's illegal wall and settlements inside the West Bank, a statement issued by the Stop the Wall Campaign said." -- For more on how to Boycott, Divest and Sanction the state of Israel see the upper-left-corner of the "Front Page" of this website. - mpg

When Zionists Loved Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
A quote...."Today you can hardly utter the acronym BDS without hearing that the very idea is anti-semitic. -- But in the February 1921 edition of The Atlantic Magazine, Prof. Albert T. Clay (Assyrologist at the University of Pennsylvania) described how the Zionist incomers to Palestine were imposing their politics on the pre-existing Jewish minority there, which was largely made up of religious, non-Zionist Jews." -- Ironically, their tactics comprised -- also posted at AlethoNews
  1. Boycotting non-Zionist Jewish businesses;
  2. Divestment of Zionist funds from non-Zionist Jews;
  3. Sanctions such as threatening the removal of non-Zionist Jews from office, the closure of their businesses, denial of essential services to them, and their exclusion from any dealings with other Jews...
Goldstone found that Israel’s collective punishment policy in Lebanon served as a model for Gaza
Special Note - A quote...."As Israel prepares its response to the Goldstone Report, several articles indicate that its primary objective is to discredit the contention that it carried out, in the words of Ethan Bronner, "an official plan to terrorize the Palestinian population." Today Haaretz reports that Israel’s response to the UN will seek to "reject most of the fundamental claims of the Goldstone report: it intentionally waged a punitive campaign against a civilian population, including the destruction of infrastructure." -- also posted at AlethoNews

New York Times fails to disclose Jerusalem bureau chief's conflict of interest
A quote...."The New York Times has all but confirmed to The Electronic Intifada (EI) that the son of its Jerusalem bureau chief Ethan Bronner was recently inducted into the Israeli army." -- also posted at IPTMH

Amira Hass / Palestinian farmers are being treated like criminals
A quote...."Under the cover of the incessant noise from the roads in the Hebron district, an anonymous Arab is perpetrating a serious crime: With a small hammer, he is digging a cistern so he can collect rainwater on his rocky land. Other such criminals have other methods of carrying out their evil schemes - which is to say, to prepare their land for cultivation of vegetables, grain, grapevines or almond trees. -- "When someone builds a terrace on his land, he does it by taking a stone from the ground and adding it to the supporting wall once a month or once a week at most, so that it will be hard to discern the change," a Hebron resident said, explaining one of the methods. -- Experience shows that if you use heavy equipment to rehabilitate the land, it immediately attracts Civil Administration inspectors and local settlers, and is followed shortly afterward by stop-work injunctions." -- also posted at IPTMH

"I was supposed to be born in a villa by the sea"
A quote...."Her name meant "lively." And from the way her grandson spoke about her, she was in nature as in name. Aisha, full of life. -- She lived in a beautiful villa on the sea. She was friendly, passionate and generous, like most Palestinians. And proud of her hometown, like most Jaffans. When Jewish refugees rolled in from war-torn Europe in the 1940s, Palestinians took them into their homes. Aisha took in a teenaged girl, gave her a room, and made her part of their family."

CPT: Israeli settlers invade At-Tuwani village
A quote...."AT-TUWANI – On Tuesday, 26 January 2010 approximately fifteen Israeli settlers from the Israeli settlement of Ma’on and the Israeli outpost of Havat Ma’on attacked Palestinians in the village of At-Tuwani. The settlers were accompanied by Israeli soldiers in three army jeeps and the settlement security agent of Ma’on. Villagers from At-Tuwani arrived, protesting the settlers coming into their village. An Israeli soldier punched a Palestinian villager, who was hospitalized for his injuries. Immediately thereafter, Israeli settlers began throwing stones at the Palestinian villagers while soldiers fired three canisters of tear gas at Palestinians" -- also posted at AlethoNews
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Monetary Unwinding and Secondary Recession
Must Read - Financial Alert - For most people it's been one long "Great Recession" - mpg -- A quote...."Officials at the Federal Reserve System insist that the FED will unwind its more than doubled monetary base. They do not say when. They do not say how. But they insist that they will do this when the economy recovers."

What Should We Make of Obama's "Spending Freeze"
Special Note - A quote...."Some have asked questions like, "Is the goal to force the US into the same kinds of IMF austerity programs that have caused riots in so many other nations?" Some predicted years ago that the "international bankers" would bring down the American economy. -- I used to think, frankly, that such kinds of talk were crazy-talk. I'm not so sure anymore. -- Catherine Austin Fitts - former managing director of a Wall Street investment bank and Assistant Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under President George Bush Sr. - calls what is happening to the economy "a criminal leveraged buyout of America," something she defines as "buying a country for cheap with its own money and then jacking up the rents and fees to steal the rest." She also calls it the "American Tapeworm"...."

Rule By The Rich
A quote...."January 26, 2010 "Information Clearing House" - -The election of Republican Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate by Democratic voters in Massachusetts sends President Obama a message. Voters perceive that Obama’s administration has morphed into a Bush-Cheney government. Obama has reneged on every promise he made, from ending wars, to closing Gitmo, to providing health care for Americans, to curtailing the domestic police state, to putting the interests of dispossessed Americans ahead of the interests of the rich banksters who robbed Americans of their homes and pensions."

America Increasingly Looks Like A Developing Nation As 30% Of Americans Rapidly Approach Poverty, Or Are Already There -- A quote...."Brookings: In 2008, 91.6 million people—more than 30 percent of the nation’s population—fell below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. More individuals lived in families with incomes between 100 and 200 percent of poverty line (52.5 million) than below the poverty line (39.1 million) in 2008. Between 2000 and 2008, large suburbs saw the fastest growing low-income populations across community types and the greatest uptick in the share of the population living under 200 percent of poverty."

AIG attempted to hide bailout documents - Alt - (RT-YouTube - 3 min 37 sec - January 25, 2010)
RT-Video - A quote...."(RussiaToday) – Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is expected to face intense questioning on Capitol Hill later this week as more information comes to light on the US government’s bailout of AIG. Will heads roll over the controversy, or is it just another example of how nothing has changed between the Bush and Obama Administrations?"

Banks pull another $1 billion from small business lending
Deflation Alert - Chart - A quote...."NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The nation's biggest banks cut their collective small business lending balance by another $1 billion in November, according to a Treasury report released late Friday. The drop marked the seventh straight month of declines."

9 banks teetering after bad land bets
A quote....." After betting heavily on real estate lending, about a third of Utah's smaller community banks are teetering between collapse and survival after the worst land-value crash in memory. -- Nine banks are struggling to collect on development and construction loans representing 36 percent of their combined portfolios. Many loans are overdue to the point of default and are in danger of being written off as total losses."

Deficit to hit $1.35 trillion in 2010, CBO says - They wish it would be "that small", it'll be biggger. - mpg
A quote...."WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. government will in 2010 record its second-biggest budget deficit since World War II, the Congressional Budget Office estimated Tuesday, while economic growth will probably stay "muted" for the next few years."

U.S. home prices dip in November -S&P/Case-Shiller
A quote...." NEW YORK, Jan 26 (Reuters) - U.S. home prices slipped in November and were softer than expected in the latest sign that a rebound in the U.S. housing market is tenuous, according to Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller indexes on Tuesday. -- The S&P composite index of home prices in 20 metropolitan areas slipped 0.2 percent in November after a revised 0.1 percent October dip, for a 5.3 percent annual drop. -- A Reuters survey had forecast a 0.1 percent November rise. Prices were originally reported as unchanged in October."

US Existing Home Sales Plunge More Than Expected [ 16.7 percent ]
A quote...."Sales of previously owned U.S. homes fell at the fastest pace on record last month as the boost from a popular tax credit faded, industry data showed on Monday.-- The National Association of Realtors said existing home sales fell 16.7 percent to an annual rate of 5.45 million units in December. Analysts had expected a 5.90 million unit pace."

The Housing Double Dip Is Here: December New Home Sales Down 7.6% From November, Miss Expectations
Chart - A quote...."The benefits from yet another government demand push-forward contraption expire: the cost: hundreds of billions in new debt." -- Check out the comments. - mpg

Euro Drops To 6 Month Low Following FOMC On Increased Rate Hike Expectations, Conflicting Signals Leave Algos Confused -- Chart - A quote...."The usual volatility on vapor volume continues, even as the euro plunges, and a sell off in near-dated bonds drives algos nuts, trying to decide whether to buy or sell stocks as signals openly conflict."

Vapor Volume Resulting In Major Swings Indicates Evaporating Market Liquidity
A quote...."We keep harping on the lack of volume to the upside, and inversely the massive flushes on every down draft. This is due to basically no real money buying, but very real money selling on any appropriate catalysts. So who does the buying? And how does vapor volume manage to push the market by nearly 1%, usually higher? Simple - there is no liquidity left at the margin for the entire market! Market neutrals lost the war... And the results will be forthcoming soon. Some terrific insight from Art Cashin."

Monday January 25th 2010

Auden—The Shield of Achilles
Must Read - A quote...."Barbed wire enclosed an arbitrary spot
Where bored officials lounged (one cracked a joke)
And sentries sweated for the day was hot:
A crowd of ordinary decent folk
Watched from without and neither moved nor spoke
As three pale figures were led forth and bound
To three posts driven upright in the ground.

The mass and majesty of this world, all
That carries weight and always weighs the same
Lay in the hands of others; they were small
And could not hope for help and no help came:
What their foes like to do was done, their shame
Was all the worst could wish; they lost their pride
And died as men before their bodies died.

The Obama Brand: Feel Good While Overlords Loot the Treasury and Launch Imperial Wars
Special Note - A quote...."Barack Obama is a brand. And the Obama brand is designed to make us feel good about our government while corporate overlords loot the Treasury, armies of corporate lobbyists grease the palms of our elected officials, our corporate media diverts us with gossip and trivia, and our imperial wars expand in the Middle East. Brand Obama is about being happy consumers. We are entertained. We feel hopeful. We like our president. We believe he is like us. But like all branded products spun out from the manipulative world of corporate advertising, this product is duping us into doing and supporting a lot of things that are not in our interest." -- AlertNet Editor's Note: The following is an adapted excerpt from Chris Hedges' book, "Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle" {GoglBkSrch]* - (Nation Books, 2009) that first appeared in Tikkun magazine. -- *links added -- also posted at DProgram
David Kelly post mortem to be kept secret for 70 years as doctors accuse Lord Hutton of concealing vital information
Special Note - Lying liars and their numerous attempted cover-ups.  It's true what they say, it's the cover-ups that get them, because they make it so blatantly, sickeningly obvious who's involved. - mpg -- A quote...."Vital evidence which could solve the mystery of the death of Government weapons inspector Dr David Kelly will be kept under wraps for up to 70 years. -- In a draconian – and highly unusual – order, Lord Hutton, the peer who chaired the controversial inquiry into the Dr Kelly scandal, has secretly barred the release of all medical records, including the results of the post mortem, and unpublished evidence. -- The move, which will stoke fresh speculation about the true circumstances of Dr Kelly’s death, comes just days before Tony Blair appears before the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War." -- also posted at ICH

Dead Osama Warns of Imminent Attack in Latest IntelCenter Fabrication
Must Read - A quote...."In a patently absurd follow-up to the made-over Osama by the Justice Department (using the face of an Italian communist), the CIA and Defense Department linked propaganda unit IntelCenter has released yet another Osama audio tape. IntelCenter was caught adding its logo and that of As-Sahab to the same layer of a purported al-Qaeda video, according to Neal Krawetz, a researcher and computer security consultant. The As-Sahab Foundation for Islamic Media Publication is said to be al-Qaeda’s media production house." -- also posted at DProgram -- For more on this issue see....Judeo-Christian C/C & US - Rita Katz

Jack Straw's Biggest Lie
A quote...."Straw's biggest and most important lie goes right to the heart of the question of whether the war was legal. Did UN Security Council Resolution 1441 provide a legal basis for the invasion, or would a second resolution specifically authorising military action have been required? The UK certainly put a massive amount of diplomatic effort into obtaining a second resolution." -- also posted at WarInIraq

Democracy in America Is a Useful Fiction
A quote...."The fiction of democracy remains useful, not only for corporations, but for our bankrupt liberal class. If the fiction is seriously challenged, liberals will be forced to consider actual resistance, which will be neither pleasant nor easy. As long as a democratic facade exists, liberals can engage in an empty moral posturing that requires little sacrifice or commitment. They can be the self-appointed scolds of the Democratic Party, acting as if they are part of the debate and feel vindicated by their cries of protest." -- also posted at ICH

Happiness in Slavery
Special Note - A quote...."Don’t open your eyes
You won’t like what you see
The blind have been blessed with security
Don’t open your eyes
Take it from me
I have found you can find
Happiness in slavery"  ---  Nine Inch Nails-Happiness in Slavery -- Think you’re free? Think again, slave!

Nobel economist Stiglitz: "US privatized profits, socialized losses is not capitalism." It’s fascism
Special Note - A quote...."The Nobel Laureate, former chief economist for the World Bank, and current Columbia university economics professor understands fully that US economic policy is designed to benefit an elite-class of financial market “traders.” He accurately articulates that gambling losses in fraudulent credit default swaps, collateralized debt obligations, and leveraged investments/bets without the capital to back their losses are socialized by the TRILLIONS in an unprecedented transfer of wealth from taxpayers to a financial oligarchy. And Mr. Stiglitz understands the consequences of a shattered economy on near-record unemployment in the US most accurately measured at 22%."

Sunday January 24th 2010

No posts. - mpg

Saturday January 23rd 2010

"Why is Nasrallah demonized in the western media?" - posted at ICH
Must Read Interview - Mike Whitney interviews Franklin Lamb PhD -- A quote...."Franklin Lamb---I think in their hearts most Lebanese are indeed grateful and even proud that for the first time since the founding of the State of Israel Lebanon has been able to effectively resist its numerous aggressions.  Certainly Hezbollah has plenty of detractors particularly among the American and to a lesser extent French supported right wing Phalangist Christian factions and some Sunni communities fearful of the rise of the long discriminated against Lebanese Shia.  But when Lebanon is threatened by Israel they tend to unite behind the National Lebanese Resistance.  Expelling Israel on May 24, 2000 earned Hezbollah general respect in Lebanon and the region."

American Corporatocracy  - posted at ICH
Must Read - A quote...."January 22, 2010 "Information Clearing House" --Schools teach that the United States of America is a democracy. The government was established as "of, by, and for the people" and later on, a President Abraham Lincoln called the nation's people to join and die in a civil war that such a thing might never perish from the earth. Aside from the extent the lesson was ever in accord with the truth, it has today become an outright absurdity. The Supreme Court has declared once and for all that the corporations will rule. The United States of America is now better described as a corporatocracy. The government is owned and dictated to by these capitalist creations whose God is Mammon."

My Country 'tis of thee--Corporatocracy! Of Thee I Sing  - posted at ICH
Must Read - A quote...."January 23, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- I know, I know. I've seen the blogosphere screeching about the Death of Democracy now that the Supreme Court has rolled back restrictions on corporate donations to political campaigns. Whiners. Haven't you all stopped for even a moment to think how this might benefit humanity? Sure, sure, we're all aware of the downside, but would it kill us to think positive for a change?"
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The Day ObamaCare Died
01-23-10
mpg

The Day ObamaCare Died - Alt - (WN-Tube - 3 min 19 sec - January 19, 2010) - original pulled on YuTb - this was added 01-29-10
Must View Video - It's a great feat for its producers that this truly hilarious video could be made so quickly.  Two points to be made regarding this "rebel yell" for the tea-baggers however.

One, is that many of the people who properly opposed this oppressive, intrusive, highly expensive, gift to the insurance scammers and pharmaceutical grifters is they're also opposed to the single payer option. Let's be clear about this, the single payer option is where one insurance company takes one penny out of each dollar you pay to them to provide you with insurance coverage versus the insurance scammers who’ll take twenty to twenty five cents from each dollar you give them.

As to what medical expenses will be covered, well go ahead and pick your poison folks.  You can have an insurance scammer which will take twenty to twenty five percent of your money up-front, before a single dime is spent on your health care.   Than the real fun begins, because for them the LESS care they give you, the more profits they’ll make, the more their stocks will rise as a result, the bigger their bonuses will become and than to top it all off, the quicker they can get you to die from their profitable lack of care, the more money their Wall Street friends will make on their death bonds.

On the other hand, you can have a public entity subject to public examination and pressure, which will determine - in the open - with no “small print” - what care will be provided.

As was said before, pick your poison.

The second point is that this great video, hailing the defeat of Obama's no-care-get-sick-and-die plan is most probably premature.  The plan will most likely be passed anyway....and the Repubs will help to pass it. 

There is absolutely no way you’re going to have a thirty percent rise in the insurance scammers stock prices caused by this plan's potential passage and than have the Repubs, or for that matter the Demos, stand in the way of the enormous profits anticipated by the parasitic class that this phenomenal run-up in their stock prices would indicate. 

The "tea-baggers" and everyone else who opposed this plan will be betrayed, you can count on it.  – mpg

For more on this issue see....Double Indemnity - 12-21-09 - mpg
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Dutch inquiry finds Iraq war illegal - Article also posted at ICH
A quote...."A Dutch commission of inquiry has concluded that the US-led 2003 Iraq war was illegal under international law. The conclusion has far-reaching implications. Potentially, it could open up leading politicians and military figures in the US and Britain to prosecution for war crimes." -- also posted at DProgram

Iraq war was illegal, Dutch panel rules
Related Article - A quote...."The war in Iraq had "no basis in international law", a Dutch inquiry found today, in the first ever independent legal assessment of the decision to invade. -- In a series of damning findings, a seven-member panel in the Netherlands concluded that the war, which was supported by the Dutch government following intelligence from Britain and the US, had not been justified in law. -- "The Dutch government lent its political support to a war whose purpose was not consistent with Dutch government policy," the inquiry in the Hague concluded. "The military action had no sound mandate in international law."

Iraqis reject US interference in election row -- Biden backs election ban on Iraq’s Baath party
Must be more ol'dat "freedom and democracy" from the New Roman Empire's proconsul -- A quote...."Vice President Joe Biden told Iraqi officials on Saturday the United States backed a ban on Saddam Hussein's Baath party and said he had faith Iraq would resolve a row over the banning of election candidates suspected of links to it." -- also posted at Uruknet

[Paksitani] Govt stumped over Blackwater debate in Senate - link posted at ICH
A quote...."ISLAMABAD: Failing to make the government’s position on Blackwater’s presence in the country clear, State Minister for Interior Tasneem Qureshi on Friday said he had no information on the issue."

What Robert Gates Didn’t Say – And The US Media Hides – About Blackwater In Pakistan
Special Note - A quote...."Two Pakistani employees of an American defense contractor engaged by the US Embassy in Islamabad have been linked to two attacks on Pakistani military and the assassination of a Brigadier. If this is not alarming, then consider that US Ambassador Anne Patterson’s name has come up in an investigation where thousands of dollars were paid in bribes to Interior Ministry to smuggle illegal weapons into Pakistan. Not to mention how Washington is empowering India in Afghanistan at Pakistan’s cost. When Pakistan takes countermeasures, US officials like Mr. Gates and Mr. Holbrooke accuse Pakistan of ‘anti-Americanism’ and harassing US diplomats. Time for some straight talk." -- also posted at WarInIraq

Taliban again spurn Karzai offer to lay down arms
A quote...."PESHAWAR: Taliban again spurned Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s offer to lay down weapons and resume normal life in lieu of money and jobs. -- “The government would not be able to divide and weaken the Taliban by using money,” Taliban spokesman Qari Muhammad Yousuf Ahmadi told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) by phone from an undisclosed location in Afghanistan." -- also posted at Uruknet

Pakistan says reaches out to Afghan Taliban
A quote...."ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – U.S. ally Pakistan is reaching out to "all levels" of the Afghan Taliban in a bid to encourage reconciliation in its war-torn neighbor, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday."

Militants destroy NATO truck in Pakistan: police
A quote...."PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) – Taliban militants on Saturday attacked and destroyed a fuel tanker in northwest Pakistan supplying NATO troops in neighbouring Afghanistan, police said."

Afghans protest NATO raid for second day
A quote...."Afghans, for the second consecutive day, staged an anti-NATO rally to protest the killing of civilians by foreign troops in the country. -- The protesters in the district of Qarabagh in Ghazni Province on Friday vented their anger against what they said was the killing of four innocent civilians, including two children, in Qarabagh on Wednesday and also against the threatening behavior of NATO-led forces."

Hezbollah, Iran and Jumblatt Slam Kouchner’s “Hateful” Remarks
Special Note - A quote...."23/01/2010 In a Friday statement Hezbollah slammed French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner’s statements regarding Israel following his yesterday’s meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. -- Kouchner has reportedly stated that Lebanon’s problem is with Hezbollah and not Israel, because the resistance group “could launch an attack against Israel to appease Iran.” “If there was a threat to Lebanon, it will only come from a military adventure carried out by Hezbollah in the best interest of Iran,” Kouchner claimed. -- Hezbollah added that Kouchner’s positions oppose United Nations reports on Israeli violations. Also, the statement said that the French FM is covering for Israeli aggressions and that his positions contradict France’s past resistance to  occupations.-- Hezbollah said Kouchner was an accomplice to Israel and supporting the country in its aggression against Lebanon. The statement called on French authorities to be more responsible since they pretend to care about Lebanon’s sovereignty. -- Tehran also moved to reject Kouchner’s accusations that it might try to fuel insecurity in southern Lebanon because of an "internal crisis." Kouchner made the accusation that Iran might try to use Hezbollah to create a conflict with Israel."

On the edge with Max Keiser – England Could Be The Next Iceland - Alt/Vid#1 - Alt/Vid#2 - Alt/Vid#3
Videos - Special Note - More Max !! - It's not just "economic" items this time, instead Max covers a lot of political bases. - mpg -- A quote...."(PressTV) - (YouTube - – January 22, 2010 – Max and Stacy first talk about Buffett’s multi billion dollars electric cars investments in Israel , and the coincidence in which these investments always happen before or after an Israeli invasion to Lebanon , then the topic is the failed CIA initiated orange revolution in the Ukraine and how the economy in that country collapsed when they followed the western banks dictate and became debt slaves top the world bank &Co…, Stacy also speaks about the so called ‘relief ‘ mission to Haiti by the 3 American presidents and by Hilary Clinton , is it a relief mission or an occupation ? finally Max Keiser welcomes Chris Cook to speak about the oil market manipulation by Saudi Arabia "

Saudis conduct 18 airstrikes on northern Yemen
A quote...."Houthi fighters say the Saudi army has conducted 18 airstrikes in the latest attacks along the border of northern Yemen. -- The Shia Houthis said late on Saturday that hundreds of Saudi rockets and mortar shells were fired into villages in Sa'ada province overnight."

Former Canadian envoy to Iran was covert CIA agent
A quote...."Canada's former ambassador to Tehran, Kenneth Taylor, actively spied for the Central Intelligence Agency and helped the US plan a military incursion into the country during the Islamic Revolution, according to new reports."

Russian banking delegation to visit Iran
Number one topic will probably be what the heck to do with all those dollars. - mpg -- A quote...."Iran's envoy to Russia has declared that a banking delegation from Russia will visit Iran to facilitate trade and economic ties between the two countries."

Putin calls for rights to be upheld in Caucasus
A quote...."Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday ordered officials in the North Caucasus to ensure what he called the "normal work" of human rights groups operating in the volatile region. -- Human rights activists in and around Chechnya have been attacked and even killed in recent years in incidents Kremlin critics blame on local authorities who have little patience for their work. The activists spend most of their time investigating accusations of rights abuses by police and the personal security forces of the regions' leaders." -- For more on this sort of issue see....Putin's Folly - 09-21-09 - mpg

Ukraine’s Counterrevolution
Special Note - A quote...."Five years ago, Ukraine held an election. Western governments and NGOs did their best to support the so-called Orange Revolution, which propelled Viktor Yushchenko into the Ukrainian presidency. -- But Yushchenko’s performance in office was widely viewed as a disaster; in Sunday’s presidential election, Yushchenko finished in fifth place with a dismal 5.4 percent. One of his former supporters said simply: “He did not live up to our expectations.”

Venezuela oil 'may double Saudi Arabia' 23 Jan 2010 A new US assessment of Venezuela's oil reserves could give the country double the supplies of Saudi Arabia. Scientists working for the US Geological Survey say Venezuela's Orinoco belt region holds twice as much petroleum as previously thought. The geologists estimate the area could yield more than 500bn barrels of crude oil. This assessment is far more optimistic than even the best case scenario put forward by President Hugo Chavez. [Oh no. 'Venezuela has 500bn barrels of crude oil.' Telling the US about this is like setting forty child molesters loose on a playground. I am thinking the CIA/Xe has eight coups boiling on the stove, even as I type. Hopefully, Chavez's armies are up to the task. We need to establish a global defense fund for the world to resist US oil- and water-grabbing, in light of the High Whore Court's recent decision to blatantly task the corporaterrorists with installing political drones in every level of US government. --Lori Price] -- Paragraph quoted from CLG

Latin America to meet on new currency
A quote...."Latin American presidents have organized a meeting to take a step to 'break' their dependence on US dollar in regional financial transactions. - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday that the leaders would meet Monday in Caracas."
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EFF: Court ruling means ’surveillance of Americans immune from review’
Police State Alert - A quote...."A US District Court judge in San Francisco has dismissed a lawsuit brought against the US government by individuals who say their rights were infringed by the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program. -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy watchdog that participated in the lawsuit, described the judge's ruling as declaring "that mass surveillance of Americans is immune from judicial review." -- also posted at BLN

Pentagon’s Gitmo Recidivism Claims Don’t Add Up
Propaganda Alert - A quote...."Professor Mark Denbeaux, director of the Seton Hall Law School Center for Policy and Research, has analyzed similar Pentagon claims previously made about Guantanamo recidivism and found them to be false. -- "This is the 46th time the government has spoken on the question of recidivism," Denbeaux said. "It's the fourth time the DoD has. Their numbers have changed every time. At no point have they ever matched names with numbers. There is the following statement. We have no names. We have no numbers. We have approximate percentages for which we have some trends, and it's an inexact science." - bold by website editor -- also posted at AlethoNews

Big lies: Bin Laden takes credit for Christmas Day attempt
Propaganda Alert - A quote...."Al-Jazeera airs audio tape issued by Al-Qaeda boss claiming responsibility for failed attack on US airliner on Christmas day. Bin-Laden threatens more attacks to come, says, 'America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine'" -- As one reader wrote...."Let me be the first to congratluate Rita on her quick production. When can we see the video?" -- For more on this issue see....Judeo-Christian C/C & US - Rita Katz

The merchants of fear: Israel’s profiting from homeland insecurity - posted at Online Journal
Related Article - A quote...."In the wake of the weird Christmas Day “underwear bomber” incident on Northwest Flight 253, former Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff, as if on cue, was all over the mainstream media touting whole-body scanners as the answer to America’s airline security problems. Since leaving public office in 2009, Chertoff had co-founded the Chertoff Group, a security and risk-management firm whose clients include a manufacturer of body-imaging screening machines. While some in the media noted this rather commonplace conflict of interest, ignored by all was a far more significant abuse of the American public’s trust." -- For more on this issue see....US-False Flag Ops - Detroit's "Lap-Bomber"

Alex Jones Tv – Ron Paul – The CIA Runs Everything - Alt - (AJ/YouTube - 5 min 36 sec - January 22, 2010)
AJ-Video - A quote...."The CIA was created at the behest of the bankers on Wall Street. OSS spook and Wall Street lawyer Frank Wisner was recruited by Dean Acheson to work under Charles Saltzman, at the State Departments Office of Occupied Territories in 1947. The CIAs first director, Allen Dulles, was a Wall Street lawyer."

Arab College Student Removed From Bus For Speaking Her Language
Where is good'ol Jim Crow when you need him. - mpg -- A quote...."Israeli Ynet News reported that an Israeli-Arab student, studying at Ariel College, was humiliated and forced out of an Israeli bus after she “was heard” speaking Arabic on her cell phone." -- also posted at AlethoNews & WarInIraq
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Norway university plans Israel boycott
Action Update - Boycott, Divest and Sanction - Bacause we are all becoming Palestinians now. -- A quote...."University of Bergen, among Norway's largest academic institutions, intends to impose an official academic boycott against Israel over what it claims is its apartheid-like conduct, Ynet has learned. "

Russia Vows Further Links with Hamas - Lavrov
A quote...."Moscow, January 22 (QNA) -- "We are positive that all parties to the conflict should be engaged in dialogue. We will continue contacts with Hamas," Lavrov told a news briefing."

Journalist arrested at peaceful tree-planting action
A quote...."On 23 January, Israeli soldiers declared Palestinian land south of the Israeli settlement outpost Havot Ma’on (Hill 833) a closed military zone, then arrested a Palestinian journalist from Pal Media. The journalist was reporting on a demonstration organized by Palestinians from the village of At-Tuwani after the recent destruction of an olive grove. Despite the Israeli military interventions, the Palestinians successfully planted 20 olive trees during their demonstration."

Israeli forces detain three journalists across the West Bank
A quote...."Nablus – Ma’an – Israeli forces detained three journalists in separate incidents across the West Bank, as they complied news reports near settlements on Saturday." -- also posted at Uruknet & AlethoNews

Israeli Soldiers Injure Non-Violent Protesters at Villages Near Ramallah
A quote...."Eight people have been injured, and five kidnapped, by the Israeli military in response to non-violent protests. These protests were organized by villagers in the West Bank who stand against the separation wall being constructed upon their land."

Israeli border police severely beat Palestinian workers, says family
A quote...."Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli Border Police detained and beat 10 Palestinian workers at dawn on Sunday at the Al-Za’iem crossing into occupied East Jerusalem, for seeking work without the appropriate permits, relatives told Ma’an."
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More on the US-NRE's Honduran Coup....

Shot in the Back: The human impact of the Honduran coup - Alt - (YouTube - 10 min - December 19, 2009)
Must View Video - A quote...."Watch Witness For Peace's powerful new video, and then Take Action to tell President Obama to continue suspending all U.S. military aid to the Honduran security forces that continue committing widespread human rights violations." -- For more on this issue see....Hideous Hillary's New Death Squads
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The $700 Billion U.S. Funding Hole; Desperately Seeking A Very Indiscriminate Treasury Buyer
Must Read  - Charts - Tables --  Ahhh, the games people play. - mpg -- Some quotes...."A month ago we observed that in 2010, the supply/demand picture for US fixed income would be very problematic, as there was no immediate apparent substitute to fill the void resulting from the departure of the constant bid provided by the Federal Reserve's Quantitative Easing in both the UST and the MBS markets. The conclusion was that there would need to be a dramatic increase in demand for debt securities across the board, with an emphasis of Treasuries and MBS. -- Today, we focus on the most critical segment of debt issuance for 2010 - those ever critical US Treasuries, without whose weekly uptake by various investors, the multitrillion budget deficit will become unfundable." -- Key Quote of the Day...."As we pointed out previously, the number one defining feature of 2009 was the Fed's blatant support of the bond and MBS markets. Bernanke monetized $300 billion in Treasuries, and indirectly will have purchased another $1.4 trillion in bond/MBS hybrids (we say indirectly, because Fed MBS purchases effectively allowed MBS holders to switch their holdings to Treasuries at preferential terms, better known as the "reallocation trade" in essence achieving the same effect as if the Fed has purchased these - see Bill Gross). With the Fed out of the demand picture (at least temporarily), the questionmarks emerge."

Regulators close five banks in U.S.
A quote...."WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Regulators seized five U.S. banks on Friday, driving up the tally in what is expected to be a busy year for bank failures."

Friday January 22nd 2010

The Five That Stand Against ALL Americans, The "Mafia" Judges - Article also posted at ICH
Special Note - A quote...."Five members of the Supreme Court declared that a “corporation” is a person, not a “regular person” but one above all natural laws, subject to no God, no moral code but one with unlimited power over our lives, a power awarded by judges who seem themselves as grand inquisitors in an  meant to hunt down all hertics who fail to serve their god, the god of money." -- For more on this sort of issue see....The Almighty Corporation - 03-30-08 - mpg & Money Psychosis - 01-21-10 - mpg

Corporate Personhood Should Be Banned, Once and For All  - posted at ICH
Special Note - A quote...."Ralph Nader -- January 21, 2010 - -Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission shreds the fabric of our already weakened democracy by allowing corporations to more completely dominate our corrupted electoral process. It is outrageous that corporations already attempt to influence or bribe our political candidates through their political action committees (PACs), which solicit employees and shareholders for donations. With this decision, corporations can now also draw on their corporate treasuries and pour vast amounts of corporate money, through independent expenditures, into the electoral swamp already flooded with corporate campaign PAC contribution dollars."
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Obama Disconnected - Article also posted at ICH
Must Read - A quote...."First, the money. The "small-donor revolution" got the headlines in 2008, but in terms of the most critical money in politics — early money, the kind that is given to help a candidate establish his viability, the kind that the candidate remembers after the election is over — there was nothing revolutionary about Obama’s funding. Between January and August 2007, according to the Campaign Finance Institute, 60 percent of Obama's donations were in amounts of $,1000 or more. Of all the early money raised by his campaign in 2007, more than one-third (36 percent) of his total came from the financial sector (compared with 28 percent for Hillary Clinton), reported campaign finance expert Thomas Ferguson. Finance, insurance and real estate — the so-called FIRE sector of the economy — showered nearly $40 million on him, 40 percent more than it gave to McCain. While it’s true that by the end of 2008 Obama could brag about getting more than half his money from people giving less than $1,000 each — and arguably this kind of funding is the cleanest, least self-interested money in politics — it didn't liberate this president from big-money interests."

How to Squander the Presidency in One Year
Must Read - A quote...."Barack Obama has now, in just a year's time, become the single most inept president perhaps in all of American history, and certainly in my lifetime. Never has so much political advantage been pissed away so rapidly, and what's more in the context of so much national urgency and crisis. It's astonishing, really, to contemplate how much has been lost in a single year."

Website Editor's Note:  "Bombs Away O-Bomb-a" is NOT "inept", nor is he stupid.  In fact, he's actually quite brilliant.  After deliberately fooling nearly half of those who bothered to go to the polls to vote, despite insurmountable odds from a desperate population begging him for "change" that would force almost any other (More human perhaps?) politician to do SOMETHING to placate their demands....Obama has not only utterly ignored their demands, he has IN FACT advanced almost every single program ever conceived of by Bush's backers to counter them. 

From shredding the constitution further, to legalizing torture, to starting more wars, to giving twenty four trillion dollars to the Banksters, trillions to the insurance scammers and a trillion a year to the Military Industrial Complex, while doing absolutely NOTHING for the “little guy” and much, much worse. 

He has in fact done EXACTLY what he was hired to do, as tens of thousands of bloggers warned everyone in this country BEFORE they went down to the polls to vote for him in '08.  Next time folks.....don’t vote for a Demo or a Repub. - mpg
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See Rome: Innocents Die as Imperial Pot Boils
Special Note - Yep, more ol'dat Obama shuffle and jive and nothing to show for it in the end....again.  When -- exactly -- are the people in this country going to finally grow up and stop believing every, single, stupid, piece of horse-crap that's spoon fed to them?  C'om on folks....NOBODY's that stupid! - mpg -- A quote...."Barack Obama has come out swinging following his party's rout in Massachusetts, vowing to "fight Wall Street" with a "populist" proposal whose main thrust seems to be the reinstatement of some of the common-sense regulations imposed almost 80 years ago to separate banks and investment firms. (I say "seems to be," because one can only guess what, if anything, Obama really intends to do about the matter. For despite the usual elevated rhetoric, he is, as usual, "leaving crucial details to be hashed out by Congress," as the NY Times reports. And we know how populist those paladins can be when they get down to hashing out crucial details.) -- also posted at Uruknet
What a Sad Week for Democracy
Special Note - A quote...."***UPDATE*** (Five. I stand corrected. There are now 5 events from this past week that I should have mentioned. Please see the last one reported on by Glenn Greenwald at the end of this article.) -- What a week it was for our democratic freakshow. How many more shocks can our fragile egos take before the entire illusion of American exceptionalism crumbles from under our feet? What happens when it does? This past week, four events played out that should by all rights shake the people of this nation out of their self-induced comas. I’m not holding my breath." - bold by website editor

Obama to indefinitely imprison detainees without charges
Special Note....A quote...."One of the most intense controversies of the Bush years was the administration's indefinite imprisoning of "War on Terror" detainees without charges of any kind.  So absolute was the consensus among progressives and Democrats against this policy that a well-worn slogan was invented to object:  a "legal black hole."  Liberal editorial pages routinely cited the refusal to charge the detainees -- not the interrogation practices there -- in order to brand the camp a "dungeon," a "gulag," a "tropical purgatory," and a "black-hole embarrassment."  As late as 2007, Democratic Senators like Pat Leahy, on the floor of the Senate, cited the due-process-free imprisonments to rail against Guantanamo as "a national disgrace, an international embarrassment to us and to our ideals, and a festering threat to our security," as well as "a legal black hole that dishonors our principles."  Leahy echoed the Democratic consensus when he said:...."

Scott Brown Elected – Now He’s Suddenly FOR the Health Care Reform - Alt -- Heee, heeee, heee. - mpg
Video - Ahhhhh, yes.  The sound of the other shoe dropping.  Folks if you thought Scott Brown was against the health non-care plan, you're going to be very surprised.  Just do what this website editor has done for four long years -- Follow The Money!! -- and no, you don't have to find out who contributed to his campaign. (although no doubt he's received buco-bucks on the sly from some of the insurance scammers and HMO killers), all you really need to do is follow the stock market.  Since Obama proposed his non-care plan the stocks of the insurance scammers and HMO killers have sky rocketed upwards almost thirty percent.  Does ANYONE actually think Scott Brown, someone from the parasitic class, is going to vote against his brethren’s interests and endanger his future business relationships with them, not to mention his future campaign contributions? -- For more on this issue see....Double Indemnity - 12-21-09 - mpg

Ron Paul Warns Of Coming “Social And Political Chaos” - Alt/Vid#1 - Alt/Vid#2 - Alt/Vid#3  (YuTb 10m 012110)
Videos - A quote...."Paul warns that if the country continues along the course it is on, we will witness a three stage slide into social and political chaos, beginning with the current financial crisis, a coming dollar crisis, and culminating in mass unrest." -- also posted at DProgram

Gitmo “Suicides” Should Be The Final Straw For Firing McChrystal
A quote...."Stanley McChrystal’s career is characterized by torture, murder, secret prison camps and cover-ups. It should come as no surprise, then, that this week’s exposé by Scott Horton on the Guantanamo "suicides" in 2006 implicates McChrystal and another secret prison camp:" -- also posted at Uruknet

Rubbing Salt in Guantanamo's Wounds: Task Force Announces Indefinite Detentions
A quote...."With a stunning lack of sensitivity, President Barack Obama's Guantánamo Review Task Force chose the anniversary of the president's failed promise to close the prison to announce its conclusions regarding the eventual fate of 196 prisoners. -- As the Washington Post explained, the Task Force said, with no trace of irony, that "nearly 50" of the men still imprisoned at Guantanamo "should be held indefinitely without trial under the laws of war." -- also posted at Uruknet

Moqtada Sadr Defends Iraqi Resistance
A quote...."Radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr blasted Shiite leader Ammar al-Hakim on Friday for tacitly supporting an extended stay for foreign troops in Iraq. -- Hakim, the influential leader of the Shiite Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, arrived in Beirut early this week to meet with Lebanese leaders and senior Hezbollah officials. -- Hakim during meetings with religious figures in Lebanon labeled the so-called resistance movement in Iraq as "just some group of killers" who "are not clear in identity," the Voices of Iraq news agency reports. -- Sadr, who once led a violent insurgency against U.S. forces in Iraq with his Mehdi Army, blasted Hakim's response as "illogical and unacceptable" during a sermon during Friday prayers. -- Sadr accused Hakim of making the statements because he "wants occupation forces to stay in Iraq," VOI said." -- also posted at WarInIraq

Ahmed Chalabi at the Center of Iraq’s Election Scandal - Well, THAT figures. - mpg
Special Note - A quote...."Back again like a bad penny, controversial Iraqi politician and architect of the 2003 US invasion Ahmed Chalabi has once again returned to the headlines amid a growing election scandal. -- Gone are the days when Chalabi was funneling false information to the Pentagon to justify a war, and the days when he was America’s favorite for a key leadership position in the post-occupation government. But as the head of Iraq’s hastily assembled Justice and Accountability Committee (JAC), he retains surprising power." - also posted at WarInIraq -- For more on Mr. Chalabi see....The Human Cockroach - 01-19-07 - mpg

Iraq littered with high levels of nuclear and dioxin contamination, study finds - link posted at ICH
A quote...."More than 40 sites across Iraq are contaminated with high levels or radiation and dioxins, with three decades of war and neglect having left environmental ruin in large parts of the country, an official Iraqi study has found." -- also posted at Uruknet & DProgram

'Israel seeks more involvement in Afghan war'
A quote...."Foreign forces in Afghanistan will use unmanned Israeli drones more extensively in the US-led war, an Israeli paper said, citing the regime's desire to be more involved in the war."

Tensions rise as Israeli Army stages maneuvers on border
War Alert - Israel is still trying to provoke something....  The question is what and why now?  The US-NRE doesn't "seem" prepared to launch a coordinated attack yet, so this could be just another fake out by Israel.  It should be noted however that they don't have much time left to start their next war if it's to comply with the "ten year cycle" - mpg -- A quote...."BEIRUT: Media reports said Friday tensions rose on the Lebanese-Israeli border as the Israeli Army undertook military maneuvers on its northern border, while Hizbullah members were put on high alert, according to the pan-Arab daily Ash-Sharq al-Awsat." -- See also....Standard Disclaimer and the Ten Year Cycle

Report: Hezbollah on high alert for fear of Israeli attack
War Alert - A quote...."London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper says Shiite organization has instructed its men to take 'general precautions', Syria recruiting reserve soldiers residing in Lebanon " -- also posted at WarInIraq

Russia warns against rushing to Iran sanctions - link posted at ICH
A quote...."MOSCOW (Reuters) - "If our logic is to punish Iran, or if we take up the posture of the offended... this will not be a sober approach," Lavrov told reporters at a news briefing." -- For more on this issue see the articles shown below....

Iran Deal on Brink of Collapse as West Condemns Compromise
Must Read - (for the outrage) - A quote...."In September, Iran proposed a system of third party enrichment which would allow the nation to create medical isotopes without having to enrich any uranium to levels higher than needed for its energy generation program. After intense negotiation the draft agreement had Iran exporting much of its existing low-enriched stockpile to Russia and eventually France. -- The “eventually France” part was a stalling point for Iran however, as France had previously reneged on Uranium Hexafluoride shipments to them and Iranian MPs expressed concern that the French might simply keep the uranium once it got to them. -- This led Iran to propose today’s compromise deal, the chief aspect of which was that they would ship the uranium out in stages rather than all at once. This would have limited the potential losses to their stockpile in the event the deal fell apart. -- But for Europeans, getting Iran to hand over the bulk of its uranium all at once was the best part of the deal...." -- bold by website editor - posted 10-29-09

What a bunch of lousy, little, snot-nosed, pieces, of dog poop.  The Europeans were OBVIOUSLY going to renege on the deal, they were going to steal Iran's uranium.  Once Iran handed over all its uranium they would have said "what uranium", snickered, and left Iran looking foolish.  This whole thing has just killed the NPT.  It’s all over folks, Europe and the US-NRE have very publicly, in front of the whole world, just shot the NPT in the head.  It's now dead as a door nail. It can never be revived.  No other country could EVER trust Europe or the US-NRE to be honest brokers regarding this issue again.  This particular incident will be remembered - forever - by everyone. – mpg - posted 10-29-09

Veto-wielding China says 'no' to Iran sanctions
Special Note - A quote...."As US President Barack Obama plans to pay his first official visit to Beijing, China signals its opposition to new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. -- The Chinese government believes that negotiation sides should make efforts to settle issues regarding Iran's nuclear case through "political and diplomatic" talks, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told IRNA on Saturday. -- He added that a diplomatic and permanent solution to Iran's nuclear issue will help bring about peace and stability to the Middle East. -- As a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, said the spokesman." - bold by website editor - also posted at AlethoNews -- Yeah, it's totally mind blowing isn't it folks?  There really is another country out there which thinks the terms of a signed treaty should actually be honored, despite what the US-NRE and Israel think about the issue.  No doubt the AIPAC/Israeli/Obama combo will go totally berserk and unleash ALL kinds of vitriol against China.  But that's just the way it is.  Every country out there should understand no treaty, contract, promise, affirmation, oath, agreement or bond will ever be honored by the US-NRE or Israel if they think it's in their interest not to do so.  It's just a fact of life.  Any documents signed by these two miscreants aren't worth the paper they're printed on. - posted 11-15-09

US-Iran Talks: The Road to Diplomatic Failure
Must Read - A quote...."Along with its European allies, the Obama administration seized on a plan that cleverly asked Iran to divest itself of the bulk of its stock of low-enriched uranium (LEU). It seemed to represent a golden opportunity to set back Iran's nuclear program, and despite the warning signs that such an objective is not achievable by the West, it lured the West away from a serious effort to find a diplomatic compromise with Iran aimed at defusing the decades-long hostility between Washington and Tehran." -- In other words they lied and made promises they intended to break in order to get their hands on Iran's enriched uranium so they could steal it.  The attempt was so blatantly obvious and childish that one truly wonders if the whole idiotic charade was designed to get Iran to refuse to participate.  They have of course utterly destroyed the NPT through their clownish antics. - posted 12-12-09

"Iranian paper Javan, 17 January: Mossad killing Middle East nuclear scientists. "Killing of Ali-Mohammadi, a basic atom researcher of Iran, has a special meaning for countries that have the background in attempts against the lives of their elite. The background of physical elimination of key scientists by Israelis has a history of several decades . . . There have been rumours about involvement of Mossad in killing of Ardeshir Hasanpour, the prominent scientist of Iran's nuclear program in 2007 . . . Sa'ed Badir, Egypt's nuclear scientist in the field of missile technology. . . was found in 1988 in his house and his hand was cut from the wrist. He had just returned from a trip to Germany. His wife termed Mossad directly responsible for the death of her husband. Samir Najib was another scientist who was killed in 1967 in Detroit, US in an accident with a truck. But one of the most important persons who were killed by Mossad is Yahya al-Mashu, who was responsible for Iraq's nuclear program during Saddam Hosayn's government. His body was found in 1980 in a hotel in Paris . . . Some Iraqi nuclear scientists have announced it to Islam-Online through emails and said that the American occupying forces have been threatening them. Haddi Amash is one of those scientists who have been threatened by the US. URL n/a." -- Paragraph quoted from WMR

South Korean Villagers Continue Resistance to [the US-NRE's] Aegis Destroyer Naval Base Construction; Mayor Arrested & Released Without Charge -- Action Update - A quote...."Activists from Gangjeong village on JeJu Island, Korea, are struggling to prevent construction of a naval base which will damage the coral reefs and the residents' local agricultural lifestyle. The base will also be used for deployment of naval Aegis destroyers. They will be outfitted with missile defense systems to surround and provoke China, making Jeju Island a prime target for military retaliation. Sung-Hee Choi wrote:"

US military build-up on Guam worries islanders
A quote...."Residents of the US territory of Guam fear the planned influx of thousands of American troops and their families will leave their Pacific island home swamped. -- Around 19,000 personnel and their families are set to relocate to Guam from southern Japan in a move that will treble the US military presence on the island."

Al Qaeda Doesn't Exist - Trailer - Alt - (YouTube - 3 min 39 sec - November 22, 2008)
Video - From the History File - November 22, 2008 -- A quote...."Al Qaeda Doesn't Exist is a new documentary from The Corbett Report that interrogates the mythology of Al Qaeda as a shadowy terrorist organization led by arch-villain Osama Bin Laden. The film will look at the group's founding and funding by American intelligence, the Al Qaeda agents who are harboured and protected by foreign governments, the 9/11 myth and the fake videos that have been released in order to propagate the Al Qaeda myth. The documentary will also look at the reasons behind the creation of this phoney enemy and what the average citizen can do to work against the propaganda of the controlled corporate media. -- Al Qaeda Doesn't Exist (Documentary) - Playlist - Part(1/3) - Part(2/3) - Part(3/3)

42 Arrested at U.S. Capitol Denouncing Obama's Broken Promises on Guantanamo, America's Broken Laws, and Lives Broken By Torture -- Action Update - A quote...."42 Arrested at U.S. Capitol in Day of Action to Denounce Obama's Broken Promises on Guantanamo, America's Broken Laws, and the Breaking of Lives by Torture | Press Release | January 21, 2010"
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CITGO Starts Shipment of 120 tons of Humanitarian Aid to Haití
A quote...."MIAMI, Jan. 22, 2010 --- CITGO Petroleum Corporation, and its charitable organization, the Simón Bolívar Foundation, have started the shipment to Port-Au-Prince of 120 tons of humanitarian aid, in coordination with the Embassies of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Republic of Haiti in the United States.  This effort complements the contributions of the Venezuelan people through their government, led by President Hugo Chávez, with the goal of alleviating the suffering of the thousands of people left homeless following the earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation on Jan. 12."

Latin American leaders say US occupying Haiti
A quote...."Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua say the US is using the international relief operation in Haiti as a cover-up for a military takeover. -- Bolivian President Evo Morales said that he will request an emergency UN meeting to reject what he calls the US military occupation of Haiti. -- "It's not right that the United States should use this natural disaster to invade and militarily occupy Haiti," Morales told a press conference on Wednesday. " -- From PressTV

News of the Day – 1/21/2010 -- An AmericanEveryman round-up on the Haitian situation - weblist
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

GAZA VISIT-OUR GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
A quote...."You see, I believe very deeply that all of us who visit Gaza bear a grave responsibility to tell their story when we return. One thing that will strike you each time you visit is that they desperately want and need their story to be told. They need to be listened to, and they depend on us to be their voice to the world. I thought to myself, how can I do them justice? The sheer scale of the devastation combined with how their lives have been affected, the hopelessness, the fear of being forgotten is palpable every where you go and in every conversation you have with them. How on earth can I convey all of this in a manner befitting these proud wonderful people? Where do I start?"

"Palestinian journalists can't work freely or safely"
A quote...."In October 2009 Palestinian photojournalist Nayef Hashlamoun traveled to Jordan to collect a lifetime achievement award from the Arab Youth Media Forum, a Dubai-based press project. The award recognized Hashlamoun for his "professionalism and skill and for his service in the media, and courage to work despite being wounded several times by Israeli soldiers and settlers," according to Forum president Haitham Yousif." -- also posted at AlethoNews

ROTHCHILD: Israeli military rule and incarceration procedures
A quote...."Ala Joradat, the program manager of Adameer, a Palestinian human rights organization that focuses primarily on prisoners, legal aid, and monitoring, meets with our delegation and tries to unravel the complex civil and human rights issues that face Palestinians, particularly those who choose to protest the conditions of the Israeli occupation."

Gaza's thin red line one year later
A quote...."The last Israeli attacks were the hardest, the most dangerous. It wasn't a war, it was a massacre. They shot anyone walking, anyone outside of their home, in their home ... it didn't matter. And it didn't matter if the victims were children or adults; there was no difference." -- also posted at AlethoNews
A Day Of Destruction in Khirbet Tana
A quote...."The Israeli army rolled into Khirbet Tana, a village east of Nablus with a population of about 300, in the morning hours on January 10, 2010. They then destroyed about thirty structures, including a school, homes, and shelter for farm animals. This destruction stems from a court ruling issued in February 2009 that cannot be appealed, stating that all structures in Khirbet Tana must be demolished, and the farmers removed from their land. The Palestine Monitor takes a look at the situation that Khirbet Tana faces, and how the villagers are trying to rebuild their lives."

Lessons of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
Action Alert - Boycott, Divest and Sanction - Bacause if we don't, more innocents will die. -- A quote...."Established in 1989, the MA'AN Development Center is "an independent Palestinian development and training institution....work(ing) towards sustainable human development in Palestine" through its various programs. On October 31, it released a publication on the Palestinian BDS campaign titled, "Boycott, Divestment, & Sanctions: Lessons learned in effective solidarity." -- For more on how to Boycott, Divest and Sanction the state of Israel see the upper-left-corner of the "Front Page" of this website. - mpg

Common Activist Errors and Some Proposals to Rectify Them
Special Note - Tactical Analysis - A quote...."Activism and activists for Palestine have been getting some media attention recently. This is absolutely great news. It is an opportunity that we need to take advantage of, especially since Palestinians themselves are denied space in almost all mainstream mass media. Reflecting on this fact, we at PTT have decided to express some of our observations, thoughts and suggestions in order to enhance the work of all activists, ourselves included. This is a summary of some of the things that we believe are some common activist errors and our proposals for avoiding that errors lead to damage. In the coming weeks we will elaborate on each of these points in essays. We hope that our observations and proposals can be of use for ourselves and for those who commit their time and energy to the Palestinian cause." -- also posted at Uruknet
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More on the US-NRE's Honduran Coup....

From Gun Boat Diplomacy to Smart Power in Honduras - The Preventive Coup
A quote...."What provoked a dozen families last June to conspire to overthrow Honduran  President Manuel (Mel) Zelaya? He did not apparently harbor a secret  revolutionary agenda, nor try to impose non-legal changes to bridge the  immense gap between the handful of super rich and millions of poor. The  oligarchy bogusly accused Zelaya of seeking constitutional changes so he  could run again." -- also posted at Uruknet
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How Wall St Destroyed Private Medicine - posted at ICH
More on Obama's no-care get-sick plan. - A quote...."January 22, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- At my annual check-up, my doctor handed me a sheet explaining the reasons for office fee increases for Medicare Patients. It is worth reporting at length. -- Medicare fixes the prices for Medicare patients’ health care. All office charges for Medicare, including office visit charges, have been set by the Federal government since 1984. In real terms (adjusted for inflation), these fixed prices are less today than they were three decades ago." -- also posted at DProgram
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Bernanke's Doom Loop
Must Read  - A quote...."Here is the problem. "This is a repeated game. State support stokes future risk-taking incentives, as owners of banks adapt their strategies to maximize expected profits. So it was in the run-up to the present crisis" (p. 8). There are five areas where this is accomplished:"
  1. Higher leverage (lower capital ratios)
  2. Higher trading assets (mark-to-market)
  3. Business line diversification (similar portfolios)
  4. High-default assets (e.g., subprime loans)
  5. Out-of-the-money options
"(e.g., credit default swaps) Because bankers know the government will bail them out, they increase their risks. When times are good, they get rich. When the market moves against them, they get bailed out. This is what economists call an asymmetric relationship."

US employment situation worsens
A quote...."The Labor Department announced Thursday that first-time requests for unemployment insurance increased by 36,000, instead of falling by 4,000 as expected. The number of new claims hit 482,000. The four-week moving average of unemployment claims also rose by 7,000 to 448,250."

Unfunded Benefits Dig States’ $3 Trillion Hole
A quote...."Everyone seems to know the current path of federal fiscal policy is a deathtrap over the long term. What’s peculiar is the relative inattention to the balance sheets of state and local governments." -- From Bloomberg

Crash Stew: Signs Point to Global Stock Market Meltdown
Market Tech Note - This article is notable for re-caping the possible dollar-carry trade relationship.  In other words the speculation by many market analysts that if credit conditions should tighten a lot more (after all, they've been tightening for quite some time already) speculators could be forced to unwind their positions overseas and cover the borrowed dollars they used for those positions, causing markets to drop and the dollar to rise.. - mpg --  A quote...."There’s a lot of buzz hitting the contrarian financial news circles around the web regarding recent market weakness and the possibility for the end of the rally which began in March of 2009." -- See caution below....

Market Support: A Break Here Opens A Fall To 1,007 On The S&P
Market Tech Note - Chart - Related Article - (watch monday's action for a possible confirmation of a market break) - A quote...."As the attached chart indicates, the primary support trendline is here. The robots that have been pushing the market higher on diminishing volume need to reverse the massive volume surge that has wiped out over 3 week of profits in 2 days (yes, that's why we show those VWAPs over and over). Even more troubling is that the support line and the 100 DMA intersect, and we are right on top of it. Should we drop below current levels on higher volume, the next major resistance is over 80 points below." -- See caution below....

Website Editors Caution:  Regarding the two articles shown above -- strong caution should be exercised!  It must be noted that the stock and bond markets in the US-NRE are now highly manipulated in addition to being massively dwarfed by the vast amounts of various derivatives out there which some people estimate to be well over one quadrillion dollars in notational value. With such control and leverage just a few financial  institutions could possibly set the market's direction and pace for years to come no matter what the "fundamental" or "technical" measures may indicate. – mpg

Thursday January 21st 2010


Money Psychosis
01-21-10
mpg

The United States of Corporate America: From Democracy to Plutocracy
A quote....""The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." -- *Plato*, ancient Greek philosopher

“The 20th century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: The growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy.” -- *Alex Carey*, Australian social scientist

“The most effective way to restrict democracy is to transfer decision-making from the public arena to unaccountable institutions: kings and princes, priestly castes, military juntas, party dictatorships, or modern corporations.” -- *Noam Chomsky*, M.I.T. Emeritus Professor of Linguistics

Think about it this way folks, ninety percent of the people in this nation spend almost one hundred percent of their time worrying about money.  How to get it, work for it, scheme for it, beg for it, steal it, borrow it (boy that's been a big one for the last thirty years) and of course, in the end, how to spend it.

Let's be honest about the matter folks, just about everyone in this country treats those little bits of green paper as their gods, they will debase themselves for it, sell themselves for it, grovel and pray to it in their very own churches, kill millions of foreigners and even their next door neighbors for it.  Almost all of which they're perfectly happy to talk about, complain about, or even boast about.

Yet ask them how its created, who owns most of it, which groups get it, how its distributed, who controls it, what it does to society, how it moves through society and most importantly, how their votes and who they vote for, can effect how its distributed, and they'll go totally, absolutely, berserk. 

They'll start fulminating about things that have absolutely nothing to do with the creation of wealth or "money" (a totally seperate issue) in this country or how it's distributed, their eyes start rolling to the back of their heads, their faces will turn beet red, some will even look like their having an epileptic siezure, they'll start drooling, waving their arms wildly about in the air while screaming about communists, socialists and terrorists (boy, that's also been another big one for the last thirty years) and how "we have to get them" - "all of them" and other completely ridiculous issues that have nothing to do with how this nation's economy actually works.

Folks, that's not just sick or even schizophrenic....that's psychotic.  Think about that next time you're walking down a street somewhere in this country, at least half of this nation’s population is stark raving mad. – mpg
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Terrorism Defined: Bill Clinton Lights Our Way to Truth
Special Note - Satire - Related Article - A quote...."For years, the all-consuming international struggle against the scourge of terrorism has been hampered at times by the fact that no one has been able to provide us with a rock-solid, comprehensive definition of the term. What, exactly, is "terrorism?" Great minds have grappled with this question in learned journals, academic symposia, think-tank fora, government entmoots, and across the commanding heights of the media. The matter is of some moment, as any person or organization to whom this ill-defined label is applied automatically becomes a target for "the path of action," to borrow the stirring phraseology of former U.S. president George W. Bush."

Supreme Court Ruling Guts Campaign Finance Law, "Threatens to Undermine the Integrity of Elected Institutions Around the Nation" -- More ol'dat "change we can believe in." a.k.a., the more things "change", the more they remain the same, or in this case, get a whole hell of a lot worse. - mpg -- A quote...."The long-awaited Supreme Court decision striking down most campaign finance laws - Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission - happened today."

Exclusive: Kucinich shreds Democrats for betraying the promise of change - Article also posted at ICH
A quote...."WASHINGTON -- Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) on Wednesday said the Massachusetts election was a "wake up call" for Democrats and that his party had better change course or it could suffer devastating losses come November."

Living a Black Fantasy: The Obama Delirium Effect
A quote...."There is a world of perception and a world of reality. There is also another realm, a domain of willed fiction that is impervious to reality and treats facts like enemies. It is the Delusion Zone and, judging by the results of a recent Pew Research Center survey, large majorities of African Americans have been trapped there for at least the year since Barack Obama took up residence in the White House."

Nation-Building Should Begin At Home - posted at ICH
A quote...."January 21st, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- I have been writing for the last two years or so that the strategy of the Federal Reserve has been to engineer a “soft landing” from the horrendous financial bubbles that were created during the disastrous presidency of George W. Bush. Since President Obama came to power in January 2009, his administration has been partners with the Federal Reserve in trying to do this."

Too Terrible To Be True?Why aren't we talking about the new accusations of murder at Gitmo?
Special Note - A quote...."Some torture stories are just too horrible to contemplate, while others are too complicated to understand. But Scott Horton's devastating new exposé of the possible murders of three prisoners at Guantanamo in 2006 is neither: It's simply too terrible to allow to be true. Which is why it has been mostly ignored this week in the mainstream American media and paid little attention by the usual crew of torture apologists on the right. The fact that three Guantanamo prisoners—none of whom had any links to terrorism and two of whom had already been cleared for release—may have been killed there and the deaths covered up, should be front-page news. That brand-new evidence of this possible atrocity from military guards was given only the most cursory investigation by the Obama administration should warrant some kind of blowback. But changing what we allow ourselves to believe about torture would change the way we have reconciled ourselves to torture. Nobody in this country is prepared to do that. So we have opted to ignore it." - also posted at Uruknet

How I fought to survive Guantánamo
Special Note - A quote...."For nearly six years, British resident Omar Deghayes was imprisoned in Guantánamo and subjected to such brutal torture that he lost the sight in one eye. But far from being broken, he fought back to retain his dignity and his sanity." -- also posted at Uruknet

Andy Worthington Discusses Murders at Guantánamo and Bagram’s “Ghost Prisoners” on Antiwar Radio
Special Note - A quote...."Over the last few years, Scott Horton of Antiwar Radio and I have had some hard-hitting interviews, covering many of the most unpalatable aspects of the Bush administration’s “War on Terror,” and, in the last year, the inadequacy of Barack Obama’s response to this toxic and corrosive legacy. On Tuesday evening, however, we hit a new pitch of outrage (the show is available here), when we discussed two aspects of this legacy that have just surfaced: the revelation, in a compelling article for Harper’s Magazine by Scott Horton (the law professor), that the three men who died at Guantánamo in June 2006 were killed, and that the suicide story was manufactured as a cover-up (which I also wrote about here); and my preliminary analysis of the first ever publicly available list of prisoners held in the US prison at Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, in which I investigated the stories of the “ghost prisoners” — previously held in a number of secret prisons run by the CIA — who have been held in Bagram for up to six years, and asked what happened to others who are not included in the list. " -- For more on this issue see....9/11-Iraq-Torture Fables

Pakistan Rejects U.S. Call To Go After Militants - link posted at ICH
OH-OH, Guess the US-NRE's parasitic class is going to have to arrange some more false flag attacks. - mpg -- A quote...."ISLAMABAD — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday he was deeply impressed with Pakistan's military offensive against militants within its borders and said he will leave it to that country's leadership to decide whether or when to expand the fight."

"Gates confirms Blackwater presence in Pakistan 22 Jan 2010 US Defense Secretary Robert Gates confirms that American security firms terror groups Xe Services LLC, formerly known as Blackwater, and DynCorp have been operating in Pakistan. The two firms are operating in private capacities, Gates said on Thursday, adding that the companies were abiding by Pakistani laws. However, he said that if the Pakistani parliament votes for a ban on the presence of the firms, the US government would comply with it." -- Paragraph quoted from CLG

MPs urge Gates expulsion from Pakistan
A quote...."Pakistani opposition lawmakers have urged the Islamabad government to expel visiting US Defense Secretary Robert Gates from the country. -- Prominent opposition lawmaker Khurshid Ahmed told Press TV that Gates is maneuvering to force Pakistan to allow American security contractors into the country."

India not provided credible evidence on Mumbai attacks
A quote...."Interior minister A Rehman Malik has said India has not provided solid evidence in connection with Mumbai attacks despite repeated demands by Pakistan and even after lapse of one year." -- For more on this issue see....Just Give it a Rest OK!! - 11-27-09 - mpg

US recognizes Taliban as Afghan political force
A quote...."The US Secretary of Defense has recognized the Taliban as part of what he describes as the political fabric of Afghanistan. -- Robert Gates said the Taliban should lay down their weapons to play a legitimate role in Afghan politics."

Afghans protest deaths of 4 in NATO-government raid
A quote...."GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Scores of Afghans protested on Thursday over the deaths of four men in a night-time raid by Afghan and NATO-led forces. Locals said the victims were civilians, but the force said the dead were Taliban insurgents."

Yemen will not allow foreign troops on its soil: official source
A quote...." Sana'a, Yemen -- Yemen will not allow any foreign troops on its territory to fight al-Qaeda, a government official source said in remarks published on Thursday. -- 'Yemen has never and will never accept any foreign troops on its territories,' the source said, quoted by the Defence Ministry's weekly newspaper, the 26 September."

[Turkey's] Ambassador: Kurd terrorists have U.S. arms - Gee, no kidding! - mpg
A quote...."WASHINGTON, July 11 (UPI) -- Kurdish terrorists in northern Iraq are using U.S.-made arms and explosives to attack Turkish forces and citizens, the Turkish ambassador said Wednesday. -- "From terrorists captured within Turkey we know that certain weapons are of foreign origins. The explosive are sophisticated enough for us to suggest forces in the north are getting them from certain foreign groups," Ambassador Nabi Sensoy told defense reporters in Washington. "We know there have been a number of weapons of American origins." -- For more on this issue see....US Support of Terror

US Missiles Spark Buildup Along Russo-Polish Border
A quote....."In a move which is already looking to revitalize the tensions between Russia and NATO, Poland’s Defense Minister has announced that the United States will deploy their promised missile defense in Morag, just 35 miles from the Russian border."
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On The Haitian Situation.....

Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations plane with relief aid for Haiti stranded in Caracas - link posted at ICH
Haaa, Haaa Haaaa!  And "Bombs Away O-Bomb-a" won the Nobel "Peace Prize".  It's just to funny for words. - mpg -- A quote...."CARACAS, January 21 (Itar-Tass) - A Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations plane with a relief cargo onboard has been stranded in Venezuela for more than 24 hours unable to leave for the quake-stricken Haiti. -- Russia’s Charges d’Affaires in Venezuela Vladimir Tokmakov told Itar-Tass that the IL-76 plane was being grounded in Caracas because the U.S. air traffic controllers, who are in control of the Port –au-Prince airport, were constantly delaying permission to fly into the Haitian capital."

[US-NRE] Soldiers in Haiti told to stop handing out food
A quote...."PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Food handouts were shut off Tuesday to thousands of people at a tent city here when the main U.S. aid agency said the Army should not be distributing the packages."

Ex-minister warns of US 'takeover' of Haiti
A quote...."Haiti's former secretary of state for national defence and human rights activists has warned against the militarisation of quake relief efforts as Washington confirmed that it had 12,000 US troops deployed in or around Haiti." -- also posted at DProgram

Venezuela Steps Up Aid Effort to Haiti, Questions U.S. Military Deployment
A quote...."Caracas, January 20th, 2009 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuela has stepped up its aid effort to Haiti as a second earthquake rocked the Caribbean country again today. This follows a 7.3 magnitude earthquake which destroyed the Haitian capital, port-au-Prince last week leaving at least 75,000 people confirmed dead, 250,000 injured and millions homeless." -- also posted at BayView

Haitians dying by the thousands as US escalates military intervention
A quote...."Thousands of Haitians are dying every day for lack of medical care and supplies, according to a leading humanitarian aid group. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has announced that it is expanding the US military presence in the country, maintaining Washington’s priority of troops over humanitarian aid."
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Spain against Inclusion of Cuba in Terrorism List
A quote...."Madrid, January 21 (Prensa Latina) The State Coordinator of Solidarity with Cuba of Madrid said on Thursday that the US government lacks moral authority to include Cuba in its List of State Sponsors of International Terrorism."

Amnesty International accuse US for sending arms to Somalia
A quote...."Nairobi, January 22, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - Amnesty international accused United States for sending uncontrolled arms to war-torn country Somalia which is said could be used to commit "gross and widespread abuses." -- Amnesty's statement shown below....

Controls on military assistance to Somalia must be tightened
Related Item - A quote...."Amnesty International has called for arms transfers to the Somali government to be suspended until there are adequate safeguards to prevent weapons from being used to commit war crimes and human rights abuses."
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Truth and Consequences: 'A Conspiracy of Rich Men'
Special Note - A quote...."Every criminal thinks he will get away with it. Every criminal hides the truth. Every criminal has a cover story. 911 is Bush's 'cover story'. The FBI has stated that there is no hard evidence to connect Bin Laden with 911. The 'official' conspiracy theory of 911 is an absurd and ridiculous fabrication believed only by idiots, a bullshit cover story designed to shock, awe and confuse."

Mahathir: 9/11 was staged
Related Article - A quote...."KUALA LUMPUR: There is strong evidence that the Sept 11 attacks on the United States that killed nearly 3,000 could have been 'staged' as an excuse to mount attacks on the Muslim world, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad." -- For more on the two articles shown above see....Reficultnias's 9/11 Central

RAND/Army Report Calls For Militarized Police Force For U.S.
Police State Update - A quote...."A recent study commissioned by the U.S. Army and written by the RAND Corporation calls for the creation of a "hybrid" military/law enforcement unit which could be put to use in the United States to take charge of riot control and SWAT duties, according to the authors. -- The study (PDF) was released last year but has garnered fresh attention following comments made by one of its authors, Terry Kelly, in an interview with online news website World Net Daily."

FBI Says It Violated Fourth Amendment
Police State Update - A quote...."The FBI has used the terrorism as an excuse to subpoena some 2,000 telephone records from phone carriers without a warrant or even a National Security Letter, according to the Washington Post for January 18. “The FBI illegally collected more than 2,000 U.S. telephone call records between 2002 and 2006 by invoking terrorism emergencies that did not exist or simply persuading phone companies to provide records.” the Post found."

Bipartisanly Yours: Coakley Won the Hand Counts. - posted at BlackBoxVoting
A quote...."This article is about our right to know, not about Martha Coakley or Scott Brown. And lest you think something here favors a Democrat, just you wait, I'm still working on anomalies in the NY-23 election that are just plain hard to 'splain. As Richard Hayes Phillips says when people tell him to forget it, "I'm a historian, I've got all the time in the world." NY-23 still has history to be written. My public records are starting to arrive. But that's another story. -- Back to Massachusetts, I think you have a right to know that Coakley won the hand counts there. -- That's right. -- According to preliminary media results by municipality, Democrat Martha Coakley won Massachusetts overall in its hand counted locations,* with 51.12% of the vote (32,247 hand counted votes) to Brown's 30,136, which garnered him 47.77% of hand counted votes. Margin: 3.35% lead for Coakley. -- Massachusetts has 71 hand count locations, 91 ES&S locations, and 187 Diebold locations, with two I call the mystery municipalities (Northbridge and Milton) apparently using optical scanners, not sure what kind." -- also posted at AftrDwngSt

Israel’s Nuclear Weapons Hero: Vanunu’s re-arrest
A quote...."Mordechai Vanunu — my friend, my hero, my brother — has again been arrested in Israel on “suspicion” of the “crime” of “meeting with foreigners.” -- I myself have been complicit in this offense, traveling twice to Israel for the express purpose of meeting with him, openly, and expressing support for the actions for which he was imprisoned for over 18 years."
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Shooting The Messenger
Special Note - A quote...."With a new year comes new tactics from Israel’s security forces. 2009 began with a determined effort to destroy their enemies in Gaza, claiming the lives of 500 children in the process. It must have been an irritation to the military that they could not so easily wipe out the journalists, activists and relief workers who made their atrocities public. As a new year dawns, it is these voices of conscience who are becoming an endangered species."

Beware of the BBC
Press Bias Alert - A quote...."Stuart Littlewood highlights the BBC’s chronic pro-Israel bias, from allowing untruths about Israel’s onslaught on Gaza in 2008-09 to go unchallenged, to its failure to provide accurate context about the Israeli township of Sderot, to its routine willingness to give disproportionate airtime to Israeli spokesmen and lobbyists.

”[The BBC] gives a disproportionate amount of air-time to pro-Israel figures such as the Israeli ambassador, the regime’s spokesman Mark Regev, the chief rabbi and assorted politicians who wave the flag for Israel...  “The BBC also adopts Israel's language and definitions. Palestinians not Israelis are the militants. Hamas, not the murdering occupiers, are the terrorists. A single captured Israeli soldier is deemed more newsworthy than the 10,000 abducted Palestinians (some of them women and children) rotting in Israeli jails.”

"Its mission statement says: “Trust is the foundation of the BBC: we are independent, impartial and honest.” -- However, people are complaining bitterly to the BBC about its pro-Israel stance when reporting on the situation in the Holy Land." -- also posted at AlethoNews

"Jerusalem is in danger"
A quote...."Once again, Israel resorts to show trials. Sheikh Raed Salah, a prominent political and religious leader of the Palestinian minority, was sentenced on 13 January by an Israeli court to nine months of imprisonment. This is his second conviction in recent years. This time the allegation was that he assaulted a policeman and obstructed police work during a demonstration at al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem."

Gaza’s Crippled Healthcare System
A quote...."A new report reveals the effects of the ongoing Israeli and Egyptian blockade on the health of Gazans. --
The report by more than 80 aid groups, including WHO (World Health Organisation) and UN agencies, was released yesterday during a press conference held in front of Al Shifa Hospital’s dialyses unit in Gaza."

[Israeli] Army Shoots at Palestinian Farmers and ISM Volunteers Gaza, Near Israel Boarder
A quote...."Three ISM volunteers and five farmers from Abu Tayima, Gaza were fired at by the Israeli army as they attempted to sow wheat on their land near the Israeli border. -- A long awaited rainfall in Gaza several days ago created good conditions for wheat sowing on this dangerous plot of land where in the past farmers were shot at by the Israeli soldiers as they patrol the border."

Israel Harasses Foreign Aid Workers
A quote...."CAIRO –- Israel is waging its newest war on foreign aid workers in the Palestinian territories, depriving them from work permits legalizing their stay, amid warning that Israel is particularly targeting those in Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) as part of its plot to Judaize the holy city." -- also posted at Uruknet

Israel grilled by international experts for child abuse
Action Update - A quote...."GENEVA, Jan 21 (Saba) -- Israel was grilled on Thursday during a meeting of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) over its report on the implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported on Thursday."

Japan funds classrooms near Hebron, water system in Bethlehem
Action Update - A quote...."Bethlehem - Ma'an - Aid projects supported by the government of Japan saw the completion of classrooms for 150 students in Beit Fajjar and the rehabilitation of the Zatara water network with funds from the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP)."

Lebanon activists launch campaign targeting Egypt's "wall of shame"
Action Alert - A quote...."The Campaign to Stop the Wall of Shame, a newly-formed activist movement based in Beirut, Lebanon, held a press conference this morning to publicize the Arab Contractors construction company's role in the building of an underground steel wall along the Egypt-Gaza border."

Rights group demands indictments for settlers who assaulted Palestinians
Action Alert - A quote...."The human rights group Yesh Din is demanding that the Shai police district indict four settlers who were filmed attacking Bedouin in the West Bank in the summer of 2008. The police closed the cases against the suspects, despite a police camera having documented them in action."
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China's economy now the world's second [largest]
Special Note - A quote...."Latest official statistics show China's gross domestic product has grown by 8.7% in 2009, overtaking Japan as the world's second largest economy. -- According to China's GDP figures announced Thursday by Ma Jiantang, head of the National Bureau of Statistics, the country's GDP in the fourth quarter of 2009 has expanded by 10.7 percent when compared year-on-year, exceeding most predictions." -- For more on this issue see....Empire Typology and Economic Stellar Evolution - 01-20-10 - mpg

The Second Wave of Mortgage Defaults
Financial Tsunami Warning - Chart -- For more on this issue see also....Monthly Mortgage Rate Resets (in Billions of dollars) - Alt -- War Alert - Chart - Special Note - Looks like more trouble ahead, perfectly timed for the ten year/war cycle. It's amazing how they keep fleecing the sheeple over and over again.  For more on why this is a "war alert" see....Standard Disclaimer and the Ten Year Cycle -- mpg - posted 01-14-10

Gerald Celente on Goldman Sachs Mob and Wall Street Gangs - Alt - (RT-YouTube - 5 min 10 sec - Jan 21, 2010)
RT-Video - A quote...."(RussiaToday) – Despite US President Barack Obama’s speech today, little is likely to change since there are no real consequences for banks that have behaved badly."

The Debtors Revolts against the Big Banks The Keiser Report with Max Keiser - Alt - (RT/YuTb 26m31s 01/21/10)
RT-Video - A quote...."Every week Max Keiser looks at all the scandal behind the financial news headlines. On todays show Max Keiser and co-host Stacy Herbert look into the scandals of the inexplicable Timothy Geithner, the crisis levy planned by Obama, and luxury cruise liners in Haiti. Keiser also talks to Ann Minch, who started a Debtors’ Revolt in the US by refusing to pay her credit card bill unless her bank lowered their rate."

Doug Casey on Unemployment
Interview - Special Note - A quote...."Interviewed by Louis James, Editor, International Speculator  ---  Louis: Doug, I saw a Wall Street Journal headline a few days ago that boldly proclaimed, "Car Makers May Hire Soon." Be still, my trembling heart! It’s hard to believe the WSJ would stoop to such a meaningless headline, but I guess they are just trying to give their desperate customers what they want: some hope, whether valid or not. What do you make of the unemployment situation?  --  Doug: Well, they say that during the depression of the 1930s, unemployment went as high as 25%. That’s interesting, in that at the time, half the people in the country were still farmers. They knew how to make the things they used in daily life with their own hands, and how to grow their own food. There was less specialization in the economy, and people were more self-sufficient. That made them better able to cope with an economic depression. - So it seems to me that that depression wasn’t anywhere near as bad as this one is going to be."

Big Government, Big Business, Big Rip-Off
Book Review - A quote...."The Right has gone mad, it’s true. The conservative head, already suffering traumatic brain injury after insisting that pre-emptive war, waterboarding, and debt are enduring Western values, finally went blank when Barack Obama ascended the federal throne. Tea-party activists say that a Kenyan Nazi is readying a death panel for Sarah Palin. Fascism is liberal nowadays; communism, too. It’s all connected. Glenn Beck is chalking lines between Keith Olberman, Levi Johnston, and Leon Trotsky. How can the Right fight an enemy that will not release its birth certificate?  ---  Fortunately, Timothy P. Carney has a cure for such dementia: muckraking journalism, of the sort he ably exhibits in "Obamanomics: How Barack Obama Is Bankrupting You and Enriching His Wall Street Friends, Corporate Lobbyists, and Union Bosses" [GoglBkSrch].*  Don’t let the Fox-appearance-fetching title throw you: George W. Bush comes in for nearly as much abuse as Obama. A reporter for the Washington Examiner and a protégé of the late Robert Novak, Carney has carved out a career of picking apart Washington’s latest regulations on industry and exposing the lobbyists and corporations getting rich in the name of public interest." - *links added

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012110-012710 - links page
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