Wednesday April 7th 2010

No posts. - mpg

Tuesday April 6th 2010

Iraq slaughter not an aberration
Must Read - A quote...."I was just on Democracy Now along with WikiLeaks' Julian Assange discussing the Iraq video they released yesterday, and there's one vital point I want to emphasize.  Shining light on what our government and military do is so critical precisely because it forces people to see what is really being done and prevents myth and propaganda from distorting those realities.  That's why the administration fights so hard to keep torture photos suppressed, why the military fought so hard here to keep this video concealed (and why they did the same with regard to the Afghan massacre), and why whistle-blowers, real journalists, and sites like WikiLeaks are the declared enemy of the government.  The discussions many people are having today -- about the brutal reality of what the U.S. does when it engages in war, invasions and occupation -- is exactly the discussion which they most want to avoid." - also posted at ICH

The Muted Plain: Anticipating the Wake of the Wikileaks Revelation
Special Note - Related Article - A quote...."So, thanks to Wikileaks.org, Americans now know that their soldiers often gun down civilians in occupied countries during reckless missions based on little or no intelligence (in every sense of the word). This will no doubt come as a great shock -- yea, a veritable political earthquake -- in a land where the top commander in what is now its chief war just recently confessed that his troops were slaughtering an "amazing" number of civilians who posed no threat whatsoever. -- We all recall the vast hue and cry that greeted this astounding admission by Afghan top gun General Stanley McChrystal, who was hand-picked by the Nobel Peace Laureate himself to lead America's noble crusade to stamp out Muslim extremism in Central Asia by killing innocent Muslims all over Central Asia. No less than the New York Times its own self reported prominently on McChrystal's chilling candor."

The Collateral Murder of Arabs in Iraq and Palestine
Special Note - Related Article - A quote...."It is bound to happen. The massacring of unarmed civilians and the institutional cover-up for such behavior are certainties when it comes to modern warfare. This statement applies, of course, to the Sri Lankans as much as the Russians, to the Americans as much as the Israelis. The American military, for example, murdered over 600 Pakistani civilians in 2009 alone through 44 drone strikes; only four of these strikes hit their intended targets. " - also posted at Uruknet

What 'legitimate' violence looks like
Special Note - A quote...."The video posted below by the invaluable website WikiLeaks might depict a grotesque atrocity being carried out by U.S. forces in Iraq, but it is useful to note that, while certainly abhorrent and something to [be] avoided when possible, that war crime was legitimately sanctioned by our duly-elected representatives in Washington, who as embodiments of the state are deserving of our utmost respect, as we know from reading The Nation. What would be called "murder" with little hesitation if you or I carried out is -- through the miracle of the electoral process -- transmogrified into the mere bureaucratic exercise of the state's legitimate monopoly on the use of violence, meaning that while one may question the wisdom of a murderous policy that has killed thousands upon thousands of innocent Afghan, Iraqi, Pakistani, Yemeni and Somali civilians, one dare not question the legitimacy of the murderers, lest you end up like one of those wild-eyed, seditious  Tea Party-types."

Afghan and Iraqi Civilian Killings Nothing New
Contains Video - Related Article - A quote...."There are times when I feel that all of the posts I write for FDL are just variations on one story: US forces kill civilians in occupied country. US spinmeisters claim civilians were really “insurgents.” Witnesses speak up or neighbors go to local government to complain. US military quietly backtrack on original story and some officer makes a visit to the scene of the killing, pockets full of condolence cash. Officer pledges that from now on, things will change, more care will be taken – and of course we deeply regret …  And then it happens all over again." - also posted at Uruknet

Alex Covers Wikileakd Video – A Culture of Psychopathic Abuse in Iraq
Videos - Special Note - Related Article - (OK, he's a little over the top....so what? What he says is TRUE. - mpg) -- AJ(1/4) - AJ(2/4) - AJ(3/4) - AJ(4/4) - A quote...."Wikileakd video shows U.S. troops firing on Reuters reporters and Iraqi children"

Collateral Pentagon
Related Article - A quote...."As a document of the tragedy and absurdity of the continuum Afghanistan-Iraq - and of a series of Pentagon-sanctioned war crimes - this video tells it like it is, louder than any anti-war manifesto published or broadcast since 2001. And no - it will not be running for Best Documentary Short in the 2011 Oscars."
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Abu Zubaydah: Tortured for Nothing
NOT TRUE !! - He fulfilled his purpose, he was deliberately and knowingly tortured to provide false and misleading information to the 9/11 commission, along with propaganda to the US-NRE's Presstitutes.  Torturing someone to provide propaganda is criminal, torturing someone to provide false information to support a war of aggression is a war crime.  Torturing someone to provide false information to the commission investigating 9/11 however....is treason. The last two crimes can, and should, be punished by the death penalty. - mpg - A quote...."The story of Abu Zubaydah — a Saudi-born Palestinian whose real name is Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn — has always been absolutely central to the “War on Terror.” Seized in a house raid in Faisalabad, Pakistan on March 28, 2002, he was immediately touted as “al-Qaeda’s chief of operations and top recruiter,” who would be able to “provide the names of terrorists around the world and which targets they planned to hit.” He then pretty much vanished off the face of the earth for four and a half years." - also posted at Uruknet

D.C. Circuit Abruptly Closes Courtroom in Guantanamo Case - And the cover-up continues! - mpg
A quote...."A federal appeals court in Washington was prepared to hear a Guantanamo Bay detainee case in open court today, though the lawyers involved in the dispute were prohibited from talking about the confidential record. -- A minute into the argument, Chief Judge David Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit had heard enough and abruptly closed the courtroom to the public. That meant about a dozen people in the courtroom were barred from sitting in court to hear oral argument."

Judge dismisses scores of Guantanamo habeas cases - And continues.....mpg
A quote...."WASHINGTON — A federal judge has dismissed more than 100 habeas corpus lawsuits filed by former Guantanamo captives, ruling that because the Bush and Obama administrations had transferred them elsewhere, the courts need not decide whether the Pentagon imprisoned them illegally."

For more on the three articles shown above see....9/11-Iraq-Torture Fables
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Israel's 9/11 "To Do" Checklist
A quote...."1. On 9/11/2001, set off the world's biggest false-flag against our ally, friend, financial backer, weapons depot and all around gullible sucker, the USA using Arab patsies, MOSSAD agents, mercs, CIA cutouts, katsas running White House and Pentagon traitors and our world-wide system of sayanim.... Check." -- For more on this issue see....Reficultnias's 9/11 Central

Oldspapers and the Crisis of the Establishment - Hip Hip Hooray!! - mpg
Special Note - A quote...." The gatekeepers stand at the gates, guarding who goes in and what goes out. But the walls have gaping holes in them, if they still stand at all. This has never happened before in world history. - As a result, the world's social order will change. We cannot see clearly what it will look like in 20 years or 50 years, but the changes inaugurated by the printing press in one century, 1450–1550, offer good examples of what will happen. The pace of change is much faster today."

Numbers to Die For - Believe It or Not (2010 Imperial Edition)
A quote...."With our Afghan and Iraq wars on my mind, I’ve been wondering whether Ripley’s moment hasn’t returned.  Here, for instance, are some figures offered  in a Washington Post piece by Lieutenant General James H. Pillsbury, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, who is deeply involved in the “drawdown of the logistics operation in Iraq”:  “There are... more than 341 facilities; 263,000 soldiers, Defense Department civilians and contractor employees; 83,000 containers; 42,000 vehicles; 3 million equipment items; and roughly $54 billion in assets that will ultimately be removed from Iraq.” - also posted at AntiWar

Obama Will Now Have His Private Army
A quote...."Of course, SEC. 430, Establishing a Ready Reserve Corps. lists in detail the commissioned Regular Corps and Ready Reserve Corps that will be trained up, fired up, lined up and controlled by Obama himself. Naturally the purpose for this army is to stand by in case they are needed at short notice for a national health emergency or emergency response missions. -- The health bill talks specifically about their routine training, appointment by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, and other details of service."

U.S. [i.e. Obama] Approves Targeted Killing of American Cleric
A quote...."WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has taken the extraordinary step of authorizing the targeted killing of an American citizen, the radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who is believed to have shifted from encouraging attacks on the United States to directly participating in them, intelligence and counterterrorism officials said Tuesday."
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Robert Fisk: Pakistan is in pieces
Must Read - A quote...."American drones overhead, Taliban troops on the offensive, and the horrifying rise of child kidnapping – Pakistan is in pieces, writes Robert Fisk, in a devastating portrait of a country thwarted by violence and corruption." - also posted at ICH - For more on this issue see....It Will Happen Every Single Time - 01-01-08 - mpg

The United States takes the matter of three-headed babies very seriously
A quote...."The BBC reported last month that doctors in the Iraqi city of Fallujah are reporting a high level of birth defects, with some blaming weapons used by the United States during its fierce onslaughts of 2004 and subsequently, which left much of the city in ruins. "It was like an earthquake," a local engineer who was running for a national assembly seat told the Washington Post  in 2005. "After Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there was Fallujah." Now, the level of heart defects among newborn babies is said to be 13 times higher than in Europe." - It is the "Method" they use, it is what they are, it is who they are, and it is what they do....always. - mpg

US-Committed Atrocities in Afghanistan
A quote...."After General Stanley McChrystal took charge of US/NATO Afghan forces last June, systematic atrocities escalated sharply after promises of kinder, gentler killing (an oxymoron), winning hearts and minds, and fewer civilian casualties as a "paramount" objective - now much higher the result of more than a fourfold increase in night raids, targeting civilians, including children, while they sleep."

Taleban accuses Afghan president of 'playing games'
A quote...."AFTER three successive outbursts blaming foreigners for last year's election fraud, accusing western troops of meddling and finally threatening to join the Taleban, Afghan president Hamid Karzai suffered a fresh blow last night when the insurgents essentially told him to get lost." - also posted at Uruknet

Karzai stands by vote fraud claims against West
A quote...."President Hamid Karzai said he stood behind accusations that the West was responsible for election fraud in Afghanistan, despite having incurred the White House’s anger over the comments. - His remarks appeared to intensify the quarrel, by directly blaming Washington for what he has described as “massive fraud” aimed at weakening him and his government. - “What I said about the election was all true, I won’t repeat it, but it was all true,” Karzai told the BBC. - “That the US carried out the fraud?” the BBC correspondent asked. - “That’s exactly what happened; I mentioned the elements who did it,” Karzai said."

The return of kingmaker Muqtada
A quote...."DAMASCUS - Arab and international media are busy debating who will become the new prime minister of Iraq. Iyad Allawi, a symbol of secularism who came out with 91 seats in the March 7 elections, or incumbent Nuri al-Maliki, a religiously-driven statesman who came in second, with a total of 89 seats."

As Iraq Threatens to Come Apart, US Problems in Afghanistan Mount
A quote...."Washington once again finds itself dangerously entangled with the hostile policies, nationalistic interests and supporters, and personal ambitions of a foreign figure whom it counted on to serve American interests."

Fox “news” continues CBS, ABC, CNN propaganda to attack Iran: today’s CIA Operation Mockingbird
A quote...."In the video clip from Fox below, Bill Kristol advocates US military attack on Iran because he predicts that Israel will attack Iran. This is propaganda for an unlawful war for the following “emperor has no clothes” obvious reasons. Fox "reporting" is also a manipulative variation of the same war drone I’ve documented from CBS, ABC, and CNN."

Obama Policy Retains Right to Nuke Iran
Our new Roman Emperor pronounced his Royal decree while his mouth was firmly planted on AIPAC's butt....it's rather difficult for Obama to say anything when he's kneeling in his customary position regarding AIPAC, but perhaps he was talking out of HIS ass? - mpg -- A quote...."Much has been made in the past few weeks of the Obama Administration’s plan to issue a new nuclear weapons doctrine, replacing the Bush Doctrine that included the possibility of using nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states." - also posted at AlethoNews & WarInIraq

China Denies Backing Iran Sanctions - Like India, but unlike Obama, China refuses to kiss AIPAC butt. - mpg
Related Article - A quote...."Yesterday’s claims that the Chinese government had, after months of US cajoling, finally agreed to support sanctions against Iran appear to be premature, and China has reiterated its past position that diplomacy, not sanctions, should resolve the issue."

Iran sanctions would be ineffective: Brazilian FM - Ditto
Related Article - A quote...."Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim has warned against imposing new sanctions on Iran, saying that Brazil wants to maintain its ties with the Islamic Republic."

Diplomacy should settle Iran nuclear question: Erdogan - Ditto
Related Article - A quote...."PARIS — The crisis over Iran's nuclear programme should be settled through diplomacy, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an interview published Tuesday by the French newspaper Le Figaro."

Amnesty reveals Saudi strikes on Yemeni civilians
A quote...."Amnesty International sheds light on the suffering inflicted upon civilians in northern Yemen during the joint Saudi-Yemeni offensive against the country's Houthis."

Ukraine President Scraps NATO Membership Commission
A quote...."With Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in high profile meetings in the Russian capital of Moscow today, it is more clear than ever that he is intent on repairing ties between the two nations, strained in the years under former president Yushchenko."

Okinawa mayors unanimously pass anti-Futenma resolution
A quote...."GINOWAN, Okinawa — Okinawa mayors met Monday and unanimously passed a resolution calling for the immediate closure of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and moving the air units outside Japan."

Venezuela Charges Colombians as Would-Be Saboteurs
A quote...."CARACAS – Venezuela’s interior minister confirmed Tuesday that eight Colombians were arrested last month and are now in the hands of military prosecutors charged with espionage in furtherance of sabotage."

Why there are no ‘Israelis’ in the Jewish state  - Citizens classed as Jewish or Arab nationals
Must Read - A quote...."April 06, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- - A group of Jews and Arabs are fighting in the Israeli courts to be recognised as “Israelis”, a nationality currently denied them, in a case that officials fear may threaten the country’s self-declared status as a Jewish state." - also posted at Uruknet - So much for recognizing the "state of Israel".  The Zionist actually don't want any such thing! - mpg
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Palm Sunday protester pays fine to release detained donkeys
A quote...."Bethlehem – Ma'an – Ten days after the Palm Sunday rally, in which Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki and several others were detained, Israel's Jerusalem Municipality ordered one of the detainees to pay bail for the release of his donkeys." - also posted at Uruknet

Israeli Settlers Attack Sheikh Jarrah Protesters - posted at Palestine Chronicle
A quote...."Israeli settlers have attacked a group of activists protesting Tel Aviv's confiscation of Palestinian land in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem (al-Quds). - Five people were slightly injured on Monday after extremist Jews insulted and later clashed with international and Palestinian activists who had gathered to protest the continued demolition of Palestinian houses in al-Quds."

After probe, father says son was executed
A quote...."After IDF rules killing of two Palestinians shot dead near Nablus could have been avoided, residents of their village want to bring shooters to justice, 'They went looking for scrap iron to make a living and were shot point blank,' father says adding will take case to international courts if necessary "

Al-Haq Action Alert: Human Rights Defender Arbitrarily Detained and Tortured by Israeli Occupation Forces
A quote...."On 15 March 2010, Umar Mousa Muhammad Ala-al-Din, a 25 year old Palestinian student from the village of al-Masara, near Bethlehem, was taken by Israeli Border Police and detained for seven days, until 22 March 2010. Ala-al-Din is a member of the Popular Resistance Committee of al-Masara village and an organizer of non-violent protests against the Annexation Wall. Whilst in custody, Ala-al-Din was verbally and physically assaulted, causing serious injury and was denied necessary medical treatment. More - PDF"

Barghouthi: ‘the day of student engagement against Jim Crow is coming’
A quote...."Today my friend James North called and asked, Who is Mustafa Barghouthi? Because Barghouthi has a wonderful piece in today’s Financial Times explaining why BDS is so necessary to Palestinian freedom, when violence beckons at every hand."

Gaza: Misfired projectile injures 5 in Beit Hanoun
The rockets are stupid, futile, counter-productive, immoral, are random, therefore injure mostly civilians and hence, are illegal, and the rockets simply serve as an excuse for Israel to commit murder and mayhem across Gaza.  They should NEVER be used again. - mpg -- A quote...."Gaza – Ma'an – Five Palestinians were injured when a misfired projectile landed in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, witnesses said Tuesday."

Egyptian authorities accelerating construction of steel wall
Why do the Egyptian people tolerate this? - mpg -- A quote...."CAIRO, (PIC)-- The Egyptian authorities have recently accelerated the construction work at the steel wall built under the border area between Egypt and Gaza Strip, an Egyptian security source said."
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China's Metamorphosis: "From export juggernaut to a credit addict" - With a little help from the US-NRE.
Must Read - A quote...."There's no chance that the Geithner will openly challenge Hu or that the administration will take any action that would jeopardize relations. China's President will get the red carpet treatment for the length of his visit and Geithner will spend the bulk of his time pressing the leader for concessions that will allow greater access to China's market for his buddies in the financial services industry. That's the "hidden agenda" that both the congress and the media fail to see. From Geithner's point of view, the confab is not really about "strategic dialogue" on "mutual economic and security issues". That's just a smokescreen. Geithner is backed by powerful Wall Street constituents who could care less about exchange rates or jobs. What they care about is markets and profits. And for that, they need greater access. -- During his term as Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson spent more time in Beijing than he did in Washington. But his goals were the same as Geithner's; to do whatever it takes to pry-open the biggest consumer market on earth. That basic policy hasn't changed."

Keiser Report №31 – Markets! Finance! Scandal!
MKVideo - Alt - (MKRTYuTb - 25 min 14 sec - April 06, 2010) -- A quote...."This time Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, look at the scandals of Tony “No Blood for Oil” Blair lying about selling the UK gold supply on “technical advice of the Bank of England;” a millionaire tramp in Sweden and a casino that refuses to pay in America; and, finally, the Irish ‘Bad Bank’ and the ‘Celtic Chernobyl.’ Max also talks to William ‘BJ’ Lawson, who is running for Congress in North Carolina’s 4th District, about Ron Paul Republicans, the Federal Reserve setting fiscal policy and defining President Obama."

Looting Main Street
Special Note - A quote...."How the nation's biggest banks are ripping off American cities with the same predatory deals that brought down Greece." - also posted at BLN

Long-Term Unemployment at Post-WWII High
A quote...."As Barry Ritholtz pointed out Friday:"

"Yesterday, the Pew Charitable Trusts released a report noting that long-term unemployment is the worst it has been since the end of World War II. As summarized by Shahien Nasiripour:"

A Weak Employment Report
Some quotes...."Health care and temporary service employment accounted for the bulk of the weaker-than-expected payroll report, and the so-called underemployment rate actually rose. The BLS writes" -- "Throw in 15,000 factory jobs, and that’s it. The ADP report showed a decline in manufacturing employment, so that’s within the range of statistical error. It’s remarkable how little manufacturing employment has grown given the improvements in Asia, suggesting that the tidal effect of Asian growth on the US is limited." - bold by website editor

ExxonMobil paid no federal income tax in 2009. (Updated) - How much did YOU pay folks? Was it zero? - mpg
A quote...."Last week, Forbes magazine published  what the top U.S. corporations paid in taxes last year. “Most egregious,” Forbes notes, is General Electric, which “generated $10.3 billion in pretax income, but ended up owing nothing to Uncle Sam. In fact, it recorded a tax benefit of $1.1 billion.” Big Oil giant Exxon Mobil, which last year reported a record $45.2 billion profit, paid the most taxes of any corporation, but none of it went to the IRS: "

Monday April 5th 2010

For instance, HRW has published five heavily publicised reports on Israel and the Palestinian territories since the January 2009 war…Noah Pollak, a New York writer who has led some of the criticisms against HRW, points out that it cares about Palestinians when maltreated by Israelis, but is less concerned if perpetrators are fellow Arabs.

Sunday April 4th 2010

Former IAEA chief: Iraq war killed “a million innocent civilians”
A quote...."The former head of the UN’s chief nuclear agency, Mohammed ElBaradei, said in an interview with the British newspaper Guardian Wednesday that those who launched the war in Iraq were responsible for killing a million innocent people and could be held accountable under international law. He was clearly referring to US President George Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and their top military and security aides." - also posted at ICH - For more on this issue see....US Fake Intel / Propaganda - Iraq Deaths

Victim: Shooters said they were U.S. soldiers
A quote...."BAGHDAD — Gunmen trying to pass themselves off as U.S. and Iraqi soldiers raided a Sunni village outside Baghdad and killed at least 24 people in an execution-style attack, apparently targeting a Sunni group that revolted against al-Qaida in Iraq, authorities and witnesses said." - also posted at WarInIraq - Editor's Note: There's essentially no difference between the US-NRE's forces and US-NRE and Saudi Royal sponsored al Qaida (al-CIA-duh) elements. - mpg

U.S. and Allied Forces: We Killed Those Pregnant Afghan Women After All
Contains Video - A quote...."Brave New Foundation’s Rethink Afghanistan project has been following the story about a night raid in Gardez by U.S. and Afghan forces (see the video above), and today those forces made a major admission about their responsibility for civilian deaths. In a press release issued on Easter (gee, I wonder if they hoped people would be distracted today), the U.S. and allied forces under General McChrystal’s command, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), admitted they killed two innocent civilians and three women, two of them pregnant." - also posted at Uruknet

Central Asia, Airline with Ties to Blacwater Has Long Record of Service in Region
Special Note - We here at Reficultnias are pleased to announce that the US-NRE's new version of "Air America" is now in operation.  --  No wonder Afghanistan supplies eighty percent of the world's opium and is now branching out into supplying cannabis .  See article shown below. - mpg - A quote...."A company with ties to Blackwater, the controversial private security firm now known as Xe, has been ferrying US government-directed cargos over the past five-plus years across Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In addition, the company may be a candidate to continue its services for years to come, if a Sources Sought Announcement posted by the US Defense Department becomes a live contract." - also posted at Uruknet


Karzai Slams West, Threatens to Join Insurgency
A quote...."Afghan President Hamid Karzai has often resorted to playing the “anti-West” card in speeches when his popularity seems to be flagging, as an effort to distance himself from the international occupation forces which keep him in power. But after what could charitably be called a “cool” reception in Kandahar, a city his family and tribal affiliates dominate, the attempts are starting to whif of desperation." - also posted at WarInIraq

Afghan upper house backs Karzai anti-US decree
Related Article - A quote...."The Afghan parliament's upper house has voiced support for President Hamid Karzai in limiting the role of foreigners in the five-seat election fraud watchdog."

Tensions mount between Washington and its puppet in Kabul
Related Article - A quote...."Thursday’s warning by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that US and other NATO troops could be regarded as “invaders” in his country provided a rare glimpse into the political realities in Afghanistan—and called forth a furious reaction from the Obama administration and the American media."

India snubs US over Iran pipeline
Special Note - In other words.... "You Neo-Romans can go kiss all the AIPAC/Israeli butt you want, we in India however have to worry about the energy needs of over ONE BILLION people who live here in this country. The wants and desires of almost all the 5.5 million members of the Jewish community in Israel and many of the 5.5 million members of the Jewish community in the US-NRE to finally complete the PNAC Protocols simply aren't that important to us when it comes to OUR energy needs and OUR security." - mpg -- A quote...."The external affairs ministry on Friday stressed that energy security was of prime concern to the Centre and the India-Pakistan Iran pipeline was an important part of its plans. This followed remarks by US officials making it clear that that they disapproved of any such project." - also posted at WarInIraq

President Obama admits that Iran is not building nuclear weapons
A quote...."In a previous article, the question of why President Obama is so obsessed with imposing more sanctions on Iran was raised. Three possible answers were suggested:" - also posted at WarInIraq

U.S. Torturing Muslim Pre-trial Detainee in New York City
A quote...."April 03, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- Today in New York City, the U.S. is torturing a Muslim detainee with no prior criminal record who has not even gone to trial. -- For the last almost three years, Syed Fahad Hashmi has been kept in total pre-trial isolation inside in a small cell under 24 hour video and audio surveillance. He is forced to use the bathroom and shower in full view of the video. He has not seen the sun in years. He takes his meals alone in his cell. He cannot see any other detainees and he is not allowed to communicate in any way with any prisoners. He cannot write letters to friends and he cannot make calls to anyone but his lawyer. He is prohibited from participating in group prayer. He gets newspapers that are 30 days old with sections cut out by the government. One hour a day he is taken into another confined room where he is also kept in total isolation."

Iran seeks $12.5 bln through privatisating 500 state firms
A quote...."TEHRAN, April 4, 2010 (Reuters) - Iran aims to raise about $12.5 billion by privatising more than 500 state firms during the 2010-11 year, including two refineries and two car makers, a senior official said in remarks published on Sunday." - From Reuters

Democratic Forces Will Face Tough Times in Egypt's Election
A quote...."Although Egypt’s heir apparent Gamal Mubarak says next year’s election “is going to be free and fair,” his father Hosni’s regime has tightened the election laws to block other contenders to his presidency, an American magazine says. --  Mubarak senior has also used the odious Emergency Law to jail five of the 16 leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood in the past year and is imprisoning secular critics as well. People are afraid to speak out, much less run for office. Gamal Eid, executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, told Joshua Hammer of The New Yorker magazine that “Hundreds of bloggers are being summoned, kept for days, or weeks, or months, and then released.” One blogger, Mosaad Abu Fajr, who ripped the government’s human-rights abuses against Bedouins, has been imprisoned since 2007 and Kareem Amer, who mockingly referred to boss Hosni as a deity, is serving a four-year term for his joke."

Colombia: Killing Civilians to Justify Funding from the US Military - More on the Colombian scandal. - mpg
A quote...."The accidental discovery of mass graves outside in Colombia has raised questions about the victims and what role the US might have played. Mass graves have been found in Columbia, and while the army has claimed responsibility for the bodies, many questions surround the site. -- The mass graves were discovered last year outside a Colombian army base in La Macarana, a rural area south of the capital, Bogota. None of the 2,000 bodies in the site have been identified, but they are believed to be victims of Colombia’s ongoing “false positive scandal,” in which civilians are killed and then disguised as militants." -  For more on this issue see article shown below....


Morales Asks Putin for Russia to Return to Latin America “Strongly”
A quote...."LA PAZ – Bolivian President Evo Morales revealed Sunday that he asked Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to have Moscow return “strongly” to Latin America in the meeting that the pair held in Caracas last Friday."

Updating Lynne Stewart's "Love Struggle"
A quote...."For millions worldwide, Lynne needs no introduction. For others: She worked selflessly, tirelessly, and heroically for 30 years as a human rights champion, defending America's poor, underprivileged, and unwanted - people never afforded due process and judicial fairness without an advocate like her. She knew the risks, yet took them until bogusly indicted on April 9, 2002 for:" - also posted at Uruknet

Belgium Moves Closer to Europe's First Yarmulka Ban; World Jewry in an Uproar
Special Note - Satire -- A quote...."In the clash of cultures between the West and Jewish world, few battles have been more fiercely fought than the one raging in Europe today over the yarmulka. The yarmulka, or skullcap, is the law in Israel under Zionism, and is still worn these days in the more conservative parts of the Middle East, as well as in Europe, raising questions about how far liberal democracies should go in tolerating such dress codes. -- Belgium gave an answer Wednesday when parliamentarians backed a draft law that would ban Jews from wearing the yarmulka in public places."
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Al-Nakba Denial: Concealing the Catastrophe
A quote...."On May 15, 1948, one day after the British mandate over Palestine ended, the Jewish state of Israel was officially created. That date marked the beginning of a 62-year exile for 750,000 Palestinians, who along with their descendants now comprise the world’s largest refugee population at nearly five million people. Palestinians and people of conscience all around the world commemorate al-Nakba, meaning catastrophe in Arabic. The Palestinian population within what is now Israel—one quarter of which are internally displaced from villages decimated by the Israeli army and Zionist militias—mark al-Nakba by marching through the places where their villages once stood." - also posted at Uruknet

The Trouble with Slaves
Special Note - The land of stolen milk and honey, the desert in bloom, due to stolen water resources, the big shiny new buildings, the filled produce shops so that Israelis can eat until they burst. All of this labour intensive work comes at a price, a slave price. Whilst fat well fed Israelis refuse the hard labour jobs which they deem "below them" the Palestinians are forced to take what jobs they can get, in order to survive. -- Unfortunately Israel has to pay them for their slave work, and now Israel complains about having to pay their slaves wages. More after this:"

Israel: total boycott against total occupation
Action Alert - Boycott, Divest and Sanction - because if WE, the world community, fail to act against Israel's barbarity, WE, will be sanctioning their actions. - mpg -- A quote...."Antoine Raffoul argues that as the Israeli occupation is total and is sustained with the help of almost every institution and enterprise in the country, so must the boycott of Israel be all-encompassing and uncompromising." -- also posted at Uruknet -- For more on how to Boycott, Divest and Sanction the state of Israel see the upper-left-corner of the "Front Page" of this website. - mpg

Activists support rehabilitation of historic natural springs destroyed by settlers
Action/Update Alert - A quote...."A group of internationals, including two ISM activists, joined supporters from Jerusalem and other parts of the West Bank in assisting the villagers of Qarawat Bani Hassan repair and rehabilitate the historic natural springs which lie in the nearby Wadi Qana. The springs which issue at the base of the wadi feed into a series of reservoirs cut into the stone, said to date from Roman times. From time immemorial they have been the source of water for those villagers without their own wells. Today the springs and their surroundings, a location of outstanding natural beauty, are the most important cultural heritage for the village."

Testimony: Israelis beat, pour boiling water on worker
A quote...."Nablus – Ma'an – Residents of Israel's Kiyrat Shimona reportedly beat, and poured boiling water on a 26-year-old Palestinian worker on Friday night, who returned to Nablus for treatment in hospital."

Prisoners society: March saw 80 detentions in Hebron
A quote...."Hebron – Ma'an – The Palestinian Prisoners Society in Hebron released a report documenting 80 arrests and detentions carried out by the Israeli army against city residents during the month of March." - also posted at Uruknet

IOF troops round up 1,400 Palestinians in 3 months
A quote...."GAZA, (PIC)-- The higher national committee in support of prisoners on Sunday said that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) had detained more than 1,400 Palestinians in the first quarter of 2010 including 90 from the Gaza Strip." - also posted at Uruknet

The Economist: Hamas runs Gaza more effectively than its W. Bank rivals
Which is EXACTLY why Israel wants to get rid of them, not to mention the fact they won a resounding victory in a free, fair and heavily monitored election in 2006. - mpg - A quote...."GAZA, (PIC)-- The British Economist magazine said that the Movement of Hamas has been able to run the affairs of the Gaza Strip more effectively than their rivals in the West Bank despite the last Israeli war and four years of tight blockade."
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OpEdNews Bold and Daring: Case Study April 4, 2010
Special Note - A quote...."So Barack Obama got his change. Other people can even believe in it if they want. I regret to say I remain unimpressed” A mobilization of the huge mob of motivated and excited citizens who put Obama in the White House last year in the name of genuine change never occurred.”  -- *David Michael Green*

Let’s Put an End to Public Debt Blackmail!
A quote...."The path chosen by governments to emerge from the private financial crisis caused by bankers has led to an explosion in public debt. For many years to come, this sudden growth in public debt will be used by governments as a form of blackmail to impose social cuts and to deduct from the wages of “those at the bottom” the money needed to repay the public debt now held over our heads by the financial markets. How will this scenario be played out?"

The Corrupt Practices of Financial Manipulation: The Meaning of the Greek Economic Crisis
A quote...."Many things have been said about the Greek crisis in recent weeks, most of them obnoxious and confusing [1]. These stories result in an argument that is aimed for export to all developed countries. The media has extensively incorporated the official message, which could be divided into 5 chapters: "

Andrew Maguire finally exposes systemic fraud by CFTC & JPMorgan - Alt - (YuTb - 7m37s - April 01, 2010) 
Video - More on the Maguire case for you gold bugs out there. - mpg -- A quote...."I don’t ask for my videos to be forwarded and spread often, but this is one that really needs to get out there. This is the only video with all the currently known information that I know of. Thanks for rating, commenting, favouriting, and sharing this extremely important info!"

Saturday April 3rd 2010

No posts. - mpg

Friday April 2nd 2010

The Silence of the Liberal Lambs: Outrage at Outliers, Hosannas for State Crime
Must Read - A quote...."Charles Davis (via Jon Schwarz) has an incisive take on the high fluttery flail induced in our imperial courtiers by the latest Tea Party tantrums. Davis demolishes a piece in The Nation by progressive paladin Maria Harris-Lacewell, in which she waxes lyrical -- not to nonsensical -- about the great threat to "the legitimacy of the state" posed by Tea Partiers disrespecting our elected officials. These acts -- spitting, swearing, insulting, shouting, etc. -- which might have been considered legitimate expressions of citizen anger (or at least good clean fun) if directed at, say, George Dubya or Dick Nixon, are now to be regarded as -- I kid you not -- "an act of sedition" when aimed at the ruling party. - It's this kind of thing that gives insipid sycophancy a bad name. But Davis is on the case:" - also posted at Uruknet

Liberals with guns: scarier than Tea Partiers - From the link shown above. - mpg
Must Read - A quote...."Hooping and hollering at an elected official -- sorry, "an embodiment of the state" -- might give liberals at The Nation the vapors, and right-wing protesters who cheered on the Bush administration's abuses of power may not be my cup of tea, but color me unimpressed with the argument that I have more to fear from the talk radio right than I do the incarcerating-and-assassinating state." - also posted at AlethoNews

The CIA: Dust, Fog, and Dusty Foggo
Must Read - A quote...."It is hard to summarize Tim Weiner's Legacy of Ashes because there really isn't anything that can be cut from it. Every page is packed with stories of incredible sacrifice at low levels and incredible malfeasance at the highest level (low-level people thinking of sacrificing yourselves, take note). -- There's the story of how the CIA stole 5% of the Marshall Plan relief money, stories of how it funded "moderate" socialist political parties and media all over the "free" world, stories of vast expenditure on covert programs with little result. And of course the story of Dusty Foggo, executive director of the CIA under Bush. His story is unusual in that he was actually convicted for corruption, unlike most of the questionable characters that have hidden behind CIA secrecy."
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The Torture Report: Chapter 4: A Ponzi Scheme of Torture
Must Read - A quote...."This chapter connects the interrogations of Abu Zubaydah, Jose Padilla, and Binyam Mohamed, three people who were allegedly involved in a ‘dirty bomb' plot that grew more fantastical the more the men were tortured. It traces how torture begat torture, first because bad information extracted through abusive interrogations led to more torture and more bad information, and finally because interrogations were being conducted not only, as the Bush administration has insisted, to produce new intelligence to thwart impending attacks but also to force confessions and extract information that it would use to justify its detention and torture of others." -- also posted at Uruknet

U.S. Recants Claims that Detainee Who Was One of the Main Sources for the 9/11 Report, and Repeatedly Tortured, Was Involved in 9/11 or Even Al Qaeda - Must Read - A quote...."Abu Zubaydah was the first "high-value" detainee who was tortured, as the U.S. claimed he was a top Al Qaeda terrorist who knew a lot about 9/11. - He was waterboarded at least 83 times in August 2002 alone. - In fact, Abu Zubaydah was one of the main sources for the 9/11 report. - Never mind that he was literally crazy. As the New Yorker noted a year ago"

For more on the two articles shown above see....9/11-Iraq-Torture Fables - Updated !
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Who's Afraid of 9/11 Conspiracy Theories?
Special Note - A quote...."Whenever someone insists too strongly about something not being true, we tend to suspect that maybe it is. In their denials of involvement in 9/11, do Israel's apologists "protest too much"? - While it would take a small book to adequately document the Israeli connection to 9/11-as Antiwar.com editor Justin Raimondo has attempted in The Terror Enigma-let us briefly recall some of the more intriguing facts as reported in the mainstream media, involving dancing Israelis, Odigo warnings, and Zim's timely move." - also posted at AlethoNews - For more on this sort of issue see....Reficultnias's 9/11 Central

Moscow Terror: CIA-Saudi-Mossad Operation?
A quote...."The Russians have been convulsed by a spate of three terror attacks targeting Moscow as well as the regions of Chechnya, Ingushetia & Dagestan. The immediate fallout has been a heightened phase of Islamophobia across the global airwaves. -- It has also taken the focus away from the growing schisms within the US-Israeli tensions over the so-called ‘peace process’ with Palestine & Israel is busy as usual bombing Gaza, with Netanyahu venting his frustrations in a Freudian fit of rage." - also posted at WarInIraq

NBC, ABC, CBS Evening News Continue To Hemorrhage Viewers
The Presstitutes get what they DESERVE!! - Hip Hip Hooray!! - mpg -- A quote...."CNN isn't the only news network struggling to bring in viewers. -- Evening news broadcasts at major networks are suffering, too. -- According to Bill Carter at the New York Times, ABC's World News with Diane Sawyer had its worst quarter since 1987. CBS' Evening News with Katie Couric hit a new low starting in January."

The Manufactured Menace From Michigan, Take Two
A quote...."When the stranger materialized a few years ago, nobody really knew much about him. He seemed like a suitably sympathetic figure and quickly ingratiated himself by offering whatever help he could. No task was too menial for him, and he had a way of finding just what the group needed right when it was required. -- Most importantly, he seemed to share the group's antipathy toward the government. If anything, he was just a bit more emphatic than the rest in denouncing official corruption and endorsing violent "direct action" against the state. He seemed eager to shepherd the group in a more militant direction, eagerly out-bidding every expression of outrage and hostility. One of his favorite recurring themes was the idea that a criminal state could only be fought through the use of criminal means."

Calls Grow for Expanded Justice Dept. Probe of FBI Killing of Detroit Imam
A quote...."The Justice Department is probing the killing of Detroit-area Islamic cleric Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah, who was shot dead during an FBI raid shortly after being indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit federal crimes. The FBI said Abdullah was shot after he opened fire, but critics say he may have been targeted for assassination. We speak to Dawud Walid, Executive Director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.[includes rush transcript]" -- ||  Real Video Stream  ||  Real Audio Stream  ||  MP3 Download  ||  More…  ||

The Case for Impeachment of President Barack Obama - posted at TCBH
A quote...."Back in 2005-06, I wrote a book, The Case for Impeachment, in which I made the argument that President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as other key figures in the Bush/Cheney administration--Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales--should be impeached for war crimes, as well as crimes against the Constitution of the United States. - These days, when I mention the book’s title, people sometimes ask, half in jest, whether I’m referring to the current president, Barack Obama. - Sadly, it is time to say, just 14 months into the current term of this new president, that yes, this president, and some of his subordinates, are also guilty of impeachable crimes--including many of the same ones committed by Bush and Cheney."
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King's Prophetic Words of Peace - posted at ConsortiumNews
A quote...."A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death,” warned Martin Luther King Jr. in his famous speech at Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967, 43 years ago this Easter Sunday. - The speech was titled “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence.” It was delivered exactly one year to the day before his 1968 assassination in Memphis. - The people who heard that speech recognized it as one of the most powerful speeches ever given articulating the immorality of the Vietnam War and its destructive impact on social progress in the United States."

"Tighter Rules Fail to Stem Deaths of Innocent Afghans at Checkpoints 26 Mar 2010 American and NATO troops firing from passing convoys and military checkpoints have killed 30 Afghans and wounded 80 others since last summer, but in no instance did the victims prove to be a danger to troops, according to military officials in Kabul. "We have shot an amazing number of people, but to my knowledge, none has ever proven to be a threat," said Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who became the senior American and NATO commander in Afghanistan last year... The persistence of deadly convoy and checkpoint shootings has led to growing resentment among Afghans fearful of Western troops and angry at what they see as the impunity with which the troops operate -- a friction that has turned villages firmly against the occupation." - Paragraph quoted from CLG

No Drawdown for US Special Forces in Iraq - Haaa, haaaa, haaaa, ObamaTrolls are such fools. - mpg
A quote...."Despite much being made of the so-called August timetable that would spell an end to “combat” missions in Iraq and cut the US forces to about 50,000, SOCOM head Admiral Eric Olson today announced that this would not affect his troops, which are involved in some of the heaviest combat."

Long Lines and Good Participation in Sadr’s Referendum
A quote...."Despite having floated the idea of a referendum only four days ago, the political bloc loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr has organized a major nationwide vote with almost impossible alacrity, and Iraqis left Friday morning prayers to the hastily assembled tents to cast their vote. -- The election has no sanction or aid from the Iraqi government, and will last for two days. Already the party has reported very good participation and media outlets have seen long line at the tents."

23 suspects escape from Mosul prison
A quote...."Twenty-three prisoners have escaped from a detention center in the restive northern Iraqi city of Mosul, police say."

The Bomb-Bomb-Iran 'Parlor Game'  - posted at ConsortiumNews
NYT Presstitute Alert - Gawd Dang....the "Gray Old Lady" has become the "Gray Old Whore" - mpg -- Normally, if two countries with powerful nuclear arsenals were openly musing about attacking a third country over mere suspicions that it might want to join the nuclear club, we’d tend to sympathize with the non-nuclear underdog as the victim of bullying and possible aggression. - You might think that – unless you were told that the two nuclear-armed countries are Israel and the United States and the non-nuclear country is Iran. Then, different rules apply, especially it seems in leading American news outlets like the New York Times."

Brazilian economic delegation plans Iran visit
A quote...."The Brazilian minister of development, industry and foreign trade is scheduled to visit Tehran to pave the way for expansion of economic ties with Iran. - Brazilian Ambassador in Iran Antonio Luis Espinola Salgado says a delegation of 80 businesspersons and industrialists will accompany Miguel Jorge during his trip to the Iranian capital. He did not specify the date of the visit."

Russia delivers S-300 missile system to China
A quote...."Russia has completed the sale of a package of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to China in a deal which is said to be worth over two billion dollars. - Igor Ashurbeili, the general director of the Almaz-Antei joint, which manufactures the S-300 system has confirmed the delivery of 15 batteries of the long range surface-to-air missile system to Beijing, reported RIA Novosti."

Russia pledges to continue arms deliveries to Venezuela
A quote...."Russia will continue deliveries of military equipment to Venezuela to help the Latin American country boost its national defense, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Saturday."

Putin meets Chavez for talks on military, energy cooperation
A quote...."Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Venezuela on Friday for talks with President Hugo Chavez on a range of issues including military-technical cooperation and joint energy projects."

Vladimir Putin visits Venezuela
Image Gallery - A quote...."Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Venezuela on Friday for his first visit to the South American country."

Chavez Announces Arrival of 1st Navy Patrol Boat Built in Spain
A quote...."CARACAS – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced the arrival at the Venezuelan port of Turiamo of the Guaicamacuto coastal patrol vessel, built in Spanish shipyards."

Bolivia, Chinese Firm Sign Deal to Build Satellite
A quote...."LA PAZ – President Evo Morales’ government and Chinese firm Great Wall Industry signed a deal here Thursday for the construction of Bolivia’s first communications satellite."

El Salvador publicly marks Archbishop Romero's killing for first time
A quote...."President Funes commemorates the 30th anniversary of the assassination. He asks forgiveness on behalf of the state for the slaying and for the 'thousands of innocent victims' of the civil war."

U.S. and Colombia Cover Up Atrocities Through Mass Graves
Special Note - A quote...."According to a February 10, 2010 letter issued by Alexandra Valencia Molina, Director of the regional office of Colombia's own Procuraduria General de la Nacion -- a government agency tasked to investigate government corruption -- approximately 2,000 bodies are buried in this grave. The Colombian Army has admitted responsibility for the grave, claiming to have killed and buried alleged guerillas there. However, the bodies in the grave have yet to be identified. Instead, against all protocol for handling the remains of anyone killed by the military, especially those of guerillas, the bodies contained in the mass grave were buried there secretly without the requisite process of having the Colombian government certify that the deceased were indeed the armed combatants the Army claims." - If the US-NRE were a person instead of an empire, it would be diagnosed by any competent psychiatrist as a sick, deranged, homicidal, totally psychotic individual with delusions of grandeur and a megalomaniacal desire to kill...everything in its path. - mpg

Obama Expands Military Involvement in Africa
A quote...."When President Barack Obama took office in January 2009, it was widely expected that he would dramatically change, or even reverse, the militarized and unilateral security policy that had been pursued by the George W. Bush administration toward Africa and other parts of the world. -- After one year in office, however, it is clear that the Obama administration is following essentially the same policy that has guided U.S. military policy toward Africa for more than a decade. Indeed, the Obama administration is seeking to expand U.S. military activities on the continent even further." - For more on this issue see....Africa - the Next Target - 02-28-08 - mpg

Japan Kagoshima governor rejects US Marines base
A quote...."The governor of Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture has expressed his strong opposition against the proposed relocation of US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa to Tokunoshima Island."
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More On The Palestinian Situation....

Activist leaders targeted in E.Jerusalem - Alt - (RNVideo - 7 min 35 sec - April 02, 2010)
RNVideo - From TheRealNews -- A quote...."In recent weeks, municipal police in Jerusalem have been targeting key activists who fight against the settler take-overs of Palestinian homes in Sheikh Jarrah. A neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, Sheikh Jarrah has hosted weekly protests for nearly a year by a broad coalition of Israelis and Palestinians. Saleh Abo Dayeb was among the leaders who was recently arrested. Police claimed he pushed back a settler who attempted to photograph him and that in this supposed attack he committed a terrorist act against the state of Israel. The judge found no evidence that Abo Dayeb was even involved in the alleged altercation. A week later, Mikhael Solsbury, one of the key Jewish solidarity activists was also arrested due to his involvement in organizing the weekly protests. In his case the judge also found no evidence and again noted police misconduct. The Real News' Lia Tarachansky spoke to activists, lawyers, settlers, and residents of Sheikh Jarrah to understand the struggle and the recent repression."

Israel Gags News on Extrajudicial Killings
A quote...."RAMALLAH – An Israeli journalist remains under house arrest and another lives abroad after they broke news on Israeli undercover units carrying out assassinations or "targeted killings" of non-combatant Palestinian political opponents."

Woman dead after struck by settler car
A quote...."Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies - A 21-year-old was killed instantly Friday when a settler struck her with his car west of Ramallah, the latest in a rapid series of violent incidents." - also posted at Uruknet

Israel breaks into school in Ramallah
A quote...."Ramallah, April 3, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - Israeli occupation forces broke into Abood Secondary School in west of Ramallah and tried to detain number of its students under the pretext of throwing stones after a day of killing one of the school students."

Israel 'Plans to Surround al-Quds Old City' - posted at Palestine Chronicle
A quote...."A Palestinian official has warned that the Israeli regime was planning to encircle the Old City in Jerusalem (al-Quds) with settlements. -- Fatah legislator Hatem Abdul-Qader said on Thursday that the plan was oppressive as more than 300 Palestinian houses would be demolished."

Destruction of Gazan cheese factory continues pattern Goldstone found illegal
A quote...."Israeli warplanes bombed areas across the Gaza Strip early Friday, injuring at least three children, according to news outlets. Although the Israeli military claims that the targets were weapons-manufacturing plants and arms caches, Ma’an, Al Jazeera, Haaretz, and YNet  are reporting that the Israeli air force struck civilian sites, including a metal factory in a refugee camp and the Daloul cheese and dairy factory in Gaza City. -- The targeting of the means of sustenance for the civilian population in Gaza is an area that Judge Richard Goldstone focused on in his United Nations report on the Israeli assault on Gaza. I assume the crude logic behind the targeting of a cheese and dairy factory in the heart of Gaza is part of putting “Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger,” as Dov Weisglass, an adviser to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said, in explaining the suffocating blockade that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip."

Pastoral resistance in "This Palestinian Life"
Film Review - A quote...."Is it true that the Jews want to retake this country?" asked a Palestinian farmer close to the turn of the 20th century, according to the notes of Albert Antebi, an official of the Jewish Colonial Association. They did and do. Palestinian peasants were the first to feel the effects of Zionist encroachment. And today, the countryside and its villages are where the struggle against territorial maximalism continues, dunum by dunum, olive orchard by olive orchard."
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Obama Meets Chinese President, Saturday Night Live Style
Must View SNLVideo Satire -- (NOTE: Size the window to whatever size you want for good viewing.) -- Hu Jintao telling it like it is at a press conference with Obama.  It's hilarious! - mpg

Keiser Report №30: Markets! Finance! Scandal! - Alt - (MKRTVideo - 26min 40sec - April 01, 2010)
MKVideo - Special Note - A quote...."In this edition of Keiser Report, Max Keiser and co-host Stacy Herbert look at the scandals of the rich fleeing munis, not-for-profit selling, attempted assassinations in the silver market, and flow charts and poodles in US foreign affairs. Max also talks to Huffington Post's Ryan Grim about the New York Fed's role during the Lehman collapse and just how much toxic debt is on the books of the Fed."

Wall Street Cabal Seen Derailing Serious Swap Reform
A quote...."A major crisis is building in the derivatives market yet a cabal on Wall Street is blocking the formation of a clearing house that could stop the next financial meltdown, a senior official with the Kauffman Foundation said on Tuesday." - From Reuters

The Gold Market is a Ponzi Scheme - For all you gold bugs out there. - mpg
A quote...."We've had a string of amazing revelations recently regarding the world's precious metals market. This is important stuff for anyone (like me) who holds gold as a means to avoid currency turmoil and counterparty risk."

The Guys Who Got It Wrong - Obama's Economic Brain Trust
A quote...."America is held out to the world as a meritocracy. You work hard, you play by the rules, you make sound judgment calls, you succeed. That’s the American dream. Right?  That’s what the President of the United States should exemplify in his actions. Right? -- Then how does one explain the individuals who represent the abject failures of financial and regulatory theory chosen by the President to dominate the dialogue on financial reform.  How does one reconcile President Obama appointing Lawrence Summers as head of the National Economic Council after Mr. Summers played a central role in rolling back the safeguards that led to the current financial crisis." - also posted at AlethoNews

What Do the New Unemployment Numbers Mean?
A quote...."What do the new BLS numbers - 162,000 nonfarm payroll jobs added in March - mean? -- Barry Ritholtz provides a very useful summary: -- Let’s break down the highlights into the good and bad..." - also posted at GlobalRsrch

March jobs report points to protracted US downturn
Related Article - A quote...."The US economy gained 162,000 jobs last month, the most in three years, according to the latest figures from the Labor Department. Far from a recovery, however, the figures reveal a stagnant economy with mass long-term unemployment and a continual decline in wages."

You Still Believe The Fed Can Stop Deflation?
A quote...."Think back to the fall of 2007. The deflationary "liquidity crunch" that over the next year-and-a-half cuts the DJIA in half, decimates commodities, real estate and world markets is only starting. Almost no one believes that the crash is coming -- to a large degree, because everyone is convinced that the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, with Ben Bernanke at the helm, will never allow deflation to happen: It can just print money!"

Thursday April 1st 2010