Wednesday January 5th 2011

Media as a Branch of Government
Must Read - A quote...."The complete phoniness of the toppling of Saddam’s statue was exposed by this web site and others when it occurred, but now Peter Maass, writing in the New Yorker, is calling the stage-managed nature of that operation into question. While not contesting that the narrative symbolized by the imagery was misleading, Maass avers it wasn’t the US government, but the Western media that – without much prompting – obligingly created and broadcast a carefully-cropped image of a nearly empty square to give the impression that US soldiers were being greeted by the Iraqis as “liberators.” As Maass puts it, the real significance of the statue toppling was that the Americans had taken central Baghdad, and yet:" - also posted at Uruknet - Topix ||  US Fake Intel / Propaganda - Toppling Saddam's Statue  ||

Saddam toppling lie being def by "Peter Ma'ass" re-debunked
Video - (YuTb - 9min 43sec - January 05, 2011) - Source:  Rys2sense -- A quote...."Just re-debunking this pentagon propaganda as some shill decided to go defending the spin back into damage control as if you had forgotten about it. http://www.rys2sense.com/anti-neocons..." - Topix ||  US Fake Intel / Propaganda - Toppling Saddam's Statue  ||

Extreme Prejudice / Clear Evidence Of 9/11 Cover Up
A quote...."Besides launching an illegal war and ongoing occupation of Iraq, the Bush/Cheney administration did everything in its power to cover up their illegal and treasonous tracks ~ which began with the 9/11 cover up itself. The alternative press has been aware of this for years but has lacked the confirming voice of a credible CIA insider such as Susan Lindauer. --  Lindauer is living evidence of the Bush/Cheney blatant conspiracy to silence the truth ~ beginning with 9/11 itself. Wikileaks has already shown that our government and military form a ‘vast lying machine’ that perpetrates mass murder in our name throughout the world ~ which the mainstream media still ignores. Fred Branfman reports on this revelation in detail in ICH ."
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More on the Wikileaks Cointelpro Fiasco....

Webster Tarpely and Alex Jones (video):  Mumbai and False Flag Terrorism, What Wikileaks Was Hiding
Contains Video - From the History File - Alt - (AJYuTb - 6min 2sec - December 25, 2008) - Source:  biggun24 -- A quote...."Webster Tarpley exhibits a broad understanding and great personal courage in his analysis of the upcoming nuclear war, yes, it can come to that, between India and Pakistan.  Though you don’t hear it screamed out, Tarpley takes the trail to Tel Aviv.  In this 6 minute segment, Alex Jones and Webster Tarpley touch on CIA complicity in terrorist recruiting, India’s terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan, things carefully censored by Julian Assange from Wikileaks, and how Pakistan is under attack." - Topix ||  Just Give it a Rest OK!! - 11-27-09 - mpg  ||
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Economic Consequences Of The “New World Order”
A quote...."A common misconception among less aware segments of the American populace is that the phrase “New World Order” was concocted by attention seeking “conspiracy theorists” in dank basement apartments and sinister mountain shacks across the country. In reality, anti-globalists and Constitutionalists had nothing to do with the term’s creation (and most of us have decent digs, too). The truth is that mumblings of a “New World Order” have been floating around various elitist circles for decades, and every once in a while, those mumblings are publicized in the mainstream media. Globalists created the warped ideal; we just point out that it exists. Lately, we haven’t had to try very hard…"

Florida Professor Arrested for Having a "Suspicious" Bagel on a Plane
A quote...."A Florida professor was arrested and removed from a plane Monday after his fellow passengers alerted crew members they thought he had a suspicious package in the overhead compartment. -- That "suspicious package" turned out to be keys, a bagel with cream cheese and a hat."

Theater Audience Boos Tea Party Billionaire David Koch
A quote...."David Koch masks his role as one of the top financiers of the Tea Party movement and pro-polluter front groups by loudly tacking his name to more laudable charities, like the New York city ballet. Koch, who has professed his devotion to “The Nutcracker” ballet performance by Alexei Ratmansky, made a matching grant of $2.5 million so that it could go on this season. At a special opening of the performance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music shortly before Christmas, Koch made an appearance to talk about his donation. The Financial Times’ John Gapper was in the audience and witnessed a crowd of “harried Brooklyn moms and salivating balletomanes” erupting in boos at the sight of the Tea Party billionaire:"
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US sets up center for 'secret war'
A quote...."The US administration is ramping up a "secret war on terror groups" in hot spots around the globe by establishing a new military targeting center, officials say."

US Pushes Karzai to Double Private Security Contractors
A quote...."It has been less than five months since Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced that the Afghan government was entirely banning all 40,000 private security forces in the country, with an eye toward recruiting the newly unemployed workers into the military. - Karzai’s ban ended in failure, of course, backing off the total ban in October as a result of US condemnations and saying NATO’s employees (which is to say most of the contractors) were exempt."

Mondo Inferno: The Endless Echoes of America's WMD Atrocity
Special Note - A quote...."For years, I have been writing about the American use of chemical weapons in the savage assault on the Iraqi city of Fallujah in late 2004. The results of this deployment of WMD began emerging a few months later. The clear evidence of chemical weapons damage among the civilians of the city -- uncovered by Iraqi doctors working for the American-backed government -- was scorned and dismissed at that time, including by many stalwart anti-war voices, apparently frightened that such "extremist" charges would somehow detract from their own "reasonable" opposition -- perhaps even cost them their perches in the mainstream media." - also posted at Uruknet

More than 2,000 Iraqi army officers killed in the past few months
A quote...."Attacks, mainly by silencer guns and explosive devices targeting Iraqi army officers, have surged recently and more than 2,000 officers are reported to have been killed in the past few months."

NATO Troops Kill Three Civilians in Afghan Night Raid
A quote...."Three civilians were killed in an overnight raid in the Nawar District of the Ghazni Province when NATO soldiers targeted them. Angry tribesmen from the region arrived in the provincial capital with the bodies, protesting and demanding US apologies for the killings."

Anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada Sadr returns to Iraq
A quote...."Sadr's first visit since leaving for Iran in 2007 is seen as a sign of waning American influence. An assistant says the militant religious leader, whose Shiite fighters battled U.S. troops and were involved in sectarian killings, is in Iraq to stay."

US, Israel 'biggest threats to Turkey'
A quote...."Nearly most people in Turkey see the United States and Israel as the biggest threats to their country, a recent opinion poll has revealed."

Why the Wesr fears Putin. Part II
A quote...."Putin recently advised the West concerning democracy: "Rather than talking about democracy in Russia let the West be specific about the issues that matter. If they are worried about nuclear programs in Iran, let's talk about Iran together. If they want us to resolve Kosovo, let's talk Kosovo. We will gladly participate in any debate with our partners."

Putin Prepares For War
A quote...."January 05, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- Vladimir Putin is the most popular leader in the world today. His personal approval ratings are in the stratosphere, usually well-above 80 percent. He is admired for his quiet, confident manner and for having restored Russia to its former greatness following the chaotic breakup of the Soviet Union. The Russian people love Putin. Parents name their children after him, vodka and caviar producers use his name to boost sales, and his face appears on the tee-shirts of students and young people. It's unthinkable that he would step down after his term as prime minister is over a year from today. The Russian people want him to stay on and run for a third term as president, and that's probably what he'll do."

The Real Crime of Mikhail Khodorkovsky
A quote...."The final decision in the Russian trial against former oil oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky has drawn dramatic statements of protest from the US Obama Administration and governments around the world labeling Russian justice as tyrannical and worse. What is carefully omitted from the Khodovkorsky story however is the true reason Putin arrested and imprisoned the former head of Russia’s largest private oil giant, Yukos. Khodorkovsky’s real crime was not stealing Russia’s assets for a pittance in the bandit era of Yeltsin." - Related article - Justice Has Prevailed. Khodorkovsky's trip to the slammer: "Booyah, Putin"

The U.S. Invasion of Panama: 'Greatest Genocide in Our History'
A quote...."The invasion of Panama is without doubt the greatest genocide in our history. However, no one knows exactly how many Panamanians were killed. This is partly due to those subservient to the late President Endara and his government, which banned the question of whether someone within the family had died during the invasion from the 1990 census."

A note from Joe Bageant
A quote...."As you may or may not know, I have been struck down by an extremely serious form of cancer. Presently I am back in the United States receiving treatment through the U.S. Veterans Administration hospital system. Due to the nature of the massive internal tumor, I am currently unable to even carry on email correspondence or Skype conversations."

How the Dubai debacle showcased Israeli arrogance and Mossad’s incompetence
A quote...."In a feature article for GQ Magazine, Ronen Bergman, senior political and military analyst for the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, describes the rise and fall of Israel’s Mossad under the leadership of Meir Dagan."
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Umm al-Fahm neighborhood organizes general strike in response to home demolitions
A quote...."    After the Israeli government demolished a 3-story building Tuesday in the neighborhood of Umm al-Fahm in East Jerusalem, the residents of the neighborhood declared a general strike in protest of Israel's demolition policy."

Medvedev to visit Palestinian territories, despite canceling Israel leg
A quote...."The Kremlin said President Dmitry Medvedev is going ahead with a visit to the Palestinian territories, even though his trip to Israel had been  canceled."
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Keiser Report: Monsanto and the Seeds of Evil (E109)
Must View MKVideo - Alt - (RTMKYuTb - 25min 55sec - January 04, 2011) - Source:  RussiaToday -- A quote...."This time, Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, about the US State Department's genetically modified retaliation against France, more missing billions in Afghanistan and shopping frenzies in Britain. In the second half of the show, Max talks to author and blogger, James Howard Kunstler, about shopping stampedes and revolutionary times."

Full Catastrophe Banking In 2011
A quote...."By Mary Bottari  05 January 2011 BanksterUSA.org -- With a $4.7 trillion dollar bailout under their belts with no harm done to their billion-dollar bonuses, don't expect Wall Street bankers to be chastened by the 2008 financial crisis. Below we list eight things to watch out for in 2011 that threaten to rock the financial system and undermine any recovery."

Wall Street reinforcements for Obama White House
A quote...."President Obama concluded his Hawaii vacation Tuesday and flew back to Washington, amid press reports that he would soon announce the addition of several prominent figures drawn from the financial industry to his White House staff." - also posted at GlobalRsrch

1.5 million Americans filed for bankruptcy in 2010
A quote...."The number of people in the US filing for bankruptcy rose by 9 percent last year to 1.53 million, as more working families fell victim to job losses, plunging home values and unforgiving creditors."

Oil Continues Steady Climb
A quote...."On December 16, Lindsey Williams told Alex Jones the price of crude oil will soon hit $150-200 per barrel and this would translate into gas prices in the range of $4-5 per gallon. Williams, an ordained Baptist minister who went to Alaska in 1971 as a missionary, was told about the price increase by insiders in the oil industry he had befriended."

At Least 10 States Have Introduced Gold Coins-As-Currency Bills
A quote...."Legislators in at least ten states have introduced bills in the past few years to allow state commerce to be conducted with gold and silver."

Irish Leaders Castigated As Greatest Traitors Of All Time
A quote....."The Irish Government has recently passed the harshest budget in the history of the State with further austerity promised for the next three years and perhaps for decades. Prime Minister Brian Cowen and Finance Minister Brian Lenihan have steered Ireland from the booming prosperity of a Celtic Tiger to a ruined shell of a country where unemployment, poverty, emigration, and despair are proceeding to destroy a once proud, industrious people."

Tuesday January 4th 2011

Milton Friedman’s ‘Capitalism and the Jews’ Revisited
Must Read - A quote...."During the 1960s -80s Friedman was regarded by many academics, politicians and world leaders as the most important post- World War Two economist. Friedman was chief economic advisor to Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Menachem Begin. He also went on record advising the Chilean military dictator Augusto Pinochet. -- It is far from surprising to note that more and more commentators have realised in recent years that it was Friedman’s ideology and advocacy of free enterprise, zero governmental intervention and privatisation that has led to the current financial turmoil. It was Milton Friedman’s philosophy that also contributed to the transformation of the West into a service economy. -- But Friedman wasn’t just an economist: he was also a devout Zionist and a very proud Jew. Friedman was interested in the role of the Jews in world finance and politics. He also attempted to analyse and understand the attitude of Jews towards wealth. In 1972 Friedman spoke to The Mont Pelerin Society about  “Capitalism and the Jews”. In 1978 he repeated the same talk, addressing  Jewish students at the Chicago University’s Hillel institute."

Meet the New Imperial Court, Same As the Old Imperial Court
Must Read - A quote...."The two parties scream at each other on television quite a lot and attract supporters who come from two very different cultures.  But over half of every dollar of income tax in the United States is spent on the military, and that number reliably increases every single year regardless of who is in power. -- The Afghan and Iraq wars were launched with overwhelming support from both parties' officials, and the Iraq War with Democratic control of the Senate.  In 2006 U.S. voters told exit-pollsters that their primary motivation for electing Democrats to control both houses of Congress was Iraq war opposition, and Congress proceeded in 2007 to escalate the war on Iraq.  War opposition also drove the 2008 elections, after which two Democratic houses and a Democratic president in 2009 escalated the war on Afghanistan." - also posted at RevoltOfThePlebs & GlobalRsrch & Uruknet
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Biggest Terrorism Scaremongers Are THEMSELVES Promoting Terrorism
Related Article - A quote....""The biggest scaremongers regarding the threat from terrorism are themselves promoting terrorism. -- Don't believe me? -- Well, Pulitzer-prize winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh says that the Bush administration (and especially Dick Cheney) helped to fund groups which the U.S. claims are terrorists (see confirming articles here and here). -- And as the New York Times, Washington Post and others are reporting, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, former national security adviser Fran Townsend and former Attorney General Michael Mukasey - who all said that the terrorists were going to get us if we didn't jettison the liberties granted under the Bill of Rights - are now supporting terrorists in Iran. -- If you've forgotten how shrill these folks were, here's some background on Giulani (and see this), Ridge, Townsend and Mukasey (and see this and this)." - Topix ||  US Support of Terror  ||

Gladio reprise: More False Flag Operations – Wayne Madsen
Related Article - A quote...."(WMR) - The corporatists and fascists who have steered Europe into bankruptcy are now using their media assets to morph their favorite threat over the last two decades — Islamist terrorism — to a combined menace of Islamist terrorists teamed up with an international network of anarchists. The change of threat was necessary with corporatists and fascist-led governments in Europe besieged by workers and students who are militantly opposed to severe cuts in social spending that were dictated from supranational institutions in order to financially bail out greedy bankers and their lackeys in governments." - also posted at DProgram -Topix ||  Just Give it a Rest OK!! - 11-27-09 - mpg  ||

John P Wheeler III: Former Special Asst to Air Force Sec, Member of Council on Foreign Relations, Consultant to Mitre Corporation Found Dumped in Landfill - Special Note - A quote...."What was John P Wheeler III doing at the Mitre Corporation? And why was he found dead New Year’s Eve at the Cherry Island Landfill? -- Newark police have identified the body discovered on New Year’s Eve at the Cherry Island Landfill as 66-year-old John P. Wheeler of New Castle. Wheeler, who lived part time in Old New Castle, worked as a defense consultant and had a long and decorated military career that involved working in the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations."

Kevin Barrett speaks with Susan Lindauer, ex-CIA asset and imprisoned 9/11 whistleblower
Audio Interview - A quote...."As a U.S. Intelligence Asset, Susan Lindauer covered anti-terrorism at the Iraqi Embassy in New York from 1996 up to the invasion. Independent sources have confirmed that she gave advance warning about the 9/11 attack. She also started talks for the Lockerbie Trial with Libyan diplomats. Shortly after requesting to testify before Congress about successful elements of Pre-War Intelligence, Lindauer became one of the first non-Arab Americans arrested on the Patriot Act as an “Iraqi Agent.” She was accused of warning her second cousin, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Secretary of State Colin Powell that war with Iraq would have catastrophic consequences. Gratis of the Patriot Act, her indictment was loaded with “secret charges” and “secret evidence.” She was subjected to one year in prison on Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas without a trial or hearing, and threatened with indefinite detention and forcible drugging to shut her up. After five years of indictment without a conviction or guilty plea, the Justice Department dismissed all charges five days before President Obama’s inauguration." - ||  Listen in Mp3  || - Source:  NoLiesRadio

The Search for 9/11 Truth Continues
A quote...."Google 911 and you get about 1,560,000,000 results. That’s right – one billion, five hundred and sixty million results. A search for videos turns up 15,100,000 results. The Search for 9/11 Truth Continues."

Everything You Know Is Wrong: Top Ten 9/11 Truth Re-Thinks
Special Note - A quote...."My claims--that war is insane, and the existence of Israel is insane--will, as John Lennon put it, probably get me labeled as insane...at least by those locked in the prison-house of ossified language and conventional thinking. But more and more people are escaping from that prison house, thanks to the botched false-flag op of 9/11/01. Those of us who have sorted out most of the truth from the lies of 9/11 inevitably ask ourselves: What else could they be lying about? How many other pillars of our conventional view of reality could turn out to be wrong?"

Lila Rajiva:  The Micro-Guide to Spotting Propaganda
Must Read - A nifty 'how-to' guide with common-sense tips, strategies and rules of thumb on how to identify inaccurate, false, or mis-leading information. -mpg -- A quote...."Listening to the frenzied accusations of  “disinformation”, “shill”, “stooge”, “cointelpro”, “propagandist” that activists and journalists are wont to hurl at each other, I decided to jot down some of the markers that set off my BS detector. - Obviously,  these are only very rough indicators and due diligence is also needed. But off the top of my head here are some things that will help you figure out whether  a writer is reliable or not."

Weapons of mass deception: time to turn to alternative media
Special Note - A quote...."Paul J. Balles looks at the hazards of relying on the mainstream media, which are increasingly concentrated in the hands of a small number of conglomerates and moguls, such as Rupert Murdoch, and suggests some websites and commentators in alternative media." - also posted at VeteransToday

Too Big to Fail: Lockheed Martin's "Got Their Fingers Everywhere", Says Author
Book Review - A quote...."That’s been the key question asked of Wall Street’s biggest banks since the September 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers, which sent shock waves through the global financial system and led to the worst recession this country has seen since the Great Depression. -- But, there is another firm far from the circles of Wall Street for which that same question should be asked, says William Hartung, author of the new book "Prophets of War". [GoglBkPrcSrch]* The subtitle of his book says it all: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex." - *links added/changed

PRESS RELEASE: Judge Dismisses Cases Against Military Veterans and Anti-war Activists Following December 16th Washington, D.C. Arrests  - Hip Hip Hooray!! - A quote...."Washington, D.C. – January 4, 2011: Anti-war military veterans and other activists celebrated a breakthrough victory today in DC Superior Court, when charges were dropped, following arrests in front of the White House, on December 16, 2010. Over 131 people were arrested in a major veteran-led protest while participating in non-violent civil resistance in a driving snowstorm. US Park Police charged all 131 protesters with “Failure to Obey a Lawful Order,” when they refused to move from the White House sidewalk. All remained fixed to the White House fence demanding an end to the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and further US aggression in the region."

Miami-Dade police buy drones
We'll just call this country Iraq/AfPak from now on, ain't that right folks? - mpg -- A quote...."In places such as Kabul, Gaza, and Baghdad, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) hovering over homes, following suspects, and tracking enemies of the state are a daily reality. - So where are the high-tech drones buzzing to next? Miami-Dade County, natch!"
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More on the Wikileaks Cointelpro Fiasco....

Wayne Madsen: Sweden co-opted by CIA/Pentagon to launder Wikileaks cables
A quote...."(WMR) - WMR has learned from a long-time Republican Party consultant that the CIA used Sweden to launder the transfer to Wikileaks of carefully screened and redacted State Department cables and the subsequent release of the cables to pre-selected corporate news media entities. Sweden was chosen because of its so-called “press freedom and freedom of expression” traditions in an effort to make the release of the cables by Wikileaks appear to be unconnected to a covert CIA and Pentagon psychological operations program designed to place further controls on the Internet."

Follow Up Letter to Glenn Greenwald on the Subject of Wikileaks: Who Are You Going to Believe? Me or Cass Sunstein? - A quote....""But first, a little relevant history…  In late 2006 when Wikileaks was formed, there was already a great deal of concern about the serious threat leaks may pose to the imperial agenda that the Bush regime was following.  In 2004 the Abu Ghraib photos went public, becoming the biggest story since Shock And Awe began and Seymour Hersh was writing about them in the New Yorker. Then that same year, the torture memos came out and the shit really hit the fan.  In May of 2005, the Downing Street Memos popped up. In the end, they probably set in motion the process that cost Tony Blair his job. In early 2007  Hersh wrote about how the General Taguba was forced into retirement for exposing the efforts of Rumsfeld to squash the Taguba Report and cover-up crimes of torture and abuse of detainees in his custody. It is not difficult to conclude that in the end Rumsfeld lost his job over leaks as well. There had been other damaging leaks as well at that point, but this list of some of the “biggies” should serve to make my point adequately."

Wikileaks Helping the Neocons Build a Fabricated Case for War
A quote...."Despite Glenn Greenwald’s recent conclusion to the contrary, the Wikileaks psyop doubled down on the regime change plan in Iran just about a week ago and it looks like the fake “leaks” are helping the Neocons pound the drums of war."

For more regarding the article shown above see....No Subtlety Whatsoever - 12-01-10 - mpg
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‘The Left Has Nowhere to Go’
A quote...."Ralph Nader in a CNN poll a few days before the 2008 presidential election had an estimated 3 percent of the electorate, or about 4 million people, behind his candidacy. But once the votes were counted, his support dwindled to a little over 700,000. Nader believes that many of his supporters entered the polling booth and could not bring themselves to challenge the Democrats and Barack Obama. I suspect Nader is right. And this retreat is another example of the lack of nerve we must overcome if we are going to battle back against the corporate state. A vote for Nader or Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney in 2008 was an act of defiance. A vote for Obama and the Democrats was an act of submission. We cannot afford to be submissive anymore." - also posted at DProgram & ICH -- All the people in this country have to do, to end this nation's on-going national tragedy, is to go down to the polls and vote AGAINST the Demo&Repub party by voting FOR someone else -- anyone else....and they just won't do it.  So they suffer, as well they should.  Anytime the people of this nation wish to halt these endless wars, stop the bankster bail-outs and restore the people's constitution, they should just NOT vote for a DemoRepub.  It's that simple. - mpg

Neoliberal and Fake “Opposition Candidate”, Ron Paul, Working to Impliment the Ford Foundation’s “Chicago Boys” Economic Plan Here in America - Contains Video - Alt - A quote...."Towards the end, Ron goes through his tired old “liberty” clichés again, pretending that he represents the “outsider’s” point of view. It’s called the Washington Consensus for a reason, Ron. And you serve it just about as well as anyone else living on the government paycheck. 5 years from now you can expect there to be three Pauls in this interview as Ron Paul’s grandkids take their rightful place in the congress as well."
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Obama’s reign of terror in Afghanistan
A quote...."2010 was the bloodiest year of the now nine-year conflict in Afghanistan and the tribal border regions of Pakistan. Under the command of General David Petraeus, a massively expanded US and NATO force is waging a campaign of extermination against various ethnic Pashtun and Taliban-linked insurgent movements that have not accepted the foreign invasion of their country."

Afghan resistance statement
Special Note - A quote...."Response of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Reaction to Senator Lindsay Graham Remarks to Maintain us Permanent Bases in Afghanistan. -- A Republic Senator Lindsey Graham in an interview t with NBC Television has said that USA should maintain permanent military bases in Afghanistan. He has claimed, the bases would be beneficial for the region and in the combat against the Taliban. - His remarks definitely lifts the curtain from the colonialist motives of America which the Islamic Emirate has been trying in the past decade to draw to them, attention of the people of the world. In fact, the invading America wants to establish her dominance over the region and the world under the so-called war on terror. Thus, they are trying to deprive the masses from their inalienable rights. In view of this, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would like to spell out its response as follows:"

Goldberg’s next war sure sounds a lot like his last one
A quote...."Four months back, Jeffrey Goldberg published a long piece in the Atlantic called "The Point of No Return," making the Israeli case for the United States to attack Iran in Never-again terms: Iran is threatening the existence of “the Jewish people,” Israel is bound to act if the U.S. fails to, the U.S. will do a better job. The piece has stirred a lot of discussion. Goldberg has gone on national media and panels at thinktanks to promote these bellicose ideas. -- But no one has pointed out that the piece makes the same argument Goldberg marshaled eight years ago for the U.S. to attack Iraq, that time with an article in the New Yorker magazine under the headline, "The Great Terror."  Iraq too was bent on the destruction of the Jewish people, and was developing a nuclear weapon to do so. -- The language in the pieces is eerily similar. The last time the concentration camp Goldberg invoked was Bergen-Belsen. This time around it’s Auschwitz. -- Both times the enemy is "three years" away from going nuclear." - also posted at AlethoNews

Iran invites envoys to inspect N-sites
A quote...."Iran has invited representatives and ambassadors of different countries to inspect its nuclear facilities to once again show its goodwill, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says."

Iran discovers two new gas fields
A quote...."National Iranian Oil Company CEO Ahmad Ghalebani says two new natural gas fields have been discovered in the country."

Son of the Shah of Iran kills self in Hub
A quote...."The son of the deposed Shah of Iran and onetime heir to the throne committed suicide early this morning in his South End brownstone, according to authorities and a statement from his family."

Pakistan’s PPP-led government on brink of collapse
A quote...."The survival of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party-led national coalition government is in jeopardy following Sunday’s announcement by the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) that its 25 National Assembly members will henceforth sit on the opposition benches."

In Surprise, Iraq May Enforce Withdrawal Deadline
A quote...."As Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki settles in for a second term, he's begun to talk tough on the final withdrawal of American troops, scheduled for the end of this year."

Resurgent Turkey Flexes Its Muscles Around Iraq
A quote...."ZAKHO, Iraq — A Turkey as resurgent as at any time since its Ottoman glory is projecting influence through a turbulent Iraq, from the boomtowns of the north to the oil fields near southernmost Basra, in a show of power that illustrates its growing heft across an Arab world long suspicious of it."

Mossad Behind Egypt Church Blast! (Who Else?)
A quote...."Although, at first glance, the finger is pointed at extremist Wahabi or Salafi groups, it goes without saying that no Muslim, whatever their political leanings may be, will ever commit such an inhumane act."

On the other hand, the Saudi Royals and the Israelis have been hand in glove supporting almost every single "terrorist" faction throughout the Middle East for the last thirty years, so it COULD have been a "radical" Saudi Royal supported group that did the dirty deed. Perhaps even at the request of Mubarak, who's just "won" a completely fraudulent election in Egypt and may need some excuses to crack down on the Muslim Brotherhood and other of his political opponents.  As for the statement that "no [real] Muslim, whatever their political leanings may be, will ever commit such an inhumane act", this website editor's fine with that. - mpg - Topix ||  One Vile, Venom Tipped, Taloned Hand Washes the Other - (a.k.a. The Standard Model) - 07-28-10 - mpg  ||

'Egypt attack price of snubbing Israel'
Related Article - A quote...."The Lebanese Coptic leader says a recent deadly attack on an Alexandria church in north Egypt is the price paid by Egyptian Coptic Christians for their refusal to recognize Israel."

5,000 people participate in funeral of terror act victims in Egypt
Related Article - A quote...."CAIRO, January 2 (Itar-Tass) - Over 5,000 people participated in a funeral service for victims of a terror act near a church in Alexandria, committed on Saturday. Hundreds of believers gathered on Saturday near one of Coptic monasteries 30 kilometres north of the Egyptian capital. -- The funeral turned into a mass demonstration that developed into sporadic clashes with police. Protesters hurled stones and bottles at policemen who tried to calm down the raging crowd, using teargas and rubber bullets."

Russia posts record oil, gas output
A quote...."In 2010 Russia set a 20-year record oil output with the daily production exceeding 10 million barrels, and retained its position of the world’s biggest oil producer, Bloomberg agency reports citing official statistics."

Four militants killed in Russia's North Caucasus
A quote...."Four militants were killed in a special police operation on Wednesday in the city of Khasavyurt, Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, a spokesman for the anti-terrorism committee (NAC) said."
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Witness: Palestinian shot, left for 30 minutes
A quote...."Abdallah, who was located by CNN, said the man had passed through the security checkpoint near Nablus in the West Bank when a female Israeli soldier started speaking to him in Hebrew. The man turned around and began walking toward her, Abdallah said. The soldier then started to scream at him and, moments later, a soldier next to her opened fire. Abdallah told CNN that other soldiers then fired, and the man fell to the ground, where he lay for about half an hour before receiving medical attention."

‘Palestinian home demolitions soar’
A quote...."Israel has increased the demolition of Palestinian homes in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) as part of a “broad policy” to drive Palestinians out of the city, says a new report. -- The final months of 2010 saw a sharp rise in the number of Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in East al-Quds, Israeli civil rights group Ir Amim (City of Peoples) said in a statement on Tuesday." - Source:  PressTV

Gaza fishermen detained from local waters
A quote...."GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- An unknown number of Gaza fishermen were detained Tuesday morning after being apprehended by Israeli warships off the coast of Gaza City."

Official report: 90% of Gaza water polluted
The better to kill them with. - mpg -- A quote...."GAZA, (PIC)-- The water quality control authority in the Gaza Strip said that more than 90% of the Strip's potable water was contaminated, warning of a serious threat to lives of the Strip's inhabitants." - also posted at Uruknet

Facts contradict Israel's assertions in Bilin death
A quote...."Since yesterday, the Israeli army has been promoting in the Israeli media a mendacious version regarding the events that led to the death of Jawaher Abu Rahmah of Bilin on Friday, 31 December 2010. According to the army's version, Jawaher was not injured by tear gas and was possibly not even present at the demonstration. The army spokesperson did not see fit to publish an official statement on the matter, instead passing the information to the media in the name of anonymous "army sources."

Substantial evidence contradicts the army’s version of the events surrounding the death of Jawaher Abu Rahmah
A quote...."The evidence surrounding the events leading to the death of Bil’in resident Jawaher Abu Rahmah disproves completely the army spokesperson’s version, to the point of putting the army in a ridiculous light. The army’s version is based on claims made anonymously, without any supporting evidence – unlike the version of the Abu Rahmah family and the Popular Coordinating Committee of Bil’in, which is detailed below."

Asian aid convoy reaches Gaza Strip
A quote...."The Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan, (Asia 1) entered the coastal strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Monday. - Some 105 human rights activists gathered at the crossing. Most of them flew to Egypt from Syria. And eight activists arrived at the Egyptian port of El Arish onboard a ship. - Egyptian authorities had prevented Iranian activists with the convoy from entering Egypt." - Source:  PressTV

One Family in Gaza
Contains Video - Alt - (VimeoVid - A quote...."Palestinians in Gaza are depicted either as violent terrorists or as helpless victims. The Awajah family challenges both portrayals. Through one family’s story, the larger tragedy of Gaza is exposed, and the courage and resilience of its people shines through."
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Film: The American Dream - This is a lot of fun! - mpg
Must View Video - Alt - (YuTb - 29min 55sec - January 02, 2011) - Source:  111newuser -- A quote...."The AMERICAN DREAM is a 30 minute animated film that shows you how you've been scammed by the most basic elements of our government system. All of us Americans strive for the American Dream, and this film shows you why your dream is getting farther and farther away. Do you know how your money is created? Or how banking works? Why did housing prices skyrocket and then plunge? Do you really know what the Federal Reserve System is and how it affects you every single day? THE AMERICAN DREAM takes an entertaining but hard hitting look at how the problems we have today are nothing new, and why leaders throughout our history have warned us and fought against the current type of financial system we have in America today. You will be challenged to investigate some very entrenched and powerful institutions in this nation, and hopefully encouraged to help get our nation back on track. -- Buy it now: http://www.theamericandreamfilm.com."

Is the Federal Reserve Really Purchasing Over 60% of 2011’s Fiscal Deficit? In a Word, uh . . . Yeah.
Must Read - Related Article - A quote...."The other day, in my post “The Lull Before the Storm”, I mentioned that for fiscal year 2011, the Federal Reserve would be purchasing over 60% of the Federal government deficit. -- In other words, the Fed would be dancing the Monetization Waltz, just like Latin American countries used to back in the 1970’s: Proof positive that America is indeed a banana republic—only with nukes."

US Closes 2010 With $14,025,215,218,708 And 52 Cents In Debt, A $154 Billion Increase Overnight
Related Article - A quote...."When we predicted a few weeks ago that the US would end 2010 with $13.8 trillion in debt we miscalculated the settlement dates on all the last round of bond auctions . As a result, we are happy to announce that as of December 31, 2010, the US now has $14,025,215,218,708 and 52 cents in debt (incidentally this is an increase of $154 billion in debt on the US balance sheet overnight)."

Wall Street Executive Air: "In the unlikely event of a loss in profits, bailout funds will drop from the panel above your head"  - More Fun! - (previously posted) - Related Video - Video - Alt - (YuTb - 2min 4sec - April 11, 2009) - Source:  markfiore -- A quote...."http://www.MarkFiore.com See how executives and CEOs spend tax payers hard earned money during the 2009 economic crash on this political cartoon."

America Is About To Slide Into Third World Status?
RTVideo - Related Video - Alt - (RTYuTb - 10min 33sec - December 29, 2010) - Source:  TheBigPictureRT -- A quote...."Economist Michael Hudson joins Thom to talk about countries looking for alternatives to US dollar and rescued banks teetering towards collapse."

Credit card withdrawal – Banks pull the plug on consumer revolving debt. Credit card debt outstanding contracts from nearly $1 trillion to $800 billion. - Deflation Alert - Charts - A quote...."Banks are selectively going after the quality borrowers while slowly cutting off borrowers who are at the end of their financial ropes.  The blank check that was written to the banks will not be extended to these borrowers.  Banks still have their platinum credit card with no limit attached to the US taxpayer.  The Federal Reserve and US Treasury call this card the bank of too big to fail.  At the same time most Americans have seen their credit limits slashed and have seen the amount of 0 percent offers go from a flood to a drought in their mailbox."

Bankruptcy filings top 1.5 million in 2010
A quote...."Official data showed that the number of Americans who applied for declaration of bankruptcy in the last year rose by 9% for the year 2009, amounted to more than 1.5 million people." - bold by website editor

U.S. Home Foreclosures May Top 100,000 In January
A quote...."Over the holidays, many lenders put foreclosures on hold. But that temporary freeze is over now. Industry watchers are expecting thousands of foreclosed properties to hit the market in the weeks and months ahead."

Baltic Dry Plunges 4.5%, At Lowest Level Since 2009
Chart - A quote...."When we noted last night that there was a Baltic fat finger index, we thought we were joking. Appears not. The BDIY has plunged by 4.5% overnight from 1,773 to 1,693, easily the biggest one day drop in a long time."

Top Economic Stories of 2010: Quantitative Easing, Currency Wars, Economic Stagnation
A quote...."The UK has no such EU protection being outside the Eurozone. It will depend on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for such a bailout with much more draconian measures imposed on it. The UK is likely to face its own debt crisis at some point over the next five years. The UK’s current debt stands at 76% of the economy (GDP) or 180% of annual national income. By the end of the coalition’s term it will be 110% of GDP and 267% of national income. This is of course based on 2% growth in the economy per year for four years which is away above the estimates of all independent economic think tanks. Flat growth over the next four years – a more likely scenario given the effects of the cuts – would see a further £100 billion added to the debt total at the end of their term."

Gerald Celente: What's in store for 2011
RTVideo - Alt - (RTYuTb - 6min 36sec - January 01, 2011) - Source:  RussiaToday -- A quote...."What's in store for the world in 2011? Trends forecaster Gerald Celente of the Trends Research Institute provided his insights on the year ahead. Will the people of the world wake up to a dire economic reality? Will the US dollar or the value of gold prevail? Will hardship-driven crimes be committed across the socioeconomic spectrum by legions of the on-the-edge desperate? Will the "War on Terror" morph into the "War on Crime," where all Americans are suspects until proven innocent? Will governments try to eliminate free access to the web and literally shut down computers and websites they consider a threat to national security?....and much more. - mpg

Inflation haunts Chinese government
A quote...."Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has attempted to defuse social tensions over inflation and housing costs with a series of promises that the government will control price increases. Wen’s actions demonstrate the fears within the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that deteriorating living standards will propel the multi-millioned Chinese working class into political struggle."

The Irish Crisis - A Total Failure of Neoliberalism
A quote...."For a decade, Ireland was heralded by the most ardent partisans of neo-liberal capitalism as a model to be imitated. The Celtic Tiger had a higher growth rate than the European average. Tax rate on companies had been reduced to 12.5%[2] and the rate actually paid by TNCs that had set up business there was between 3 and 4% - a CEO's dream! Ireland's budget deficit was nil in 2007, as was its unemployment rate in 2008." - also posted at AlethoNews

China backs Spain to emerge from crisis: Beijing
A quote...."China is confident Spain will recover from its economic crisis and Beijing will buy Spanish public debt despite market fears of an Irish-style bailout, a top Chinese official said Monday." - The Chinese are brave, but they better get an agreement for some collateral. - mpg

European nations begin seizing private pensions
A quote...."People’s retirement savings are a convenient source of revenue for governments that don’t want to reduce spending or make privatizations. As most pension schemes in Europe are organised by the state, European ministers of finance have a facilitated access to the savings accumulated there, and it is only logical that they try to get a hold of this money for their own ends. In recent weeks I have noted five such attempts: Three situations concern private personal savings; two others refer to national funds."

Inflation Jumps in Europe
A quote...."PARIS — Higher prices for food, oil and other commodities are starting to stoke inflation in the euro area, data released Tuesday indicated, while British residents got their first taste of higher taxes on retail goods and services."

Europe, Japan to cancel grain contracts with Australia due to GMO contamination
A quote...."(NaturalNews) Australia is playing with fire by relaxing its standards on genetically-modified organisms (GMO). According to a recent report in The Australian, both Europe and Japan may cancel their non-GMO grain contracts with Australian growers because of GM contamination, including the recent case of Steve Marsh who lost his organic certification due to GM canola invading his fields." - also posted at DProgram

Monday January 3rd 2011

No posts. - mpg

Sunday January 2nd 2011

Networks of Empire and Realignments of World Power
Must Read - A quote...."… The decline of the US Empire was temporarily arrested by the collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and the establishment of client regimes throughout the region. Likewise the upsurge of imperial-centered client regimes in Latin America between the mid 1970’s to the end of the 1990’s gave the appearance of an imperialist recovery. The 1990’s however was not the beginning of a repeat of the early 1950’s imperial take off: it was the “last hurrah” before a long term irreversible decline. The entire imperial political apparatus, so successful in its clandestine operations in subverting the Soviet and Eastern European regimes, played a marginal role when it came to capitalizing on the economic opportunities which ensued. Germany and other EU countries led the way in the takeover of lucrative privatized enterprises. Russian- Israeli oligarchs (seven of the top eight) seized and pillaged privatized strategic industries, banks and natural resources. The principal US beneficiaries were the banks and Wall Street firms which laundered billions of illicit earnings and collected lucrative fees from mergers, acquisitions, stock listings and other less than transparent activities. In other words, the collapse of Soviet collectivism strengthened the parasitical financial sector of the US Empire. Worse still, the assumption of a ‘unipolar world’ fostered by US ideologues, played into the hands of the militarists, who now assumed that former constraints on US military assaults on nationalists and Soviet allies had disappeared. As a result military intervention became the principle driving force in US empire building, leading to the first Iraq war, the Yugoslav and Somali invasion and the expansion of US military bases throughout the former Soviet bloc and Eastern Europe." - also posted at AlethoNews

War Causes Inflation ... And Inflation Allows The Government to Start Unnecessary New Wars and Keep Us In Them For Longer than Needed - Special Note - A quote...."War causes inflation. -- Every major war in the past century brought inflation to some degree. And so did two upheavals in the Middle East, the Yom Kippur War of 1973 and the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which did not directly involve the United States, except through their effect on the price of oil. Why is this so? The big reason is that wars must be paid for, somehow. They require resources that civilians would otherwise use. Those resources must be diverted to the war effort. Usually, inflation is the easiest way. World War I was largely financed by inflation, and so were the Revolutionary and Civil Wars before that. So, though on a smaller scale, was Vietnam." - Topix || Effective Fed Funds Rate & The Ten Year Cycle  ||

Glaspie Memo Leaked: US Dealings With Iraq Ahead of 1990 Invasion of Kuwait Detailed
Must Read - Historical Document - (Extreme Caution should be exercised, this is a "Wikileaks" product and may be unreliable, however it does CONFIRM what everyone said about this famous meeting. - mpg) - A quote...."One of the crown jewels of secret pre-Gulf War negotiations was unveiled tonight when the notorious Glaspie Memo, or as it is now known 90BAGHDAD423, was released by WikiLeaks - The cable, whose official title was “Saddam’s Message of Friendship to President Bush” details the meeting between US Ambassador April Glaspie and Saddam Hussein on July 25, 1990, just a week before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait." - It should be noted that the Glaspie meeting was part of the US-NRE's ten year war/economic cycle.  See....Effective Fed Funds Rate & The Ten Year Cycle  - also posted at Uruknet

Israel is paying internet workers to manipulate online content
Video - Israeli Propaganda Alert - Alt - (YuTb - 2min 04sec - November 06, 2010) - Source:  bigsoundz -- Full quote - (from the YuTb posting)...."As many of you may have suspected, Israel is paying and training internet bloggers to delete, rewrite, and revise internet content to shape public opinion to Israel's benefit. Video of the Israeli-sponsored training programs have been leaked to the web (like the video here). -- Additionally, investigative reporters that infiltrated these groups have reported that Israelis are being trained to spread disinformation and to try to create conflicts among different religious, racial, and ethnic groups if it would benefit Israel. Some of the seminars also encouraged the workers to spread disinformation on the internet and to attempt to recruit free (unpaid) labor.  -- For example, many of these bloggers have been trained to attempt to make friends with you by pretending that they share an interest in your favorite sports team or movie, or that they went to the same school, but they will ultimately try to recruit you to attack other groups or individuals that Israel thinks is against its national interests (e.g., 'Muslims,' 'Russians,' 'Germans,' 'Latinos,' 'United Nations representatives' and 'human rights groups'). Others have been trained to personally attack, stalk, and harass anyone personally that does not agree with Israel. Not only is this type of behavior a terrible injustice to the accuracy of content (it's actually state-sponsored propaganda), it is also damaging to the public trust because people are being misguided into working as unpaid servants of a government through false pretenses. People really should speak out about this."

Terrorist Watch List May Exceed US Population by 2019, World Population by 2023
Your tax dollars at work folks, hope you enjoy it. - mpg -- A quote...."Under Soviet style rules, everyone was on the watch list, much like we will be by the end of this decade. It makes sense then, from the perspective of DHS, TSA and other security services, to simply create an Approved Travel List, codenamed the Go-Fly List, which will be used to designate who has been cleared for flight (or bus or train travel)."

Britain's anti-terror control orders condemned as 'trademark of despots'
A quote...."A powerful coalition of human rights groups has intensified pressure on the government to abandon its use of control orders, as ministers continue to wrangle over whether to scrap the controversial counter-terrorism measure."

2010 Was By Far the Deadliest Year for U.S. Troops in Afghanistan—One American Killed Every 18 Hours
A quote...."(CNSNews.com) - With 496 casualties, 2010 was by far the deadliest year for U.S. troops fighting a war in Afghanistan that has now entered its tenth year, according to casualty reports issued by the Department of Defense and tracked in a comprehensive database of war casualties maintained by CNSNews.com." - Topix ||  The Bidding War - 10-14-09 - mpg  ||

'US to stay in Afghanistan forever'
Related Article - Well, they WANT to anyway.  But there's many a slip between a wish and reality. - mpg -- A quote...."A senior Republican senator has suggested that the US should devise a plan to permanently keep American troops in war-ravaged Afghanistan. -- Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina, told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that Republicans would push for indefinite US stay in Afghanistan in the years ahead."

Key party pulls out of Pakistan's ruling coalition
A quote...."ISLAMABAD (AP) -- The second largest party in Pakistan's ruling coalition said Sunday it is quitting the government and joining the opposition, depriving the country's pro-U.S. government of a parliamentary majority and throwing its future into doubt."

UN chief slams church blast in N Egypt
A quote...."UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday strongly condemned the bomb attack at the al-Qiddissin Coptic Church in Egypt's northern city of Alexandria that took place on New Year's Eve, killing 21 people and injuring 70 others."

Iran 'shoots down Western spy drones' in Gulf
A quote...."Iran's Revolutionary Guards have shot down two "Western spy drones" in the Gulf, a senior Iranian commander has been quoted as saying."

India to drop US buck in Iran oil dealing
A quote...."India may drop the US dollar as payment for oil from Iran. The replacement would be the Japanese yen and the Emirates dirham. -- According to London’s Asharq Al-Awsat, the switch could help India avoid American retaliation for dealing with the Iranians."

China-Russia oil pipeline launched
A quote...."Russia and China have launched a 3,600-kilometer pipeline to export the oil of the biggest producer in the world to the biggest consumer of the product. " - also posted at BLN

China unveils world's longest sea bridge
A quote...."China has unveiled the world’s longest sea bridge, which stretches a massive 26.4 miles – five miles further than the distance between Dover and Calais and longer than a marathon. -- The Qingdao Haiwan Bridge, completed earlier this week, links the main urban area of Qingdao city, East China’s Shandong province, with Huangdao district, straddling the Jiaozhou Bay sea areas."

Chengdu J-20 China’s first stealth fighter takes to the skies
A quote...."The latest buzz on Internet is that the China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group is preparing to test its first stealth aircraft known to world as the J-XX. -- According to enthusiasts living nearby, the aircraft has already done taxi run and top level officials are coming to the facility to witness the first flight. This comes as a surprise as both American and Russian think tanks had written off China. J-XX is Chinese competitor in the Fifth Generation race."

DPRK urges S Korea to improve ties via dialogue
A quote...."PYONGYANG, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- A leading newspaper of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Monday called for improving inter-Korean relations through dialogue. -- Rodong Sinmun made the appeal in several articles, saying the new decade should be a period of hope for ending the tragedy of division and achieving unification and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula."

Pentagon And NATO Apply Afghanistan-Pakistan War Model To Africa
A quote...."The New Year began with three North Atlantic Treaty Organization soldiers killed in Afghanistan and 20 people, all portrayed as militants, killed in four American missile strikes in northwest Pakistan. The third drone missile attack killed four people attempting to rescue and remove the bodies of the victims of the first, a technique used by the U.S. and NATO in their war against Yugoslavia in 1999." - Topix ||  Africa - the Next Target - 02-28-08 - mpg  ||
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Settlers [Jewish Squatters] attack Hebron popular comittee official
A quote...."HEBRON — Settlers [Jewish Squatters] in Hebron attacked a Popular Committee official on Sunday, leaving him unconscious, witnesses said. -- Azmi Ash-Shuyukhi was transferred by ambulance to Hebron’s government hospital after he was beaten while leading a solidarity tour near Yatta, south of the West Bank city." - Source:  Ma'an

Palestinian Killed by Army Fire At A Roadblock In The Jordan Valley
A quote...."Palestinian medical sources reported on Sunday morning, that Israeli soldiers stationed at the Al Hamra roadblock in the Jordan valley, shot and killed a Palestinian youth despite having his hands up following soldiers demands."
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Observations On The Latest Debt "Inflection Point", And Why Bernanke Has At Most 5 Months In Which To Announce QE3 - Contains Video - A quote...."Yesterday on Tom Keene's always informative show, two of the world's most important economists, Goldman's Jan Hatzius and BofA's Ethan Harris presented their respective defenses for why GDP in 2011 would rise by nearly 4% as per their recent predictions. The straw man for the upside case: recently adopted fiscal stimuli which, however as David Rosenberg notes, are not really stimuli as much as lack of governmental disstimuli. Yet what is interesting is that both ceded that both employment and housing, the two key traditional drivers of economic growth and prosperity, would likely continue deteriorating, with employment ending the year over 9%. In other words, all growth in 2011 will be predicated upon very much more of the same: transfer payments and government stimulus (not to mention inventory accumulation) especially in the form of incremental debt to offset consumer deleveraging." - also posted at BLN

Oil price ‘threat to recovery’
A quote...."High oil prices threaten to derail the fragile economic recovery among developed nations this year, the leading energy watchdog has warned, putting pressure on the Opec oil cartel to increase production."

General Motors Europe: No end to job losses
A quote...."“Next year will be brutal”, Klaus Franz, chair of the European Betriebsrat (Works Council) of the General Motors subsidiary Opel, told the press. The attacks on workers agreed in 2010 between the works council, trade unions and management will proceed unabated in the New Year."

[Britain's] VAT rise 'will backfire'
A quote...."The coalition government landed its latest body blow on Britain today with a VAT rise that critics warn will combine with brutal job cuts and rising inflation to create a perfect storm of misery for ordinary people."

Saturday January 1st 2011

The Alex Jones Show – Paul Craig Roberts, Bob Chapman & Looking Back at 2010
Must View AJVideo - Alt - (AJYuTub - 2hrs 36min 16sec [o.k. youtube] - December 31, 2010) - Source:  TheInfoWarrior -- A quote...."Alex welcomes back to the show economist and columnist Paul Craig Roberts. Mr. Roberts served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He has written or co-written eight books, contributed chapters to numerous books and has published many articles in journals of scholarship. He has testified before congressional committees on 30 occasions on issues of economic policy. His latest book is How the Economy Was Lost: The War of the Worlds. Alex also talks with regular Friday guest Bob Chapman of the International Forecaster. Alex will be on the air for four hours today in a special show on this last day of 2010. He also covers the news and takes your calls."

MSNBC Analyst: Constitution Has “No Binding Power On Anything”
Special Note - Contains Videos - MSNBC - PhilHareDon'tCare - FA_LoBiondo - JohnBoehner - Obama -- A quote...."Now that Republicans have a majority in Congress, they are pretending to be constitutionalists. In order to demonstrate this, they will theatrically read aloud the Constitution from the floor of the House next week. “And then they will require that every new bill contain a statement by the lawmaker who wrote it citing the constitutional authority to enact the proposed legislation,” the Washington Post reports."

The Coming War over the Constitution - posted at ConsortiumNews
Related Article - A quote...."Despite a few victories in the lame-duck session of Congress, Democrats and progressives should be under no illusion about the new flood of know-nothingism that is about to inundate the United States in the guise of a return to “first principles” and a deep respect for the U.S. Constitution." - Topix ||  The Tea Party - Another False Front  ||

David Icke – A Message For 2011: Stop Acquiescing With Your Own Enslavement
Video - Alt - A quote...."http://www.davidicke.com" - "I believe that Gandhi's views were the most enlightened of all the political men in our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit: not to use violence in fighting for our cause, but by non-participation in anything you believe is evil." Albert Einstein."

One more year of inhumanity coming to a close. What happens next? - posted at OnlineJournal
A quote...."This year the list of atrocities committed under the guise of representative democracy is extensive, as anyone concerned in analyzing the actions of governments in the West can ascertain.  --  If it were our wish, we could bombard the airwaves with images of suffering people from around the world, and swiftly link their pain to the corrupt institutions of government we have accepted as legitimate. With similar ease, we could trace the wealth accumulated by a small minority of ruthless economic elites, to their governmental bonds. But I see little need in contributing to this exercise considering the amount of relevant information already available. Instead, I find it more useful to speculate about what happens next. I am fairly confident that is what those bearing the brunt of our inhumanity must wonder. Will we end the bombs? Will we stop the banks? Will we transform our democracies?"

Keiser Report: Feedom & Plutocracy (E108)
Must View MKVideo - Alt - (MKRTYuTb - 26min 41sec - December 30, 2010) - Source:  RussiaToday - Producer:  Max Keiser TV -- A quote...."This week Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, find an unsurprising answer to the most important question of our time, "why is America broke?" They also discuss 'nasty surprises' and Tony of Arabia. In the second half of the show, Max talks to author and blogger, Ellen Brown, about her latest piece on the Huffington Post offering a solution for Ireland." - For more on Ellen Brown's proposals see....Is North Dakota the Answer? - 06-29-10 - mpg

BIG BROTHER: The Police State Mentality in the Electronic Age
A quote...."In 2049, when the 100th anniversary of the publication of George Orwell political novel “1984” will be celebrated, it will be recalled that the immediate post September 11, 2001 period marked the beginning of a gradual decline in personal liberty and freedom, especially in the United States but also elsewhere, and the emergence of a great information-obsessed Leviathan. Freedom rarely disappears in one fell swoop. Its disappearance is rather the end result of a thousand encroachments. -- Pushed to the extreme and without clear democratic oversight, it becomes the mark of a totalitarian state, when authorities feel that they never have enough information on the people. It is because information is power and state bureaucrats and politicians naturally like to be in control; on the one hand, releasing as little information about their own actions through an imposed secrecy, and on the other, accumulating as much information as possible about the citizens." - also posted at GlobalRsrch

Judge warns of ‘Orwellian state’ in warrantless GPS tracking case
A quote...."Police in Delaware may soon be unable to use global positioning systems (GPS) to keep tabs on a suspect unless they have a court-signed warrant, thanks to a recent ruling by a superior court judge who cited famed author George Orwell in her decision." - also posted at RogueGov

2011: Americans take back their country from psychopathic, Orwellian fascists
A quote...."I use the terms “psychopathic” and “Orwellian” as the most accurate for what is factually and verifiably in front of all of us: US “leadership” with a veneer of socially-acceptable behavior thinly veiling acts of vicious destruction, and propagandistic language stating the opposite of what is being done. -- US “political leadership” is by any rational definition a fascist government; nowhere near its constitutional republic promise to Americans and the world. This places Americans in similar position to Americans of 250 years ago: witnesses to the destruction of their rights under law as citizens."

Noam Chomsky on Taming the Bewildered Herd
Contains Videos - NC2Demos(1/3) - NC2Demos(2/3) - NC2Demos(3/3) -- Quote of the Day...."State propaganda, when supported by the educated classes, and when no deviation is permitted from it, can have a big effect. It was a lesson learned by Hitler and by many others and it has been pursued to this day…. the Business community learned alot from the successes of the Creel Commission and creating the Red Scare and its aftermath and in fact the public relations industry underwent a huge expansion at that time”  -- *Noam Chomsky*
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More on the Wikileaks Cointelpro Fiasco....

An Open Letter to Glenn Greenwald on the Subject of Wikileaks: Just… Stop.
A quote...."I just took a look at your website and I haven’t seen a journalist obsess over an obviously fabricated news story like you are doing with Wikileaks since the Duke Lacrosse team rape case or Andrew Sullivan’s breathless blogging about the now discredited “tweets” coming out of Israel dealing with the staged Green Revolution in Iran. That’s really bad company to be in, Glenn."

For more regarding the article shown above see....No Subtlety Whatsoever - 12-01-10 - mpg
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TSA News....

The TSA's state-mandated molestation - Alt
Man had Fourth Amendment scrawled on chest; strips at Va. airport checkpoint in protest
TSA photocopies a mans credit cards and other personal documents - video - AltVid
Passengers' Stories of Recent Travel - ACLU - over 1,000 complaints [so far]
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NYC Department of Buildings: No Copies of City Issued Permits for Construction Within WTC 7 Found For Years 1999, 2000 and 2001 - Special Note - A quote...."A Freedom of Information reply from the New York City Department of Buildings reports that copies of city permits for routine or major construction work within World Trade Center building 7 during the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 could not be located. Records for the “ALT 2” category were requested." - also posted at DProgram - Guess "the dog ate it", ain't that right folks? - mpg
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Afghanistan, Colombia, Vietnam: The Deep Politics of Drugs and Oil
Must Read - A quote...."Since World War Two, the United States has had in effect two conflicting styles of conducting foreign policy, one for other developed states, and a quite different style for regions of little economic interest apart from their mineral resources " above all oil and natural gas. -- As a general rule, the US has worked through the established governments of developed states. But in Third World areas and regions with oil or other minerals, the US has done whatever it thought necessary to secure access when it wished to do so. As Michael Tanzer observed some years ago, a number of CIA-engineered coups in the 1950s and 1960s, starting with Iran in 1953, can be related to the intentions of those countries to nationalize their oil companies."

Robert Fisk: Bombs make no moral distinctions where they fall
Must Read - A quote...."I am stunned. The words "war crimes" are in my mind. Then I stumble out into the cold afternoon to walk back to my hotel past the back of the 19th-century Kunstalle and there are shrapnel gashes up the red stone walls, deep wounds in the brickwork of the school next door, a slash in the basement window casing. Was this from the British fire raid of 1940, or the first attempt to raze the city on 16 April 1943, or the American raids of 1944? Well protected with underground bunkers, only 1,700 Germans were killed here, a mere 0.6 per cent of its residents. War crimes?" - also posted at Uruknet

Military Resistance 8L 19: "Un-Happy"
Scribd - Alt - A quote...."January 1, 2011 - As German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer once said, truth is ridiculed, then denied, and then "accepted as having been obvious to everyone from the beginning." So let’s start with the obvious: There isn’t the slightest possibility that the course laid out by Barack Obama in his Dec. 1 speech will halt or even slow the downward spiral toward defeat in Afghanistan. None. The U.S. president and his advisors labored for three months and brought forth old winein bigger bottles. The speech contained not one single new idea or approach, nor offered any hint of new thinking about a conflict that everyone now agrees the United States is losing. Instead, the administration deliberated for 94 days to deliver essentially "more men, more money, try harder." It sounded ominously similar to Mikhail Gorbachev’s "bloody wound" speech that led to asimilar-sized, temporary Soviet troop surge in Afghanistan in 1986."

Civilians being killed in Helmand operation: residents
A quote...."LASHKARGAH (PAN): Residents of two districts --Sangin and Kajaki – in Helmand allege civilians were being killed by US forces during an ongoing operation in the southern province. -- In September 2010, the British forces handed over the security responsibility for Sangin and Kajaki to US forces, marking the end of their four-year mission in the region. The Royal Marines and other personnel were moved to central Helmand province. -- "It was hoped the replacement would result in improved security, but civilian casualties are increasing day by day," a resident said." - bold by website editor - Does everyone see the link? - also posted at Uruknet

New Year To Mark Intensification Of West’s War In Afghanistan And Pakistan
A quote...."No stranger to armed conflicts over the past 70 years, the United States has completed its first decade of continuous warfare: 2001-2010. -- On January 1 the U.S. and its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will enter not only a new year but a second decade of war in Afghanistan." - also posted at Uruknet

'Afghan situation will get worse in 2011'
Contains Video - A quote...."Evidence on the ground suggests that the security situation in Afghanistan will deteriorate in 2011, said Jason Ditz, the editor of Antiwar News in an interview with Press TV's U.S. Desk on Saturday. --  2010 saw "a record death toll among troops, death toll among civilians, and death toll among allies' forces," so "every group has had a worst year yet out of nine years of war in Afghanistan," he said. --  "Of course it was fully expected, after the massive escalation announced in December 2009, that this would be the case.”

Drone attacks [in Pakistan] up by 134 pc in 2010, deaths up by 56 pc
A quote...."LAHORE: The American drones carried out a record number of 124 attacks in the tribal areas of Pakistan in the 12 months of 2010, more than double the number of predator strikes conducted in the 12 months of 2009, killing 1184 people, compared with 2009’s death toll of 760 in 53 such attacks. -- According to figures compiled by the Pakistani authorities, on average, the US drone attacks targeting the al-Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in the tribal belt of Pakistan, killed 98 people every month, 23 people every week and three people every day in 2010. These attacks recorded an overall 134 percent increase in 2010 compared with the 2009’s figures, jumping from 53 strikes in 2009 to 124 attacks in 2010."

US drones kill 20 Pakistanis in New Year - (a.k.a. Obama's New Year's Resolution, kill even MORE Pakistanis)
A quote...."The death toll in a series of non-UN-sanctioned US drone attacks has risen to 20 in the troubled northwestern Pakistan, officials say."

Hope in 2011: Peoples, Civil Society Stand Tall
A quote...."When the Iraqi army fell before invading US and British troops in 2003, the latter's mission seemed to be accomplished. But nearly eight years after the start of a war intended to shock and awe a whole population into submission, the Iraqi people continue to stand tall. They have confronted and rejected foreign occupations, held their own against sectarianism, and challenged random militancy and senseless acts of terrorism." -- Oh, oh...sigh....guess the US-NRE will just have to bomb them again. - mpg

U.S. efforts fail to convince Pakistan's top general to target Taliban
MY GAWD!! - A relatively decent geo-political analysis of Pakistan from WaPo of all sources! Who would have thunk it?!? - A few observations though, there is no such thing as al-Qaeda (a US-NRE creation), WaPo fails to mention the US-NRE's twenty year support of the Taliban or that US-NRE contractors were caught  paying off the Taliban to get safe passage for their supply convoys as recently as a few months ago, and finally, and most importantly, they fail to mention the US-NRE's long term plans to use India to contain China.  A policy that will leave Pakistan slowly twisting in the wind and a policy Gen. Ashfaq Kayani and the Pakistanis are perfectly aware of.  Other than that, this is a pretty good article. - mpg

Birth of Pakistan's Islamic Extremism - posted at ConsortiumNews
Special Note - Film Review - Related Article - A quote...."“Bhutto,” directed by Duane Baughman and Johnny O’Hara, is generally laudatory, though enough information is given about the murder of Murtaza Bhutto, Benazir’s estranged brother and rival, which Murtaza’s daughter blames on Benazir, and the allegations of corruption against current President Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir’s husband who spent eight years in jail but was not charged, for viewers to be left wondering. -- By far the most important contribution of the film, however, is something that does not constitute its primary focus — the gradual pervasiveness of religious fanaticism throughout Pakistan’s institutions and society since the 1980s." - bold by website editor - For more on that issue see....One Vile, Venom Tipped, Taloned Hand Washes the Other - (a.k.a. The Standard Model) - 07-28-10 - mpg

Minister Urges Alternative Farming to Stop Poppy Plantation in Afghanistan
A quote..."TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Justice Minister Morteza Bakhtiari underlined that replacing poppy plantation with other agricultural products has a crucial role in the campaign against the production of illicit drugs in Afghanistan."

Official: US, NATO Now in Control of Narcotic Trade in Afghanistan
A quote...."TEHRAN: A senior Iranian judiciary official blasted the West's performance in fighting drugs in Afghanistan, and stressed that the western states, particularly the US, are now in control of the drug trade in the war-torn country." - Source:  FarsNewsAgency

MKO Starts Brainwashing Members to Stop Defection
A quote...."TEHRAN (FNA)- Reports from inside the main training camp of the anti-Iran terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization said MKO ringleaders have started brainwashing members to persuade them to commit suicide in a bid to prevent their possible defection in quest for better living conditions."

‘Imperialist powers have spent $7.7 billion to undermine Iran’
A quote...."TEHRAN -- Iranian Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi has said the imperialist powers have spent $7.7 billion over the past several years to fund efforts to undermine Iran’s Islamic system."

Hezbollah MP Blasts Hariri Court for Biased Approach
A quote...."TEHRAN (FNA)- A member of the Hezbollah fraction in the Lebanese parliament said that the court investigating assassination of Late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri would not find and punish the real culprits and masterminds of the terrorist attack due to its biased approach."

Belarus election 2010: a crushing defeat for Western policy
A quote...."As the US official in charge of financing 'democracy promotion' in Eastern Europe has admitted, the foreign-funded opposition in Belarus is a "surrealistic reality show", which had no realistic hope of winning power through the ballot box."

Zapatistas: The war with no breath?
A quote..."Tuxtla Gutierrez, Dec 31, 2010 - Seventeen years after rallying cries for land and freedom sparked the Zapatista rebellion, a quiet mist cloaks the mountains of Chiapas state in southeast Mexico."

Why Washington Hates Hugo Chavez
A quote...."January 01, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- In late November, Venezuela was hammered by torrential rains and flooding that left 35 people dead and roughly 130,000 homeless. If George Bush had been president, instead of Hugo Chavez, the displaced people would have been shunted off at gunpoint to makeshift prison camps--like the Superdome--as they were following Hurricane Katrina. But that's not the way Chavez works. The Venezuelan president quickly passed "enabling" laws which gave him special powers to provide emergency aid and housing to flood victims. Chavez then cleared out the presidential palace and turned it into living quarters for 60 people, which is the equivalent of turning the White House into a homeless shelter. The disaster victims are now being fed and taken care of by the state until they can get back on their feet and return to work."

'US plotting new coup in Venezuela' - When aren't they? - mpg
Related Article - A quote...."A political analyst says that the US is trying to plot another coup in Venezuela by choosing an ambassador to Caracas that has tried to curry favor with the Venezuelan military. "

Latin America: no longer the USA’s backyard
Related Article - A quote...."Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has in his usual outright manner rejected the pressure from Washington trying to impose the candidacy of a new US Ambassador to his country. The ambassador-to-be, whose choice is supported by the State Department but whose confirmation by the Senate is still pending, is Larry Palmer. Hugo Chavez’ objections rise from the comments Mr. Palmer made earlier this year at Senate hearings when he said that morale is low in Venezuela's military and that Colombian leftist rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are finding refuge in Venezuela." - also posted at GlobalRsrch
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'One out of three homeless in US is a veteran'
Contains Video - No sympathy.....NONE!!  Not after ten f-cking years of this crap, not after thirty trillion dollars for the Banksters and their wars, not after 9/11 and those in this nation's military who helped facilitate it, not after Abu Ghraib, Bagram, and all the hundreds of other sites of homo-sadistic violence and snuff-movies.  You have to be stupid, stupid, stupid not to mention an amoral little money-grubing piece of  sh-t to put on a uniform these days. For all those currently in the US-NRE's military murdering for empire and profit, you want your VA benefits, you want your pensions, you want your education loans??  You want them??  Go get them from the filthy rich Banksters, get them from the AIPAC/Israeli Consortium, get them from your rich Wahhabist terrorist supporting Saudi Royals....this website editor is all tapped out. - mpg - Topix ||  What a Waste! - 10-12-10 - mpg  ||  Go Build Your Neo-Roman Empire - Just Leave Us [and our money] Out Of It - 10-14-07 - mpg  ||

Ex-W. Babylon man dies; cancer linked to Iraq
Ditto!! - To all you men and women in the US-NRE's military. Let's cover it again shall we?  First there was agent orange in Vietnam, than there was Gulf War Syndrome in Gulf War I, than there was Depleted Uranium in Gulf War II. That's three strikes and you're out, or as stated above "you have to be stupid, stupid, stupid....." - mpg

US government knew about human experiments - Pfizer tested drugs on children
Some of you folks out there might have thought "The Constant Gardener" was just a movie....it wasn't. - mpg -- A quote...."In April 2009, Pfizer reportedly reached a tentative agreement on lawsuits regarding the vaccine trials it had conducted in 1996. Pfizer tested Trovan, an oral antibiotic, on children of Nigeria’s Kano state. To avoid the lengthy clinical trial process required by the Food and Drug Administration, Pfizer decided to expedite the production of Trovan."  - also posted at Uruknet

Empowering the Body Snatchers: Washington’s Appalling Kosovo Policy
The US-NRE helps its allies steal organs too. - mpg -- A quote...."The revelations just keep coming, and the evidence mounts that Washington’s policy since the mid-1990s regarding Kosovo has been stubbornly obtuse. The latest blot on America’s diplomacy is an investigative report for the Council of Europe released just before Christmas confirming long-standing rumors that the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was involved in the trafficking of human organs, including killing Serbian prisoners to harvest their kidneys and other organs." - also posted at Uruknet
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How Zionist lobby shapes UK politics
A quote...."The wealthy Jewish lobby in Britain working under the title of the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) has been tipped as the Conservative Party's paymaster."

'Blocking Press TV accounts illegal'
Press Censorship - Alert - Related Article - A quote...."A top official at the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting organization has slammed blocking of Press TV bank accounts in Britain as illegal. -- "Banks cannot block the accounts of the media which operate within the regulations of the host country, without a reason," Head of IRIB World Service Mohammad Sarafraz told IRNA."

MasterCard Hosted Mossad Assassins, Blocked WikiLeaks
A quote...."The U.S. credit card company MasterCard, has hosted murderous Israeli intelligence agents from the terrorist state’s MOSSAD secret service. The wanted criminals had used passports from other countries including Australia whilst carrying out the murder of an Arab leader in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the Arabian Gulf."

An infestation of Israeli spies - posted at OnlineJournal
A quote...."Last week, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he was set to publicly appeal to President Barack Obama to release Jonathon Pollard, a former US naval intelligence analyst, who is currently serving a life sentence in a US prison for spying for Israel. That call is backed by Lawrence Korb, a former US assistant secretary of defense, who says Pollard’s continued incarceration is “a miscarriage of justice.” - also posted at RevoltOfThePlebs

Any Respect For International Law Left In The US Congress? - No. - mpg
A quote...."This week marks the second anniversary of among the most savage criminal slaughters of human life in long memory. The 522 hour indiscriminate carnage, “Cast Lead”  that killed 1,417 Palestinians, mostly civilians, 352 of them children, injuring for life more than 5,300 , indicts  Israel as well as those countries that continue to supply it weapons, diplomatic cover and to enforce Israel’s  illegal siege on sealed Gaza." - also posted at GlobalRsrch
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Israeli official claims that US will block Palestinian efforts at UN
A once proud "nation" of three hundred and ten million people genuflecting and abasing themselves on behalf of five million (with a few exceptions) moronic Mini-Nazis and their policies of ethnic cleansing.  It is truly disgusting. - mpg

What options exist for Netanyahu next time on the high seas?
A quote...."Richard Lightbown argues that whatever Israel does when the Mavi Marmara sets sail for Gaza on the first anniversary of the murder of aid workers by Israeli commandos aboard the same ship, the movement to break the illegal siege of Gaza “is not going to be frightened off. It is not going to go away. It is not going to wither and die."

Demos and Deaths Continue in Occupied Palestine
A quote...."Over a thousand protesters responded to the Bil’in Popular Committee’s call to march on the Wall in the village today, in what they announced to be “the last day of the Wall”. Jawaher Abu Rahmah, 36, was evacuated to the Ramallah hospital after inhaling massive amounts of tear-gas towards protesters in Bil’in earlier today. She is currently in critical condition and is not responding to treatment. Another protester required hospitalization after being hit in the face with a tear-gas projectile shot directly at him."

Settlers set fire to home as seven Palestinians sleep inside
Contains Video - Alt - A quote...."In the early morning hours of 29 December 2010, settlers set fire to a family's dwelling in Susiya village. --  The great majority of Susiya residents live in tents as their historic stone and cave dwellings have been demolished several times over by the Israeli military.  Many of the tents now used have been provided by humanitarian organizations and serve as bedrooms, kitchens, storage and sitting areas for the families living in them." - also posted at Uruknet
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Oil Surges to Highest Year-End Price Since 2007 on Dollar
A quote...."Oil surged to its highest year-end price since 2007 as the dollar weakened and gasoline and heating oil futures climbed. -- Crude capped its second consecutive year of gains as the dollar dropped against the euro, boosting commodities’ appeal as an alternative investment. Oil settled above $91 a barrel after testing technical support near $89. Gasoline and heating oil advanced before the January contracts expired today."

The next financial crisis is not far off
A quote...."It's been an difficult year globally. It began with much relief and congratulations all round, based on perceptions that the financial crisis had been handled effectively, that the Great Recession was over and that significant economies (especially in the developing world) were powering their way back to rapid growth. But it is ending on a much more tentative and even troubled note." - also posted at GlobalRsrch
 

Friday December 31st 2010

No posts. - mpg

Thursday December 30th 2010