3 Ron Paul Iowa Banner ;o)
Just a little banner I knocked up while bored at work...feel free to use it as you please. ;o)
0 CBN: Hatred Of Israel & The Jewish People Is On The Rise Around The World!
Quote Danny Danone " The next one's in line will be the Christians in Europe...and the Christians in the US.."
I think this video in itself was probably the most racist, twisted, 4 minutes of garbage I've heard this month.....but I'm sure theres more to come. They might have well said "kill all the muslims"....I need to join the Mel Gibson fan club, that man has a point...and he's being thrown over hot coals for it.
0 Psssst France: Here Is Why You May Want To Cool It With The Britain Bashing - The UK's 950% Debt To GDP
Source: Tyler Durden http://www.zerohedge.com
While certainly humorous, entertaining and very, very childish, the recent war of words between France and Britain has the potential to become the worst thing to ever happen to Europe.
Actually, make that the world and modern civilization.
Why? Because while we sympathize with England, and are stunned by the immature petulant response from France and its head banker Christian Noyer to the threat of an imminent S&P downgrade of its overblown AAA rating, the truth is that France is actually 100% correct in telling the world to shift its attention from France and to Britain. So why is this bad. Because as the chart below shows, if there is anything the global financial system needs, is for the rating agencies, bond vigilantes, and lastly, general public itself, to realize that the UK's consolidated debt (non-financial, financial, government and household) to GDP is... just under 1000%. That's right: the UK debt, when one adds to its more tenable sovereign debt tranche all the other debt carried on UK books (and thus making the transfer of private debt to the public balance sheet impossible), is nearly ten times greater than the country's GDP. To call that "game over" is an insult to game overs everywhere. So here's the bottom line: France should quietly and happily accept a downgrade, because the worst that could happen would be a few big French banks collapsing, and that's it. If, on the other hand, the UK becomes the center of attention (recall this is the same UK that allows unlimited rehypothecation of worthless assets, and the same UK that unleashed the juggernaut known as AIG-FP's Joe Cassano - after all there is a reason why the UK has 600% its GDP in financial liabilities - financial innovation always goes there where it is least regulated), then this island, which far more so than the US is the true center of the global banking ponzi scheme, will suddenly find itself at the mercy of the market. At that point the only question is whether the vigilantes will dare to take down the UK, as said take down will result in an implosion in the very fabric of modern finance, much more so than what even a full collapse of France could ever achieve, or if due to the certain Mutual Assured Destruction that would follow a coordinated UK onslaught, the market will simply very quietly proceed to ignore the elephant in the room.
While certainly humorous, entertaining and very, very childish, the recent war of words between France and Britain has the potential to become the worst thing to ever happen to Europe.
Actually, make that the world and modern civilization.
Why? Because while we sympathize with England, and are stunned by the immature petulant response from France and its head banker Christian Noyer to the threat of an imminent S&P downgrade of its overblown AAA rating, the truth is that France is actually 100% correct in telling the world to shift its attention from France and to Britain. So why is this bad. Because as the chart below shows, if there is anything the global financial system needs, is for the rating agencies, bond vigilantes, and lastly, general public itself, to realize that the UK's consolidated debt (non-financial, financial, government and household) to GDP is... just under 1000%. That's right: the UK debt, when one adds to its more tenable sovereign debt tranche all the other debt carried on UK books (and thus making the transfer of private debt to the public balance sheet impossible), is nearly ten times greater than the country's GDP. To call that "game over" is an insult to game overs everywhere. So here's the bottom line: France should quietly and happily accept a downgrade, because the worst that could happen would be a few big French banks collapsing, and that's it. If, on the other hand, the UK becomes the center of attention (recall this is the same UK that allows unlimited rehypothecation of worthless assets, and the same UK that unleashed the juggernaut known as AIG-FP's Joe Cassano - after all there is a reason why the UK has 600% its GDP in financial liabilities - financial innovation always goes there where it is least regulated), then this island, which far more so than the US is the true center of the global banking ponzi scheme, will suddenly find itself at the mercy of the market. At that point the only question is whether the vigilantes will dare to take down the UK, as said take down will result in an implosion in the very fabric of modern finance, much more so than what even a full collapse of France could ever achieve, or if due to the certain Mutual Assured Destruction that would follow a coordinated UK onslaught, the market will simply very quietly proceed to ignore the elephant in the room.
1 FBI Investigating Iowa Caucus Hacking Threat
Of course the implications of a Ron Paul win at Iowa, have nothing to do with the perfect timing of this report...
0 If you have never heard the full version of this....take a seat for just 9mins and listen..
If you cannot do 9 mins....skip to 3:30.
0 "Will This Strategy Of Pretending Ron Paul Doesn't Exist Work For The Republicans?"
If Ron Paul does win, he's defiantly going to need a few pairs of these....
Blast Boxers: Bullet-proof underwear
Blast Boxers are underwear for men with bullet proof kevlar material that is known to make bulletproof clothing material. With the model boxer, underwear guaranteed this will protect the “future” you are well, let the bullets, bomb fragments were not a problem.
Boxers Blast was created to remember a lot of troops in Afghanistan there is an injury to the lower body including parts that one. Unfortunately, Boxers Blast can not protect if kicked
0 File on 1978 Probe of Threat Against John Lennon Released
FBI Release Files on 1978 Probe of Threat Against John Lennon
Newly released FBI files on former Beatles musician John Lennon center on a 1978 investigation of a violent threat made against him. The first two parts of the three-part file consist of previously released material from investigations that mention Lennon’s connection to anti-war and related groups in the late 1960s and early 1970s.The Vault is our new electronic reading room, containing more than 3,000 documents that have been scanned from paper into digital copies so you can read them in the comfort of your home or office.
Included in The Vault are many new files that have been released to the public but never added to this website; dozens of records previously posted on our site but removed as requests diminished; files from our previous electronic reading room, and new, previously unreleased files.
John Winston Lennon (1940-1980) was a British born singer and songwriter known for his years in the Beatles and for his later solo career. The first two parts of this release consist of previously released material from investigations that mention Lennon’s connection to anti-war and related groups in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The third part was released and posted to the Vault in November 2011. It consists of other references to Lennon in FBI files and a 1978 investigation of a violent threat made against him.
0 Justice Department Releases Investigative Findings on the Seattle Police Department
Based on a randomized, stratified and statistically valid sample of SPD’s use of force reports from Jan. 1, 2009, to April 4, 2011, factual findings include:
When SPD officers use force, they do so in an unconstitutional manner nearly 20 percent of the time;
- SPD officers too quickly resort to the use of impact weapons, such as batons and flashlights. When SPD officers use batons, 57 percent of the time it is either unnecessary or excessive;
- SPD officers escalate situations, and use unnecessary or excessive force, when arresting individuals for minor offenses.This trend is pronounced in encounters with persons with mental illnesses or those under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is problematic because SPD estimates that 70 percent of use of force encounters involve these populations.
Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department today announced its findings that the Seattle Police Department (SPD) has engaged in a pattern or practice of excessive force that violates the Constitution and federal law. A letter detailing the findings was delivered to Seattle Mayor Michael McGinn and Police Chief John Diaz.
The investigation, launched on March 31, 2011, and conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, focused on whether SPD engages in unconstitutional or unlawful policing through either (1) the use of excessive force or (2) discriminatory policing. The Justice Department found reasonable cause to believe that SPD engages in a pattern or practice of excessive force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The Justice Department does not make a finding that SPD engages in a pattern or practice of discriminatory policing, but the investigation raised serious concerns that some of SPD’s policies and practices, particularly those related to pedestrian encounters, could result in unlawful discriminatory policing. These practices undermine SPD’s ability to build trust among segments of Seattle’s diverse communities.
The Justice Department’s investigation involved an in-depth review of SPD documents, as well as extensive community engagement. The department reviewed thousands of pages of documents, including written policies and procedures, training materials, and internal reports, data, video footage and investigative files. Justice Department attorneys and investigators also conducted interviews with SPD officers, supervisors and command staff, and city officials; and conducted hundreds of interviews with community members and local advocates.
Source & Full Report here:
1 Tens Of Thousands Of Children Sexually Abused By Dutch Catholic Church
Tens of thousands of children have suffered sexual abuse in Dutch Catholic institutions since 1945, a report says.
The report by an independent commission said Catholic officials had failed to tackle the widespread abuse at schools, seminaries and orphanages.
But the report also found that one in five children who attended an institution suffered abuse - regardless of whether it was Catholic.
"This episode fills us with shame and sorrow," said a bishops' statement.
The commission, which began work in August 2010, sought to uncover what had gone on and how it had happened, and examined what kind of justice should be offered to victims.
It was triggered by allegations of abuse at a Catholic school in the east Netherlands, which prompted other alleged victims to come forward.
It studied 1,800 complaints of abuse at Catholic institutions, identifying 800 alleged perpetrators, just over 100 of whom are still alive.
0 Surveillance Drones on US Soil "It's getting cheaper & cheaper to spy on everyone" Jay Stanley
The "Hairspray and Eyelashes" reporter interviewing Mr Stanley tries to undermine him from the getgo (as they always do) but he does a very good job of getting the message across..
so much so it seemed to me that the interview ends a little early.
Jay Stanley's ACLU Blog post: New Eyes in the Sky: Protecting Privacy from Domestic Drone Surveillance
is well worth a read for a little more depth on his point.
0 Report: Famous Japanese women blogging about mysterious bruises (PHOTOS)
Japanese Celebrities are starting to blog about unexplained bruises, joining various public reports of the same phenomena.
More bruise on eastern Japanese, Fukushima Diary, Dec. 13, 2011:
Japanese famous people are blogging about their mysterious bruise as well.
- Blogged about her bruise around her thighs on Dec. 10 and Dec. 12
- She says she doesn’t know why she had them, and they look huge
Inoue Harumi, a Japanese actress (SOURCE)
- Bruise around [baby son's] legs though nothing was wrong until afternoon of the day
- She took him to a hospital on Nov. 22
- Nothing was wrong according to the blood test
- She thinks she wrapped the diaper too tight
Shoko
Harumi's Baby
0 Major fundraiser for Obama's election campaign sparks ADL backlash
The U.S. Ambassador to Belgium sparked a firestorm controversy with remarks he made at a conference hosted by the EuropeanJewish Union, stating that Israel is to blame for growing anti-Semitism harbored by people of Muslim faith.
"A distinction should be made between traditional anti-Semitism, which should be condemned, and Muslim hatred for Jews, which stems from the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians," said Howard Gutman, according to news reports.
The ambassador also claimed at the Nov. 30 conference that an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty will "significantly diminish Muslim anti-Semitism."
Gutman, a Washington, D.C. attorney and major fundraiser for President Obama's election campaign, was nominated in 2009 by Obama to be ambassador to Belgium.
While the White House is distancing itself from the ambassador's remarks, Jewish leaders and organizations expressed outrage.
"[The Anti-Defamation League] was deeply disturbed by the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium's assessment of Muslim anti-Semitism in Europe, specifically Ambassador Gutman's suggestion that the root cause of this anti-Semitism was the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Andrew Rosenkranz, ADL Florida regional director said in a statement.
Full Article :http://www.sun-sentinel.com/florida-jewish-journal/news/palm-beach-county-news/fl-jjpn-gutman-1214-20111213,0,5166026.story
 |
| U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman |
"A distinction should be made between traditional anti-Semitism, which should be condemned, and Muslim hatred for Jews, which stems from the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians," said Howard Gutman, according to news reports.
The ambassador also claimed at the Nov. 30 conference that an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty will "significantly diminish Muslim anti-Semitism."
Gutman, a Washington, D.C. attorney and major fundraiser for President Obama's election campaign, was nominated in 2009 by Obama to be ambassador to Belgium.
While the White House is distancing itself from the ambassador's remarks, Jewish leaders and organizations expressed outrage.
"[The Anti-Defamation League] was deeply disturbed by the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium's assessment of Muslim anti-Semitism in Europe, specifically Ambassador Gutman's suggestion that the root cause of this anti-Semitism was the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Andrew Rosenkranz, ADL Florida regional director said in a statement.
Full Article :http://www.sun-sentinel.com/florida-jewish-journal/news/palm-beach-county-news/fl-jjpn-gutman-1214-20111213,0,5166026.story
0 Palestine flag raised at UNESCO headquarters
Palestinians have raised their flag at the headquarters of the UN cultural agency in Paris in a historic move and symbolic boost for their push for an independent state.
Cheers rose alongside the red, black, white and green flag during a ceremony held in the rain on Tuesday.
"This is truly a historic moment," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said at the ceremony, his speech punctuated by rousing applause and standing ovations.
"We hope this will be a good auspice for Palestine to become a member of other organisations," he said.
Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland, reporting from Paris, said, "it was a moment steeped in symbolism".
Palestine was admitted as a member of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in an October vote that prompted the US to cut off funds to the agency.
Two US laws required the halt in the flow of funds to the agency, forcing it to scale back literacy and development programmes in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and the new nation of South Sudan.
The Palestinians also are seeking full-fledged UN membership, but Washington has threatened to veto that move, saying a negotiated settlement with Israel should come first.
Abbas said on Tuesday that efforts were continuing to gain full UN membership and admission to other international institutions.
"We are currently holding talks with the parties. We have not yet asked for a vote but this could happen at any moment," he said.
"If we don't have a majority, we will repeat our request again and again."
Al Jazeera's Rowland said: "President Abbas made it quite clear that it was an important and significant step on the road towards Palestinian statehood. And he also reiterated his willingness to restart peace talks with Israel."
"It seems that everyone agrees that negotiations are not in any way ruled out by this move but certainly has led to more tense diplomatic atmosphere," she said.
UNESCO 'distraction'
US officials have said UNESCO's decision risked undermining the international community's work toward a comprehensive Middle East peace plan, and could be a distraction from the aim of restarting direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
The US contributes $80m annually in dues - 22 per cent of UNESCO's overall budget - and its 2011 contribution was not yet in when the laws took effect, immediately throwing UNESCO into crisis.
Several countries are lobbying the US to renew its funding.
The Al Jazeera correspondent said "the suspension of lion’s share of the funding to the UNSECO really threatens the UN body's ability to continue with very important, particularly educational programme some of which are in Palestinian territories themselves".
"Really the problem now for UNESCO is to find other donors, other member states to come forward and bring that money.
"There is a serious question over the future ability of UNESCO to carry out some of its very important projects."
UNESCO is known for its programme to protect cultures via its World Heritage sites, but its core mission also includes activities such as helping eradicate poverty, ensuring clean water, teaching girls to read and promoting freedom of speech.
0 Russian humanitarian convoy banned from entering Kosovo
The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, or EULEX Kosovo, prevented a convoy of Russian humanitarian supplies from entering northern Kosovo via the Jarinje checkpoint on the Serbian border.
The convoy consists of 25 trucks, carrying food, blankets, cutlery, and portable electric generators.
After the first two trucks went through the necessary customs formalities, the procedure was interrupted, without any explanation provided so far.
(TASS)
0 BREAKING: US - NATO Troops Deploying on Jordan-Syria Border
According to first-hand accounts and reports provided to Boiling Frogs Post by several sources in Jordan, during the last few hours foreign military groups, estimated at hundreds of individuals, began to spread near the villages of the north-Jordan city of "Al-Mafraq", which is adjacent to the Jordanian and Syrian border.
According to one Jordanian military officer who asked to remain anonymous, hundreds of soldiers who speak languages other than Arabic were seen during the past two days in those areas moving back and forth in military vehicles between the King Hussein Air Base of al-Mafraq (10 km from the Syrian border), and the vicinity of Jordanian villages adjacent to the Syrian border, such as village Albaej (5 km from the border), the area around the dam of Sarhan, the villages of Zubaydiah and al-Nahdah adjacent to the Syrian border.
Update 1: Today at 12:00 P.M. we contacted DOD Press Office via two voicemail messages and one e-mail asking for comment(s) on this story. As of 6:00 P.M. EST we have not heard back.
Update 2: Another journalist with a major mainstream media publication was told by his editors that there would be no coverage or follow up on these developments.
For more information, go here.
0 Anti-Semitic graffiti in Dallas "brings back nightmarish memories of the holocaust"
Anti-Semitic graffiti was found in three places in Dallas, including two along Interstate 35.
A Dallas organization that tracks hate crimes is calling it an assault on the Jewish community.
Southbound Interstate 35 drivers see the graffiti just before the Commonwealth exit.
The words spray painted on the cement, “Zionist Occupied USA”.
Felicia Akop was one of those drivers who saw it.
"It's hate graffiti,” said Akop. “Whoever sees something like that, especially in such a public place."
Disturbed by what she saw, Akop called the Anti Defamation League, which looks into acts of prejudice.
“It's basically an inference that the Jews control everything,” said Mark Briskman, Director of the Anti Defamation League. “The Jews control the world. The Jews control the media, and so forth."
Briskman said his organization has not seen graffiti like this in years.
He said finding it in three locations in one month is alarming and cause for concern.
“So that's what concerns me, is the unknown,” Briskman said. “I don't know if this is a big nothing or if this is the beginning of something we need to be concerned about. I just don't know at this juncture.”
The Anti-Defamation League reported the three graffiti attacks to Dallas Police.
So far, there are no leads.
For Akop, who is Jewish, it evokes nightmarish images her father endured as a holocaust survivor.
"It's a terrifying feeling, that you're such a small minority and you're being pin-pointed in a hate crime," she said.
Source:://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/135360118.html
Well all I can say is...."Oy vey!"
A Dallas organization that tracks hate crimes is calling it an assault on the Jewish community.
Southbound Interstate 35 drivers see the graffiti just before the Commonwealth exit.
The words spray painted on the cement, “Zionist Occupied USA”.
Felicia Akop was one of those drivers who saw it.
"It's hate graffiti,” said Akop. “Whoever sees something like that, especially in such a public place."
Disturbed by what she saw, Akop called the Anti Defamation League, which looks into acts of prejudice.
“It's basically an inference that the Jews control everything,” said Mark Briskman, Director of the Anti Defamation League. “The Jews control the world. The Jews control the media, and so forth."
Briskman said his organization has not seen graffiti like this in years.
He said finding it in three locations in one month is alarming and cause for concern.
“So that's what concerns me, is the unknown,” Briskman said. “I don't know if this is a big nothing or if this is the beginning of something we need to be concerned about. I just don't know at this juncture.”
The Anti-Defamation League reported the three graffiti attacks to Dallas Police.
So far, there are no leads.
For Akop, who is Jewish, it evokes nightmarish images her father endured as a holocaust survivor.
"It's a terrifying feeling, that you're such a small minority and you're being pin-pointed in a hate crime," she said.
Source:://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/135360118.html
Well all I can say is...."Oy vey!"
1 Crippling Iran: Questions for the Zionist UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague
By Stuart Littlewood
Al-Jazeerah, CCUN, December 8, 2011
Stuart Littlewood asks British Foreign Secretary William Hague pertinent questions about his inexplicable hostility to Iran, and argues that if Hague's aim “is to help preserve the balance of power in the Middle East so that a lawless, racist regime – Israel – remains the dominant threatening military force, he must be called to explain the wisdom of it”.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague has written a widely acclaimed 576-page biography of William Pitt the Younger, who became prime minister in 1783 at the tender age of 24. Pitt was the war leader during Britain’s running battles with Napoleon, but it is said that he was uncomfortable in such a role and considered war got in the way of trade and prosperity.
It is a pity that Pitt’s abhorrence of war and preference for trade has not, apparently, rubbed off on Hague. We see our foreign secretary rushing around the international stage drumming up support for sanctions intended to cripple another country – a country that could and should have been a strong trading partner and valuable ally – on the mere suspicion of some nuclear skullduggery. And he does this without adequate debate, sensible explanation or popular mandate.
“… the incident [the attack on the UK embassy in Tehran] was clearly in retaliation for Britain's leading part in orchestrating sanctions that will damage the Iranian economy and collectively punish the country's civilian population.”
Hague said last week’s ransacking of the embassy in Tehran was carried out “with regime consent”. But I read that US Vice-President Joe Biden told Reuters that he had no indication the attack was orchestrated by the Iranian authorities.
Whatever the truth of the matter, the incident was clearly in retaliation for Britain's leading part in orchestrating sanctions that will damage the Iranian economy and collectively punish the country's civilian population. To this is added a burning resentment of Britain’s past sins.
Questions for Hague
Perhaps Hague should pause to reflect and answer a few questions:
(1) Have we so easily forgotten the cruel and devastating effect of sanctions on civil society, especially children, before we reduced Iraq to rubble?
(2) Would the foreign secretary kindly explain the reasons for his hostility towards Iran?
(3) What concrete proof is there of Iran's military application of nuclear technology?
(4) Why is he not more concerned about Israel's nuclear arsenal, the threat it poses to the region and beyond, and the mental attitude of the Israeli regime?
(5) Why is he not seeking sanctions against Israel for its refusal to sign up to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or engage constructively on the issue of its nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction programmes, not to mention its repeated defiance of international and humanitarian laws in the Holy Land?
(6) How many times has a British foreign secretary visited Tehran in the 32 years since the Islamic Revolution?
“By pulling our people out of Tehran and kicking Iran's people out of London Hague has shut the door on diplomacy. How can he now communicate effectively and build bridges with a nation he seems determined to goad into becoming an implacable enemy?”
(7) Did Hague make the effort before embarking on his punitive programme?
(8) Britain's abominable conduct towards the Iranians in 1951-53 when a previous Conservative government, in cahoots with the USA, snuffed out Iran's democracy and reinstated a cruel dictator, the Shah, was largely responsible for bringing about the Islamic Revolution and setting the pattern of future relationships. Is it not shameful that this Conservative government is spoiling for another fight? Shouldn’t the Foreign Office focus on exerting influence through trade and cooperation?
(9) Iran's administration, like many others, may not be to our liking but nor was Dr Mohammad Mossadeq’s democracy 60 years ago. In any event, what threat is Iran to Britain? And why is Hague leading the charge?
(10) By pulling our people out of Tehran and kicking Iran's people out of London Hague has shut the door on diplomacy. How can he now communicate effectively and build bridges with a nation he seems determined to goad into becoming an implacable enemy?
It is difficult to understand how this escalation against Iran is in the British national interest. Do the British people want it? If Hague's purpose is to help preserve the balance of power in the Middle East so that a lawless, racist regime – Israel – remains the dominant threatening military force, he must be called to explain the wisdom of it.
Hague and Prime Minister David Cameron both voted enthusiastically for the Iraq war, a supremely irresponsible decision based on neo-con lies. It has cost well over a million lives and caused utter ruination for the survivors and the destruction of much of their heritage. What possessed us to go to war on shoddy intelligence and inflict shock and awe on good people?
We want no repetition.
William Hague, according to the Jewish Chronicle, told Cameron when he became Conservative party leader in 2005 that a deep understanding of the Middle East would be crucial if he wished to be taken seriously as a statesman. "We have to be steeped in the Middle East, way back to historical matters. Because you can't understand it without the history. That's been one of the failings sometimes with the Western governments."
In which case the pair of them ought to know better.
A reminder to the foreign secretary seems appropriate. Most people realize that Westminster’s neo-con friends in Washington have war with Iran on their agenda. But Hague’s job is to make friends for Britain not enemies. Genuine friends in the Middle East are becoming scarce, millions more innocent people may die and the cost of oil is likely to rocket if the West’s aggressive tactics and double standards continue.
Al-Jazeerah, CCUN, December 8, 2011
Stuart Littlewood asks British Foreign Secretary William Hague pertinent questions about his inexplicable hostility to Iran, and argues that if Hague's aim “is to help preserve the balance of power in the Middle East so that a lawless, racist regime – Israel – remains the dominant threatening military force, he must be called to explain the wisdom of it”.
It is a pity that Pitt’s abhorrence of war and preference for trade has not, apparently, rubbed off on Hague. We see our foreign secretary rushing around the international stage drumming up support for sanctions intended to cripple another country – a country that could and should have been a strong trading partner and valuable ally – on the mere suspicion of some nuclear skullduggery. And he does this without adequate debate, sensible explanation or popular mandate.
“… the incident [the attack on the UK embassy in Tehran] was clearly in retaliation for Britain's leading part in orchestrating sanctions that will damage the Iranian economy and collectively punish the country's civilian population.”
Hague said last week’s ransacking of the embassy in Tehran was carried out “with regime consent”. But I read that US Vice-President Joe Biden told Reuters that he had no indication the attack was orchestrated by the Iranian authorities.
Whatever the truth of the matter, the incident was clearly in retaliation for Britain's leading part in orchestrating sanctions that will damage the Iranian economy and collectively punish the country's civilian population. To this is added a burning resentment of Britain’s past sins.
Questions for Hague
Perhaps Hague should pause to reflect and answer a few questions:
(1) Have we so easily forgotten the cruel and devastating effect of sanctions on civil society, especially children, before we reduced Iraq to rubble?
(2) Would the foreign secretary kindly explain the reasons for his hostility towards Iran?
(3) What concrete proof is there of Iran's military application of nuclear technology?
(4) Why is he not more concerned about Israel's nuclear arsenal, the threat it poses to the region and beyond, and the mental attitude of the Israeli regime?
(6) How many times has a British foreign secretary visited Tehran in the 32 years since the Islamic Revolution?
“By pulling our people out of Tehran and kicking Iran's people out of London Hague has shut the door on diplomacy. How can he now communicate effectively and build bridges with a nation he seems determined to goad into becoming an implacable enemy?”
(7) Did Hague make the effort before embarking on his punitive programme?
(8) Britain's abominable conduct towards the Iranians in 1951-53 when a previous Conservative government, in cahoots with the USA, snuffed out Iran's democracy and reinstated a cruel dictator, the Shah, was largely responsible for bringing about the Islamic Revolution and setting the pattern of future relationships. Is it not shameful that this Conservative government is spoiling for another fight? Shouldn’t the Foreign Office focus on exerting influence through trade and cooperation?
(9) Iran's administration, like many others, may not be to our liking but nor was Dr Mohammad Mossadeq’s democracy 60 years ago. In any event, what threat is Iran to Britain? And why is Hague leading the charge?
(10) By pulling our people out of Tehran and kicking Iran's people out of London Hague has shut the door on diplomacy. How can he now communicate effectively and build bridges with a nation he seems determined to goad into becoming an implacable enemy?
It is difficult to understand how this escalation against Iran is in the British national interest. Do the British people want it? If Hague's purpose is to help preserve the balance of power in the Middle East so that a lawless, racist regime – Israel – remains the dominant threatening military force, he must be called to explain the wisdom of it.
Hague and Prime Minister David Cameron both voted enthusiastically for the Iraq war, a supremely irresponsible decision based on neo-con lies. It has cost well over a million lives and caused utter ruination for the survivors and the destruction of much of their heritage. What possessed us to go to war on shoddy intelligence and inflict shock and awe on good people?
We want no repetition.
William Hague, according to the Jewish Chronicle, told Cameron when he became Conservative party leader in 2005 that a deep understanding of the Middle East would be crucial if he wished to be taken seriously as a statesman. "We have to be steeped in the Middle East, way back to historical matters. Because you can't understand it without the history. That's been one of the failings sometimes with the Western governments."
In which case the pair of them ought to know better.
A reminder to the foreign secretary seems appropriate. Most people realize that Westminster’s neo-con friends in Washington have war with Iran on their agenda. But Hague’s job is to make friends for Britain not enemies. Genuine friends in the Middle East are becoming scarce, millions more innocent people may die and the cost of oil is likely to rocket if the West’s aggressive tactics and double standards continue.
0 THRIVE - 2011 - documentary
THRIVE is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what's REALLY going on in our world by following the money upstream -- uncovering the global consolidation of power in nearly every aspect of our lives. Weaving together breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism, THRIVE offers real solutions, empowering us with unprecedented and bold strategies for reclaiming our lives and our future.
INTERVIEWS in THRIVE :
Duane Elgin, Nassim Haramein, Steven Greer, Jack Kasher, Daniel Sheehan, Adam Trombly, Brian O'Leary, Vandana Shiva, John Gatto, John Robbins, Deepak Chopra, David Icke, Catherine Austin Fitts, G. Edward Griffin, Bill Still, John Perkins, Paul Hawken, Aqeela Sherrills, Evon Peter, Angel Kyodo Williams, Elisabet Sahtouris, Amy Goodman, and Barbara Marx Hubbard.
http://thrivemovement.com
torrent download available here:http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/6834486/THRIVE-2011-documentary
0 China wants US to explain military plans in Australia
As high-ranking military officers from China and the United States meet in Beijing on Wednesday for their annual defense consultative talks (DCT), Chinese experts said Beijing is likely to ask Washington to explain its plans to base US forces in Australia.
The meeting will also serve as a barometer to show how bilateral military ties have recovered since the US decision to sell arms to Taiwan in October cast a shadow over exchanges between the two armed forces, said US analysts.
"The US has always asked China to be transparent about its strategy. It is the US who should make its intentions clear," said Major General Luo Yuan, from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Academy of Military Science.
He was referring to frequent US military activities around China this year, including joint military exercises with countries having territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.
Among the most recent moves, US President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced in mid-November in Canberra that up to 2,500 US Marines would be deployed in the northern Australian port of Darwin from mid-2012. Obama said the plan showed Washington's "commitment to the entire Asia-Pacific region", during his nine-day trip to the region that ended on Nov 19.
The move, however, drew concern from neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
"Australia is just a pawn in this arrangement, while the US is really controlling the situation behind the scenes," said Liu Qing, director of the Department for American Studies of the China Institute of International Studies.
"China is closely following these events, and the US should explain them to the Chinese side," Liu said.
0 Ron Paul, A True Zionist.....wtf?
- Jeffrey Goldberg is a national correspondent for The Atlantic and a recipient of the National Magazine Award for Reporting. Author of the book Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror, Goldberg also writes the magazine's advice column.
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In the New York Sun, Seth Lipsky makes the case that Ron Paul should be included in tomorrow's Republican Jewish Coalition beauty contest:
I've also covered Congressman Paul for years and have come to have a great deal of respect for him, even when we disagree. Which we do in respect of granting foreign aid to Israel. At least we disagree in part. I support giving to our allies, particularly Israel, military aid, which is what we are mainly now giving to Israel. It strikes me as important, especially in a time of war, and I would back Israel to the hilt. Foreign economic aid, however, has long struck me as a dangerous course for recipient countries.
There are good reason to include Ron Paul. He is, in one sense, a true Zionist, a believer in two core values of the Jewish liberation movement: Jewish independence and Jewish self-reliance. Independence is self-explanatory; self-reliance, in the context of national defense, holds that the Jewish state shouldn't seek the help of foreign soldiers to defend it.
I was struck in the foreign policy debate by something Rick Perry said, when asked about a looming confrontation between Iran and Israel: "(I)f we're going to be serious about saving Israel, we better get serious about Syria and Iran, and we better get serious right now."
"Saving Israel" should ideally be Israel's job. This is what Israelis tend to think. And it is also what Ron Paul tends to think. Here is some of what he said in the foreign policy debate on this subject: "Israel has 200, 300 nuclear missiles. And they can take care of themselves. Why should we commit -- we don't even have a treaty with Israel. Why do we have this automatic commitment that we're going to send our kids and send our money endlessly to Israel? So I think they're quite capable of taking care of themselves." (emphasis mine.)
He went on to say that in the event of an attack, "(W)hy does Israel need our help? We need to get out of their way. I mean, we interfere with them. We interfere with them when they deal with their borders. When they want to have peace treaties, we tell them what they can do because we buy their allegiance and they sacrifice their sovereignty to us."
I understand that this does not make Ron Paul a Zionist in the traditional American conception of the word. But in some ways, he understands Zionism in much the same way the original Zionists understood the term.
I was struck in the foreign policy debate by something Rick Perry said, when asked about a looming confrontation between Iran and Israel: "(I)f we're going to be serious about saving Israel, we better get serious about Syria and Iran, and we better get serious right now."
"Saving Israel" should ideally be Israel's job. This is what Israelis tend to think. And it is also what Ron Paul tends to think. Here is some of what he said in the foreign policy debate on this subject: "Israel has 200, 300 nuclear missiles. And they can take care of themselves. Why should we commit -- we don't even have a treaty with Israel. Why do we have this automatic commitment that we're going to send our kids and send our money endlessly to Israel? So I think they're quite capable of taking care of themselves." (emphasis mine.)
He went on to say that in the event of an attack, "(W)hy does Israel need our help? We need to get out of their way. I mean, we interfere with them. We interfere with them when they deal with their borders. When they want to have peace treaties, we tell them what they can do because we buy their allegiance and they sacrifice their sovereignty to us."
I understand that this does not make Ron Paul a Zionist in the traditional American conception of the word. But in some ways, he understands Zionism in much the same way the original Zionists understood the term.
And this guy gets paid for this bullcrap??
0 'They've turned Occupy London into Animal Farm': Anti-capitalist 'elite' accused of misusing funds and holding secret meetings in Starbucks.
'They've turned Occupy London into Animal Farm': Anti-capitalist 'elite' accused of misusing funds and holding secret meetings in Starbucks.
They have been protesting about 'corporate greed' outside St Paul's Cathedral for weeks with an apparent goal to destroy capitalism.
This week some demonstrators were accused of becoming 'elitist' with too much power over the group amid accusations of the misuse of funds.
Allegations: Some demonstrators were accused of becoming 'elitist' with too much power over the group amid accusations of the misuse of funds
Claims: Some activists (none pictured) apparently regard themselves as 'more equal than others' and have been compared to the ruling elite satirised in George Orwell's famous Animal Farm
Some were said to regard themselves as 'more equal than others' and have been compared to the ruling elite satirised in George Orwell's famous Animal Farm.
The allegations emerged as the demonstrators met for a meeting in Starbucks on Tuesday but argued about their pot of money and how and when it should be spent, The Times said.
It led to rising tensions and members of the finance committee stepping down.
One member, 25-year-old Tess Jones from New York was accused of using donations from the public to pay for flights to New York.
She has vehemently denied the allegations as 'wild rumours' and has vowed to stay and help form an interim committee.
'Some are more equal than others': Animal Farm was a satirical account of the Russian Revolution and the Stalinist regime
An anonymous source told the newspaper two main leaders in their 40s and 50s and three people in their 20s were controlling the group and a charter had been drawn up giving power to very few people.
ORWELL'S ANIMAL FARM
Orwell, a democratic socialist, retells the story of the emergence and development of Soviet communism up to and during the Stalin era before World War II.
In the book the animals overthrow their human oppressors and establish a socialist state called Animal Farm which eventually collapses.
The pigs, being the most intelligent animals in the group, take control of the planning and government of the farm and then declare themselves the decision-makers.
Over the years they become more and more like humans. Eventually, the seven principles of Animalism, known as the Seven Commandments and inscribed on the side of the barn, become reduced to a single principle reading 'all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.'
She said: 'We are calling it the Animal Farm manifesto. The are always smartly dressed. I don't know how they manage it when we are all camping and they go off and have their secret meetings in Starbucks.
In addition, she claimed: 'A small number have decided they are more equal and are controlling the rest of us.'
The source alleged the group had £21,000 in public donations two weeks ago but the leaders, who she said could sometimes be 'aggressive', had apparently said there was no more money for the food or 'tranquility' tent - in charge of welfare - and the legal team were banned from using taxis or buying stationery.
She demanded to know where the 'missing' money had gone and said people were starting to leave as there wasn't enough food.
In Orwell's 1945 novel, based on the Russian Revolution, the animals of Manor Farm overthrow the dictator farmer Mr Jones to establish a new regime based on communism.
But the system fails as some of the animals become ruthless dictators declaring that 'All animals are equal but some are more equal than others'.
The anti-capitalist protest at the Cathedral is part of a series in cities across the globe which aim to highlight the inequalities caused by mismanagement of the economy.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2069061/Animal-Farm-St-Pauls-protesters-accused-equal-others.html#ixzz1fOJUS17B
This seems to be happening at most Occupy's lately.
Anti Capitalism was not what it is primarily about, yes there are indeed some anti-capitalist protesters among the people at Occupy...as there for many other number of causes.
The movement is quickly becoming a joke, I would love to say it's all to do with our twisted paid for media but it seems this is really not the case any more
The whole point was this movement was LEADERLESS AND PROFITLESS....as it should be, because there are so many different causes....this is were the media will win the minds of the vast number of the public who do not even know what Capitalism is!, have either and its over.
I mean Starbucks!?...come on! surely you people know the history behind Starbucks?.....the reason it has that particular symbolism in its Logo?....no wonder the Media are having a field day with this.
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