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Friday March 30th 2007

Follow the Money - Bush, 9/11 and Deep Threat
Chronology: The Bushes And The Carlyle Group
Bush-Bin Laden connections
Profile: Carlyle Group
When War is Swell - Bush's Crusades and the Carlyle Group

Thursday March 29th 2007

Arab Leaders: Peace Making Could Not Be Unilateral, Divisible
Must Read - A quote...."Flanked by international and regional non-Arab dignitaries representing the UN, EU, OIC, NAM and the leaders of Turkey, Malaysia and Pakistan as well as the foreign minister of Iran, the leaders of the 22-member League of Arab States on Wednesday re-launched in Riyadh their five-year old Arab Peace Initiative, determined to reactivate it with mechanisms and a follow-up diplomatic campaign that will again take it to the United Nations Security Council despite a U.S. veto, which aborted a similar move in the bud last year."

Kingdom Warns Against Iran Strike
A quote...."RIYADH, 30 March 2007 — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal warned of the consequences a strike against Iran regarding its nuclear program would have on the Middle East region."

Gulf economies to 'drop the dollar'
A quote...."Gulf economies will move away from a dollar currency peg and shift foreign exchange reserves away from dollar to other currencies, including the Chinese yuan, the chief executive of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has said."

Are Iraqis creatures from a different creator?
A quote...."Did Iraqis come to be from a creator of their very own . . . a lesser god, perhaps?  -  Not just Iraqis, but Palestinians and Lebanese as well! One only needs to ask the two ladies who have handled America’s affairs of state: Madeleine (for Clinton) and Condoleezza (for Bush). Those half-million Iraqi children who died in the ’90s as a result of American-instigated United Nations’ sanctions was a price well worth paying, according to Ms. Albright; and the tragic losses that were being suffered by Lebanon last year in the July War were no reason to call a cease-fire, as that was a necessary price to pay for Bush’s effort to create a “new” Middle East, according to Ms. Rice."

Feinstein quits committee under war-profiteer cloud
A quote...."Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has abruptly walked away from her responsibilities with the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee after a report linked her votes to the financial well-being of her husband's companies, which received billions of dollars worth of military construction contracts she approved."

DemoRepub or RepubDemo....it doesn't make any difference, it's just two factions of the same party. - mpg
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U.S. Corporate Profits have Peaked, Economists Say. & US central bank sounds inflation warning
A quote...."WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. corporate profits fell in the fourth quarter of 2006, signaling the end of one of the greatest profit cycles in post-war era, economists say.  - Economic growth is slowing, hurting corporations' top line. Meanwhile, costs are rising, squeezing profit margins.  -  "Profits growth has turned decisively down, and the end is not yet in sight," wrote Gabriel Stein, an economist for Lombard Street Research.  -  "As the expansion matures and unit labor costs rise, profit margins will be under pressure," said Stephen Stanley, chief economist for RBS Greenwich Capital.

Despite what the article says, there's still a little more profit left that they havn't yet squeezed out of the US economy.  So instead of the ten year cycle we'll have the seven to eight year cycle.  Still it was a pretty good ride, - one "arranged" fortioutous "terrorist" attack (black flag op.), a couple more in Europe, 4,000-5,000 American dead when the occupation of Iraq finally ends (assuming the US doesn't attack Iran), one to two million dead Iraqis and a bunch of others for a good seven year economic pump priming and a chance to sieze the worlds oil and gas resources.

A pretty decent rate of return all things considered.

Too bad about all those "little people". - mpg
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US Income Gap Is Widening Significantly, Data Shows
A quote...."Income inequality grew significantly in 2005, with the top 1 percent of Americans - those with incomes that year of more than $348,000 - receiving their largest share of national income since 1928, analysis of newly released tax data shows.The top 10 percent, roughly those earning more than $100,000, also reached a level of income share not seen since before the Depression."

1928 - doesn't that year come right before 1929? - mpg
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The Secret: Creating a Culture of Cheerfulness as Rome Burns
A quote....“…the last thing the human race needs in the face of the perfect economic storm is an indulgent “I can have anything I want” perspective that ignores the empire’s evils and perpetuates the very mega-consumerism that is annihilating the planet.”

Programmed to Kill
A quote...."Having returned from Afghanistan in March of 2002, Sgt. 1st Class Rigoberto Nieves fatally shoots his wife then himself. Eighteen days later, on June 29, Master Sgt. William Wright, having returned the month before, strangles his wife to death. On July 9, Sgt. Cedric Griffin (who had yet to be deployed) stabs his wife to death. Ten days later, Sgt. 1st Class Brandon S. Floyd and his wife, Andrea, are found shot to death; another murder-suicide. All were stationed at Fort Bragg."

See also....Fruits from the Poisonous Tree - 12-08-06 - mpg
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Justice Guantánamo Style
A quote...."David Hicks, the Australian man that has been held in Guantánamo for five years, (the last year or so in solitary confinement) agreed to plead guilty yesterday. There are a few things you should know about his plea. First, and most importantly, Hicks is pleading guilty to a crime that did not exist on the books until September of 2006."

"All of the original charges (the serious ones) were dropped against Hicks because the military had no evidence against him. Mr. Hicks was confined at Guantánamo until a new law could be passed that he could then be charged with. Never mind the fact that our constitution prohibits ex post facto (retroactive) laws, I mean that is why we are holding him at Guantánamo right?"

Getting rid of ex post facto (i.e. retroactive) laws is now "Act" number thirty on what was previously "Twenty Nine Acts to Restore Americans' Rights"
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Senate Passes $123 billion More for Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
A quote...."While the headlines will read that the Senate voted to withdraw U.S. troops in Iraq, the peace movement recognizes that the Senate bill will extend the war not end it. The exit date in the bill is merely a goal for the removal of combat troops, and there are large loopholes that would allow a commander in chief to keep as many troops as s/he wants in Iraq. The bill provides $123 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – nearly $20 billion more requested by Bush."

House Democrats Signal Readiness to Talk on Iraq Bill
A quote...."As the Senate tries to move closer to a vote on its Iraq-Afghanistan funding bill, Democrats in the House of Representatives are signaling their readiness to talk with President Bush about the legislation. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill, the president has threatened to veto any measure containing a timetable for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq."

The other shoe dropping. - mpg

See also....Stupidity Alert - 03-28-07 - mpg
See also....Results - Not polls Are What Count - 03-25-07 - mpg
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Protesters stage ‘occupation’ of Hart office building
A quote...."Peace organizations staged a nonviolent “occupation” of the Hart Senate office building Thursday, calling on Democrats to end the Iraq war.  -  Fellow protesters and Senate staffers looked on, leaning over railings above Hart’s ground-floor atrium, as demonstrators read personal information about U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq. The demonstrators spoke from a circle of cardboard headstones, each displaying the photo of a U.S. soldier who had been killed."

The 9/11 Truth Domino Effect
A quote...."More and more going public everyday with vital information and valuable expertise - The leaking of the until now withheld WTC blueprints this week represents a growing trend of truth seeking individuals putting aside politics and coming forth in an attempt to set the record straight on the defining event of the 21st century."
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9/11 - From The History File...The Pakistan connection
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Uproar Over Texas Teen's Imprisonment
A quote...."A teenager has been jailed for more than a year for shoving a teacher's aide at her high school, a case that has sparked anger and heightened racial tensions in rural East Texas.  -  Shaquandra Cotton, who is black, claims the teacher's aide pushed her first and would not let her enter school before the morning bell in 2005. A jury convicted the 15-year-old girl in March 2006 on a felony count of shoving a public servant, who was not seriously injured.  -  The girl is in the Ron Jackson Correctional Complex in Brownwood, about 300 miles from her home in Paris. The facility is part of an embattled juvenile system that is the subject of state and federal investigations into allegations that staff members physically and sexually abused inmates. - bold/italics added by website author

Editor's note: an article about Shaqandra Cotton was posted March 21st 2007.  See below.  Of course there was no way to know just how much like Iraq this whole situation really was.  Perhaps the Iraqis shouldn't feel too bad about Abu Ghraib and all the other prisons....after all, we even do "it" to our own children. - mpg

To some in Paris, sinister past is back
Must Read - A quote...."In Texas, a white teenager burns down her family's home and receives probation. A black one shoves a hall monitor and gets 7 years in prison. The state NAACP calls it `a signal to black folks. -  The youth had no prior arrest record, and the hall monitor--a 58-year-old teacher's aide--was not seriously injured. But Shaquanda was tried in March 2006 in the town's juvenile court, convicted of "assault on a public servant" and sentenced by Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville to prison for up to 7 years, until she turns 21.'"

Justice "Texas style" - Pretty soon blacks in Texas are going to feel just like the Iraqis currently do in Iraq. Like it's not their country anymore.

This should be an instructive and salutary lesson for the world.  Wherever you are, if you're colored and there happens to be oil under the ground you're standing on, and a bunch of white people are in the area near you - you're in trouble. - mpg
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Attorney General Alberto Gonzales covered up a major pedophile scandal.
A quote....Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, already under pressure for firing several U.S. Attorneys not considered "loyal Bushies," now faces another scandal. Albert Moskowitz, the Chief of the Criminal Section of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, sent a letter dated September 27, 2005, to the Superintendent of the Texas Youth Commission's West Texas State School youth detention facility declining the prosecution of two of the Texas agency's employees -- Ray Brookins and John Hernandez -- for engaging in sexual molestation of 10 underage males incarcerated at the facility.

Waxman requests documents from Rove regarding alleged misconduct at GSA
A quote...."Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) today sent a letter to White House Adviser Karl Rove regarding allegations of misconduct at the General Services Administration (GSA)."

Condi's Free Ride
A quote...."They must serve up some pretty powerful Kool Aid in the press room down at Foggy Bottom, judging by U.S. media coverage of Condi Rice's latest "Look Busy" tour of the Middle East.  -  Secretary of State Rice's comings and goings have long been greeted with a jaded disdain by the Arab and Israeli media."

In the service of the Jewish state
A quote...."In the late 1940s, Walther (Walter) Rauff, an SS officer who was responsible for the murder of at least 100,000 people and was wanted by the Allies as a war criminal, was employed by the Israeli secret service. Instead of bringing him to justice it paid him for his services and helped him escape to South America. Documents of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that have been released over the past several years show that the Americans were aware that Rauff's case was not exceptional. "

The Israelis might have employed dozens, the US however employed thousands. - mpg
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Paranoid Poland
A quote....They call it the Law of "Lustration," which is to say - according to the dictionary - of "ritual purification." That does not lack - in this country, the history of which is pegged to Catholicism - a strong flavor of repentance and penitence. So, by virtue of that law, which was approved in October 2006 and came into effect this March 15, seven hundred thousand Poles will have to confess whether they collaborated with the Communists between 1945 and 1989. All senior officials, professors, lawyers, school directors and journalists born before August 1972 now have until May 15 to confess their 'sin.'"

Yuschenko threatens Ukraine parliament with dissolution By Stefan Korshak
A quote.... Kiev- President Viktor Yushchenko upped the ante Thursday in Ukraine's long-running political deadlock by threatening to dissolve the opposition-led parliament - a move that would plunge the former Soviet republic into a full-fledged constitutional crisis. "Parliament must finally become responsible for its actions," a grim-faced Yushchenko declared at a press conference in the eastern city of Luhansk. "If they do not ... my way is clear: I must defend the constitution."

The U.S. Terrorist Database
A quote....Ballooning from fewer than 100,000 files in 2003 to about 435,000, the growing database threatens to overwhelm the people who manage it."

Yep, this nations got'a keep track of all those Quakers, librarians, peace groups and other assorted pacifists because we know deep down inside they really want to attack countries and bomb them....don't we – mpg
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Wednesday March 28th 2007

How Americans are Seduced by War  - posted at ICH
Must View - A quote...."In his provocative new book, Andrew Bacevich warns of a dangerous dual obsession that has taken hold of Americans, conservatives and liberals alike."

Hijacking Catastrophe: 9/11, Fear & the Selling of American Empire
Must View - A quote...."Hijacking Catastrophe: 9/11, Fear & the Selling of American Empire examines how a radical fringe of the Republican Party used the trauma of the 9/11 terror attacks to advance a pre-existing agenda to radically transform American foreign policy while rolling back civil liberties and social programs at home."

To Russia with Realism  - posted at ICH
Must Read - A quote...."03/28/07 "American Conservative" -- -- -As if the U.S. did not have enough on its plate, the latest strongly anti-American statements of President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials suggest the possibility of a new Cold War with Russia. And from the Russian point of view, these statements are only responding to a series of bitterly anti-Russian statements and actions by the Bush administration over the past year, including plans to bring Ukraine into NATO; the speech by Vice President Cheney in Vilnius last July attacking Russia; backing for Georgia in its conflict with Russian-backed breakaway republics; and the latest move to extend American anti-missile defenses to Eastern Europe."
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Saudi King Slams ‘Illegitimate Occupation’ of Iraq
A quote...."Saudi King Abdullah, whose country is a close US ally, on Wednesday slammed the “illegitimate foreign occupation” of Iraq in an opening speech to the annual Arab summit in Riyadh.  -  “In beloved Iraq, blood is being shed among brothers in the shadow of an illegitimate foreign occupation, and ugly sectarianism threatens civil war,” Abdullah said.  -  He also said that Arab nations, which are planning to revive a five-year-old Middle East peace plan at the summit, would not allow any foreign force to decide the future of the region.

Gee....who could King Abdullah be talking about.....it must be the Chileans, or perhaps the Eskimos, maybe even those sneaky Koreans.....oh no, it has to be those dastardly people from Madagascar....right?

For those who aren't that familiar with the Saudis, they practice their politics with more low key subtlety and discretion than the Chinese, which is saying allot.  They are extremely reticent and reluctant to criticize anyone for anything - even the Israelis.

For King Abdullah to come out and say something like this means, 1) He's really, really ticked off at the Bush Neocons for this disaster and 2) He's also, really, really, scared about the situation getting completely out of control.

It looks like he's discovered what everyone else has about Bush - Bush is a walking contagion, a catastrophe that looks like a man, a plague upon us all, everything he touches he destroys or ruins. - mpg

Note : bold/italics by website author.
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Arab leaders to relaunch peace offer to Israel
A quote...."RIYADH (Reuters) - Arab leaders will formally relaunch a five-year-old initiative on Thursday to trade peace for land and end the Arab-Israeli conflict which is at the heart of the region's problems."

Gulf Arab investors target Asia as U.S. ties wane
A quote...."DUBAI (Reuters) - Gulf Arab investors are increasingly looking to Asia to invest windfall oil revenue, eager to ride the rise of China and India and diversify away from their traditional ties with the United States."

Now why won't all them rag headed, camel humping, terrorist loving, freedom hating, low lifes who are sitting on OUR oil and who will all eventually be sent to hell when we deservedly and righteously bomb them to smithereens so we can bring them that "freedom and democracy" they so richly deserve in our brand spanking new holy crusade called the New American Century..... not invest in our country?

Golly…what's wrong with them?  Why won't they do business with us? - mpg
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Prince Hassan: Neocons and Israel Plan “New 100 Years of War” in the Middle East
A quote...."Do a Google News search on “Prince Hassan Bin Tallal” or “Talal” and the results will point to the Daily Star of Lebanon and Today’s Zaman out of Turkey, but not one result over at the New York Times, ABC News, CNN, Fox, et al. Of course, this is hardly surprising, because you’re not supposed to know what Prince Hassan Bin Talal knows, in fact what millions of Arabs know."
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US Navy starts war games in Gulf
WAR UPDATE - A quote...."The US Navy has begun its most extensive manoeuvres in the Gulf region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, but denies sabre-rattling aimed at Iran."

Russian intelligence sees U.S. military buildup on Iran border
WAR UPDATE - A quote...."MOSCOW, March 27 (RIA Novosti) - Russian military intelligence services are reporting a flurry of activity by U.S. Armed Forces near Iran's borders, a high-ranking security source said Tuesday.  -  "The latest military intelligence data point to heightened U.S. military preparations for both an air and ground operation against Iran," the official said, adding that the Pentagon has probably not yet made a final decision as to when an attack will be launched."
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2 Americans Killed in Iraq Rocket Attack
A quote...."BAGHDAD (AP) - Two Americans, a contractor and a soldier, were killed in a rocket attack on the heavy guarded Green Zone on Tuesday, according to statements from the U.S. Embassy and the military."

It's beginning to look like the green zone is becoming less green and more red......five years into the war.  For those who aren't paying attention it should be pointed out that this is not a good sign of things to come.- mpg
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CBS Poll 2/3s support withdrawl & Bush Tries Bullying Dems Over War-Funding Bill:
STUPIDITY ALERT - Folks, you're being scammed again.

This is a fake battle between two fake people.  THINK ABOUT IT, if Bush signs this bill and "loses", he'll get to continue the war for the next two years with the DemoRepubs blessing, along with Nancy's additional twenty billion dollars as a sweetener for his cooperation and additional help for the MIOC elites in this country.

Nancy will than claim a glorious victory, the DemoRepubs will grin like idiots and George Bush while giving his speech before the nation will say he did his best but, with his eyes shining from unshed tears, he'll regretfully state he had to pass the bill for the good of our brave boys fighting those evil terrorists over there....

And the Repubs, crying with joy because they managed to to heal this nation's divisions and agree on a "hard fought" compromise will join together with their fellow Demo brethren in a joyous celebration of bipartisanship.

And the war will go on and on and on.....

And the Military Industrial Oil Complex's profits will continue to increase while the American Empire continues to feed off the dead and dying of the Middle East. – mpg

See also....Results - Not polls Are What Count - 03-25-07 - mpg
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Impeachment, Like Spring, is in the Air
A quote...."The Democratic Party’s efforts to tamp down impeachment efforts are coming unraveled, courtesy of the ongoing criminality of the Bush administration."

Denver: 'Massive Protests' Planned for DNC
A quote...."The 2008 DNC in Denver is being promoted by activists as “Recreate ‘68,” referring to the 1968 DNC in Chicago, where Abbie Hoffman and the Yippies nominated Pigasus the pig as their presidential nominee, and riot police got a good fill of hippie-head-cracking. A diverse national collective is now organizing to bring large-scale uprising to Denver in 2008. As their website states:"

They Were Talking about Wilson’s Wife before Wilson’s Article Came Out
A quote...."What did happen in regard to Niger uranium—before Kristof’s piece—is that Seymour Hersh published a devastating New Yorker article, “Who Lied to Whom?" * in March, which reappeared on April 22 as "Iraq Post Mortem” in the British magazine Prospect. The article emphasized the blatantly forged Niger documents about “yellowcake.” (Judith Miller, for one, seems to have backed down on Iraq WMD immediately following the definitive debunking in Prospect.) Did the administration simply launch a pre-emptive strike against Wilson, fearing that his going public on the “mushroom cloud” would be the last straw? With its usual tin ear, did it fear that Joe Wilson and Seymour Hersh would join forces? Or did it go for a two-fer, moving to disrupt analysis in the WMD unit at the CIA where Mrs. Wilson worked?" - * link added by website author

Report: U.S. Sponsoring Kurdish Guerilla Attacks Inside Iran
Interview - Amy Goodman interviews Reese Erlich an independent radio producer and journalist. He reports on Iran in the latest issue of Mother Jones and is author of the forthcoming book "The Iran Agenda: the Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Middle East Crisis."
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O'Donnell Posts On Gulf of Tonkin
A quote...."The Gulf of Tonkin Incident began with an “imaginary” attack by three North Vietnamese torpedo boats on the Maddox, a U.S. destroyer, in the Gulf of Tonkin on 2 August 1964. Two days later, that vessel and another U.S. destroyer in the area both reported themselves under renewed attack, although North Vietnam subsequently insisted that it hadn’t attacked — and no attack is now believed to have occurred on the 4th of August."

9/11 Truth site Launches Entertainers Section
A quote...."March 28, 2007 – PatriotsQuestion911.com, a 9/11 Truth Movement website, today launched a new section featuring statements from more than 70 leading entertainment and media professionals that question the official account of 9/11."

Breaking my silence on 9/11 Truth
A quote...."Initially I preferred to keep silent about the 9/11 Truth Movement, to not be diverted from my issue. I've been associated with the China Support Network, being its founder, and in recent years, I give my speeches in that vein exclusively. That means, I have a cause and I don't need a spare cause, nor a soapbox, nor a reason to be known in the public discourse, where I've contributed since 1980. My 9/11 article is written, not oral; in any public appearance, I remain on the China issue. The article is volunteered and not sponsored; I simply think it fair to have the question, "What happened on 9/11?", and to have the indicated investigation that is genuine and impartial, rather than a whitewash. Read on, to where I suggest a role for Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly."

WTC Blueprints Leaked by Whistleblower
A quote...."A whistleblower that was on a team working for Silverstein Group in 2002 has made public an extensive set of detailed architectural drawings of the World Trade Center, that prove beyond any doubt that the official reports into the collapse of the towers misrepresented their construction."
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9/11 - From The History File...The 9/11 Reichstag Fire
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Spotlight on Enron's law firm
A quote...."But before Gonzales became a permanent fixture of Team W, he was a partner at the powerful Houston law firm Vinson & Elkins, and that's something congressional investigators are apparently taking a closer look at.  -  Sources tell me that investigators are following up on tips that Vinson & Elkins may have briefed former partners in advance on the findings of a top- secret probe into Enron's shady business dealings."

Unbelievable.... is there any cesspit of corruption these guys in the White House AREN'T connected with? - mpg
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The Cunningham Scandal: A White House Link?
a quote...."It could be that MZM in the summer of 2002 managed to snag a small White House contract in legitimate fashion, even as Wade was plotting a quick, bribery-greased rise to the top. But given that the Cunningham/MZM tale is one of sleaze and crime--I haven't even mentioned the prostitutes Cunningham received as bribes--Wade's first contract with the Bush administration deserves scrutiny. Republican legislators--no surprise--expressed no interest in this when they ran Congress. And, coincidentally or not, the US attorney in charge of the Cunningham case, Carol Lam, is one of the prosecutors who was fired by the Bush administration. But here comes Waxman, and the Case of MZM's First Contract is alive and open."

More sleaze, it just keeps oozing and oozing.
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Schumer Office: Subpoenas Ready for Rove, Miers
A quote....    "If they continue to do what they are doing and follow Trent Lott and just march lock, stock and barrel behind the White House, it will hurt them in Congress," said Mr. Schumer in an interview in his spacious Washington office, as C-SPAN played on mute in the room's corner. "If, on the other hand, they show independence, it won't."

That's Entertainment: GSA Administrator Doan dances the Aztec Two-Step before Congress
A quote...."Making the rounds of the blogosphere today is this video of GSA Administrator Lurita Doan being questioned under oath by Rep. Bruce Baley (D-Iowa)  -  Seems that Ms. Doan's office sponsored a lunch and learn "team-building" exercise which featured White House staffers explaining to General Services Administration personnel how to help the GOP take back Congress in 2008, which is, to quote Pat Tillman, "so f--king illegal."

Rise of a Very 'Loyal Bushie'
A quote...."If you want to know what the career path of a “loyal Bushie” looks like, let me introduce you to J. Timothy Griffin, a Karl Rove protégé who was slipped into the post of U.S. Attorney in Little Rock, Arkansas, and now is at the center of the controversy over whether the Bush administration has sought to politicize federal prosecutions."

Mexico Pays Heavy Price for Imported Corn
A quote...." Corn is at the heart of Mexico’s food crisis. Tortillas are crucial for calories and even protein in the traditional Mexican diet. Therefore, it was serious when the price of corn skyrocketed earlier this year, due in part to increased U.S. demand for ethanol. The price of tortillas shot up by between 40% and 100% in a single week. According to Víctor Quintana, a former lawmaker and leader of the Frente Democrático Campesino a peasant organization in the Mexican northern state of Chihuahua, the fallout will continue in the form of higher, prices of other basic foods like eggs, milk and meat."

How Runaway Inflation Has Slipped Under the Radar
A quote...." Remember back in the late 1970s when we had all those big long lines at the gas pumps? When gas went from 60 cents a gallon to $1.10 a gallon and we thought that was outrageous? "President Carter has caused runaway inflation," we were told. So we had an election and got stuck with Ronnie Reagan instead -- and suddenly "inflation" disappeared, never to return."

Russian trans-Balkan pipeline to skirt Turkey
A quote...."On March 15 in Athens, the heads of state of Russia, Greece and Bulgaria signed an agreement of cooperation in the construction and exploitation of an oil pipeline from Burgas, Bulgaria to Alexandroupolis in Greece. Connecting the Bulgarian port on the Black Sea with the Greek port on the Aegean, it will provide for a transport route for Russian oil to the Mediterranean that would bypass Turkey and the Bosporus Straits, which Turkey controls."

The "Great Game" continues, more on Russia's defensive playbook - mpg
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Google seeks world of instant translations
A quote...."MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (Reuters) - In Google Inc.'s vision of the future, people will be able to translate documents instantly into the world's main languages, with machine logic, not expert linguists, leading the way."

Global use of ADHD drugs nearly triples
A quote....WASHINGTON - The use of drugs to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, has more than tripled worldwide since 1993, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.  -  And spending on such drugs rose ninefold between 1993 and 2003, the team at the University of California, Berkeley reported.

Shut up kids or it's more meds for you.

It used to be Americans had the TV serve as the baby sitter for their kids, now the kids who had a TV as their baby sitter are going to use meds to baby sit for their kids.  That figures. - mpg
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George: The Intervention
Must View - It's pretty funny. - mpg

Tuesday March 27th 2007

Surviving at the pleasure of the president
Must Read - A quote....“If Americans were willing -- or capable -- of reading and thinking,” Bernie said, “they’d know that the war being waged throughout the world began here at home, and the US Constitution and Bill of Rights were its first victims.”

Regarding this article, every red blooded American should go do three things......

One : Get lots of guns, ammo and become a card carrying member of the N.R.A. -  Sign Up
Two : Become a card carrying member of the A.C.L.U. - Sign Up
Three : Vote for any party except the DemoRepub party.
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American Kangaroo Court Claims Its First Victim
A quote...."It is appropriate that a person from Australia, home of the kangaroo, should be the first one dragged before the kangaroo court at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay. David Hicks, imprisoned there for more than five years, pleaded guilty Monday to providing material support for terrorism."

Pentagon Hires P.R. Firm to Put Spin on Soldier Healthcare Debacle
A quote...."In its latest move to stem media-fallout from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal, the Bush Administration has hired a private public relations firm to help it handle the controversy over substandard treatment of soldiers returning to the U.S. "

Hey...sort of like the entire US press corp.’s performance in the run-up to the Iraq war. - mpg
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Pentagon Cowers Behind Wordplay
A quote...."The military covered its ass on Monday, with a report on the investigation into the exploitation of Pat Tillman that stank of non-denial denials. After three years of lies and obfuscation, the Tillman family deserves better."

Another Casualty: Coverage of the Iraq War
A quote...."Iraq is the most dangerous place in the world for journalists. Along with names and dates, the Brussels Tribunal has listed the circumstances under which Iraqi media personnel have been killed since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003. This extremely credible report cites 195 as dead. If non-Iraqi media representatives are included, the figure goes beyond 200. Both figures are well in excess of the media fatalities suffered in Vietnam or during World War II."

China shifts to euros for Iran oil
A quote...."BEIJING (Reuters) - China's state-run Zhuhai Zhenrong Corp, the biggest buyer of Iranian crude worldwide, began paying for its oil in euros late last year as Tehran moves to diversify its foreign reserves away from U.S. dollars."

Beware; USA & Allies Stoking Shia-Sunni Divide
Must Read - A quote...."The policy of divide and rule is as old as the Roman empire – a constant guide to the Christian West and implemented ruthlessly during its colonial onslaught on the rest of the world."

Arab League summit to open in Saudi Arabia
A quote...."CAIRO, March 28 (RIA Novosti) - Leaders of Arab League member-states will try to work out a consolidated position on key problems facing the Arab world at the 19th summit of the organization, which opens in Saudi Arabia Wednesday."

Moscow warns U.S. Iran policy may spark "clash of civilizations"
A quote...."MOSCOW, March 27 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow urges the United States to avoid escalating tensions around Iran over its nuclear program as it could lead to a "clash of civilizations," the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday."

Russian and Chinese Presidents Call for Peaceful Solutions in Iran and North Korea
A quote...."Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian leader Vladimir Putin called Monday for peaceful solutions to the crises over Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programs, the Reuters news agency reports."

UAE territory off-limits for anti-Iran strike - president
WAR UPDATE -A quote...."ABU DHABI, March 27 (RIA Novosti) - Khalifa bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan, president of the United Arab Emirates, said Tuesday his country will not allow anyone to use its territory to conduct anti-Iranian operations."

Anger, resentment and discontent in Australian state election
A quote...."The WSWS interviewed voters at polling booths in three electorates for the New South Wales state election last Saturday March 24. The overwhelming sentiments in the working class areas of Heffron, Marrickville and Newcastle were hostility to both major parties—Liberal/National and Labor—along with deep-going concerns about the general state of the world, the eruption of war, environmental crises and deteriorating social services."

The War on Muslims
A quote...."Methinks we don’t – think, I mean, about anything outside our immediate visual horizon. Thinking is a poor way of understanding the world, which is too complex to be thought about effectively. That leaves hormones and unfortunate limbic wiring."

British backtrack on Iraq death toll
A quote...." British government officials have backed the methods used by scientists who concluded that more than 600,000 Iraqis have been killed since the invasion, the BBC reported yesterday.  -  The Government publicly rejected the findings, published in The Lancet in October. But the BBC said documents obtained under freedom of information legislation showed advisers concluded that the much-criticised study had used sound methods."

Bush of course dismissed the Lancet Study when it first came out stating it was "not a credible report" - Let's face it...

A) He didn't bother reading the report anyway, one of his handlers told him to make that statement.
B) Even if he'd tried to read it, he wouldn't have been able too, Bush had enough trouble trying to read "my pet goat".
C) Even if he'd been able to read the report, he wouldn't have given it a moments thought.
D) Even if he'd given it a moments thought, it would've been on how to lie about it anyway. - mpg
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Op-ed: Impeachment threat is real
A quote...."The impeachment threat is real, argues The Nation's John Nichols, as shown by talk show pundits who have begun to discuss it seriously."

Spanish Judge calls for architects of Iraq invasion to be tried for war crimes
A quote...."Baltasar Garzón, the Spanish judge who sought to prosecute Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet, has called for US President George W. Bush and his allies to be tried for war crimes over Iraq.  -  Writing in El Pais on the fourth anniversary of the invasion, Garzón stated, “Today, March 20, marks four years since the formal start of the war on Iraq. Instigated by the United States and Great Britain, and supported by Spain among other countries, one of the most sordid and unjustifiable episodes in recent human history began.  -  “Breaking every international law, and under the pretext of the war against terror, there has taken place since 2003 a devastating attack on the rule of law and against the very essence of the international community. In its path, institutions such as the United Nations were left in tatters, from which it has not yet recovered.”

Militant Brazilian Opposition to Bush-Lula Ethanol Accords
A quote...."São Paulo - During Bush's visit to Brazil thousands of poor, rural members of the international Via Campesina social movement and the Brazilian Movement of the Landless Rural Workers (MST) orchestrated massive, non-violent occupations of multinational agribusiness corporations throughout the country. Nine hundred women occupied the Cevasa ethanol distillery in São Paulo. According to the press statement released by Via Campesina, the protest was against "the proposal by the United States government to benefit large ethanol companies in Brazil, which is not in the interest of the majority of the Brazilian population."

Only Bush could think of something worse than conquering and occupying a country for its oil....occupying a country for its land, to establish sugar cane "energy" plantations.  No doubt to be harvested by slave workers while their padron masters sit out on the verandas of their haciendas, drinking pina coladas with their rich gringo investors. - mpg
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Congressional Democrats are a Pathetic Embarrassment
A quote...."What a pathetic joke this nominally Democratic Congress has proven to be.  -  Despite polls showing that 6 in 10 Americans want the U.S. out of Iraq asap, the best that this crew can come up with is a call--not binding, or course--for the president to pull out the troops by next spring or even summer. That would be over a year from now, and more than four years (!) into this criminal and incredibly stupid war."

Broken Promises And Barefaced Lies- Democrats Strike Again
A quote...."We have observed the same song and dance so many times before it's hard to believe more didn't see it coming. The Democrats once again let down their constituents and all the other voters who ushered them in to power last November -- believing, in utter stupidity, that they would somehow halt the madness of the Iraq war by challenging the Bush administration and their Republican allies in Congress."

See also....How It "Works" In DC - 03-09-07 - mpg
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George W. Bush, Just a Caricature of Himself!
A quote...."Thank God for the scandal over federal prosecutors, because it's eclipsing the Scooter Libby fiasco, which has obscured revelations over the deplorable state of Walter Reed Medical Center ..."

Pentagon conducting research into adverse effects of anthrax vaccine while maintaining it is safe
A quote...."The Pentagon  resumed its controversial mandatory anthrax vaccinations program for selected troops last week despite the fact that its own doctors are quietly conducting research into adverse effects of the vaccine, a RAW STORY investigation has found."

Just remember they're not GIs, they're actually GEs....Government Experiments. - mpg
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Did Dick Cheney Lie About His 9/11 Whereabouts?
A quote....At least 2 noteworthy individuals contradict Dick Cheney's alleged arrival time in the White House emergency bunker on 9/11/2001. And at ... all » least one of these witnesses implies that Cheney may have issued a 'stand down' order to 9/11 military responders while in this bunker."
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9/11 - From The History File...Gas, Oil and Afghanistan
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HBO's "Hacking Democracy" released on DVD -- a must see film
A quote...."The controversial HBO documentary ‘Hacking Democracy’ DVD, including extra footage never seen before, will be released today, March 27."

Monday March 26th 2007

Operation Bite: April 6 sneak attack by US forces against Iran planned, Russian military sources warn
WAR UPDATE - A quote....WASHINGTON DC, -- The long awaited US military attack on Iran is now on track for the first week of April, specifically for 4 am on April 6, the Good Friday opening of Easter weekend, writes the well-known Russian journalist Andrei Uglanov in the Moscow weekly “Argumenty Nedeli.” Uglanov cites Russian military experts close to the Russian General Staff for his account."

"The attack is slated to last for 12 hours, according to Uglanov, from 4 am until 4 pm local time. Friday is the sabbath in Iran. In the course of the attack, code named Operation Bite, about 20 targets are marked for bombing; the list includes uranium enrichment facilities, research centers, and laboratories."
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Seized sailors 'held in Tehran'
A quote...."The 15 Royal Navy personnel who were seized on Friday are being held at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps base in Tehran, the BBC has been told."

The Independent and Harretz probably have it right -  this is a retaliatory seizure in response to the American’s capture of five Iranian officials in Arbil this past January.

The Brits won't see their guys until the Americans release the prisoners their holding, possibly not even then.  There’s also some missing Iranian Officers that have "disappeared" lately and until they’re returned the Iranians may remain very uncooperative regarding the entire situation. -  mpg
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Casualties of Conscience
Must Read - A quote...."As criticism of the Iraq war grows at home, some US soldiers abroad are rejecting Bush's mission. On military bases across Germany, many are now seeking a way out through desertion or early discharge."

America's hidden war dead
A quote...."More than 770 civilians working for U.S. firms have lost their lives supporting the military in Iraq, and some families are now speaking out"

Utah's LDS no longer firmly back Iraq war
A quote...."Support drops after Hinckley talks of 'terrible cost of war' in general, high-profile Mormons speak out"

Demobilizing America

“We’ve Done Our Part”
Must Read - A quote...."Dominant United States political culture suppresses minimally honest discussion of the strategic imperial oil considerations that drive U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.  That reactionary and nationally narcissistic nationalistic culture also requires officially relevant political actors to spout childish rhetoric about the U.S. “intervening” in that region to “promote democracy.”

See also....Killers in the Classroom
See also....Remember the Native Americans - 02-07-07 - mpg
See also....Beastly Behavior - 01-24-07 - mpg
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The rape of Iraq's oil
A quote...."The recent cabinet agreement in Baghdad on the new draft oil law was hailed as a landmark deal bringing together the warring factions in the allocation of the country's oil wealth. What was concealed was that this is being forced through by relentless pressure from the US and will sow the seeds of intense future conflict, with serious knock-on impacts on the world economy."

Iraqi deaths survey 'was robust'
A quote...."The British government was advised against publicly criticising a report estimating that 655,000 Iraqis had died due to the war, the BBC has learnt.  -  Iraqi Health Ministry figures put the toll at less than 10% of the total in the survey, published in the Lancet.  -  But the Ministry of Defence's chief scientific adviser said the survey's methods were "close to best practice" and the study design was "robust".  -  Another expert agreed the method was "tried and tested".

The story is still not being reported by our illustrious "main stream" press....it just demonstrates they really are the best presstitutes money can buy.  -  mpg
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Kissinger's extradition to Uruguay sought over Operation Condor
A quote...."An attorney for a victim of Uruguay's 1973-1985 dictatorship has asked his government to request the extradition of former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger over his alleged role in the notorious Operation Condor."

For everyone currently in the Bush administration - this ones for you.  Have a happy life.- mpg

See also....Fun & Torture - It's a Pleasure - 02-03-07 - mpg
See also....Strangers In the Night - 10-04-06 - mpg
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Iran-Britain conflict shows the dangers of our ongoing presence in Iraq
A quote...."03/25/07 "Salon" -- -- The ongoing presence of 150,000 troops in the middle of Iraq, under the direction of this administration, entails grave risk of escalation beyond Iraq, whether deliberately or unintentionally -- a fact that is almost completely ignored in our "debate" over whether to withdraw troops. The seizure this week of 15 British sailors by Iran illustrates how grave those risks are."
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9/11 - From The History File...Did Big Oil participate in planning the invasion of Iraq?
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Will the US Destroy Iran Again?
A quote...."March 25, 2007 -- On January 20, 2006, Larry Franklin was sentenced to almost 13 years in prison for passing classified information to Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman of AIPAC, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee. Rosen and Weissman are currently under indictment for accepting classified information from Franklin[1]. Unbeknownst to all parties, the FBI was secretly spying on the meetings between Franklin, Rosen and Weissman. What most Americans are unaware of is that Larry Franklin worked at the Pentagon in the Office of Special Plans, which was set up by Donald Rumsfeld. Larry Franklin worked directly under Douglas Feith. 1 year removed from the sentencing of Franklin, Americans were able to tune in to CSPAN and watch the shameless speeches made by prominent US officials to AIPAC concerning Israeli security and the strategic alliance between the US and Israel."

Committee Directs RNC to Preserve White House Emails
A quote...."Citing evidence that senior White House officials are using RNC and other political email accounts to avoid leaving a record of official communications, Chairman Waxman directs the Republican National Committee and the Bush-Cheney ’04 Campaign to preserve the emails of White House officials and to meet with Committee staff to explain how the accounts are managed and what steps are being taken to protect the emails from destruction and tampering."

Evidence Suggests U.S. Attorney Firings May Have Been Part of White House Scheme to Help Game 2008 Election
A quote...."Details continue to drip out from the U.S. Attorney Purge scandal which seem to suggest that electoral politics --- and perhaps the 2008 election in particular --- may well have been at the heart of the White House/Dept. of Justice scheme to strategically place partisan operatives where they might be most useful prior to the next Presidential Election."

Fired U.S. Attorneys led the Nation in Convictions. No Wonder the Bush Administration was Worried!
Related Article - A quote...."Every day, the explanations for the firings of the eight U.S. attorneys are becoming less about competence and more about corruption. Some new statistics show that the prosecutors were in fact leading the nation in output:"

Gonzales Aide to Invoke Fifth Amendment
Related article - A quote...."Monica Goodling, a senior Justice Department official involved in the firings of federal prosecutors, will refuse to answer questions at upcoming Senate hearings, citing Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination, her lawyer said Monday."

New-home sales fall to seven-year low
A quote...."WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Sales of new homes unexpectedly dropped in February to the lowest level seen in nearly seven years, while inventories of unsold homes rose to a 16-year high, suggesting that the nation's housing market was softening heading into the vital spring buying season."

Now scientists create a sheep that's 15% human
A quote...."Scientists have created the world's first human-sheep chimera - which has the body of a sheep and half-human organs.  -  The sheep have 15 per cent human cells and 85 per cent animal cells - and their evolution brings the prospect of animal organs being transplanted into humans one step closer"

Anyone scared by this....anyone at all? - mpg
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Sunday March 25th 2007

The Plan -- according to U.S. General Wesley Clark (Ret.) YouTube - 1.37 min
Must See Video - A quote...." "We're going to take out 7 countries in 5 years: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan & Iran.."  For a transcript of the entire program....click here

The Frat Boys and Their Holocaust - Is it One Million Now?
Must Read - A quote...."While the Bush Administration reports the overall death toll of Iraqis since the invasion in the few tens of thousands (after all, when you’re spending half a trillion dollars to kill people, you need to show some success on paper), the Iraqi government (sic) has recently admitted that the figure is more like 150,000. This apparent concession is perhaps to avoid being cynically laughed out of the Middle East by all its inhabitants, who know things are much, much worse. Last year Lancet reported, using well-approved statistical measurements, that the median figure is more like 655,000, perhaps higher, perhaps lower. Well, now Dr. Gideon Polya, a Melbourne scientist and writer who has published some 130 works in four decades, has stated in a February 7, 2007 Countercurrents article (see: http://www.countercurrents.org/iraq-polya070207.htm ) that the true figure exceeds one million war-related deaths! To quote from this article:
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Russia’s foreign minister: Unipolar World "Not Happening"
Some quotes...."Echoing President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has gone on record saying that a “unipolar world is just not happening” and that this is a hard fact the US should learn to live with."

And...."Elaborating further on Russia’s unhappiness with the whole situation, Sergei Lavrov said that without Washington’s hardheaded approach, problems like Iran’s nuclear dossier and the situation in Iraq would have been solved a long time ago. As to the Iranians’ refusal to comply with international demands, much of the problem, including the Korean peninsula, stem from Washington’ refusal to mend fences with Tehran on the basis of internationally recognized principles. Lavrov believes Washington should display similar flexibility when dealing with Tehran."
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Look Out, It's a Paper Tiger!
A quote...."People, I say it unflinchingly, and with the utmost confidence that many share my viewpoint now and many more tomorrow, that this House bill was unprincipled, and that the Democratic leadership, headed by "Nancy Impeachment is off the table Pelosi" failed again to pass anything with real fangs, passing instead a premeditated paper tiger which was guaranteed to come out stillborn. For those of us who know what a real tiger looks like, the result was far from surprising. There are certain characteristics unique to the species which only a few, mostly isolated members of the Democratic Party's top echelon posses, so the travesty in the "carrying out the people's will" was a foregone conclusion."

Terrorized by 'War on Terror'  -  How a Three-Word Mantra Has Undermined America
A quote...."The "war on terror" has created a culture of fear in America. The Bush administration's elevation of these three words into a national mantra since the horrific events of 9/11 has had a pernicious impact on American democracy, on America's psyche and on U.S. standing in the world. Using this phrase has actually undermined our ability to effectively confront the real challenges we face from fanatics who may use terrorism against us."

See also....Brzezinki's prepared testimony - text
See also....Criminals Control the Executive Branch
See also....A political bombshell from Zbigniew Brzezinski
See also....Letters on Zbigniew Brzezinki’s testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
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NYC City Police Spied Broadly Before GOP Convention & The President’s Prison
Two good stories by the NYT, my goodness are they developing a trend for themselves?

Not to be churlish.....oh what the heck - let's be churlish.  These articles along with two other stories the Times has covered recently, the SWIFT monitoring of international bank transactions and the FISA violations of  everyone’s voice and e-mail traffic not only affected the peons a.k.a. "the little people" but also the wealthy elites of this nation

Therefore that might explain why the Times choose to cover these particular stories as apposed to all the other criminal activity going on in our country.  Because rest assured, the "wealthy elites" definitely don't like people listening in to their phone conversations, monitoring their bank transactions or establishing dictatorial precedents like Gitmo, which could potentially be used to violate "their precious" civil rights at some point in the future.
 
Regrettably the Times still seems to have this complete inability to "follow the money" and the corrosive effects money is having on the pitiful remnants of this nation's democratic institutions along with the destructive effects the hubris and degenerate attitudes of this society's wealthy elites are having on the social contract.

Not to mention of course being utterly unable to "connect the dots" regarding 9/11.

Only the future will tell if the New York Times still has the ability to regain its long lost institutional fortitude for standing up to power. - mpg
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Sweden Joins in Support for Palestinians
A quote...."RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Sweden joined several other European countries in a show of support for the new Hamas-Fatah coalition, dispatching its foreign minister for talks Saturday with his Palestinian counterpart despite Israel's call for a diplomatic boycott."

Poor, poor AIPAC....no one is paying attention to them anymore, except here in America. - mpg

See also....EU Paves Way for New Contacts with Palestinians
See also....Oslo and Rome welcome Haniyya's new government
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Disapproval on Iraq [Occupation] Hits Record
A quote...."Feb. 26, 2007 — A record number of Americans disapprove of the war in Iraq, and a clear majority now favors the eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces, even if civil order has not been restored there — potentially a tipping point in public attitudes on the war."

So....?  Let's be crystal clear about this shall we, the DemoRepub party still needs three to four more years to wind down this ten year cycle of economic creative destruction before they launch their next war.  If the economy starts tanking sooner than expected however, they'll just launch their war with Iran a little earlier than planned.   It's all so pathetically predictable.

The opinions of the men and woman who are currently serving in our nation's armed forces have never changed where our government told them to go and who they were told to kill - not ever.  And that isn't going to change anytime soon.

Also none of the opinions expressed by the American public have ever changed this country's policies regarding the avaricious desires of the Military-Industrial-Oil-Complex, except perhaps in one particularly important case.  And that event - called Vietnam - was so traumatic to our illustrious wealthy elites and the neocon monsters they now conspire with that they embarked on a thirty year Straussian campaign to permanently change our frail and deeply flawed "democratic" republic into their sick, perverted and twisted version of the New Roman Empire.

A plan that involved the murder of almost three thousand Americans along with millions of people in the Middle East.

A plan that involved the desecration of all that this nation has ever publicly professed it stood for.

Everyone should understand that we're all simply cattle to these wealthy elites and their neocon brethren. We're all just food to them.  Would you ask your steak what it wants?  Would you ask your baked potato how it feels? The question one has to ask is why ABC has even bothered to ask the food for an opinion when it doesn't effect any of the outcomes?

One would have to guess it's perhaps a sentimental homage to the last vestiges and archaic traditions of democracy that used to exist in this country.

Perhaps the necons and their rich masters are even getting a little nervous about the answers? - mpg

See also....Effective Fed Funds Rate
See also....It's Only the 1% That Counts 03-06-07 - mpg
See also....Predictable Outcomes - 02-04-07 - mpg
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Navy Lacks Plan to Defend Against `Sizzler' Missile (Update1)
A quote...."March 23 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Navy, after nearly six years of warnings from Pentagon testers, still lacks a plan for defending aircraft carriers against a supersonic Russian-built missile, according to current and former officials and Defense Department documents."

Than again perhaps the US won't attack Iran.  It appears both China and Russia are finding the US's current  "adventures" a little tiring, not to mention dangerous for everyone concerned. - mpg
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India to push for $7bn Iran gas pipeline project
A quote...."NEW DELHI: India is committed to a multi-billion dollar pipeline that will transport gas from energy-rich Iran through Pakistan despite reported objections from United States, Oil Minister Murli Deora said yesterday."I don't see any problem (on the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline)," Deora was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency.  -  "No country can debar India from this project. * We are committed to this," Deora said during a visit to Mumbai.

Gosh.....who could Deora be talking about when he says "no country"?  Hummm, just can't figure that one out. - mpg

* italics/bold by website author.
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Subverting Iran - Washington's Covert War inside Iran
A quote...."Much attention has been given to the Bush Administration’s preparations for possible war against Iran as well as its drive to impose sanctions. Meanwhile, a less noticed policy has been unfolding, one that may in time prove to have grave consequences for the region. There is a covert war underway in Iran, still in its infancy, but with disturbing signs of impending escalation. In the shadowy world of guerrilla operations, the full extent of involvement by the Bush Administration has yet to be revealed, but enough is known to paint a disturbing picture."

Protests shatter image of Musharraf's invincibility
A quote...."ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — Even as he oversaw a show of military might Friday to commemorate a milestone in Pakistani history, President Pervez Musharraf is facing the most serious domestic crisis of his tenure as leader of the nation and the army, one that experts say has weakened him heading into elections this year  -  An outcry over Musharraf's suspension of Pakistan's top judge has brought protesters into the streets, prompted calls for the president to step down and refocused attention on the iron grip of the military establishment.  -  The demonstrations have tapped into a wellspring of public anger over the fact that, nearly eight years after Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup, the rule of law and the role of democratic institutions here remain tenuous at best."

Conrad Black is on trial in a nation that loathes its elites
A quote...."Black is the world's leading advocate of the "Anglosphere", a movement calling for the creation of a bloc of English-speaking countries. Adherents claim that the US, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand must join together against the Muslim world and anyone else who poses a threat. For Black, the US is not just the obvious leader of the Anglosphere but the economic and military model that all Anglo countries should emulate, as opposed to the soft European Union."

See also....White Man's Burden - 12-20-06  - mpg
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9/11 - From The History File...The Wargames of September 11th (beta)
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Uranium and the War - The effects of depleted uranium weapons in Iraq
A quote...."In five billion years our sun will explode into a white dwarf and envelope the earth, according to NASA projections.  -  The half-life of uranium 238 is 4.5 billion years.  -  This means that by the time the Earth ceases to be a planet, only a little more than half of the depleted uranium (DU) that the United States Army is firing into Iraq and other countries around the world will be gone. The rest of the radioactive material will still be poisoning the Iraqi people"

Republican RICO-Style Abuse of Power
A quote...."There is nothing as corrupt as using the governmental powers of law enforcement, to selectively prosecute your political enemies and to cover-up criminal behavior by your political organization and allies, while in a position of political power. This situation is the essence of the current scandal concerning the firing of U.S. Attorneys by the Bush White House."

The Truth Spin
A quote...."It is our contention that the time has come for us “come out” on the Iraq war. We need to jettison the current narrative for the war effort, as it has become an albatross for the administration. In its place, we recommend a bold, new, virtually untested tactic: telling the truth. Obviously we can’t tell the whole truth, especially with regard to our secondary goal of destabilizing the Muslim world by fomenting sectarian violence throughout the region (needless to say, it wouldn’t help to acknowledge profiteering efforts or the ad hoc creation of loose money pools for black ops either). But the truth that we should tell is the simple tale of the necessity of securing energy reserves in order to maintain American global dominance."

Let Rove Lie
Must Read - A quote...."I think Karl Rove should be permitted to testify to Congress in private, without taking any oath, and without any record being kept of what he says. I had hoped we could avoid the indecency of having to spell out the reason why, but apparently we can't. So please remember this and then never say it aloud again: he wants to lie. Sssshhh. There, we said it. And you're making it very difficult for him, and that's not very nice or respectful."
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Saturday March 24th 2007

A new dividing line in Europe
Must Read - A quote...."The widespread perception is that in the remaining two years of the George W Bush presidency of, the "realist" Condoleezza Rice-Robert Gates team is shifting US foreign policy from confrontation to the diplomacy of engagement. "

A good summation of Russian tactics in the "Great Game" to keep from being surrounded and balkanized. - mpg
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We Told You So
Must Read -  A quote...."This article was excerpted from a chapter in a forthcoming book, “The Economics of Housing Bubbles,” in America’s Housing Crisis: A Case of Government Failure, edited by Benjamin Powell and Randall Holcombe."

Now note the chart Effective Fed Funds Rate - how each recession occurs right around the "two's" of each decade..... proceeding the start of most of this Nation's wars.  Now isn't that interesting, or to use another phrase - how fortuitous. - mpg

See also....The Scourge of the Wealthy - Deflation / The Balm of the Wealthy - War   09-30-06 - mpg
See also....Mr Reficul Conversation Num Two mailing #13   08-29-05 - mpg
See also....Republic or Empire - Military Keynesianism
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Tony Benn Beats Bolton To A Pulp
Must View - A quote...."03/24/07 -  BBC Question Time"

Watch John Bolton give his middle finger to the ENTIRE WOLRD....and he's laughing about it.  Also note his statement that Saddam launched an unprovoked invasion of Kuwait .....sure he did, AFTER THE US GAVE HIM THE GREEN LIGHT.  Thank you Ms. April Glispie.
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Betrayed!
A quote....03/24/07 "ICH" -- -- THE DEMOCRATS ARE FUNDING IRAQ ESCALATION: The Democratic leadership has proposed $100 billion of supplemental funding for an increased troop presence in Iraq. The leadership opted for the  "slow bleed" policy over a month ago. This extends the occupation for at least another 18 months, and allows permanent placement of troops thereafter for “training” or “combating terrorism”. It also will permit the Bush Administration to initiate a war with Iran without Congressional oversight. The surge of 20,000 troops recently increased to 30,000 and will likely increase to 100,000 by year-end. Will the hapless Democrats then claim, “If  only I knew then what I know now” as they have for the past year?
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Documents Show Gonzales Approved Firings
A quote...."WASHINGTON — Last week, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said he was not involved in any discussions about the impending dismissals of U.S. attorneys.  -  On Friday night, however, the Justice Department revealed Gonzales’ participation in a Nov. 27 meeting where such plans were discussed."

They are all unrepentant, unapologetic, uncaring, unredeemable liars.   Every single one of them.  But that’s not the sad part, the sad part is a third of the American public simply don't care, they just don’t give a damn.  They get lied to every single day for six straight years, lies so obvious a five year old would be embarrassed to tell them, lies so blatant it demonstrates the total arrogant contempt the liars have for everyone they tell them to, lies that have murdered hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed this Nation’s reputation, constitution and treasury.

And yet these Americans remain utterly unmoved and uncaring.  It brings one to tears to witness their callousness, their complete disregard for the decent opinion of mankind, their fawning and abject willing complicity in the mocking and degrading of truth.

To all you Americans who do this.....you are despicable, no one should do business with you, no one should speak with you, no one should ever believe what you say – you should be shunned by all decent Americans and all those throughout the world who wish to remain free from whatever disease of the conscience you have contracted that has left you bereft of your ability to distinguish right from wrong and the truth from a lie. - mpg
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Scott Ritter: Calling Out Idiot America
A quote...."The ongoing hand-wringing in Congress by the newly empowered Democrats over what to do about the war in Iraq speaks volumes about the level of concern (or lack thereof) these “representatives of the people” have toward the men and women who honor us all by serving in the armed forces of the United States of America.  The inability to reach consensus concerning the level of funding required or how to exercise effective oversight of the war, both constitutionally mandated responsibilities, is more a reflection of congressional cowardice and impotence than a byproduct of any heartfelt introspection over troop welfare and national security."
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U.S. blasts Argentina for Chávez rally
A quote...."At a trade meeting, a top State Department official scolded Argentina for hosting the Venezuelan president's anti-Bush rally." - italics/bold by website author.

See also....We'll Make Them an Offer They Can't Refuse 09-06-06 - mpg
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Ahmadinejad angrily abandons plans for UN visit
A quote...."Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has abandoned plans to address the UN Security Council ahead of a vote on fresh sanctions against Tehran, with Washington angrily accused of scuppering them."

Ecuador's Nascent Leftist Government Victorious in Confrontation with Right
A quote...."The two month old government of leftist Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and the popular movements that back him have emerged triumphant in their first battle with the oligarchy and the traditional political parties that have historically dominated the country. Correa in his inaugural address in January called for an opening to a "new socialism of the twenty-first century" and declared that Ecuador has to end "the perverse system that has destroyed our democracy, our economy and our society."

Review of The struggle for Independent Politics in the United States
A quote...."Did the last presidential election campaign in the United States represent the nadir of Ralph Nader’s long and remarkable public life? Or, was it instead the rottenness of the two-corporate party system that hit new lows in the run-up to the 2004 election?"

Kucinich Has a Chance to Make a Historic Move and to Stand Out as a Presidential Hopeful
A quote...."If Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is looking for a way to distinguish himself from the pack of candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for president in the 2008 election, he need look no further than impeachment."
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9/11 - From The History File   O'Neill: Bush planned Iraq invasion before 9/11
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Friday March 23rd 2007

Liberals Relent on Iraq War Funding
A quote...."Liberal opposition to a $124 billion war spending bill broke last night, when leaders of the antiwar Out of Iraq Caucus pledged to Democratic leaders that they will not block the measure, which sets timelines for bringing U.S. troops home."

Of course they caved; it was all just for show anyway.  Its all a sham, a scam, despite Bush's supposed opposition and veto threat, this bill will give him everything he wants.... another two years worth of war - minimum.  And to top it all off Pelosi gave him twenty billion dollars more than he asked for.

Don't you get it folks, it’s a joke, you've all been had, you've all been taken for a ride - again. Without a doubt he cut a deal with Pelosi and from THIS POINT FORWARD Pelosi is as equally responsible for all the deaths and injuries as Bush is.

Every dead Iraqi child should be laid at her doorstep, every American casualty is her responsibility, all the unnecessary deaths and destruction throughout the Middle East due to Bush's and Pelosi’s quest for the New Roman Empire are on her head – mpg
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Anti-war protesters arrested at Pelosi’s office
A quote...."Four members of the anti-war group Code Pink were arrested outside the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Thursday afternoon, following an announcement that they would seek to take over the office.  -  The group’s members had planned to hold a symbolic “Pin the war on the Donkey” demonstration at Pelosi’s office to show their frustration with the Democratic leadership’s inaction on ending the war in Iraq."

Well, Code Pink doesn't have to worry about "inaction" anymore, now that Pelosi has extended the war another two years and added twenty billion more in funding.  Code Pink probably would have preferred more "inaction". - mpg
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The Sheikh and The Torture Senator
 A quote...."03/23/07 "ICH" -- -- Last week senior al-Qaeda operative Khalid Sheikh Mohammed reportedly confessed during his Combatant Status Review Tribunal (CSRT) at the US prison in the US Naval Station, Guantanamo, Cuba to having planned virtually every al-Qaeda attack on the United States. But during the military tribunal proceedings, he also said he was tortured during his four year confinement in CIA secret prisons. Senators Levin and Graham viewed the Guantanamo proceedings over a special video link into the US Senate. Afterwards, Senator Levin said that Sheikh Mohammed’s allegations of torture by US officials must be investigated."

NATO forces shoot Afghan child, run over another
A quote...."A distraught Afghan father buried his 12-year-old son Friday after the boy was shot in the head by NATO troops in the latest in a series of civilian deaths involving international forces."

Marines face U.S. probe in Afghanistan deaths
A quote...."WASHINGTON (AP) -- Marines accused of shooting and killing civilians after a suicide bombing in Afghanistan are under U.S. investigation, and their entire unit has been ordered to leave the country early, officials said Friday."

Officials: 9 to be held to account on Tillman
A quote...."WASHINGTON - A Pentagon investigation will recommend that nine officers, including up to four generals, be held accountable for missteps in the aftermath of the friendly fire death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman in Afghanistan, senior defense officials said Friday."

Friday: 5 GIs, 74 Iraqis Killed; 48 Iraqis Wounded
A quote...."The U.S. military reported on the deaths of five servicemen: A Marine died during combat operations in Anbar province yesterday, while a bomb blast killed an American soldier in Baghdad. A soldier was shot dead in Balad on Wednesday, and a roadside bomb killed a servicemember on Tuesday. Another GI serving in Iraq died of injuries received in an accident on Wednesday."

Anger at US 'rendition' of refugees who fled Somalia
A quote...."At least 150 people arrested in Kenya after fleeing violence in Somalia have been secretly flown to Somalia and Ethiopia, where they are being held incommunicado in underground prisons, human rights groups say."

Border Guard policemen admit they abused Palestinian teen
A quote...."The three Border Guard policemen who were caught on camera beating a Palestinian teen in the Hawara village, near Nablus, Wednesday, were questioned Friday morning by the Police Investigation Unit in Tel Aviv."

Come Together Right Now Over Him
A quote...."I've often wondered if George W. Bush, like Richard Nixon before him, has an enemies list. If he does, he's lucky to be living in the computer age, because keeping track of so many names on paper would be difficult."

Explosive New Vote Fraud Developments Continue To Rock Ohio and Florida
A quote...."Breaking news in vote fraud cases in both Ohio and Florida are feeding a firestorm of controversy that is likely to continue escalating, with major implications for the 2008 election and the future of e-voting machines."

9/11 Truthers Confront Alan 'Mengele' Dershowitz
Alan Dershowitz says "two or three of his friends" were on the 9/11 commission and they considered "all the evidence". That’s nice to know, however it would've been even nicer of his friends if they had only let us take a look at "all the evidence."  See "9/11 from the history file" below.

But perhaps that’s what good friends are for....to keep embarrassing secrets - secret? - mpg
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9/11 - From The History File   Bush Won't Reveal Saudi 9/11 Info

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NY Post, Bush Knew & NY Post, Gossip Girls Scramble to Slander Truthseekers
The New York Post seems to be confused, the government knew and was therefore implicated with the event of  9/11 - or it wasn't.....according to them.

It's funny how Rupert Murdoch did a one eighty after he accused Bush of knowing in advance of the attack on 911...than again maybe not.  See....US: Murdoch faces test after DirectTV deal

After this deal was approved it's been smooth sailing between Bush and good'ol Rupi for the last five years.  Isn't it nice being a media mogul AND having influential friends in the White House?

Oh and lets not forget Rupert Murdoch's infamous comment that American casualties in Iraq are - as he so delicately put it - "minute"…..no doubt he has the same attitude regarding all the casualties caused by 9/11.

After all they're just "the little people" - mpg
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Thursday March 22nd 2007

The Upcoming Iraq War Funding Bill - click here for a transcript
Must See Video - A quote...."Only with the complicity of Congress have we become a nation of pre-emptive war, secret military tribunals, torture, rejection of habeas corpus, warrantless searches, undue government secrecy, extraordinary renditions, and uncontrollable spying on the American people. The greatest danger we face is ourselves: what we are doing in the name of providing security for a people made fearful by distortions of facts. Fighting over there has nothing to do with preserving freedoms here at home. More likely the opposite is true.."

Where Are The Democrats?
A quote...."It's hard to get out of a deal with the devil. That's the congressional Democrats' dilemma as they continue to treat the Iraq war as a speed bump on their pathway to the perks of restored power."
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U.S. News Media's 'War on Gore'
Must Read - A quote...."When historians sort out what happened to the United States at the start of the 21st Century, one of the mysteries may be why the national press corps ganged up like school-yard bullies against a well-qualified Democratic presidential candidate while giving his dimwitted Republican opponent virtually a free pass."

See also.......Ad Revenue at New York Times Co. Plunges in February
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The Controlled Demolition of the American Republic
A quote...."Burke stood up to a mad king named George, head of a vast and powerful empire, an empire determined to smash and subjugate a rebellious foreign colony. The king failed. The rebellion succeeded, and after 225 years, that republic spawned a powerful empire of its own, smashing and subjugating other foreign colonies.  "

The Architects Of War: Where Are They Now?
A quote...."President Bush has not fired any of the architects of the Iraq war. In fact, a review of the key planners of the conflict reveals that they have been rewarded — not blamed — for their incompetence."
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Conservatives Launch Effort to Rollback Presidential Abuse of Power
A quote....WASHINGTON, March 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Liberty Coalition, a transpartisan public policy group dedicated to preserving the Bill of Rights, personal autonomy and individual privacy, applauds yesterday's launch of the American Freedom Agenda (AFA). A cooperative effort of deeply respected conservative leaders Bruce Fein, Bob Barr, David Keene and Richard Viguery, AFA's mission is to enact legislation that restores "the Constitution's checks and balances" and makes the subject "a staple of political campaigns and of foremost concern to Members of Congress and to voters and educators.""

It would be nice to think they're doing this as a matter of principal and not because, as the cynical among us might suspect, of their worry that all this "abuse of power" might fall into the hands of the Demo faction of the DemoRepub party.

Which goes to show better late then never...is not always better. Where were these people when their country needed them? - mpg

See also....  Twenty Nine Acts to Restore Americans' Rights 11-10-06 -mpg
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US wants all 10 fingerprints on entry
A quote...." The US will increase the amount of information it holds on foreign visitors when it takes all 10 fingerprints from air travellers rather than the usual two.  -  Currently foreign travellers must have their index fingers scanned into a database when they enter the US by agents of the Department of Homeland Security. Those prints can then be checked against a database of fingerprints held by police forces or the FBI."

Private intelligence firm targets The American Monitor
A quote...." According to online statistics provided by The American Monitor’s Internet host, a private corporation specializing in online surveillance, Cyveillance Inc., has begun monitoring this site.1  -  Serving as a private quasi-intelligence-agency-for-hire and backed primarily by ABS Capital Partners,2 Cyveillance “proactively identifies and eliminates” online “threats” to their clients’ interests.3  -  Essentially, Cyveillance is paid by companies and governments to scan websites, blogs, news groups, auction sites, peer-to-peer networks, message boards, FTP clients, chat rooms, and email messages in search of anything their clients may find relevant—from negative publicity, to copyrighted material, to confidential information, to potential terrorist threats.4"
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Blues for Allah: More Blood in the Wake of the "War on Terror"
Must Read - A quote...."Has anyone noticed that yet another "regime change" accomplished with U.S. military assistance is now collapsing into savage – and entirely predictable – internecine conflict? "

U.S. urged to abandon trials by military tribunals
A quote...."MIAMI (Reuters) - Amnesty International urged the United States on Thursday to abandon plans to try Guantanamo prisoners before military tribunals and asked other nations not to contribute any evidence for use at the trials."

Iraq, Insurgent Negotiations Deadlocked
A quote...."BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's government has engaged in secret negotiations seeking to get some Sunni Arab insurgent groups to give up their fight, but the talks are deadlocked over the lack of a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, a senior official said Thursday." *

Editor's NOTE : The US's planned time table for withdrawal......never. - Actual time table for withdrawal.....three to five years.

* italics/bold by website author.
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US struggles to avert Turkish intervention in northern Iraq
A quote...."The US is scrambling to head off a "disastrous" Turkish military intervention in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq that threatens to derail the Baghdad security surge and open up a third front in the battle to save Iraq from disintegration."
To save Iraq "from disintegration"??  They've got to be kidding.

Gentle reader, please don't believe the US is doing this to help the Kurds, or save Iraq "from disintegration" - it's just that right now the US is too busy betraying the Shia not to mention the fact that any Turkish intervention would disrupt the US’s unrelenting efforts to destabilize Iran through its constant support of various separatists groups such as Kurdistan's PKK, MEK and others.

As a consequence the US happens to be a little distracted right now.  As soon as the US is done doing to the Shia in Iraq and Iran what the US has already done to the Sunnis ...it’ll let Turkey do its worst to the Kurds.

For the moment however the US has way too much on its plate for it to tolerate a major flare-up in the one part of Iraq not currently experiencing any of that lovely US sponsored  "constructive instability"....a.k.a. "freedom and democracy". - mpg
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Musharraf faces `revolution'
A quote...."Crowd calls president [ Musharraf ] `Bush's dog' as opposition builds after judge's ouster - ISLAMABAD, Pakistan–Thousands of lawyers and political activists in cities across Pakistan staged peaceful rallies yesterday as they continued their nearly two-week-old campaign against President Pervez Musharraf's decision to suspend the nation's chief justice."
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Four Million Bullets: 'Congratulations' Chiquita Banana!
A quote...."The case against Chiquita is a great opportunity to rip the lid off the putrid cauldron cooked up by companies that have enriched themselves with impunity on the blood of the people. Justice must not remain silent."

See also.......Crisis in Nigeria - Oil Inferno
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Ex-Governor George says Bank deliberately fuelled consumer boom
A quote...." The Bank of England deliberately stoked the consumer boom that has led to record house prices and personal debt in order to avert a recession, the former Bank Governor Eddie George admitted yesterday.  -  Lord George said he and his colleagues on the Monetary Policy Committee "did not have much of a choice" as they battled to prevent the UK being dragged into a worldwide economic slump by slashing interest rates. And he said his legacy to the current MPC was to "sort out" the problems he had caused."

Former CIA official supports Professor's claim that official 9/11 Islamist conspiracy theory are lies
A quote...."David Ray Griffin is widely recognized as one of the leading spokespersons of the 9/11 truth movement. This is by virtue of his previous four books on the subject. Professor Griffin and a growing list of scholars, other researchers as well as diverse experts and activists, reject the official Islamist mastermind conspiracy theory about 9/11 advanced by Establishment interests."

Former Fed  analyst questions M1 currency component spike prior to 9/11
A quote...."Given the fact that the supervisor gave him the green light and directed him to find the answer regarding the August 2, 2001 supervisory letter, Bergman decided that the best method to discover the answer was to contact the staff of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve directly.  In December 2003 he called the Board and inquired about the meaning and motivation behind the August 2, 2001 letter.  Within two weeks his assignment was abruptly terminated and his credentials canceled. "

Another person who tried to do their job by "following the money"....with the usual results. - mpg
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9/11 - From The History File   National Security Watch: FBI [& 9/11] whistle-blower petitions high court
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John Nichols: Bush delusional on attorneys issue
Must Read - A quote...."Is George Bush delusional?  -  No, that question is not an attack on his intelligence.Nor is it an attempt to suggest that he has taken some bizarre new position although, as it happens, he has.  -  Rather, it is a serious question about whether the president understands what is going on around him."

Senate Joins House, Votes to Allow Subpoenas for White House Officials
A quote...."A Senate panel, following the House's lead, has authorized subpoenas for White House political adviser Karl Rove and other top aides involved in the firing of federal prosecutors."

It's All About Context - Why Bush's Attorney Scandal Standoff is Doomed to Political Failure
A quote...."Nearly everything in life is about context. So let's put into context Mister Bush's latest heel-digging-in, "know ya'are but whattam'I" pitch-o-fit with the Democrats and see why it is doomed to political failure."

Source and Reporter or Lovers?
A quote...."For pity's sake, what on earth is Robert Novak doing at Washington Post claiming a conspiracy on the part of Valerie Plame to bring down his favorite source, Karl Rove? One would think Novak and Rove were lovers given this type of of journalistic maleficence and continued pandering."

Well....everyone knows about Karl and his disgusting habits.....does this mean Novak has now been outed? - mpg
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Senator Boxer - Elections Have Consequences
Must See Video - Who says Capital Hill committees can't be fun? - mpg
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Wednesday March 21st 2007

GALLUP: Approval of Congress Plunges Again After Brief Uptick
Must Read - A quote...."NEW YORK Public approval of the new Democratic Congress climbed in January and February -- but has now plunged back to earth, according to a new Gallup poll released today. Just 28% now offer a good grade to Congress, down 9% in just one month.

Gallup is not sure why, but speculates that part of it could be that the "positive" message of the Democrats is wearing out -- and they have also disappointed those who expected them to actually do something to change policy in Iraq. *

No!  You're kidding ! We elected the DemoRepubs and actually expected them to do something....aren't we a bunch of silly people. - mpg

See also....Mommy Pelosi and Daddy Bush - 11-18-06

* - italics/bold by website author
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Anti-War Dems Near Defeat on Spending Bill
A quote...."The most outspoken critics of the $124 billion wartime spending bill in the House are facing withering support in their fight to defeat it.  -  California Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters and Lynn Woolsey said that many of their liberal colleagues were caving under pressure from Democratic leaders who, according to at least one congressman, have threatened to block requests for new funds for his district.  -  They also cited MoveOn.org's endorsement of the measure Monday as a blow to their efforts."

96% of MoveOn Members Did Not Show Support for the Pelosi Bill
A quote...." On Sunday, March 18, Sheldon Rampton and I wrote  "Iraq: Why Won't MoveOn Move Forward?", an article now widely circulated online. It has helped to focus debate on whether the Democratic Party is really attempting to end the war in Iraq, or is content to simply manage the war for supposed electoral advantage in 2008.

The liberal advocacy group MoveOn has 3.2 million members. Yesterday MoveOn misleadingly claimed that the results from their recent member survey showed overwhelming support for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's bill on Iraq. "The results are in from our poll on whether to support Speaker Pelosi's proposal on Iraq: 84.6% of MoveOn members voted to support the bill," according to MoveOn. However, this claim flunks the smell test and is far far from accurate
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To some in Paris, sinister past is back
Must Read - A quote...."In Texas, a white teenager burns down her family's home and receives probation. A black one shoves a hall monitor and gets 7 years in prison. The state NAACP calls it `a signal to black folks. -  The youth had no prior arrest record, and the hall monitor--a 58-year-old teacher's aide--was not seriously injured. But Shaquanda was tried in March 2006 in the town's juvenile court, convicted of "assault on a public servant" and sentenced by Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville to prison for up to 7 years, until she turns 21.'"

Justice "Texas style" - Pretty soon blacks in Texas are going to feel just like the Iraqis currently do in Iraq. Like it's not their country anymore.

This should be an instructive and salutary lesson for the world.  Wherever you are, if you're colored and there happens to be oil under the ground you're standing on, and a bunch of white people are in the area near you - you're in trouble. - mpg
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Russia will not back excessive Iran sanctions
A quote...."MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday it would support gradual sanctions at the United Nations against Iran over its nuclear program, but will not back "excessive" measures."

Iran Threatens Retaliation for Neocon Kidnap and Murder Campaign
A quote...."Like a meth lab situated out in the boonies and ignored by the local police and newspaper, the bastard child of Douglas Feith’s Office of Special Plans, the Iran-Syria Operations Group, operates with impunity."

Pull Troops Out of Afghanistan, Germans Say
A quote...."(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A majority of people in Germany consider the country’s troops serving in Afghanistan should return home, according to a poll by TNS Infratest released by Der Spiegel. 57 per cent of respondents believe Germany should withdraw its troops, while 36 per cent say the country should keep its soldiers inside the country."

Four Years of War and No Way Out …
A quote....L’Alsace Lorraine: Four years after the invasion of Iraq, President Bush nevertheless persists. - Yesterday during a brief speech, he called for the American people to be “patient,” as if he believed in miracles. - Nevertheless, the balance sheet of the past four years is catastrophic; for Iraq, for the United States and for the rest of the world."

Iraq 'talking to militant groups'
A quote...."Talks are taking place between the Iraqi government and some insurgent groups, a senior Iraqi official says."

Oil-rich Kirkuk at melting point as factions clash
A quote...."Seven bombs detonating in the space of 35 minutes sent up clouds of black smoke over the centre of Kirkuk earlier this week. The explosions in Arab and Turkoman districts killed 12 people and injured 39 but exactly who was behind them is unclear."

Only 10% in U.S. See Iran as Immediate Threat
A quote...."Very few Americans believe Iran represents a danger for their country, according to a poll by New York Times and CBS News. Only 10 per cent of respondents think Iran is a threat to the United States that requires military action now, down 11 points since mid-February."
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Paging Rose Mary Woods: '18-Day Gap' in Release of Latest Emails in 'AttorneyGate'
Must Read - A quote...."NEW YORK As each day passes, the phrase "shades of Watergate" appears more and more often in the press regarding the conflict surrounding the recent firing of eight U.S. attorneys. There was the hiring of former Nixon legal adviser Fred Fielding (he was once rumored to be Deep Throat) by President Bush, the selective release of documents, the threat to oppose subpoenas -- and now something reminiscent of the famous "18 1/2 minute gap."

Bush advisers ordered to testify
A quote...."A Congressional committee has voted to order key White House aides to testify under oath about the controversial firing of eight federal prosecutors."
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Lawyers observe country-wide protest against CJ Presidential reference
A quote...."ISLAMABAD: The lawyers and politicians in various cities of the country held protest demonstration for making Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry inactive while complete shutter down strike was observed in Larkana and Badin."

EU Paves Way for New Contacts with Palestinians
A quote...."The European Union may soon abandon its preconditions for negotiating with the new Hamas-led unity government in the Palestinian Authority. But Israel is seeking to preserve the political boycott against the radical Islamic Hamas."

Bid to Break Unity Govt Will Not Succeed’
A quote...."JEDDAH, 22 March 2007 — Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal said yesterday that American attempts to create divisions within the Palestinian ranks would not succeed. He was referring to US moves to sabotage the new Palestinian unity government by agreeing to engage in talks with only the non-Hamas members of the Cabinet."

Hu to Oversee Up to $4Bln in Deals
A quote...."Chinese President Hu Jintao will oversee the signing of $4 billion in deals for oil, ships, buses, steel and real estate during a visit next week that will also kick off Russia's "Year of China," officials said Wednesday.  -  One political accord -- a broad joint declaration -- also will be signed, but no arms deals will be struck, a Foreign Ministry official said.  -  Hu's three-day visit, which starts Monday, reciprocates President Vladimir Putin's trip to Beijing last March, which kicked off China's "Year of Russia," a series of cultural activities."

The Times Misleads On Prosecutorgate "News" And Presents Facts As Opinion
A quote...."Is New York Times reporter David Stout incapable of performing basic research, or is he parroting Administration talking points in today's article on Prosecutorgate? That's not a rhetorical question. His article distorts the context for Congressional requests for testimony. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the the Times simple factual assertions are being presented as editorial opinion."
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9/11 - From The History File   The FAA Knew - But were they set up?
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Russian Spacecraft With U.S. Tourist Docks at ISS
A quote...."A Russian Soyuz spaceship docked at the International Space Station on Wednesday, bringing the world’s first female space tourist and a two-man crew to the orbiting outpost, the mission control near Moscow reported on Wednesday according to the Xinhua news agency."

China stocks hit record high
A quote...."China's main stock index reached a record high Wednesday as analysts expected vibrations to rule the equity market in the coming days.  -  The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed up 0.83 percent at 3,057.38 points, an all-time high while the Shenzhen Composite Index gained 1.36 percent to 805.68. The Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 Index of major companies rose 1.12 percent to 2,702.59."

Tuesday March 20th 2007

Iraq & Washington's Systemic Failure - posted at Consortium News
Must Read - A quote...."George W. Bush and Dick Cheney may deserve the most blame for the Iraq War, but a core reality shouldn’t be missed: the four-year-old conflict resulted from a systemic failure in Washington – from the White House, to congressional Republicans and Democrats, to an insular national news media, to Inside-the-Beltway think tanks."

Pelosi's Capitulation
Must Read - A quote...."If George W. Bush launches a preemptive war on Iran, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will bear full moral responsibility for that war.  -  For it was Pelosi who quietly agreed to strip out of the $100 billion funding bill for Iraq a provision that would have required President Bush to seek congressional approval before launching any new war on Iran."

Why Won't MoveOn Move Forward?
A quote...."MoveOn's 3.2 million members strongly oppose any continuation of the war, and the language above seems to suggest that MoveOn's leadership agrees. But MoveOn's organizing around Iraq has become notably ambiguous lately. Although it talks in general terms about bringing the troops home, specific timetables or meaningful steps in that direction are nowhere discussed. Most strikingly, MoveOn has adamantly refused to support the Iraq amendment from Congressional Progressive Caucus leaders Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey and Maxine Waters, which calls for "a fully funded, and systematic, withdrawal of U.S. soldiers and military contractors from Iraq" by the end of 2007."

The Problem With Building An Embassy Fit For An Empire
A quote...."The headline reads: "Thousands of angry Iraqis pillage billion-dollar U.S. Embassy in Baghdad." The article details the ransacking of the grandiose American Embassy by Iraqi mobs.  -  This is the story I expect to read one day within the next decade"

Our Mad Mad Mad Mad Vice President Speaks
A quote...."The Cheney speech to AIPAC – reassuring militant rightwingers in Israel and the US that America is leaning forward on Iran, and that we are never leaving Iraq – was filled with honesty and conviction, and gives us a clear window into the administration's thinking."

See also....Pentagon Whistle-Blower on the Coming War With Iran
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Warming Iran-Saudi Ties Foil U.S. Plans to Divide Muslims
A quote...."Have recent peace overtures between the Saudis and Iranians undercut Washington's plans to create a schism within Islam? According to this op-ed article from Iran's strongly pro-regime Ya Lesarat Al-Hoseyn [Blood of Hoseyn, third Shiite imam ], warming ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia mean that American plans to dived Muslims are doomed."

Muslim Sacrifices at Bush's Temple Alter
A view from the Middle East - A quote...."We kill ourselves by our own hands only to discover that after long years of unprecedented destruction and the loss of millions of innocent souls - the only definite and all-consuming victor is none other than the evil American administration."

Confessions of a Terrorist Mastermind
A quote...."The sweeping confession of alleged al-Qaida mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who has claimed involvement in 31 terror plots, has been met with skepticism from German commentators. Some editorialists have stronger feelings about the "show" trial against Mohammed than whether or not he is telling the truth."

Authorizations
A quote...."Last month, in Air Force, the journal of the Air Force Association, Patrick Casey, a criminal lawyer, and his father, Aloysius Casey, a retired Air Force lieutenant general, unravelled the truth of one of the demoralizing stories that, three decades ago, marked the end of a losing war."
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Global Ruling Class: Billionaires and How They “Made It”
Must Read - A quote...."While some knowledge, technical and ‘entrepreneurial skills’ and market savvy played a small role in the making of the billionaires in Russia and Latin America, far more important was the interface of politics and economics at every stage of wealth accumulation."

In other words they did it the old fashioned way, they lied, bribed, cheated, stole and in some cases killed for it. - mpg
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A Million Deaths in Iraq
A quote...."Post-invasion Occupied Iraqi excess deaths (avoidable deaths, deaths that did not have to happen) now total ONE MILLION as of March 2007, after 4 years of war and as estimated from data from the top US medical epidemiology group in the World’s top Public Health School (the Nobel Laureate-containing Bloomberg School of Public Health) at the top US Johns Hopkins University, published peer-reviewed in the top UK medical journal The Lancet and endorsed by 27 top Australian medical experts. [1-3]"

Who is to Blame for the Mortgage Carnage and Coming Financial Disaster?
Unregulated Free Market Fundamentalism Zealotry
A quote...."The sub-prime and overall mortgage carnage is now likely to lead to a financial crisis whose cleanup and bailout costs will make the S&L bailout bill look like spare change. We are only at the beginning of this fallout but, already, several proposals and bills in Congress have been submitted to help millions of sub-prime homeowners on the verge of bankruptcy and foreclosure."

A Nosedive Toward the Desert
A quote...."In this post, I extend my analysis of Saudi Arabian production backwards four years earlier than my post of last week. I explain in detail how the evidence strongly suggests that since late 2004, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has entered rapid decline of their oil production, at least for the time being."

See also....Ghawar is Dead - Long Live PNAC  - 03-07-07
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Oslo and Rome welcome Haniyya's new government
A quote...."Israel accuses norway of 'giving legitimacy to an unreformed extremist'" -  "A year-old diplomatic boycott of the Palestinian government splintered Monday when Norway's deputy foreign minister met Prime Minister Ismail Haniyya in Gaza and Italy's foreign minister called Haniyya in a show of support. The United States and European Union, meanwhile, withheld final judgment Monday on the new Palestinian government after a conference call with the "Quartet" of Middle East peacemakers."

One would have to guess from this decision that AIPAC doesn't have any lobbying committees in Norway or Italy. - mpg
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Into Africa
A quote...."And yet hardly was the announcement made when the Bush administration organized the overthrow of the first stable government Somalia has had since 1991, stirring up a hornet’s nest of regional rivalries in the strategic Horn of Africa. U.S. Special Forces accompanied the Ethiopian Army when it stormed across the border in late December to support the besieged and isolated Transitional Federal Government (TFG)."

Blowback from Ohio's 2004 Stolen Election is Escalating
A quote...."In the 2004 presidential election, Cuyahoga County suffered serious election irregularities that worked to the disadvantage of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Among them: the purging of 24.93% of all the voters in the city of Cleveland, where Kerry won 83% of the vote; mysterious and suspect vote totals for third party candidates in majority African American wards; unexplained "security" problems that caused the last-minute shift of voting locations in the inner city Cleveland Public School polling places; improbably low apparent turnouts in heavily Democratic inner city wards, and more. "

Protests Mount Against Musharraf Attempt To Sack Pakistan’s Chief Justice
A quote...."Islamabad and other Pakistani cities have seen violent confrontations in recent days between security forces and lawyers, opposition political activists, and ordinary Pakistanis opposing the attempt of the country’s US-backed military strongman, General Pervez Musharraf, to fire the head of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry."

'NYT' Editorial -- And Attorney's Op-Ed -- Hit Bush on Crisis
A quote...."NEW YORK In an editorial on Wednesday, The New York Times termed President Bush's explanation of why he would not allow top aides to testify under oath about the firing of eight U.S. attorneys as "nasty and bumbling comments." It called the president's limited proposal "a formula for hiding the truth, and for protecting the president and his staff from a legitimate inquiry by Congress. "

Bush Warns Dems to Take Offer in Firings
A quote...."A defiant President Bush warned Democrats Tuesday to accept his offer to have top aides speak about the firings of federal prosecutors only privately and not under oath, or risk a constitutional showdown from which he would not back down.  -  Democrats' response was swift and firm: They said they would start authorizing subpoenas as soon as Wednesday for the White House aides."

Bush Supports Gonzales: Expressing His Contempt for the American People
A quote...."Outside the complete and utter debacle known as the Iraq War and his need to hire only those whose incompetence meets or exceeds his own, perhaps, Mister Bush will be best remembered by historians for his absolute disdain for democracy, near hatred for the rule of law and nearly violent contempt toward the American people. And Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is the perfect metaphor for George W. Bush's entire concept of governance."

Why Did Bush Come?
A quote...."As the most unpopular President in United States history and most repudiated U.S. chief executive ever as far as Latin America is concerned, Bush had little to do during visit to Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico. This is because these societies as well as their governments know that because of the political crisis in Washington and the history of atrocities by the present administration, White House power has almost been put between parentheses."

Rove now under investigation for election fraud by Italian and Mexican officials.
A quote...."Democratic Party sources have reported to WMR that Karl Rove and a team of Republican Party election manipulators he has used in the past for tampering with U.S. elections, particularly in Florida, Ohio, and New Mexico, are under investigation by the Italian government of Prime Minister Romano Prodi and the opposition Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) of Mexico."

Kucinich Has a Chance to Make a Historic Move and to Stand Out as a Presidential Hopeful
A quote...."While Kucinich can justifiably and proudly claim ownership of the anti-war position, having been there from the get-go, everyone else in the field has piled on—even Hillary Clinton—at least to the point that the average voter would have a hard time distinguishing their positions regarding the war in Iraq.  -  But calling for impeachment of the president is something else."

Huge Amounts Of Smoke Came From WTC 5 & 6 NOT WTC 7
A quote...."Photographs taken on the afternoon of 9/11 have recently emerged on the web showing that huge amounts of smoke poured forth primarily from the buildings closest to the collapsed towers, not from the further away building 7 which mysteriously collapsed later the same afternoon."
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9/11 - From The History File   Marvin Bush
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An outraged voice that speaks for the Middle East
A quote...."If you were asked to name one person you would most like to meet, who would that be? Until last Saturday I would have answered without hesitation the Independent’s Middle East correspondent, Robert Fisk.  -  He’s a hard man to get hold of because he refuses to use the Internet and his paper is expert at keeping his phone number under wraps. So when I heard he was in Cairo last weekend promoting his book, “The Great War for Civilization,” I battled a scrum of local journalists for a one-on-one."

Iraq and the Media - A Critical Timeline
A quote...." It's hardly controversial to suggest that the mainstream media's performance in the lead-up to the Iraq War was a disaster. In retrospect, many journalists and pundits wish they had been more skeptical of the White House's claims about Iraq, particularly its allegations about weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, though, media apologists suggest that the press could not have done much better, since "everyone" was in agreement on the intelligence regarding Iraq's weapons threat. This was never the case. Critical journalists and analysts raised serious questions at the time about what the White House was saying. Often, however, their warnings were ignored by the bulk of the corporate press. "

Ad Revenue at New York Times Co. Plunges in February
A quote...."NEW YORK Advertising revenue at The New York Times Co. plummeted 6% in February due to weakness at its flagship and regional papers. Total revenue for the company was down 3.6%"

See also....Ad Revenue Slides 10% at 'WSJ'
See also....PNAC's Cloak of Invisibility - 08-15-06
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Monday March 19th 2007

It’s STILL The Oil:  Secret Condi Meeting on Oil Before Invasion
Must Read - Some quotes...."Four years ago this week, the tanks rolled for what President Bush originally called, “Operation Iraqi Liberation” — O.I.L.  -  I kid you not."

And...."But now, we’ve learned that, despite protestations to the contrary, Condoleezza Rice held a secret meeting with the former Secretary-General of OPEC, Fadhil Chalabi, * an Iraqi, and offered Chalabi the job of Oil Minister for Iraq. (It is well established that the President of the United States may appoint the cabinet ministers of another nation if that appointment is confirmed by the 101st Airborne.)"

* Editors note : Fadhil Chalabi is a cousin to Ahmed Chalabi - a.k.a. The Human Cockroach

See also.......The House of Chalabi: The Future of Iraq?
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"Economics of Empire"
Must Read - A quote...."The pathology of Empire really has more to do at its core with economics than with politics.  All traditional empires have been at heart a project of economic advantage only affected by political rationalization, and ultimately the military power to carry out the seminal goal of economic advantaged status. "

Tomgram: Anthony Arnove on the Anniversary from Hell
A quote...."As you read this, we're four years from the moment the Bush administration launched its shock-and-awe assault on Iraq, beginning 48 months of remarkable, non-stop destruction of that country … and still counting. It's an important moment for taking stock of Operation Iraqi Freedom."

Blaming The Victims: Covering Up Terrorism In Iraq
Must Read -  A quote...."03/19/07 "ICH" -- -- A recent cover story in the Time magazine (March, 2007, Europe and Asia) by Bobby Ghosh, “Why They Hate Each Other”, aimed at removing the Occupation as the generator of violence against the Iraqi people, and portrays the violence as “Iraqis killing Iraqis”. This media distortion obfuscates the U.S. monopoly on terrorism and allows the U.S. to use Iraq as a laboratory for terror at the expense of the Iraqi people."

Iraq By the Numbers
A comprehensive breakdown of the costs incurred by the US’s continued occupation of Iraq.. - mpg

In Iraq, public anger is at last translating into unity
A quote...."For four years, Britain and the US have aimed to encourage sectarianism, but ultimately they will fail to divide the country "

French PM Calls For Withdrawal of All Foreign Troops from Iraq Within a Year
A quote...."French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has urged the United States and other nations with troops in Iraq to withdraw from the country within one year."

Russia Urges Washington to Set Iraq Pullout Deadline
A quote...."Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Monday called on Washington to set a time limit for its military presence in Iraq, saying it would help stabilize the country, the Associated Press reported on Monday, March 19."

Blair, Bush could face probe at The Hague
A quote...."TONY Blair could face the prospect of an International Criminal Court investigation for alleged coalition war crimes in Iraq.  -  The court's chief prosecutor said at the weekend that he would be willing to launch an inquiry and could envisage a scenario in which the British Prime Minister and US President George Bush could one day face charges at The Hague."

South Africa Proposes "Time Out" For Iran
A quote...."(CBS/AP) South Africa called Monday for a 90-day "time out" on sanctions against Iran and said a resolution drafted by six world powers should drop an embargo on arms exports and financial sanctions targeting Iran's Revolutionary Guards and an Iranian bank."
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9/11 - From The History File   "Whitewash': 9/11 Director Gave Evidence to Own Inquiry ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== =====

A European moment
A quote...."With the US crippled by a crisis of international credibility and legitimacy, the EU must take the lead "

Not if they compromise all their values when the US snaps it's fingers.  See article below. - mpg

Secrets and lies
A quote...."What is the most apt epithet for European governments caught in the act of colluding with a foreign agency in abducting suspects who were then transported to secret prisons and tortured? It is hard to imagine a more flagrant violation of human rights, a violation committed by states that are forever prating about their respect for the law."
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U.S. attorney's firing may be connected to CIA corruption probe
A quote...."WASHINGTON - Fired San Diego U.S. attorney Carol Lam notified the Justice Department that she intended to execute search warrants on a high-ranking CIA official as part of a corruption probe the day before a Justice Department official sent an e-mail that said Lam needed to be fired, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Sunday."

Justice Department documents released
A quote...."New e-mails released this evening by the Justice Department reveal the depth of White House involvement in the discussions to fire eight U.S. attorneys last year. The thousands of pages of e-mails suggest the White House was involved in the plan from the beginning."
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Six Pakistani Judges Quit, Lawyers Strike
A quote...."SLAMABAD, 20 March 2007 — Six judges, including Lahore High Court Justice Jawad Khawaja, resigned yesterday over government moves to sack the country’s chief judge. The five other judges who resigned were from the Sindh province."

Has the Middle East Turned a Corner?
A quote...."Two weeks ago, it seemed as if the Middle East was on the brink of war. U.S. carrier strike forces were heading for the Gulf while Vice-President Dick Cheney growled that, if Tehran did not halt uranium enrichment, 'all options were on the table'. Washington's belligerent neocons seemed to be making a come-back and their organ, the Weekly Standard, was baying for war."
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China Firm Close to Signing Iran Deal
A quote...."A second Chinese oil company is close to signing a memorandum of understanding to invest $3.6 billion in an Iranian gas field amid U.S. pressure for Beijing to scrap another similar deal, a news report said Friday."

Four oil giants purchase tender documents for 17 of Iran’s blocks
 A quote...."TEHRAN — Four big oil companies purchased the tender documents of 17 oil blocks in Iran, said National Iranian Oil Company’s (NIOC) exploration manager here on Friday."

Russia to transport oil through the Balkans
A quote...."MOSCOW. (Dr. Igor Tomberg for RIA Novosti) - The difficult, 14-year-long negotiations on an oil pipeline from Burgas in Bulgaria to Alexandroupolis in Greece, bypassing the Turkish straits of Bosporus and Dardanelles, are drawing to a close."

What is the biggest obstacle in front of Trans-Afghan Project?
A quote...."These days there are discussions going around about US’s withdrawal from Iraq. The discussions are not merely limited to Iraq but also includes Afghanistan. The future of Afghanistan and the scenarios are subject to growing interests."

Gazprom, Yukos and A Mystery Company
A quote...."The company has no web site, no publicly listed phone number, and a history of murky deals. Yet it runs the country's largest independent electricity supplier, owns the country's most popular tabloid, and is headed by one of Russia's richest men."

The leading players
In oil - mpg
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Superjumbo Jet Arrives in U.S.
A quote...."NEW YORK — The latest jetliner to claim the title of world's biggest passenger aircraft completed its inaugural flight to the United States on Monday, flying on football field-length wings and a prayer that airlines will want to shell out $300 million to buy the behemoth double-decker jet"

Former Soviet Dissident Killed in U.S. Over “God-Given” CD
Only in Texas. - mpg

Sunday March 18th 2007

Velkomin to the United States of Foreclosure
Must Read - A quote...." 03/17/07 "ICH" -- -- The stock market is about to crash. The only question is whether it will quickly drop down the elevator shaft or follow the jerky flight-path of a man pushed down a stairwell. Either way, the outcome will be the same; stocks will nose-dive, the dollar will plummet, and the bruised US economy will be splattered on the canvas like George Foreman in Rumble in the Jungle.

Website author's note - this is NOT to be taken as a market recommendation, just an observation.  Keep in mind the world's derivatives market is now anywhere between 300 to 500 trillion dollars in notational value, possibly even more, most of it controlled by the centralized financial institutions that currently run our government.  With such vast leverage they could mask, manipulate or resist market forces for years.- mpg

The Global Financial System Is Burning at Both Ends
Must Read - A quote....Only two weeks after the Bank of Japan triggered an unwinding of the yen carry trade with its Feb. 21 interest rate increase, one of the largest U.S. mortgage lending companies, Century Financial, declared itself effectively bankrupt and at the mercy of its bank lenders for more credit—credit those same banks cannot afford to give. And three of those lenders—Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and Goldman Sachs—by March 3, were being rated by their own securities traders virtually as issuers of junk paper."

See also....The Scourge of the Wealthy - Deflation / The Balm of the Wealthy - War 09-30-06
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Productivity: Is The Boom Over?
A quote...."In 1973, the rate of productivity growth slowed sharply, after a quarter-century of rapid growth. Even today, there is no widely accepted explanation for this slowdown. And when the economy upturned in 1995, economists also had no explanation."

THIS IS REAL SIMPLE FOLKS -  you start a war, you pump enormous sums of liquidity into the economy, you hide what you're doing with the money supply and increasing debt, everything looks great for awhile and everybody's happy till the next day when the party's over.....that's when the hang-over hits, and it's a hang-over that's going to last a very long time.

It's all an exact replay of the late sixties and early seventies, down to all the lying shills raking in the cash....and all the body bags.

SO THE PARTY'S OVER FOLKS ! - could we stop killing people now and GO HOME or are we going to continue this ridiculous neo-colonial fantasy, stay in Iraq and try one more "pump the economy" with an attack on Iran?

ARE WE ALL DONE YET with this whole "ten year cycle" thing or are you elites going to stage another 9/11?  - mpg
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WTC7 The Smoking Gun of 9/11 (updated) - Google video - 16 min 24 sec - 10-Mar-2007
More info on WTC 7. - mpg

NY WTC 'protected' by Kuwaiti company and Marvin Bush on 9/11
A quote...."It is simply a fact that hedge fund manager Marvin Bush, son of Papa Doc George Herbert Walker Bush and brother to Jeb Bush,Governor of Florida who was an insider to Wally Hilliard's Saudi terrorist flight school in Venice, Florida and 'W Doofus' Bush who calls himself President and lied about WMDS' in Iraq and who is a war criminal of the like not seen since WWII,'was a principal in a company called Securacom that provided security for the World Trade Center, United Airlines, and Dulles International Airport'."

Halliburton plans move to Dubai
A quote...."Halliburton, the oil services company formerly headed by US Vice-President Dick Cheney, is moving its headquarters from Texas to Dubai."

No doubt to protect their ill gotten gains, along with all those incriminating records they still need and can't afford to shred yet. - mpg
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9/11 and the Greenberg Familia
A quote...."Democratic Underground Demopedia reports in Who Killed John O’Neill that at the time of 9/11, AIG, the world’s largest insurance company, and subsidiaries Marsh McLennan, ACE and Kroll, were run by the Greenberg family. With Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) member Maurice “Hank” Greenberg as the AIG godfather, the Familia’s tentacles curled around the heart of the tragedy.

Missed this one - mpg
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9/11 - From The History File   "600 File Sept.11 Suit"
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Frank Rich: The Ides of March 2003 - posted at BuzzFlash
Must Read - A quote...."Tomorrow night is the fourth anniversary of President Bush’s prime-time address declaring the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the broad sweep of history, four years is a nanosecond, but in America, where memories are congenitally short, it’s an eternity. That’s why a revisionist history of the White House’s rush to war, much of it written by its initial cheerleaders, has already taken hold."

Never forget....never ever forget how these people lied us into their wars. - mpg
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Pentagon Whistle-Blower on the Coming War With Iran
A quote...."Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski (ret.), a veteran of the Pentagon with firsthand experience of the administration’s cherry-picking of intelligence, reveals why Bush thinks he can win a war with Iran, why few politicians are serious about withdrawal and why “when they call Iraq a success, they mean it.”

Bush's Shadow Army
A quote...."Contractors have provided the Bush Administration with political cover, allowing the government to deploy private forces in a war zone free of public scrutiny, with the deaths, injuries and crimes of those forces shrouded in secrecy. The Administration and the GOP-controlled Congress in turn have shielded the contractors from accountability, oversight and legal constraints. Despite the presence of more than 100,000 private contractors on the ground in Iraq, only one has been indicted for crimes or violations. "We have over 200,000 troops in Iraq and half of them aren't being counted, and the danger is that there's zero accountability," says Democrat Dennis Kucinich, one of the leading Congressional critics of war contracting."

Bush's First 'War on Terror' Blunder
A quote...."....Oct. 14, 2001 was an even more momentous day [than 9/11]

That was the day President George W. Bush rejected an offer by the Taliban to hand over Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 terror.

Afghanistan’s deputy prime minister, Haji Abdul Kabir, had announced that if the United States stopped bombing Afghanistan and produced evidence of bin Laden’s involvement in 9/11, "we would be ready to hand him over to a third country."

Bush responded: "There's no need to discuss innocence or guilt. We know he's guilty. … Turn him over.”
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Kucinich Hires Critic of Israel for Hill Panel
A quote...."Democratic Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio has hired an avowed critic of Israel to work on his subcommittee of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee."

My goodness....taking on AIPAC!  This Kucinich guy is insane! - mpg
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STOP THE VOTE
A quote...."Dear Speaker Pelosi:"             

"Since you've known me for over 30 years you already are aware that I am Jewish.  Let me put this bluntly.  AIPAC does not speak for me, any more than the MAFIA speaks for the majority of Italian Americans.  To identify AIPAC, as “the Jewish community” is not only insulting, it is inaccurate.    The majority of Jews are devoted to economic and social justice and, above all, a deep commitment to peace."
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Israel's Last Chance
A quote...."The United States has given Israel $51.3 billion in military grants since 1949, most of it after 1974 – more than any other country in the post-1945 era. Israel has also received $11.2 billion in loans for military equipment, plus $31 billion in economic grants, not to mention loan guarantees or joint military projects. But major conditions on these military grants have meant that 74 percent of it has remained in the U.S. to purchase American arms. Since it creates jobs and profits in many districts, Congress is more than ready to respond to the cajoling of the Israel lobby. This vast sum has both enabled and forced Israel to prepare to fight an American-style war.  But the US since 1950 has failed to win any of its big wars."

Mubarak says war criminals will be punished
Some quotes...."Following controversy surrounding ‘Shaked Spirit’ documentary, Egyptian president says country will take necessary steps to ensure perpetrators of ‘war crimes’ don’t escape punishment"

And...."The film in question suggested that soldiers of the Shaked Reconnaissance Unit, under the command of Binyamin Ben Eliezer, may have killed 250 Egyptian unarmed captives at the end of the Six-day war"

And....According to a report on Friday by the Gulf News, an Egyptian man who was captured by Israeli troops during the 1967 Mideast war told the Gulf News website on Friday that he had witnessed Labor MK Benyamin Ben-Eliezer killing two Egyptian prisoners of war for "daring to quench their thirst without his permission".

He witnessed the "Labor MK Benyamin Ben-Eliezer killing two Egyptian prisoners of war for 'daring to quench their thirst without his permission'" to all you Israelis out there.....does this sort of 'behavior' seem FAMILIAR to any of you? - mpg
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Swelling Crowds Across Pakistan Denounce Musharraf’s Suspension of Chief Justice
A quote...."ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 16 — Protests over the suspension of the country’s top judge continued Friday in several cities, with riot police officers and protesters clashing for the first time in the capital and the political opposition joining forces with lawyers who have been rallying for days. About 200 protesters, including a former president, were arrested in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore."

Like so many other US supported strong man before him, Musharraf appears to be on his way out, destabilizing Pakistan and no doubt encouraging more inept US meddling in that country.  There's one small difference however between Pakistan and all the other countries the US has managed to destabilize....Pakistan has the bomb....lots of them. - mpg
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Permission to Speak Freely?
The wealthy elites appear to be getting nervous. - mpg

War protests to move to NY, West Coast after march on Pentagon
A quote...."Late Friday, about 100 people were arrested in Washington as they held a vigil on a sidewalk in front of the White House and ignored police orders to disperse in a protest organized by Christian Peace Witness for Iraq."

The wealthy elites appear to be getting very, very nervous. - mpg
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Rallies in Canada and U.S. protest Iraq war, Afghan mission
A quote...."We're here in the shadow of the war machine," anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan told the crowd. "It's like being in the shadow of the death star [the Pentagon]. They take their death and destruction, and they export it around the world. We need to shut it down."

The Green Party has declined an invitation to join President Bushs Whitehouse celebrations on St Patricks Day
A quote...."The Party is citing its opposition to the war in Iraq and the need for political leadership in the battle to protect the climate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as their reason for the decision."

Hugo Chavez, Up Close and Personal
Interview - A quote...."The Venezuelan leader tells Barbara Walters about his public and private lives."

Neo-cons have been consigned to history
A quote...."Outside the administration, the chief fulcrum of neo-conservatism is the American Enterprise Institute. The day after vice-president Dick Cheney's former aide Scooter Libby was convicted of perjury, AEI held its annual black-tie gala. I did not go expecting contrition, but under the circumstances it seemed possible that self-examination might feature on the menu. Once a lazy pasture for moderate Republicans hurtled into the private sector by Gerald Ford's 1976 defeat, AEI has turned in recent years into a kind of Cheney family think-tank. It had not been a good week, year, or second term for any of these people and I thought a few cocktails might cause them to consider their predicament."

"This was fantasy on my part."
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His Own Worst Enemy
A quote...."While he is still as dangerous as any cornered animal, Cheney stands brightly revealed as the main culprit in cherry-picking the evidence to make the case for a stupid, failed war. He has been exposed as a vindictive, inflexible ideologue, who attempts to destroy all who publicly disagree with him, such as former Ambassador Joseph Wilson and Wilson’s CIA agent wife, Valerie Plame Wilson. His extensive ties and loyal political service to energy and defense companies such as Halliburton (which now, in a burst of honesty, is moving its headquarters to Dubai), reveal him to be a man of deep corruption."

Fabricated Evidence, Round Two?
A quote...."In recent weeks the Bush administration has launched a propaganda blitz accusing Iran of helping Shiite militias murder American soldiers in Iraq. On Feb. 11, U.S. military officials in Baghdad presented an elaborate display of rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds and components for explosives that they said were responsible for the deaths of 170 GIs over the past three years. They claimed that such weapons were made available to the insurgents with the approval of the highest authorities in Iran. These accusations are eerily similar to the administration’s claims in 2002-2003 that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction and that his regime had connections with al-Qaida."

CIA Leak Hearing:
A quote...."20 Different Disclosures of Plame-Wilson's Covert Identity by White House, State Dept. Officials - Chart as Displayed During Today's Congressional Oversight Hearing During the Testimony of the Outed CIA Agent..."

Accounts of Prosecutors' Dismissals Keep Shifting
A quote...."More than two weeks after a New Mexico U.S. attorney alleged he was fired for not prosecuting Democrats, the White House and the Justice Department are still struggling to explain the roles of President Bush, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and other key officials in the dismissals of eight federal prosecutors last year."

Disorder in King George's Court
A quote...."Judging from the e-mails released last week, the White House knew a backlash was coming. In December, as the Justice Department was preparing to sack seven U.S. attorneys, Gonzales's chief of staff Sampson e-mailed Harriet Miers, "Prepare to Withstand Political Upheaval." Sampson warned that "U.S. attorneys desiring to save their jobs (aided by their allies in the political arena as well as the Justice Department community) likely will make efforts to preserve themselves in office. We should expect those efforts to be strenuous."

The GOP Hypocrite of the Week - So Many Republican Hypocrites, So Little Time - - posted at BuzzFlash
A quote...."Imagine our surprise when The New York Times, in a recent editorial, used the word that BuzzFlash has been calling Alberto Gonzales for years: the Consigliere of the Bush Administration.  -  As we've noted before, Gonzales embodies the most fundamental criteria for appointment to office in the Bush Administration: loyalty. Forget competence or adherence to the rule of law, Gonzales is the one who got Bush out of jury duty when he was governor of Texas."

Gonzales Implicated In Another Scandal
A quote....As if the prosecutorial purge scandal wasn't enough, Alberto Gonzalez will be called to answer even more questions about his role in blocking an investigation into the warrantless wiretapping program. Keith provides some context."

Karl Rove Must Go to Prison
A quote...."Karl Rove must go to the jail, the pokey, the big house, if you will. No not country-club Republican, I-ripped-off-your-grandma-with-junk-bonds prison where he can join the Dartmouth or Princeton rowing squad and walk by a state-of-the-art outdoor weight-lifting facility his two-seats-on-Southwest ass would never even think about using.  -  I mean real prison. Like the kind you go to if you're caught in Kuala Lumpur with Rush's medicine bag."

Will Durst: The Department Of Just Us
A quote...."For those of you who enjoyed the devastation that the Bush Administration unloaded on America through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the K Street Project, you're going to love the Extreme Makeover going on over at your new Department of Justice. Where justice stems from the eye of The Decider. - You might think that dragging around an approval rating lower than that of a flatulent weasel crashing a preschool prophylactic pageant, President Bush would be handicapped in accumulating another stash of clueless roommates, obscure toadies, and party hacks to fill important government posts, but you my friend, would have another think coming."

The Political Economy of Diamonds
A quote...."A few years before 9/11, the world's curiously selective conscience was shocked by images from the little West African country of Sierra Leone. There, an insurgent group fond of hacking off hands and feet with machetes funded its war by exploiting slave labor in diamond fields, smuggling gemstones via complicit dealers (Lebanese, naturally) to Liberia, then onto world markets."

A good story, enhanced and made all the more enjoyable because the author "followed the money" throughout his tale. - mpg
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The Saturday Cartoons
Fun

More Cartoons
And more fun.
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Saturday March 17th 2007

No posts - mpg

Friday March 16th 2007