MPG'S
DAILY RAPSHEET AND BLOTTER ON THE "GREAT GAME" - links page
@ www.reficultnias.org
==========
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ===
Editor's note : From now on each daily blog will have
several items
culled from the past called "9/11 - From The History
File" : It's for those who didn't know, and also for those who
forgot....or are trying to forget.
Editor's note -
War Update,
War Alert,
War Warning,
Red War Warning
and
War
Imminent
- refer to articles
regarding the upcoming war with Iran. In the order they appear as
shown above, they represent less serious to more serious possible
threats of war. - mpg
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Monday February 11th 2008 - links
page
Psycho
Backlash: When Lackeys Attack ---
http://www.chris-floyd.com/Articles/Articles/Psycho_Backlash%3A_When_Lackeys_Attack/
Must Read -
Chris Floyd on a roll, when he gets going,
he really gets going....enjoy. - mpg - A quote...."
Last
week's piece on the elitist depravity unintentionally revealed by Mitt
Romney's departure from the presidential campaign ("American
Psycho: An Elite Exposed in an Exit Speech")
---
http://www.chris-floyd.com/Articles/Articles/American_Psycho%3A_An_Elite_Exposed_in_an_Exit_Speech/
--- seems to have hurt the feelings of some bootlickers out
there, who take
great umbrage at seeing Massa disrespected. A (fairly brief) reply to
these fretful lackeys can be found after the jump, for anyone who
cares."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
The Rise of the
Imperial Class - McCain is their avatar, and war is their mother's milk
--- http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justin021108.html
Must Read - A
quote...."Matt Welch, the new editor of Reason, gave a talk at the Cato
Institute about his new book, John McCain: The Myth of a Maverick, in
which he sums up the grave danger to the republic represented by the
McCain campaign. Welch remarked that McCain is part of the "imperial
class," pointing to the politico-military legacy of his father, an
admiral, to underscore the point that the putative GOP nominee is
revving up his motor to become the most militaristic American president
since at least Teddy Roosevelt – perhaps the most belligerent ever."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
Iran
shakes pillars of nuclear accord ---
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JB09Ak01.html
Special
Note - A quote...."....the problem with proposals of
Goldschmidt and other like-minded experts is that they introduce new
and potentially larger problems, particularly with respect to the
relatively successful non-proliferation regime. For one thing, the UN
Security Council's attempt to deprive Iran of the capability to produce
nuclear fuel has no legal precedent. Bottom line, this is an anti-NPT
initiative that will only lead to an anarchy in rules and the collapse
of norms that other nuclear proliferators can take advantage of."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
A
tidal wave of misery is engulfing Iraq
---
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174892/michael_schwartz_the_iraqi_brain_drain
A
quote...."A tidal wave of misery is engulfing Iraq -- and it isn't
the usual violence that Americans are accustomed to hearing about and
tuning out. To be sure, it's rooted in that violence, but this tsunami
of misery is social and economic in nature. It dislodges people from
their jobs, sweeps them from their homes, tears them from their
material possessions, and carries them off from families and
communities. It leaves them stranded in hostile towns or foreign
countries, with no anchor to resist the moment when the next wave of
displacement sweeps over them. -- The victims of this human
tsunami are called refugees if they wash ashore outside the country or
IDPs ("internally displaced persons") if their landing place is within
Iraq's borders. Either way, they are normally left with no permanent
housing, no reliable livelihood, no community support, and no
government aid. All the normal social props that support human lives
are removed, replaced with…nothing."
Just like Katrina - this is how our wealthy elites operate, this is EXACTLY what they wanted to do, this is WHY they started
the sectarian wars in the first place. - mpg - For more on this issue
see....The
Method - 05-07-07 - mpg ---
http://www.reficultnias.org/mikesfiles/blotterminiblogs/themethod-blog-mpg-050707
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
See also....
CHALLENGES
2007-2008: Iraq Progresses To Some Of Its Worst
--- http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40637
A quote...."
During
the surge, the number of Iraqis displaced from their homes quadrupled,
according to the Iraqi Red Crescent. By the end of 2007, the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that there are
over 2.3 million internally displaced persons within Iraq, and over 2.3
million Iraqis who have fled the country. - bold/italics by website
author -
posted 12-31-07
Top
Ten Myths about Iraq 2007 ---
http://www.juancole.com/2007/12/top-ten-myths-about-iraq-2007.html
Must Read - Good
summation of what's happened in Iraq during the recent "troop surge". -
mpg -
posted 12-26-07
New
Reports Undercut Claims that Surge Is Working --
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/24/new-reports-undercut-clai_n_78196.html
A quote...."New reporting from Baghdad and Washington has called into
question the frequently asserted claim that the military surge in Iraq
is working. - In particular, journalists are beginning to point out
that despite security gains inside the Iraqi capital, there are
concrete signs that the "fragile" peace cited by Gen. David Petraeus
over the weekend will not hold once the Pentagon begins reducing troops
numbers to pre-surge levels."
It's sort of funny that all this "partitioning" and "sectarian
cleansing" of Iraq occurred while the surge was
in progress. Must be one of
them there coincidences heh? – mpg -
posted
12-21-07
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
==========
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ========== ====
U.S.-led
Sunni militias turn guns on Iraqi police
---
http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news/2008-02-11/kurd.htm
A
quote...."U.S.-backed Sunni militiamen have killed three police
officers and injured three others, an Iraqi security source refusing to
be named said. -- It is the first time U.S.-financed Sunni
militias turn their guns against government police forces." -- It's starting. - mpg
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
Gates:
Iraq Drawdown May Be Delayed ---
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/02/11/ST2008021100749.html
A
quote...."BAGHDAD, Feb. 11 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said
Monday that it "probably does make sense" to pause troop withdrawals
from Iraq late this summer after the last of the forces sent in as part
of an offensive surge have gone home." -- This should not come as a surprise to
anyone....period. - mpg
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
Berlin
says it has no plan to boost troops in Afghanistan
---
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/12/content_7591405.htm
A
quote...."BERLIN, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The German government on Monday
denied news reports that it is considering to increase its troop levels
in Afghanistan. -- "There is no such consideration at this
time," said Defense Ministry spokesman Thomas Raabe at a press
conference."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
Iran
to privatize $90 bln of energy assets: report
---
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSL0951783020080209?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews
A quote...."DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran plans to privatize 47
firms in its energy sector worth $90 billion and set up a holding
company for these assets which it will list on four international
exchanges, a National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) executive said."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
Iran
banks seek to sidestep US curbs - posted at AntiWar
--- http://www.antiwar.com/
---
http://fairuse.100webcustomers.com/itsonlyfair/ft002.html
A
quote...."Iran’s first investment banks will start operating next
month, part of Tehran’s strategy of opening new banking channels
but also part of its effort to circumvent US restrictions on its
financial sector. -- The three banks will also play a key
role in Iran’s plans to step up aggressively on the privatisation of
national industries including steel, banking, shipping, airlines and
telecommunications, said Heidari Kord Zangeneh, deputy finance minister
and head of the Iranian privatisation organisation."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
IDF to
step up Gaza assassinations ---
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/953099.html
A
quote...."The Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet internal
security service are preparing to step up assassinations against key
Hamas figures in the Gaza Strip in response to the continued Qassam
rocket attacks against Sderot. The renewed campaign of targeted
killings is not likely, at this stage, to include members of the Hamas
political leadership."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
'IDF should
wipe out parts of Gaza' ---
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m41042&s1=h1
A
quote...."Israel will escalate its ground and air operations in the
Gaza Strip this week and may begin targeting members of the Hamas
political leadership in the wake of intensified Kassam rocket attacks
against Sderot, senior defense officials said Sunday."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
A
Discussion with Walt and Mersheimer - The Power of the Israel Lobby
--- http://www.counterpunch.org/ali02112008.html
Special Note - Interview
- A CounterPunch Exclusive, Wajahat Ali interviews Stephen Walt and
John Mearsheimer authors of the incendiary book,
"The
Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy."
---
http://www.amazon.com/Israel-Lobby-U-S-Foreign-Policy/dp/0374177724
--- A quote...."The
Anti-Defamation League, which retaliated by publishing "The Deadliest
Lies: The Myth of the Israeli Lobby" on the same release date as "The
Israel Lobby," lambasted the professors' work as an "anti-Jewish
screed: a relentless assault in scholarly guise." However, talking to
them in person and later observing their demeanor at a speech followed
by question and answer session held at U.C. Berkeley, the two
professors both appeared very calm, rational, collected and lacking the
stereotypical, passionate vitriol and acidic anger unfortunately
espoused by all parties associated with the endless "Israel-Palestine
conflict."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
Mubarak
hits US ---
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/client/pagesdetails.asp?nid=12170&ccid=11
A
quote...."CAIRO, Egypt (Agencies): Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak said Monday that a continued US presence in Iraq would attract
terrorists and threaten the security and stability of the Middle East,
according to the state MENA news agency. -- The remarks, a
sharp deflection from Mubarak’s earlier backing for the American role
in Iraq, come amid a recent chill in US-Egyptian relations and the
Egyptian leader’s increasingly defiant tone."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
Morales
Accuses US Official of Spying ---
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jirqN7XJYpCvs7i5LSoHK9GFaHbQD8UOB7281
A
quote...."LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — President Evo Morales declared a
U.S. Embassy security officer to be an "undesirable person" on Monday
after reports that the officer asked an American scholar and 30 Peace
Corps volunteers to pass along information about Cubans and Venezuelans
working in Bolivia."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
Russia
writes off 93% of Iraq's multi-billion dollar debt-2
--- http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080211/98955631.html
A
quote...."MOSCOW, February 11 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow has cancelled
$12 billion of Iraq's debt, or 93% of the total sum owed by the Middle
East state, Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said on Monday."
Argentina
announces building of second high speed train
---
http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=12609&formato=HTML
A
quote...."A second high speed train for Argentina was announced last
week by President Cristiana Fernandez de Kirchner. Three consortia
submitted bids to build the Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata high-speed
link."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
State
Plans One Billion for Private Security Contractors in Africa
--- http://www.thought-criminal.org/article/node/1259
A
quote...."While attention may be focused on Iraq, the U.S. government
is also spending substantial cash on private security contractors in
Africa. I had never heard of the AFRICAP contract until today, when I
noted that the Department of State is looking to recompete a contract
worth approximately one billion dollars to train peacekeepers and
provide military logistics in Africa:" -- They don't call it the Military Industrial
Complex for nothing. - mpg
==========
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ========== ====
Bush's
Unitary Executive Ends the Rule of Law, the Constitution, the Bill of
Rights and the Separation of Powers
---
http://existentialistcowboy.blogspot.com/2008/02/bushs-unitary-executive-ends-rule-of.html
Must Read - A quote...."Bush has
decreed his "long term plan" for Iraq, committing the US, without
Congressional authority, to a permanent presence. His decree is a poke
in the eye to the public, the congress, the rule of law! Bush believes
himself to be above the rule of law, the authority of Congress and the
courts. When England was confronted by Charles I, a monarch who
likewise presumed to be above Parliament, the English simply marched
Charles out onto an improvised platform at the Banqueting House in
Whitehall where they proceeded to chop off his head!
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
US
to hold 9/11 show trial at Guantánamo
--- http://wsws.org/articles/2008/feb2008/911-f12.shtml
A
quote...."The US military on Monday announced charges against six
individuals it alleges helped plan the terrorist attacks of September
11, 2001. The six prisoners—all of whom have been held incommunicado
for more than six years, deprived of any legal rights or
representation, and subjected to illegal and abusive interrogation
methods—are to be tried in a single trial before a military commission
at the Guantánamo Bay prison camp. The prosecution is seeking
the death penalty for alleged war crimes."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
US
accused of using 'kangaroo court' to try men accused of role in
September 11 attacks
---
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-accused-of-using-kangaroo
---
-court-to-try-men-accused-of-role-in-september-11-attacks-781007.html
Related
article - A quote...."The United States military announced
yesterday that it was bringing death penalty charges against Khalid
Sheikh Mohammed and five other men suspected of orchestrating the
September 11 attacks, and intended to try them under the Bush
administration's much-criticised military tribunal system, which is
subject only to partial oversight by the civilian appeals
system." -- They
tortured the guys for six years, wouldn't let them have lawyers for
part of the time, wouldn't let them see the evidence against them,
wouldn't let them confront their accusers, wouldn't try them in
public...the list goes on and on and on. Stalin would be proud.
- mpg
See also....9/11
Commission controversy ---
http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/30/624314.aspx
See
also....9/11
- the big cover-up? ---
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/peter_tatchell/2007/09/911_the_big_coverup.html
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Loss
of Civil Liberties Since 9/11 ---
http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/project.jsp?project=lossofcivilliberties
For
more on this issue see....
Thirty
Five Acts to
Restore Americans' Rights 11-10-06 - mpg
---
http://www.reficultnias.org/mikesfiles/seventeenacts-blog-mpg-111006
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
San
Francisco Chronicle Acknowledges ENDGAME By Homeland Security
---
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_william__080210_san_francisco_chroni.htm
A
quote...."In a rare breath of fresh air, The San Francisco Chronicle
has now written an article confirming concentration camps in the United
Sates and the possible impact of “Endgame” - and based on the few
comments that were made, people don’t want to believe the truth.
Unfortunately, Americans are acting the same as the Jews, disabled, and
dissidents did during Hitler’s Third Reich, always believing it could
never happen to them…"
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ========== ====
A
Gravel/Nader Ticket? You Say You Want A Revolution?
---
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_timothy__080211_a_gravel_2fnader_ticke.htm
A
quote...."I received an e-mail from the Gravel campaign and in it was
a petition to start a Gravel/Nader or Nader/Gravel ticket. I signed
that petition. I realize that many people believe that Nader is a
“spoiler” but I think differently. The problem lies not with Ralph
Nader, but with the Democratic Party. The way I justify my argument is
that if the Democrats would stop presenting us with the Military
Industrialist Complex candidate “du joir”, then we could rally around a
candidate we could all support."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
Diebold Admits
Overstating '07 Election Revenue by 300%; Announces 5% Workforce Layoff
as Feds Continue Investigations and Stock Price Keeps
Falling
---
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5669 ---
A
quote...."Following a short "dead cat bounce" at the end of
last month, after a precipitous six-month stock price plunge devaluing
the company's net worth by more than 50% since an insider sell-off last
August, Diebold's fortunes began turning south again late last week as
they were forced to begin restating previously-inflated revenue figures
from 2006 and 2007." -- You
see, cheating the voters of this country is perfectly OK, but cheating
wealthy share holders? Big mistake! - mpg
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Mortgage
Crisis Spreads Past Subprime Loans
--- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/business/12credit.html
A
quote...."The credit crisis is no longer just a subprime mortgage
problem. - As home prices fall and banks tighten lending standards,
people with good, or prime, credit histories are falling behind on
their payments for home loans, auto loans and credit cards at a
quickening pace, according to industry data and economists."
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
Global
stock market losses in Jan reach 5.2 trillion US dollars
---
http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=12608&formato=HTML
A
quote...."Fears of a global slowdown triggered by US housing market
problems wiped 5.2 trillion US dollars off global stock markets in
January, analysts estimate. According to ratings firm Standard and
Poor's, 50 out of 52 share indexes around the world ended the month
lower. (5.2 trillion is equivalent to two GDP of France)."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
The Arc
of Insurgencies - An End Foreseen?
--- http://www.counterpunch.org/avnery02112008.html
Book Review - This is
William Polk's book, "Violent
Politics" ---
http://www.amazon.com/Violent-Politics/dp/B000SIV10M
--- A quote...."A WISE person once said: "A fool learns
from his experience. An intelligent person learns from the experience
of others." To which one could add: "And an idiot does not even learn
from his own experience." - So what can we learn from a
book which shows that we do not learn from experience?"
========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ==========
========== ====
Sunday February 10th 2008 - links
page
The Chicken Doves:
Elected to end the war, Democrats have surrendered to Bush on Iraq
--- http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/12725
Must Read - A
quote...."Quietly, while Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been
inspiring Democrats everywhere with their rolling bitchfest,
congressional superduo Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have completed one
of the most awesome political collapses since Neville Chamberlain. At
long last, the Democratic leaders of Congress have publicly surrendered
on the Iraq War, just one year after being swept into power with a firm
mandate to end it."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Uniting
to stop election horror: Moving beyond lesser evils ---
http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_2939.shtml
Some quotes...."Every election we get a worse president than the
previous
one, and we are on the verge of another catastrophic selection.
-- The system is designed to give us little hope for anything
better than the lesser of evils, with the hopelessness menacing wider
and deeper every four years. If you don’t vote for Hitler, you get
Satan. At least Hitler’s human, you are told, and you will regret it if
you don’t vote for the only one with a realistic chance to stop the
hoofed one." -- "Some of us have wondered if Ralph Nader
could be talked into being a running mate for the Green Party
candidate? - We would not likely win with such a candidate in a race
against Republocrat candidates who have all the free mass media and
billions of dollars in
bribes
--- from
Forces
of Greed --- that
don’t give a damn about this country or its people. - But we could
sleep better at night knowing we have begun to build for the
future --
Editor's note: If he were to read it, Mr. Reficul would
find this article
to be amusing. - mpg
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Rupert
Cornwell: Out of America ---
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/rupert-cornwell-out-of-america-780404.html
A quote...."Whoever wins the presidency will most likely fail to take
on the unholy trinity of arms manufacturers, the Pentagon, and Congress"
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Adrian
Hamilton: Nato should not be fighting this war in Afghanistan
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/adrian-hamilton/adrian-hamilton-nato-should-not-be-fighting-this-war-in-afghanistan-779753.html
A quote...."As the defence ministers of Nato meet in Vilnius, and Condi
Rice and David Miliband descend on Afghanistan as part of their effort
to shore up the Nato campaign in the country, someone ought to be
asking the question: "What the hell is a North Atlantic alliance doing
in a north Asian country at all?"
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Standoff
in an Iraqi province ---
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq10feb10,1,3132219.story
A quote...."BAGHDAD -- A potential security crisis loomed Saturday in
troubled Diyala province as significant numbers of a U.S.-funded force
of Sunni fighters left their posts, demanding the ouster of the
provincial police chief."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Contractor deaths
up 17 percent across Iraq in 2007 ---
http://www.iraq-war.ru/article/155981
A quote...."WASHINGTON — The number of civilian contractors reported
killed in Iraq jumped 17 percent in 2007 and accounted for more than
one in four deaths associated with the U.S. occupation last year."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
El
Salvador may pull 'almost all' troops from Iraq ---
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N05341756.htm
A quote...."SAN SALVADOR, Feb 5 (Reuters) - El Salvador, the only Latin
American country which still has troops in Iraq, is prepared topull out
most of its 280 soldiers there amid growing opposition at home to the
U.S.-led war."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
King of
Jordan goes to Moscow to discuss Iraq, Mideast situation
--- http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080210/98854865.html
A quote...."MOSCOW, February 10 (RIA Novosti) - King of Jordan Abdullah
II arrives in Moscow on a two-day visit on Sunday to discuss the
situation in Iraq, Iran and the Middle East, a Russian presidential
aide said."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Chavez
Threatens To Cut Off Oil Sales To U.S. ---
http://www.blacklistednews.com/view.asp?ID=5544
A quote...."CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez on Sunday
threatened to cut off oil sales to the United States if Exxon Mobil
Corp. wins court judgments to seize his government's assets."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Peace
Corps, Fulbright Scholar Asked to 'Spy' on Cubans, Venezuelans
--- http://www.blacklistednews.com/view.asp?ID=5540
A quote...."In an apparent violation of U.S. policy, Peace Corps
volunteers and a Fulbright scholar were asked by a U.S. Embassy
official in Bolivia "to basically spy" on Cubans and Venezuelans in the
country, according to Peace Corps personnel and the Fulbright scholar
involved."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Framing
Muslims in Turkey, Britain, Egypt and the Good Old USA
---
http://www.jonesreport.com/article/02_08/070208_framing_muslims.html
More on the Turkey/Gladio connection. - mpg
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Bugged:
British Prisons Spy On Lawyers, Visitors ---
http://winterpatriot.blogspot.com/2008/02/bugged-british-prisons-spy-on-lawyers.html
A quote...."In the UK, the Telegraph has yet another blockbuster story
about yet another way in which the rule of law has been eviscerated
since 9/11 -- not by terrorists (who could never do such a thing) but
by governments: "
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Suchitoto 13:
El Salvador’s “American-made” Terrorism Act in Corporate Play
--- http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/12750
A quote...."In 2001 El Salvador replaced the colon with the U.S. dollar
as its national currency. In 2006 its right-wing government replaced
lawful dissent with U.S. inspired anti-terrorism legislation as its
national policy. In return, the Salvadoran people are offering
Americans an object lesson in the value of our Bill of Rights when
dollar meets dissent. -- On the morning of July 2, 2007, an
estimated 400 Salvadorans who were waiting for buses to take them to
the small town of Suchitoto to attend a public forum on the
privatization of water utilities were accused of blocking the road and
were attacked by riot police firing rubber bullets and tear gas. Two
women and one man were arrested."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
There’s
Nothing Mainstream About the Corporate Media ---
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/10/6968/
A quote...."As we stumble toward another presidential election, it’s
never been more clear that our political process is being warped by a
corporate stranglehold on the free flow of information. Amidst a
virtual blackout of coverage of a horrific war, a global ecological
crisis and an advancing economic collapse, what passes for the mass
media is itself in collapse. What’s left of our democracy teeters on
the brink."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Lies,
Damn Lies and the Murdoch Empire ---
http://baltimorechronicle.com/2008/020708Lendman.shtml
A quote...."For Big Media, truth is a scarce commodity and in times of
war it's the first casualty, or as esteemed journalist John Pilger
noted: "Journalism (not truth) is the first casualty (of war). Not only
that: it('s)....a weapon of war (by its) virulent censorship....by
omission (and its) power....can mean....life and death for people in
faraway countries, such as Iraq."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Some Of
The Outrageous - Lies About 9/11 ---
http://www.countercurrents.org/lopisi080208.htm
A quote...."It is hard to pick a place to start in terms of talking
about the most outrageous lies that the Bush administration and the
9/11 Commission have presented to the people in this country as a
reason to attack Afghanistan and Iraq and to launch a "fake war on
terror"
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
September
11th Advocates ('Jersey Girls') Comment on the Impending Release of
Philip Shenon's Book
---
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20080208124540324
A quote...."Philip Shenon's new book,
The Commission:
* --- http://www.buzzflash.com/store/reviews/960
--- The Uncensored
History of the 9/11 Investigation, serves to justify our suspicions and
the concerns of the Family Steering Committee, that we attempted to
publicly air during the course of the 9/11 Commission's tenure." --
*Link added by website editor.
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Using
the Internet as a weapon
---
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/john-dvoraks-second-opinion-middle/story.aspx?
---
guid=%7B6FD0D324-8FF9-4900-BCA9-614914BA3E87%7D&dist=hplatest
A quote...."BERKELEY, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- Nobody knows what caused
the cut cables in the Mediterranean that interrupted Internet service
to parts of the Middle East last week, but there are now conspiracy
theories galore written by bloggers and pundits."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Chinese
cut off from internet ---
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1162550.stm
A quote...."Damage to an undersea cable has cut millions of Chinese off
from the internet, and the problem could take weeks to fix. - China
Telecom has said that a major cable was cut at about 0800 local time
(0000 GMT)."
The two articles shown above have been categorized as a
War Alert
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Major
Siegelman update... ---
http://www.atlargely.com/2008/02/major-siegelman.html
A quote...."Okay, folks, whatever you did with your calls and emails,
what I have now learned is that the finished product (finished for some
time) by 60 Minutes was finally screened for CBS corporate this past
Friday. Now let's not all give up and go home with a victory just yet.
We have work still to do, because until the show airs, we have not yet
won. I would urge you to continue to call CBS corporate expressing your
interest in this story."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Five
Omaha policemen implicated in deception and false testimony in
COINTELPRO case against Black Panthers
---
http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_michael__080208_five_omaha_policemen.htm
A quote...."Two leaders of the Omaha chapter of the Black Panthers'
National Committee to Combat Fascism, Ed Poindexter and Mondo we Langa
(formerly David Rice), are serving life sentences for the 1970 bombing
murder of Omaha Police officer Larry Minard. Officer Minard was
killed at a booby-trapped vacant house while answering a call about a
woman screaming. Police arrested 15 year-old Duane Peak for the
murder who quickly implicated Poindexter and Langa in exchange for a
reduced sentence. Peak, the confessed killer, walked free in
1974. Poindexter and Langa remain behind bars and both deny any
involvement in the crime."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Brazil’s
industrial output in 2007 second best of decade ---
http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=12597&formato=HTML
A quote...."The government’s IBGE statistics institute points out that
industrial output was up in 21 of 27 sectors averaging 6% in 2007
compared to 8.3% in 2004, 2.8% in 2006 and 3.1% in 2005. Leading
sectors were the automotive industry, 15.2% and the production of
machinery and equipment 17.7%."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Tricom
breakdown exposes fragility of Australian share market
--- http://wsws.org/articles/2008/feb2008/tric-f11.shtml
A quote...."Australian share market indexes have fallen sharply since
the beginning of the year, with share prices down more than 11 percent
for the year and over 15 percent since their November peak. This is a
worse performance than on Wall Street. Market volatility was compounded
at the end of January when a prominent stockbroking firm, Tricom, was
unable to make its scheduled midday payments for its share purchases
for two days in a row. -- Tricom became the first
stockbroker to fail to settle its accounts since 1975."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
How
Big Media Hides the Real Economic News ---
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/how-big-media-hides-real-economic-news
A quote...."The key finding in that report is that the total number of
hours worked (and paid) in non-farm businesses during the fourth
quarter of 2007 fell at an annual rate of 1.5 percent. Indeed, the
total number of hours worked in the fourth quarter was less than in the
fourth quarter of 2006. The report shows total non-farm jobs also
falling at a 0.5 percent annualized rate in Q4 and rising by only 0.4
percent year over year. - Furthermore, after adjusting for the
increased costs of gasoline, health care, etc., real average (not
median) salary and benefit compensation for all U.S. workers fell at an
annualized rate of 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter and by 0.3 percent
year over year."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Saturday February 9th 2008 -
links
page
America’s
Blinders ---
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19309.htm
Must Read - From the
history file, first Published April 2006 Issue Of The Progressive
Magazine. - A quote...." 08/02/08 "ICH" - Now that most Americans
no longer believe in the war, now that they no longer trust Bush and
his Administration, now that the evidence of deception has become
overwhelming (so overwhelming that even the major media, always late,
have begun to register indignation), we might ask: How come so many
people were so easily fooled? -- The question is important
because it might help us understand why Americans—members of the media
as well as the ordinary citizen—rushed to declare their support as the
President was sending troops halfway around the world to Iraq."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
The
New Authoritarians ---
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_dan_feje_080209_the_new_authoritaria.htm
A quote...."We need a change in nomenclature. Those who continue to
support the administration's radical theory of executive power are
properly described as authoritarians. Once upon a time they may have
been conservative but I think it's safe to say that circa February 2008
conservatism has been orphaned by its ostensible champions. As a
philosophy for governance it has no meaningful support on the national
stage and hasn't for years. I won't dwell on long-forgotten odes to
small government and fiscal responsibility, the counseling of prudence
and pragmatism in foreign affairs, or reverence for tradition and
precedent in conducting the nation's business. All of it deserves more
attention and the erstwhile conservatives served us all very poorly by
abandoning it, but what bothers me most is their enthusiastic embrace
of militarism, torture, fearmongering and a near-voyeuristic obsession
with surveillance."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Documentary:
Military brass frequently viewed hooded, shackled detainees
---
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Documentary_Military_brass_frequently_viewed_hooded_0209.html
A quote...."Flying in the face of statements members of the Bush
Administration have made denying the use, and advocacy, of torture in
their war effort, evidence of brutal treatment of captives continues to
accumulate. -- PBS' Bill Moyers delves into Oscar-nominated
documentary "Taxi to the Dark Side," highlighting an Afghan taxi driver
who was detained and beaten to death by American forces."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Moyers
on Taxi to the Darkside ---
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02082008/profile4.html
Related article - A quote...."Enhanced interrogation. Black sites.
Extraordinary rendition. Enemy combatant. These are just a few of the
new terms making their way into the American vocabulary. --
In 2003, the abuses at Abu Ghraib leaked to the press and the world.
Since then, a steady stream of reports has suggested that some American
agencies have used a network of secret prison, extraordinary renditions
and brutal interrogation tactics on suspected terrorists."
Watch
the
Video || ---
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02082008/watch.html
Listen to
the Podcast || ---
http://www-tc.pbs.org/moyers/rss/media/BMJ-1144.mp3
Read
the
Transcript || ---
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02082008/transcript1.html
Comment
|| --- http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Five
Years Later, Direct Action - To Stop The War Reemerges
--- http://www.countercurrents.org/campbell080208.htm
A quote...."After more than a decade of military aggression and
genocidal sanctions, on March 19, 2003, the United States launched it's
most recent attack against the people of Iraq. The following day, the
people of the world took to the streets in protest. More than 20,000
turned out in San Francisco to take part in coordinated, nonviolent
direct actions which shut down the Financial District of the city.
Additional targets included military recruitment centers, the Bay
Bridge and the Federal Building. Actions continued on March 21 and in
the end more than 2,200 people were arrested with virtually all charges
being dropped."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Mukasey's
law... ---
http://www.atlargely.com/2008/02/mukaseys-law.html
A quote...."The Attorney General of the United States quite literally
turned to the Nazi defense in order to argue why he won't allow the
Department of Justice to investigate war crimes committed by US
military and intelligence personnel under the orders of the US
President. The argument that Mukasey presents is summarized in this
Boston Globe article as follows:"
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Another
Act of War ---
http://www.antiwar.com/prather/?articleid=12338
A quote...."In June of 2004, a neo-crazy media sycophant at Reuters
(Charbonneau) reported that unidentified "diplomats and nuclear
experts" had told him that "an experimental high-tech intelligence
technique developed by the United States" had detected what sounded
like the whine of gas-centrifuges, spinning at supersonic speeds,
operating "somewhere" in Syria."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Deep
State Coup Averted in Turkey ---
http://www.antiwar.com/deliso/?articleid=12332
A quote...."On 22 January, Turkish police arrested 33 individuals, some
connected with the military, in the largest concerted action against
the "deep state" – that shadowy underworld linking extremists and
criminals from the spheres of military, political, judicial and the
academy. Some were accused of belonging to an ultranationalist group,
Ergenekon, that was allegedly "preparing a series of bomb attacks aimed
at fomenting chaos ahead of a coup in 2009 against Turkey's
center-right government, whose European Union-linked reforms are
opposed by ultranationalists."
See also....
Mass
Arrests Expose Operations of Turkey’s “Deep State” -
posted 02-07-08
---
http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2373933
See also....
Gladio
– Death Plan For Democracy -
posted
02-07-08
---
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19305.htm
See also....
False
Flag Ops
---
http://www.reficultnias.org/mikesfiles/weblists/falseflagops-weblist-mpg-082006
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Egypt
walks a dangerous tightrope over Gaza --
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080209.wgaza09/BNStory/International/home
A quote...."CAIRO and JERUSALEM — When Mohammed Abu Treika scored a key
goal against Sudan in an African Cup match last week, he endeared
himself to millions of fans in this soccer-mad country. But it was what
he did next that made him a true national hero. -- As banks
of television cameras zoomed in on him, Mr. Abu Treika celebrated his
goal
by pulling his
red Egyptian national team sweater over his head. (YuTb - 23s -
020508)
--- http://youtube.com/watch?v=TRvsO3FnPGI ---
Underneath was a plain white T-shirt emblazoned with a
simple slogan, written in English and Arabic: “Sympathize with Gaza,”
it read." -- link added by website editor (the song is in Arabic,
content is unknown and is not the responsibility of this editor.)
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Abbas
says no to agreement with Hamas ---
http://therealnews.com/web/index.php?thisdataswitch=0&thisid=875&thisview=item
Video - A
quote...."Osamah Khalil: Egypt trying to push agreement between Abbas
and Hamas" -- "Mishuk Munier, presenter: Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak invited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas
leaders to Cairo on Wednesday for separate talks. The meetings were
called in an effort to resolve the political crisis caused by the
opening of the Gaza border by militants last week. Barriers had been
blown up by Hamas in an attempt to provide relief from the blockade and
embargo of the Gaza Strip."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Association of
Journalists of new Iraqi anti-occupation ---
http://www.iraq-war.ru/article/155949
A quote...."Launched in Baghdad the Iraqi Journalists Association, a
new formation for the Defence of Iraqi Journalists and support them
indigent and printing studio made after occupation authorities and
their governments to solve the four sources of livelihood, the Ministry
of Information in 2003."
For more on what's going to happen to these guys see....
US
- Killing the Messenger ---
http://www.reficultnias.org/mikesfiles/weblists/uskillingthemessenger-weblist-mpg-112907
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
‘Americans
have got her [Benazir Bhutto] eliminated’ ---
http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=162969
Interview - Tehelka
Magazine interviews former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief
Hamid Gul (posted in the Tehran Times) - A quote...."These are two
things the Americans very badly want. One is a pre-emptive doctrine
which has not yet been consummated. Even Musharraf has been resisting a
direct ingress, howsoever pro-America he might be. So, how could
Benazir do this? How could she hand over AQ Khan to them?
-- But she came and in the 70 days she spent, not once did she
mention either AQ Khan or the Taliban. She had drifted from the agenda
and no wonder Musharraf said before and after her death that the lady
had broken her promises." -- *
Hamid Gul*
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
ROMANIA:
Powerless in the New Cold War ---
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41130
A quote...."BUCHAREST, Feb 8 (IPS) - With new Cold War rhetoric
emerging all around, Romania and Bulgaria are more uncertain than ever
about their foreign policy."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Gazprom
threatens to halt gas supplies to Ukraine on Feb. 12
--- http://en.rian.ru/world/20080208/98788278.html
A quote...."MOSCOW, February 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russian energy giant
Gazprom warned Friday that it could halt natural gas supplies to
Ukraine at 10:00 a.m. [7 a.m. GMT] on February 12 over Kiev's
outstanding debt for gas deliveries."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Vladimir
Putin heralds start of 'new arms race' ---
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/09/wruss109.xml
A quote...."We are being forced to take retaliatory steps. Russia has
and always will have a response to these new challenges. In the near
future, Russia will start production of new weapons systems that will
not be inferior and in some cases excel those held by other countries."
-- "This was necessary to defend Russia from unnamed foreign
powers who, he [Putin] claimed, were bent on controlling the world's
natural resources."
Just can't guess which country he's talking about, after all the US is
here to bring "freedom and democracy" to the world. - mpg
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Discovery
Channel Drops Plans To Air ‘Taxi To The Dark Side’ Because It Is Too
‘Controversial'
---
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/08/gibney-taxi-discovery/
A quote...."Taxi to the Dark Side, a documentary about an innocent
Afghan taxi driver tortured to death by U.S. officials at Bagram Air
Base, has received wide critical acclaim since its debut in April at
the Tribeca Film Festival. The New York Times’s A.O. Scott said, “If
recent American history is ever going to be discussed with the
necessary clarity and ethical rigor, this film will be
essential.” --
See also....
60
Minutes Caves to Pressure from White House on Siegelman Story
---
http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_larisa_a_080205_60_minutes_caves_to_.htm
A quote...."Well folks, seems that 60 Minutes is postponing (read
"killing") its Siegelman story. The excuse I am told for this lapse in
ethics is that the network needs more time to vet the whistle-blower,
Dana Jill Simpson. You see, the reason the network suddenly needs more
time to vet Simpson is that the White House has launched a direct
campaign inside CBS to discredit her and just to make sure the dirt
sticks, they have called in some favors too. I am told that
Senator Jeff Sessions has been instructed to help the White House
discredit Simpson as part of his "Senatorial" duties. Nice system of
government we have here, eh?"
Ahhhh, our ever so faithless, spineless, craven, cowardly, faux-news,
pressitutes do it again. Aren’t they disgusted with being on
bended knee all the time, don't those guys in the so-called "fourth
estate" ever get sick and tired of being a bunch of sycophantic
lackeys?
Don’t they have any pride left at all? - mpg -
posted 02-05-08
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Obama
Sweeps Clinton in ‘Crushing’ Fashion - Takes Washington State,
Nebraska, Louisiana, and Virgin Islands
--- http://progressivedailybeacon.com/pdb/?p=131
A quote...."The Clinton campaign promised to halt Obama’s momentum
within the next 72 hours. How? The only possibilities are to go strong
Rove-like negative OR to announce a host of pledged support from
Super-Delegates (call it the, “If you can’t win the popular vote, get
appointed by the rich and powerful” campaign). The Clintons need to do
something though, because the upstart Junior Senator from Illinois
mopped the floor with the powerful Clinton campaign machine:"
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Is
Dennis Kucinich Getting McKinney'd ---
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_kevin_ze_080208_is_dennis_kucinich_g.htm
A quote...."On the Hill some call it being McKinney’d – the treatment
Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney received when she
was in Congress. Twice, rather than protecting the incumbent, the
Democrats put up well funded challengers against her. Now, it
looks like Dennis Kucinich may be facing the same treatment in
Cleveland." --
See also....
Kucinich
Under Fire ---
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080207_kucinich_under_fire/
A quote...."The FEC [Federal Election Commission] reports released last
week show that in the Democratic primary, I am currently being outspent
by a margin of 5-1. -- Corporate Cleveland has organized
its considerable resources behind a candidate who has had a three-week
television campaign of a “Swift-boat"-type distortion of my record. I
have always felt that the seat never belonged to me, but belongs to
working men and women and their families, who are entitled to
representation in the Congress, especially given the corporate
domination of both political parties." -- *
Dennis Kucinich*
Kucinich spoke the truth and to our elites that is something that can
NEVER be
tolerated....or forgiven. - mpg -
posted
02-08-08
- See....
The
Strength of the New Roman Empire - 10-07-07 - mpg
---
http://www.reficultnias.org/mikesfiles/blotterminiblogs/liesoftheempire-blog-mpg-100707
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Wheat
Surges to Record as U.S. Supply May Drop to 60-Year Low -
http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aTrp83Ld88ds&refer=home
A quote...."Feb. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Wheat rose to a record for a third
day on the Chicago Board of Trade as the U.S. forecast its lowest
inventories in 60 years."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
G-7
Says Growth May Weaken, Market Turmoil to Persist (Update3)
---
http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ai6TAXb7ea8U&refer=home
A quote...."Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Group of Seven policy makers said the
U.S. economy may slow further, eroding global growth, and officials
forecast more financial-market turmoil."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
FDIC
Prepares For Bank Failures With Policy Paper ---
http://www.thought-criminal.org/article/node/1250
A quote...."
Part 1 proposes a
rule governing how and at what point deposit account balances would be
determined in the event of an insured depository institution failure.
This part would apply to all insured depository institutions.
--
Part 2 proposes
requirements to facilitate the process for determining the insurance
status of depositors of large insured depository institutions in the
event of failure."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
US
dollar continues free fall against Latin currencies ---
http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=12595&formato=HTML
A quote...."With the exception of Venezuela and Argentina that have
government administered exchange rates, in the rest of the main
Latinamerican money markets the depreciation of the US dollar continues
with no end in the short term according to the latest data."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
OPEC
may switch to euro ---
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL0882239220080208
Special Note - A
quote...."DUBAI (Reuters) - OPEC may abandon the dollar for pricing oil
and adopt
the euro but any such switch will "take time", OPEC Secretary-General
Abdullah al-Badri was quoted as saying by a weekly magazine."
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====
Credit Crisis:
Precursor of Great Inflation ---
http://www.mises.org/story/2863
Special Note - A
quote...."According to the Austrian Monetary Theory of the Trade Cycle
it is the government-run money-supply monopoly that has not only caused
the crisis; the theory also diagnoses that rate cuts will not solve the
crisis, but will make it even worse."
But if it doesn't create some inflation, our elites will have to start
another war - mpg
See....
Effective
Fed Funds Rate 03-24-07 - mpg
---
http://www.reficultnias.org/mikesfiles/cachedfiles/fedfundschart-photopg-cached-032407
See....
The
Scourge of the Wealthy - Deflation / The Balm of the Wealthy - War -
09-30-06 - mpg
---
http://www.reficultnias.org/mikesfiles/scorge&balm-essay-mpg-093006
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
========== ====