Tuesday August 19th 2008

The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  10 articles - Tuesday - [ Day 12 ] =====  ==========

Crisis in the Caucasus. What Were They Smoking in the White House?
Must Read - A quote...."August 19, 2008 -- The Bush administration appears to have pulled off its latest military fiasco in the Caucasus. What was supposed to have been a swift and painless takeover of rebellious South Ossetia by America’s favorite new ally, Georgia, has turned into a disaster that left Georgia battered, Russia enraged, and NATO badly demoralized. Not bad for two days work." -- Also posted at ICH

The New Cold War Turns Hot:How Washington’s encirclement of Russia threatens us all
Must Read - A quote...."August 18, 2008 -- Fairytales are wonderful things – except when they are employed by adults to supplant a complex reality. Or, indeed, to turn that reality on its head. Nevertheless, it is precisely the word ‘fairytale’ that best describes the West’s reaction to the outbreak of hostilities in Georgia as even a cursory look at these events, and at the recent historical and political context of Eurasia, make abundantly clear." -- Also posted at ICH

Russia won't be lectured by NATO - Lavrov
A quote...."August 19, 2008, 19:07 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has been briefing the media in Moscow. He stated that the Russia-NATO council was created 'not for the purpose of disciplining Russia or educating it in terms of how it should behave.'"

In west Georgia, few signs of damage by Russia
A quote...."August 19, 2008 -- POTI, GEORGIA — Government officials of this small, war-weary country invited a group of journalists for a 180-mile trip aboard a Russian-made Mi-8 helicopter Monday to Georgia's western provinces to show the damage wrought by the recent Russian military incursion."

Georgian authorities block Russian aid for Gori - link posted at AntiWar
A quote...."August 19, 2008, 15:47 -- The city authorities of Gori have refused humanitarian aid from Russia. A convoy carrying food for the Georgian city was ordered on Monday to return to Tskhinvali, according to the Russian Emergencies Ministry."

Georgia cuts access to Russian websites, TV news - link posted at AntiWar
A quote...."Aug 19, 2008 02:52 EST -- TBILISI, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Georgian authorities have blocked most access to Russian news broadcasters and websites since the outbreak of the conflict with Moscow.

Russia seizes US vehicles
A quote...."Tuesday, 19 August 2008 -- Russian soldiers today held blindfolded Georgian servicemen at gunpoint and commandeered US Humvees in a dramatic sequence of events in Poti, a key Black Sea port."

Trophies from the Kodori Gorge: confiscated weapons shown to tourists
Video - A quote...."19:07 - 19/08/2008 -- On display are small arms, equipment and uniforms confiscated by peacekeepers as they disarmed Georgian units in the conflict zone. (107 sec./4.26Mb, shows: 1272)"

U.S. Trainers Say Georgian Troops Weren't Ready
A quote...."20 August 2008 -- TBILISI, Georgia -- U.S. military trainers -- the only American boots on the ground -- say the Georgian soldiers they knew who were sent to battle the Russians had fighting spirit but were not ready for war. -- The Georgians were "beginning to walk, but by no means were they running," said U.S. Army Captain Jeff Barta, who helped train a Georgian brigade for peacekeeping service in Iraq. "If that was a U.S. brigade, it would not have gone into combat."

How Israel Trained and Equipped Georgia's Army
A quote...."August 19, 2008 | 2:48:00 PM -- The Russian military blasted Israel today for supplying weapons and training to its adversaries in Georgia. -- "Israel armed the Georgian army," Russian Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn told a Moscow press conference. Jerusalem provided Tblisi with "eight types of military vehicles, explosives, landmines and special explosives for the clearing minefields [sic]. "

For more on this issue see....American Selective Attention Deficit Disorder (ASADD) - 08-16-08 - mpg

End - The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  10 articles - Tuesday - [ Day 12 ] ==========

Dubious Security
A quote...."The United States is installing a missile defense system in Poland. For starters, this will deepen the split in NATO even more than the Caucasus war was first thought to have done."

India, Russia sign protocol on military technical cooperation
A quote...."NEW DELHI, Aug 19 (KUNA) — India and Russia Tuesday signed a protocol on military technical cooperation, as part of efforts to boost bilateral military ties."

Syria says ready to consider Russian air defense deal - paper
A quote...."MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti) - Syria is ready to discuss deploying Iskander missile-defense systems on its territory, but it has not received any proposals from Russia, the country's president told a Russian business daily."

Federal Anti Monopoly Service says Mechel is guilty of competition law violations
A quote...."Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has declared Mechel Group guilty of violating competition law." -- Something you'll never see in the US (N.R.E.) anytime soon, an anti-trust action. - mpg

Russia’s financial crisis of 1998 plotted by IMF
A favor the IMF tries to do for everybody who's not part of the "big club". - mpg -- A quote...."As it turns out, the default, which hit Russia ten years ago, was not merely a consequence of the ungifted economic policy of the Russian government during the second half of the 1990s. The devaluation of the Russian ruble occurred because of the efforts taken by the International Monetary Fund, which triggered the massive economic crisis in Russia nationwide and impoverished the majority of Russians in an instant."

Venezuela to Launch Its First Satellite from China in November
A quote...."Mérida, August 18, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- Venezuela’s first satellite will be launched from Chinese soil on November 1st, President Hugo Chávez announced on his weekly Sunday talk show Aló Presidente, which was broadcast from the satellite control station located at an air base on the vast plains of the state of Guárico, Venezuela."

Foreign Investors Show Growing Interest in Iran's Petrochem
A quote...." TEHRAN (FNA)- The total foreign investment in the National Petrochemical Company of Iran (NPC) in the previous three years has touched a record US$4.5 bln, a senior oil ministry official said."

US to take over Afghan mission
A quote...."The United States is planning to take control of all military operations in Afghanistan next year with an Iraq-style troop surge after becoming frustrated at Nato’s failure to defeat the Taliban. -- Plans are being drawn up to send as many as 15,000 extra troops to Afghanistan with a single US general always in command, as in Iraq, defence sources said."

Pentagon Plans to Send More Than 12,000 Additional Troops to Afghanistan
A quote...."The Pentagon will be sending 12,000 to 15,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, possibly as soon as the end of this year, with planning underway for a further force buildup in 2009." -- More cannon fodder for the New Roman Empire, one has to ask oneself why anyone would lay down his or her life for a bunch of lying, old, bastards so these filthy rich jerks can become even wealthier than they all ready are?  It all seems pretty stupid. -- For more on this issue see....War is a Racket - mpg

Resurgent Taleban kill 10 French troops and assault US base
A quote...."The Taleban have staged two of their most spectacular operations in Afghanistan, killing ten French troops in a battle just outside Kabul and launching a frontal assault on a big US base near the Pakistani border."

The Mindlessness is Total Are You Ready for Nuclear War?
A quote...."Pervez Musharraf, the puppet installed by the US to rule Pakistan in the interest of US hegemony, resigned August 18 to avoid impeachment.  Karl Rove and the Diebold electronic voting machines were unable to control the result of the last election in Pakistan, the result of which gave Pakistanis a bigger voice in their government than America’s. - It was obvious to anyone with any sense -- which excludes the entire Bush Regime and almost all of the “foreign policy community -- that the illegal and gratuitous US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and Israel’s 2006 bombing of Lebanon civilians with US blessing, would result in the overthrow of America’s Pakistani puppet."

Shiia Hezbollah and Sunni Salafists forging an unlikely alliance?
A quote...."Lebanon’s Shiia Hezbollah and Sunni Salafi extremists may be nearing an agreement of mutual respect and coordination, which could be signed-and-sealed over the next 24-to-48 hours." -- The US played these guys off against each other for years.  Whenever it was convenient we'd blame the Shi'a Iranians for insurgent activity in Sunni provinces.  When they needed a propaganda boost to put pressure on Iran during the Nuke negotiations the US military would say the EFP's and IED's being assembled by Sunni Salafists in Sunni controlled provinces of Iraq were from Shi'a Iran.  thousands of articles were published by this nation's mass-faux-media about these "alleged connections"  Now after seven long years of continuous outright lies from the sluts in our government guess what's in the news.....Aw My Gawd!!, a Sunni faction and a Shi'a faction in Lebanon are creating a truce and are going to agree not to attack each other.  How utterly embarrassing for our mass media, and our so called military "analysts". - mpg

Hezbollah, Salafists sign unity accord
A quote...."Lebanon's Shia Hezbollah and Sunni Salafist groups have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at defusing tension in the country. " -- By the way, the Saudi Royals under Cheney's urging have been financially supporting the Sunni Salafists for quite some time now, if they're legitimately joining forces with Hezbollah (and assuming they're not going to act as agent provocateurs) than Cheney's little plans of mayhem and murder for Lebanon may be going the same way as did his plans for the Caucasus....poor little Cheney, you almost feel sorry for the sick, twisted, mass murdering, sociopathic, money worshiping, diseased, low life, scum. - mpg -- For more on this issue see....US Support of Terror - Al-Qaeda Lite & Al Qaeda - Always There for the US Elites - 03-09-08 - mpg

The Secret Deal For Iraq's Oil
Must Read - A quote...."Four months before the United States invaded Iraq, the Department of Defense was secretly working with Vice President Dick Cheney's old company, Halliburton Corp., on a secret deal that would give the world's second largest oil services company total control over Iraq's oil fields, according to interviews with Halliburton's most senior executives." -- Also posted at AfterDowningStreet & Uruknet -- For more on this issue see....War Resource 9/11

The High-Fivers - More proof the Israelis were shadowing the 9/11 hijackers
From the history file -- A quote...."Date - 16/02/07 -- "Antiwar" -- It was the tail-end of a bleak November 2001: a pall of shocked numbness hung over the country, and a rising war hysteria had  nearly everyone cowed. Americans were just beginning to pick themselves up,  dust themselves off, and focus on what had happened, and how to react. It was very early on the morning of the 23rd when, scanning the headlines, I came across a Washington Post story by John Mintz: "60 Israelis Detained on Tourist Visas Since Sept. 11." Odd, I thought, why go after the Israelis, probably the least likely suspects?"

How Bush's 'Official Conspiracy Theory of 911" Covers Up the Crimes of Mass Murder and High Treason
A quote...."To Bush administration chagrin and despite its best efforts to cover up the crime of 911, various independent investigations and courageous web warriors continue to expose Bush's lies about 911."

Antiwar Activists Win $2 Million Settlement from New York City in Major Victory for Free Speech Rights
A quote...."August 19, 2008, New York, NY – A group of 52 local activists today announced a $2 million settlement in their lawsuit against the City of New York. The activists were illegally arrested on April 7, 2003 while protesting against the Iraq war in front of a military contractor's offices in midtown.  The settlement in Kunstler et al v. New York City follows the dismissal in 2003 of all criminal charges brought against these individuals and four costly years of delays by the City in negotiating an end to the civil lawsuit."

Senate Judiciary Pressures WH for Torture Documents
A quote...."Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-PA) crossed the aisle once again to issue a renewed demand for documents on detainee interrogation policies from the White House today."

Breaking: Judge May Hold CIA In Contempt For Destruction Of Evidence
A quote...."Late yesterday, a federal judge said he is considering holding the Central Intelligence Agency in contempt for destroying videotapes depicting the interrogation of al Qaeda detainees." -- Probably because he was saying things like...."Why are you torturing me, I did exactly what you guys told me to do" - mpg

The Breaking Point - A New Age of Torture
A quote...."The recent appearance of Dr Aafia Siddiqi in a New York court (August 5, 2008) has brought another disturbing episode in the 'war on terror' of President George W. Bush to light. According to a  lawyer acting for Dr Siddiqui, an American-educated scientist of Pakistani origin, her client was brought to New York after spending several years in US custody at an unknown place, thought to be the Bagram air base in Afghanistan. While in detention, she suffered 'horrendous physical and psychological torture'."

A push to ban psychologists' role in torture
A quote...."Holding signs that read, "Do no harm" and "Abolish torture," about 100 people attended a rally outside the American Psychological Association's annual convention yesterday, urging the organizations to ban its members from being involved in military interrogations and torture as part of the war on terrorism." -- The fact that people have to protest against US (N.R.E.) psychologists participating in torture speaks volumes about how far this country has descended into the pit moral degeneracy.  Physicians and Psychologists take an OATHto do no harm", and these people, who may have committed war crimes by their acts, are now oath breakers.  To paraphrase "A Man for all Seasons"..'They held their future in their cupped hands, than with little regard for themselves they opened them, and like water they let their honor, their word, their bond, their morality, their compassion and their very humanity flow into the sand', NEVER to be recovered again.  One should ask oneself, would you take your child to be "helped" by one of these people, your daughter, your son, your wife or your husband? 

Think about it.
- mpg

The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Tuesday round-up - 4 articles - [ Day 19 ] ===  ==========

The FBI Admits It Has No Case Against Ivins
A quote...."The FBI has admitted that it has no case against Ivins."

Parallels Between the Anthrax and 9/11 Investigations
Some quotes...."1. Continuously-Changing Story When Caught in Misstatements" -- "2. Pre-Ordained Conclusions" -- "3. Failure to Follow Leads" -- "4. Suppression of Evidence" -- "5. Destruction of Evidence" -- "6. Allegations of Bribery" -- "7. Skeptical Congressmen " and finally "8. Skeptical Experts"

The Bruce Ivins Anthrax Case coverage, not so good.
A quote...."This entire story has been one embarrassing peep show of the AP, the Washington Post and the LA Times caught with their drawers down. Or, with their palms out, it’s hard to tell which. May it's just a matter of bad journalistic proxemics."

The Anthrax Files
A quote...."The FBI claims to have caught the killer. But so much evidence has been neglected or mishandled that many experts still have doubts."

End - The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Tuesday round-up - 4 articles - [ Day 19 ] ==========

The Greenback Blues: Something's Gotta Give
A quote...." 19/08/08 "ICH" --- - In a matter of weeks, the euro has been pounded into ground-chuck while the dollar has regained much of its former glory. What gives? The mighty greenback has surged 6% in the last month alone. Apparently, the early reports of the dollar's demise have been greatly exaggerated. The euro is caught in the same recessionary downdraft that is buffeting a number of currencies, all of which are unwinding at the same time although unevenly. Currency markets don't move in straight lines. But, don't be fooled, most paper money is steadily losing value due to the wild expansion of credit which started at the Federal Reserve. Investors are moving to cash and hunkering down. Who can blame them? As the massive equity bubble loses gas, balance sheets will have to be mended and lending will slow to a crawl."

Stagflation is Here, and It is a Weapon of Mass Destruction
Special Note regarding this quote...."The government counts any financial transaction that can be taxed as part of the GDP whether or not it results in the creation of goods and services of tangible value. Bizarrely, a transaction can add to GDP even if it is based on money that has been borrowed and must be repaid with interest in the future. -- So this type of debt-based GDP growth can actually be destructive in the long-run. This has happened in the U.S., where total household, student, business, and government debt will soon be pushing $70 trillion against an annual GDP in 2007 of $13.8 trillion."

Exclusive Interview: Jim Rogers Predicts Bigger Financial Shocks Loom, Fueling a Malaise That May Last for Years
A quote...."VANCOUVER, B.C. – The U.S. financial crisis has cut so deep – and the government has taken on so much debt in misguided attempts to bail out such companies as Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) – that even larger financial shocks are still to come, global investing guru Jim Rogers said in an exclusive interview with Money Morning." -- Also posted at ICH

Wholesale inflation surged by 1.2 percent in July, more than double what had been expected
A quote...."Wholesale inflation surged in July, leaving prices for the past year rising at the fastest pace in 27 years, according to government data released Tuesday." - bold by website editor

Single-family housing permits fall to 26-year low
A quote...."WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. home builders sharply reduced the number of new homes starting construction in July [the lowest level for housing starts in 17 years] and dropped the number of new single-family permits to the lowest level in 26 years, the Commerce Department estimated Tuesday. - bold by website editor

Lehman write-down may hit $4 bln: J.P. Morgan
A quote...."BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- Shares of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.  (LEH: Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc)  lost 13% Tuesday on growing fears the company will be forced to sell assets or take other capital-raising measures to offset mortgage-related losses."

Monday August 18th 2008

Hegemon Hijinks
Must Read - This one was a lot of fun. - mpg -- A quote...."On Friday August 15 the Bush administration sent Condoleezza Rice to meet with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili as a "show of U.S. support."  Yikes.  They sent Condi?  Talk about giving somebody the goodbye look.  If this were a Marty Scorsese movie, Saakashvili would have been sleeping with the fishes come Saturday morning.  You'd think Keystone Kondi would have lent sufficient slapstick to the Georgian situation, but no.  Adding to the antics, John McCain announced on Friday August 15 that he would send along as his personal representatives Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, the Bea Arthur and Betty White of neoconservatism.  Then, to cap things off, McCain himself dropped the atomic punchline: "In the twenty-first century, nations don't invade other nations." -- You could hear irony clawing at its coffin lid."

Condi’s piano rendition of “Georgia on My Mind”
A quote...."Can anyone imagine Don Corleone asking for “his favors” at the very start; then later, have all grantors queue at his door to request an audience so they may ask for the return favors? Strange, you say? Perhaps, but America has become this new Don Corleone when it comes to this business of favor-exchanges in affairs of state . . . and bullyism."

The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  11 articles - Monday - [ Day 11 ]
=====  ==========

Washington's hypocrisy
A quote...."Published: August 18, 2008 -- BRUSSELS: The U.S. administration is trying to stick the label of "bad guy" on Russia for exceeding the peacekeeping mandate and using "disproportionate force" in the peace-enforcement operation in Georgia. -- Maybe our American friends have gone blind and deaf at the same time. Mikheil Saakashvili, the president of Georgia, is known as a tough nationalist who didn't hide his intentions of forcing Ossetians and Abkhazians to live in his country." -- *Dmitry Rogozin*, Russian Ambassador to NATO. -- Article also posted at ICH

Why the west has got it so wrong over Georgia
A quote...."One minute you're looking for South Ossetia on a map; the next everyone's talking about nuclear confrontation. The escalation of the conflict in the Caucasus into a kind of post-modern Cold War has been breathtaking. But great international conflicts have a habit of starting in "far-away places of which we know nothing": Sarajevo, Poland, Pearl Harbour and now South Ossetia." -- Article also posted at ICH

Huffing and Puffing at the Pentagon
A quote...."August 18, 2008 at 10:54:46 -- American Secretary of War Robert Gates knows a real leader when he sees one.  “Clearly, as far as I’m concerned,” he said, Vladimir Putin, and not President Dmitry Medvedev, "has the upper hand right now."

War in Georgia Shows U.S. Foreign Policy Is a Bust
A quote...."August 15, 2006 -- The tragic events in the nation of Georgia show that U.S. foreign policy is a bust. In particular, NATO must go. This may seem counterintuitive, but this relic of the Cold War has nothing to contribute to peace. On the contrary, it is a destabilizing tool of America’s provocative imperial foreign policy."

Medvedev supports European watchdog role
A quote...." MOSCOW, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Russian President Dmitri Medvedev Sunday supported a larger role for a European human rights and military watchdog group in the South Ossetia conflict zone."

At center of conflict, South Ossetians direct bitterness at Georgia
A quote...."TSKHINVALI, Georgia -  Washington Post /  August 18, 2008 -- The windows were blown out of the old synagogue here, and the wooden bimah splintered and partly collapsed. Shattered glass covered the floor, and parts of the ornately painted walls were torn off."

Russian General Says Georgia May Commit False Flag Terror Attacks
Special Note -- A quote...."Deputy Chief of the Russian General Staff Anatoly Nogovitsyn warns that Georgia may be planning to commit false flag terror attacks by using mercenaries dressed in Russian uniforms, as Russia moved to guard sensitive infrastructure against terrorist attacks." -- Looks like the Russians are finally learning about Cheney and the Neocons, hopefully the rest of the world will catch up soon. - mpg

"One could say Georgia is a chip off the old block....the New Roman Empire block that is?  Or perhaps they learn from the best?  Like farther, like son?  Mini-NRE? - Quote posted 08-15-08 -- *mpg*

Aug 18, 2008 South Ossetian TV to start work among ruins - (YouTube - 1 min 54 sec - Added:  August 18, 2008)
Special Note - Video - A quote...."August 18, 2008 -- South Ossetian TV to start work among ruins." -- RT-TV Article -- RT-TV Video Alt

Biased broadcast? Moscow accuses U.S. TV of gagging victims' - (YouTube - 3 min 22 sec - Added:  Aug. 18, 2008)
Special Note - Video - A quote...."Aug. 18, 2008 -- Moscow has accused an American TV network of bias after a channel broke off from a live interview with victims of Georgian violence in South Ossetia. A 12 year old girl and her aunt were describing how Russian soldiers saved them from the Georgian attack -- but were bizarrely cut off after just two minutes." --  RT-TV Article -- RT-TV Video Alt -- This item is posted solely to show how Fox (Faux)-News cut them off. - mpg

BBC Video Proves Georgia to Blame for Hostilities
Must View - Read - A quote...."Sunday, Aug 17, 2008 -- The BBC video here was aired two days before Russia intervened to stop Georgia’s ethnic cleansing operation in South Ossetia. It needs to be viewed by Bush, Condi, Robert Kagan, Charles Krauthammer, little Billy Kristol and all the neocons and their associated slavering bloggers and newspaper columnists calling for war against Russia...." -- Also posted at BLN

No signs of Russia claim of genocide by Georgia in South Ossetia
A quote...."August 18, 2008 -- South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali, slowly emerges from shell shock, but the damage doesn't appear to be on the scale Russia claimed. Residents blame the bloodshed on Georgia and regard Russia as savior."

This is what would be considered a "balanced" article by most people.  There are a few problems however....

1)
The US media establishment has NEVER, EVER, expressed an interest in, or properly reported on, or gave  ANY sign of concern for, the death toll caused by the US's (N.R.E.'s) murderous six year occupation of Iraq --  now they're expressing an interest in the death toll caused by Georgia's two day invasion of tiny South Ossetia, because it might "prove" the Russians wrong, it might "only" be three or five or twelve hundred people killed???  To be honest about the matter....that demonstrates a pretty sick set of "journalistic" priorities.

And 2) Russia claimed a death toll of roughly fifteen hundred to two thousand dead in south Ossetia while simultaneously calling it genocide....now the claim of genocide is an obvious stretch, so how about we all simply concentrate on the figure of fifteen hundred to two thousand dead?

More importantly how about we concentrate on the over one million Iraq deaths caused by the US's invasion of that country which was justified by nothing but a series of lies, or after SIX LONG YEARS of thunderous and almost complete silence by the "mass-media" in this country is that just to difficult a task for those poor over-worked reporters at the LA Times and all those other mass-faux-media outlets?

For more on this issue see....
American Selective Attention Deficit Disorder (ASADD) - 08-16-08 - mpg

End - The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  11 articles - Monday - [ Day 11 ] =====  ==========

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Military Judge Finds Political Manipulation in Gitmo, Again - link posted at AntiWar
Special Note -- A quote...."The proceedings in the Guantánamo military commissions continue, and the professional participants continue to grapple with the poorly disguised efforts of the Bush Administration to fix the outcome. JAG attorneys active in the commissions have frequently cited Thomas W. Hartmann as the source of their concerns. Hartmann, whose civilian job is general counsel to Mxenergy Holdings Inc., the Stamford, Connecticut gas producer and distributor, was handpicked and brought out of the JAG reserves to serve as the Bush Administration’s stage manager for the Guantánamo productions. His formal position is as “legal advisor” to Susan J. Crawford, the convening authority. Crawford, a retired military judge, previously worked for Dick Cheney and is known as a crony of David Addington."

Journalist Says US Target was Al-Jazeera
Special Note -- A quote...."After more than six years as a prisoner of the United States, former TV cameraman Sami al-Hajj is back at work with Al-Jazeera, the largest broadcaster in the Arab world, a thorn in the side of most Arab governments - and, by most indications, a target of deep hostility from the Bush administration." -- Also posted at CommonDreams -- For more on this issue see....

Sami al-Hajj released from Guantanamo - 02 May 08  - (YouTube - 15 min 19 sec - Added: May 02, 2008)
Must View Video -- A quote...."Sami al-Hajj, the Al Jazeera cameraman who was held by the US in its controversial Guantanamo prison, has been freed. - Al-Hajj, who had been on hunger strike for months in protest over his treatment in Guantanamo, was flown to Khartoum and taken immediately to hospital. - Later he was reunited with his family."

See also....
US - Killing the Messenger - Sami al-Hajj
See also....The Convenient Silence of Guantanamo Bay - 05-31-08 - mpg
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Sibel Edmonds Case: FBI files "formal complaint" with Sunday Times
Must Read - A quote...."Last week, Scott Horton interviewed (audio) investigative journalist Joe Lauria. Lauria was one of the co-authors of the three-part (1, 2, 3) series on the case of former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds for the UK's Sunday Times. -- In the interview Lauria discusses the Sibel Edmonds case, the state of the US media, and the Military Industrial Complex in the context of his new book with presidential candidate Mike Gravel: "A Political Odyssey: The Rise of American Militarism and One Mans Fight to Stop It"

My oh my oh my....the FBI spends tens of millions of dollars and thousands of man hours, at the very best repeatedly making mistakes in their "case" against Dr. Ivins, or at worst, trying desperately to manufacture "evidence" to frame him.  And yet they can still take the time to threaten someone for telling the truth.  Your tax dollars hard at work folks. - mpg

The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Monday round-up - 2 articles - [ Day 18 ] ===  ==========

FBI sweeps anthrax under the rug
A quote...."US Attorney Jeff Taylor was sweating on August 6, as he laid out his case against the late Dr. Bruce Ivins at a news conference—and with good reason. Anyone familiar with the case is well aware that Dr. Ivins was railroaded, and that the news conference was a flimsy web of lies. -- Ivins had nothing to do with the 2001 anthrax attacks. The attacks were almost certainly carried out by the only group that had the means to produce the highly weaponized anthrax in the letters: the CIA, its contractor Battelle Memorial Institute of West Jefferson, Ohio., and the Army at Dugway in Utah."

FBI Admits It Destroyed Evidence In Anthrax Case
A quote...."The FBI's excuse for destroying the anthrax sample which Ivins gave them?

"The sample kept at the FBI lab was destroyed because the bureau believed it might not have been allowed as evidence at trial."

"However, every trial lawyer in the country will tell you that prosecutors don't destroy evidence just because they are not sure a judge will allow the evidence to be introduced at trial. Instead, lawyers keep all the evidence. If more bullet-proof evidence comes along, only then would a prosecutor be less attached to the earlier evidence."

End - The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Monday round-up - 2 articles - [ Day 18 ]  ==========

300,000 flee as jihadis [are] attacked
A quote...."ISLAMABAD: A human tide of more than 300,000 civilians has fled the al-Qa'ida badlands, amid indications that the fighting there has reached unprecedented levels, with the Pakistani army using massive firepower to attack jihadi militant strongholds."

How Long Before the Military is Back at the Helm? - Pakistan After Musharraf
A quote...."Pakistan’s military dictators never go quietly. Field-Marshal Ayub was removed by a three-month long popular insurrection in March 1969. General Yahya Khan destroyed Pakistan before he departed in 1972. General Zia-ul-Haq (the worst of the lot) was blown up in his military pl;ane rtogether with the US Ambassador in 1988. And now General Musharraf is digging his heels. There is a temporary stalemate in Pakistan. The Army is in favour of him going quietly, but is against impeachment. Washington is prepared for him to go, but quietly. And last Friday the chief of Saudi intelligence agency, Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, had secretly arrived in Pakistan and held talks with coalition leaders and President Musharraf. He wants a ‘safe exit’ for the president. Sanctuaries in Manhattan, Texas and the Turkish island of Büyükada (Prinkipo) are being actively considered. The General would prefer a large estate in Pakistan, preferably near a golf course, but security considerations alone would make that infeasible."

Musharraf Announces Resignation
A quote...."President Musharraf of Pakistan has announced his resignation this morning, in an address to his nation in advance of impeachment charges which were expected to be filed tomorrow. -- In a one-hour long televised address, Musharraf defended his nearly nine-year rule and rejected accusations against him, but said he was leaving office."

“After consultations with legal advisers and close political supporters and on their advice, I’m taking the decision of resigning,” a somber Musharraf said. “My resignation will go to the speaker of the National Assembly today.”

And we still have Bush and Cheney....keep saying to yourselves folks that this is a democracy, just keep saying it to yourselves....maybe one day it will become true. - mpg

Musharraf resignation formally accepted
A quote...."Pakistani lawmakers in the National Parliament have formally passed a resolution accepting Pervez Musharraf's resignation as President." 
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Iraq's Shiite-Led Government Cracks Down On US-Backed Sunni Fighters
A quote...."BAGHDAD — The Shiite-led government is cracking down on U.S.-backed Sunni Arab fighters in one of Iraq's most turbulent regions, arresting some leaders, disarming dozens of men and banning them from manning checkpoints except alongside official security forces."

How many more Iraqis can you put behind bars without trial?
A quote...."Reports that U.S. and Iraqi government jails hold nearly 100,000 prisoners most of them languishing there without trial and proof of wrong doing are appalling. -  Most arrests in Iraq whether by U.S. or Iraqi troops are arbitrary, carried out with little or no evidence. - The U.S. was most vociferous in its condemnation of the former regime for its arbitrary and summary arrests and inhuman conditions of its prisons. -  But for many Iraqis this so-called ‘beacon of democracy’ has even surpassed Saddam Hussein in human rights violations."

Turkey Boosts Efforts to Finalize Energy Deals with Iran
A quote...." TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkey hopes to finalize the planned energy deals with Iran within a month after the sides failed to agree on the deals during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit last week."

Iran Proposes Investment Guarantees to German Firms
A quote...." TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran is ready to offer investment guarantees to German companies, an official said Monday."

The Death Of Freedom
A quote..."History will mark these failures of the criminal dynasty of the Bush Clan, with at least as much contempt as it has shown for demented Nero and his follies." -- *Jim Kirwan*, (Rense)
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Wall Street Pulls Back As Financials Fall
A quote...."Wall Street retreated Monday after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fell to their lowest levels in nearly 20 years on concerns that the government might need to bail out the mortgage financiers. Weakness in the overall financial sector sent the Dow Jones industrial average down more than 175 points."

Sharp US money supply contraction points to Wall Street crunch ahead
War Warning - Financial Warning - Special Note -- A quote...."The US money supply has experienced the sharpest contraction in modern history, heightening the risk of a Wall Street crunch and a severe economic slowdown in coming months. -- Data compiled by Lombard Street Research shows that the M3 ''broad money" aggregates fell by almost $50bn (£26.8bn) in July, the biggest one-month fall since modern records began in 1959. -- "Monthly data for July show that the broad money growth has almost collapsed," said Gabriel Stein, the group's leading monetary economist." -- It appears the Fed's attempts to inflate the economy may be failing. - mpg -- For more on this issue see....Standard Disclaimer & Some Tentative Laws - 07-20-08 - mpg & Effective Fed Funds Rate 03-24-07 - mpg

The perfect storm leading to a global recession
Special Note - A quote...."The probability is growing that the global economy - not just the US - will experience a serious recession. Recent developments suggest that all G7 economies are already in recession or close to tipping into one. Other advanced economies or emerging markets (the rest of the eurozone; New Zealand, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, and some Southeast European economies) are also nearing a recessionary hard landing. When they reach it, there will be a sharp slowdown in the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) and other emerging markets."

Morgan Stanley Says Financial Crisis Will Last: Report
Special Note - A quote...."The financial crisis will probably not end until next year or even 2010, Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper quoted Morgan Stanley co-President Walid Chammah as saying in a preview of its Monday edition. -- Chammah also expected more banks to fall victim to the crisis, the paper said."

Sunday August 17th 2008

US missile deal enrages Russia - Part I - YouTube Alt
Russian General threatens Poland over missile deal - Part II - YouTube Alt
Russians checkmate US in Georgia - Part III - YouTube Alt
Videos - Must View -- A quote...."Eric Margolis: It's like August 1914 - a movement of great powers towards war - With the signing of an agreement between Washington and Warsaw to erect a missile defence system in Poland, echoes of the cold war between Russia and the United States are hard to ignore. The agreement comes hot on the heels of the conflict between Russia and Georgia."
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The Nuclear Rights Association - (N.R.A.) - Every Little Country Should Have One
(Or How I Learned to Love the Bomb and Kiss the N.P.T. Goodbye)
08-17-08
mpg

Russia considers nuclear missiles for Syria, Mediterranean, Baltic
Special Note - A quote...."DEBKAfile's military sources report Moscow's planned retaliation for America's missile interceptors in Poland and US-Israeli military aid to Georgia may come in the form of installing Iskandar surface missiles in Syria and its Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad. -- Russian Baltic and Middle East warships, submarines and long-range bombers may be armed with nuclear warheads, according to Sunday newspapers in Europe."

HEY FOLKS!!!  This is getting way out of hand, let's repeat the facts all over again ad-nauseum.  The US elites deliberately setup and murdered three thousand of their own citizens, than callously used this event as a pretext to invade a country they'd been greedily eying as far back as 1992. In which process they have killed over one million of its citizens, displaced over five million more and inflicted over three hundred billion dollars worth of damage to said country.  All the excuses they've provided for invading this country have turned out to be false, more to the point, they've actually turned out to be a bunch of deliberately concocted lies....except for two, the US's desire for this country's oil and its geo-strategic location.

And everybody in the world knows it.  We can all stop pretending now, it's boring, it's childish, and it's fooling no one.  Just because some Americans are stupid morons and most don't seem to care what their elites do, doesn't make the heavy hitters leading all those "little" countries out there a bunch of uncaring morons too.

THE ONLY THING that seems to prevent this murderous crew from taking a country over for its natural resources is if said country possesses nuclear weapons.  Russia is currently offering them; right now they're offering them under their control to a few of their allies -- later on....who knows?

LET'S TAKE A POLL shall we?

a) Who wants someday in the near future to have their country ripped asunder and possibly get hanged in the process by the US and a few of its chosen allies when they get the hankering for some natural resources?

 - or -

b) Who wants some Russian, or for that matter Pakistani or even Chinese nuclear weapons to protect  their country from being ripped asunder or possibly getting themselves hanged?

Is everybody out there in Europe getting the point? You guys CANNOT conceivably win this one.  Because of Europe's acquiescence to US actions during the last seven murderous years we now have dozens of countries who possess natural resources deeply worried that they'll be the next one on the hit list, and all of them are now highly motivated to buy some "protection".

What's happening right now is really, really S T U P I D! -
mpg
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Russia to send naval fleet to Venezuela
Special Note - A quote...."CARACAS • President Hugo Chavez said yesterday that Russian President Dimitri Medvedev wants to send a Russian naval fleet to visit Venezuela. -- "Russia has informed us they intend to visit Venezuela, that is, the intention that a Russian fleet should come to the Caribbean," Chavez said on his weekly radio programme."

The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  4 articles - Sunday - [ Day 10 ] =====  ==========

Scott Horton Interviews Pat Buchanan
Must Listen - Audio Interview - A quote...."August 16th, 2008 -- Pat Buchanan, conservative commentator and author, most recently of Churchill, Hitler and the Unnecessary War, discusses the crisis in Georgia, why he thinks the Russian action on behalf of South Ossetia was justified, comparisons between Russian moves in the Caucasus to interwar Germany and Britain, the stupidity of the war guarantees and new missile defense systems going into Eastern Europe, the limits of American imperial power and the question of whether the administration gave Saakashvili the green light to attack South Ossetia."

Neocon Crybabies
Must Read - A quote...."August 18, 2008 -- Although the unfolding drama in the Caucasus has been a tragedy for its innocent victims, the response by America’s political and media elites has been an entertaining and delusional farce."

The political realities of “democratic” Georgia
A quote...."18 August 2008 -- One of the constant themes in the US government and media presentation of the conflict in the Caucasus is the depiction of Georgia as a bastion of democracy. The Bush administration has increasingly invoked the terminology of the Cold War by referring to “democratic Georgia” as a symbol of the “free world” and its struggle against authoritarian Russia."

The geopolitics of Georgia - Part I
Nuclear war by miscalculation - Part II
Russia-Asia cooperation a nightmare for US hawks - Part III
Videos - A quote...."F William Engdahl: There are far bigger stakes being played out in Georgia than a territorial dispute. -- US attempts to get Georgia into NATO, coupled with its desire to erect an anti-missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech republic would give it first strike capability towards Russia. Moscow sees this as a national security threat against the sovereignty of Russia. Political economist F William Engdahl believes this is the geopolitical endgame being played out in Georgia."  --  Some of these videos were previously posted....but not all together as one. - mpg

End - The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  4 articles - Sunday - [ Day 10 ] =====  ==========

Fear, Procurement, Profit: Permanent War and the American Way
A quote...."When it comes to determining the true thrust and implication of world events, the old adage is still valid: "Follow the money." -- This website editor's favorite motto. - mpg

The 3rd Anti-Christ of Nostradamus
A quote...."His most famous predictions were the rise of Napoleon, his 1st anti-christ, Hitler, his second anti-christ, and his 3rd anti-christ, yet to come and alive today, and 100 times worst than Hitler, one who will gain destructive power, beat the drums of war, and wreak havoc on all humankind. The most dangerous times for all mankind are the years between 1998 and 2012 according to Nostradamus." -- Look, this sort of stuff isn't usually posted here (except Mr. Reficul's two conversations of course) but you gotta give the guy credit for his predictions. - mpg

Iraq oil talks break down - posted at AntiWar
A quote...."Charles Ries, co-ordinator for Iraq's economic transition at the US embassy in Baghdad, admitted that talks between the Iraqi government and a consortium led by US-based Anadarko had already fallen through.
advertisement -- Others with Royal Dutch Shell, a joint venture between Shell and BHP Billiton, BP, Exxon Mobil and a venture between Chevron and Total now seem unlikely to go ahead." -- It's the Iraqi's oil, it belongs to them, no US oil company should EVER be allowed to harvest Iraq's oil wealth after what the US did to that country.  Crime, especially mass murder, should never pay. - mpg

Iran launches satellite carrier
A quote...."Iran says it has successfully launched a rocket capable of carrying its first domestically built satellite. -- Officials said only the rocket had been fired, correcting state media reports that the communications satellite itself had been sent into orbit." -- Well, looks like Iran really can launch long range rockets. - mpg

AP's Iran-Trained Hit Squads Story: Iraq News Nadir?
Must Read - A quote...."In covering the story of Iran's role in Iraq, far too many reporters have passed on blatant propaganda without the slightest effort to point out its inconsistency with documented facts, much less to try to uncover the truth. But a story by Pamela Hess of Associated Press distributed Aug. 15 sets a new standard for abetting official disinformation. -- In the story, she acts as an enthusiastic megaphone for a patently phony story from an anonymous "senior intelligence officer." -- The presstitutes just keep right on doing their whorish best. - mpg -- Also posted at WarInIraq & AntiWar

PNAC Goes AWOL
A quote...."The Project For The New American Century, PNAC, has gone Absent Without Leave. They have seemingly vanished with the sands of time. It sounds too good to be true which means, it probably is not true."

Breaking: Conyers Calls Committee Back from Summer Recess to Investigate Suskind Allegations
A quote...."House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers has taken the highly unusual step of calling his committee back from summer recess in order to investigate allegations by Ron Suskind that the Bush administration forged a letter to buttress the links made between Saddam and 9/11, and Saddam and WMD."
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The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Sunday round-up - 5 articles - [ Day 17 ] ===  ==========

Doubts over the anthrax case intensify -- except among much of the media
Special Note -- A quote...."Glenn Greenwald - Monday Aug. 18, 2008 08:04 EDT -- The more that is revealed about the FBI's still largely-secret case against Bruce Ivins, the more doubts that are raised about whether their accusations are true. A particularly vivid episode illustrating how shoddy the FBI's case seems to be occurred in the last several days."

Six Things You Should Know About the Anthrax Attacks
Special Note -- A quote...."posted August 18, 2008 11:14 am -- Oh, the spectacle of it all -- and don't think I'm referring to those opening ceremonies in Beijing, where North Korean-style synchronization seemed to fuse with smiley-faced Walt Disney, or Michael Phelp's thrilling hunt for eight gold medals and Speedo's one million dollar "bonus," a modernized tribute to the ancient Greek tradition of amateurism in action." -- Also posted at PFP & ICH & LewRockwell & SmirkingChimp

FBI Agrees To Release More Details From Anthrax Probe, Backpeddles On Key Elements
Special Note -- Some quotes...."August 18, 2008, 10:20AM -- Remember when the FBI told us that military microbiologist Bruce Ivins gave investigators a bogus sample of the anthrax from his lab in 2002 -- suggesting an effort to mislead and cover up his own connection to the 2001 anthrax attacks?" -- "According to those who attended last week's briefing, the FBI appears to be backpeddling on some initial components of its case against Ivins. - In addition to the new version regarding the anthrax sample Ivins provided in 2002, investigators now say the evelopes used in the mail attacks were more widely available than initially suggested. - Investigators said two weeks ago that the envelopes were unique and easily traced back to the Maryland post office near Ivins' home. But reports from the close-door session say that is not the case." - underline by website editor.

FBI had, then tossed anthrax type used in attacks
A quote...."30 minutes ago -- 3:10 pm PST --WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI scientists early on had — but destroyed — the unique strain of anthrax used in the deadly 2001 attacks that years later would lead them to Dr. Bruce Ivins, the government's top suspect who committed suicide three weeks ago."

Daschle says there are still questions on anthrax
A quote...."WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle — one of the targets of the 2001 anthrax attacks — said Monday that FBI evidence against Army scientist Bruce Ivins is convincing, but he is not completely persuaded that the investigation focused on the right person."

End - The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Sunday round-up - 5 articles - [ Day 17 ] ==========

“The Dollar Is Strengthening Because the U.S. Is Leading the Economies of Other Countries Over a Cliff”
A quote...."The new narrative forming among the Goldilocks crowd is that US economic supremacy reigns once again, as manifest in a reawakened "King Dollar". The US dollar will continue to strengthen, commodity prices will plummet, and the stock market can only rally from here since all of the bad news has already been discounted. The Global Goldilocks view is that the rest of the world slows just enough to dampen commodity pressures and prices, but the world does not slow too much to wreck the American economy. The dollar strengthens resulting in capital flows into the US. And voila-- we have a return to the glory days of the 1990s." -- For more on this issue see....Obama, the Yang to Bush's Yin - 06-20-08 - mpg

US housing market recovery not until 2009: analysts
A quote...."As the US economy appears more than ever linked to the health of the housing market, analysts see no end to falling prices or recovery in the sector before 2009. - After several years of a sizzling boom, housing prices in the United States have fallen for the past year and a half, according to the closely watched S&P/Case-Shiller index. In May, prices fell a record 16 percent from a year ago."

U.S. likely to recapitalize Fannie, Freddie: report
Some quotes...."NEW YORK - The U.S. Treasury is growing increasingly likely to recapitalize Fannie Mae" -- "The weekly financial newspaper said that such a move could wipe out existing holders of the agencies' common stock, with preferred shareholders and even holders of the two entities' $19 billion of subordinated debt also suffering losses. - An insider in the Bush administration told Barron's that Fannie and Freddie "are being jawboned" by the Treasury - Department and their new regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), to raise more equity. - But government officials don't expect the agencies to succeed, Barron's reported."

Saturday August 16th 2008

After Ron Suskind Reveals Bush Admin Ordered Iraq-9/11 Fakery, House Judiciary Chair John Conyers Opens Congressional Probe -- A quote...."Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind joins us for part two of an interview on his new book, The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism. Suskind reports that in 2003 the White House ordered the CIA to forge and disseminate false intelligence documents linking al-Qaeda and Iraq. While much of the attention on the book has focused on the forged letter, Suskind also reveals that the Bush administration and the British government knew prior to the war that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. We also speak to Rep. John Conyers, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, which is investigating some of the explosive findings in Suskind’s book. [includes rush transcript]" -- ||  Real Video Stream  ||  Real Audio Stream  ||  MP3 Download  ||  More…  ||  --  For more on this issue see....Fake Intel / Propaganda

The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  12 articles - Saturday - [ Day 9 ]
=====  ==========

Readjustments in Pipelineistan
Must Read - A quote...."Georgia has long been viewed as an alternative -- indeed, the only alternative -- to trans-Russian transport of Central Asian oil and gas to western markets.  To that end, the crown jewel of the movement was the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, which saw its opening in May of 2006."

From Georgia to the Brink of a New Cold War - A Pawn in Their Game
Must Read - A quote...."It is often said that the first casualty of war is truth. Behind the fog of disinformation coming from Washington, London, Tbilisi and, indeed, Moscow, the fact remains that the Russian invasion came after Georgia’s bombardment of the breakaway region of South Ossetia. The vast majority of residents in the enclave are Russian citizens and Moscow had deployed its peacekeepers there. Many experts in Europe are depressed over the events in Georgia and blame hardliners in the Bush administration for provoking the Georgian President, Mikheil Saakasvili, to adopt the aggressive posture that has brought this disaster."

America Watches the War in Georgia with Dumb Goggles
Must Read - A quote...."Ossetians have traditionally relied on their powerful northern neighbor Russia for protection against Georgia. The Georgians, in turn, have tried to counter Russian hegemony, for which they are no match, by aligning closely with the United States, finding friendly ears among old cold warriors and Bush-era neocons."

Six days that broke one country - and reshaped the world order
Special Note - A quote...."Pity Georgia's bedraggled first infantry brigade. And its second. And its hapless navy. - For the past few evenings in the foothills of the Southern Caucasus on the outskirts of Joseph Stalin's hometown of Gori, reconnaissance units of Russia's 58th army have been raking through the spoils of war at what was the Georgian army's pride and joy, a shiny new military base inaugurated only last January for the first infantry, the army engineers, and an artillery brigade. - A couple of hours to the west, in the town of Senaki, it's the same picture. A flagship military base, home to the second infantry brigade, is in Russian hands. And down on the Black Sea coast, the radars and installations for Georgia's sole naval base at Poti have been scrupulously pinpointed by the Russians and destroyed."

Sky News uses footage of ruins of South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, says it is Georgia’s key town of Gori
Video - Special Note - A quote...."Saturday, Aug 16, 2008 -- Sky New lies giving ruins of South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, for Georgia’s key town of Gori, which they say Russian bombed. -- The channel simply used the footage of Tskhinvali, which was literally ruined as a result of Georgia’s attacks, to make reports about the situation in the town of Gori, which the Russian aviation supposedly bombed."

No doubt they're laughing it up at Sky News.  Using the tragic deaths, suffering and destruction caused to South Ossetia by the unpremeditated, merciless, surprise attack of Mikhail Saakashvili in cahoots with the Bush administration, for propaganda purposes against the Russians who later tried to stop it all, must have tickled their funny bones. Way to go guys, what a program you've got going there at Sky News, you guys must be really proud of yourselves.  Are you going to do the same in Iraq and Afghanistan?  When the US bombs a wedding party are you going to take the footage and pretend it was al Qaeda that did the bombing....or have you done that already? - mpg

By the way, the Sky News copy was removed, so lets give some thanks to YouTube for covering up for them, nice job, great going all around, you guys are just wonderful.  Guess we can all expect the same regarding future videos about 9/11, the anthrax attacks, the next false flag event -- after all it's 1984...ain't that right? You hear that faint sucking sound folks....that's called the Memory Hole- mpg.

Russian Report: CNN used Fake Video in Coverage of Georgia War
CNN got their tapes mixed up too....how utterly convenient for their Neocon friends' propaganda efforts. - mpg - A quote...."MOSCOW (MN) - Russian English-language television channel Russia Today has acused the U.S. broadcaster CNN of using the wrong pictures in their coverage of the conflict in South Ossetia. A Russian cameraman says footage of wrecked tanks and ruined buildings, which was purported to have been filmed in the town of Gori, in fact showed the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali, the RTTV reported on its web site."

Mr. Bush, Enough!!
Must Read - A quote...." 14/08/08 "Pravda" -- - So you have the colossal audacity, Mr. Bush, to “warn” Russia to pull back? As the wanton, perverse war criminal under whose watch the world saw the crime known as “shock and awe” committed, I’d say you were well out of your mind to suggest that Russia should pull back."

Russians ask: Is Condoleeza Rice stupid or Evil?
A quote...."8-16-8 -- Has the US Secretary of State got her cassette stuck? For a week now she has been reiterating the same phrase "Russian forces must leave Georgia now" and for a week now the world has been informed of Georgian war crimes against Russians in Ossetia. The war crimes happened, the Russians call the shots now, Ms. Rice. Like it or lump it."

Georgia forced to accept a Russian occupation
Special Note - A quote...."August 16, 2008 -- President Saakashvili was forced to accept defeat yesterday as he signed a peace agreement that gives the Russian Army the right to patrol on Georgian soil."

Source: Secret IDF material went unguarded in Georgia
A quote...."Former Israeli soldier returns disillusioned from training Georgian soldiers for company owned by Brig.-Gen. Hirsch in preparation for war with Russia; says confidential army material such as charts, officers' names was revealed to foreign troops." -- How embarrassing. - mpg

Georgians doing forced labor in South Ossetia
A quote...."On Saturday, three teams of ethnic Georgians were seen cleaning the streets of Tskhinvali. When approached, one worker confirmed that he was being forced to work.- One group of about two dozen men was escorted through the streets by armed Ossetians and a Russian officer. - "Labor even turns monkeys into humans," the Russian officer said. He threatened to arrest an AP photographer if he took pictures, and would not give his name."
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American Selective Attention Deficit Disorder (ASADD)
08-16-08
mpg

Germany's Schroeder says Georgia sparked fighting
A quote...."16 Aug 2008 10:57:46 GMT -- BERLIN, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder blamed Tbilisi on Saturday for sparking hostilities with Moscow and suggested its breakaway regions could not remain part of Georgia following the violent clashes of the past week."

There seems to be a problem with people's memories lately regarding the Georgian / South Ossetian conflict, and regrettably it's only been nine days so far.  Perhaps it's all the junk food they eat, or the TV they continually watch (they don't call it the boob-tube for nothing), or perhaps they're just plain stupid and don't care about the facts, or maybe they're just liars and try their level best, as do our illustrious wealthy elites, to disregard them. 

Whatever it is, many people in the "West", especially those in what was once called the United States (now known as the New Roman Empire) already seem to have forgotten that Mikheil Saakashvili....
  1. Received years of military supplies and training from the US and Israel in preparation for his action. -- (Commonly called a conspiracy or a plot.)
  2. Carefully marshaled his forces for the surprise attack. -- (Think Pearl Harbor, but don't think 9/11, that was a false flag operation)
  3. Timed his attack for the first day of the Olympics. -- (Aggressors often attack when  peoples' attentions are elsewhere, usually during holidays, sporting events....that sort of stuff.)
  4. Received the go-ahead from the Bush administration. -- (i.e. did it in conjunction with what is now the Evil Neo-Roman Empire, an action that makes the NRE “an accessory before the fact” or "fellow conspirator".)
  5. Was negotiating a peace treaty while planning the attack. -- (This is commonly called deception.)
  6. Agreed to suspend hostilities less than two hours before he ordered the strike. - (More deception.)
  7. Used all of his forces when he struck, both air and land. -- (What the Germans used to call a blitzkrieg.)
  8. Massively bombarded all available targets including ten towns and the city of Tskhinvali. -- (Also known as a warcrime, or what the US (N.R.E.) likes to call "shock and awe")
  9. Crossed the border into South Ossetia with all of his forces. -- (This is commonly called an invasion.)
  10.  Proceeded to slaughter civilians in an attempt to drive them out of South Ossetia. -- (This is known as ethnic cleansing -- also a war crime.)
  11. Dug in to hold against the inevitable Russian response. -- (What some call "I stole it, now go ahead and try to take it back")
  12. Was surprised by Russia's overwhelming response. -- (That's because Saakashvili and his US masters are  stupid....and Putin is smart.)
  13. Ran away in what can only be described as a complete and total rout. -- (For a historical example on the US's role in this, think the "Bay of Pigs")
  14. Is now trying desperately, along with his deeply embarrassed fellow co-conspirators (the US and Israel), to win the "war" through a propaganda battle and pretend it all never happened. -- (The US's strong suit and something "Americans" - a.k.a. Neo-Romans and their "mass-faux-media" are very good at....pretending it all never happened, especially when whatever it is that happened will make them look bad, or feel bad....like getting caught facilitating an act of naked aggression and having their proxy get its you-know-what kicked and there's absolutely nothing they can do about it....except whine a lot.) - mpg
A very small list of articles....

Bank analyst forecast Georgian crisis - ["two days in advance"] - 08-14-08
August 8th
Georgia launches attack on rebel region: interior ministry - 08-08-08
Georgia launches attack on rebel region - 08-08-08
Georgian Forces Launch South Ossetia Offensive - 08-08-08
Georgian military launches major attack to regain control of South Ossetia - 08-08-08
South Ossetia under Georgian attack - 08-08-08
Georgian forces surround breakaway capital: government - 08-07-08
Georgia claims capture of South Ossetia capital - 08-08-08
Georgia reports new air attacks at military bases - 08-08-08
August 9th
Russian forces enter fray backing separatists against Georgian attack -08-09-08
Russian jets attack Georgian air bases - 08-09-08
Georgia attacks South Ossetia, Russia responds by attacking Georgia - 08-09-08
August 10th
Russia takes control of South Ossetian capital after Georgian retreat - 08-10-08

2008 South Ossetia war - wikipedia
The U.S. green-light to Georgia?
Russia Seizes Arsenal Of US Weapons In Georgia - Military
War in Georgia: The Israeli connection
Tel Aviv to Tbilisi: Israel's role in the Russia-Georgia war
Fear of Russia ends Israeli support for Georgia

This list will be added to extensively and built up as a seperate data base / time line. - mpg 

End - The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  12 articles - Saturday - [ Day 9 ]
=====  ==========

The loot in Iraq
A quote...."AS THE US occupation in Iraq prolongs, the skeletons keep tumbling out of its cupboard. The latest one has set a new precedent as for the first time a country has outsourced war!"

Stop laughing at yourselves with your claims of ‘democracy’ in Iraq
A quote...."Both U.S. and Iraqi politicians have been laughing at each other and themselves for years with claims of democracy in Iraq. -  For some it is the U.S. which is mocking Iraqis and the world at large for propagating such claims. For others Iraqi politicians are doing the mocking. -  But one thing is clear. The U.S. is laughing at itself and the Iraqi government by speaking of democracy in Iraq. And Iraqi politicians are laughing at the U.S. and themselves when telling others that there is democracy in Iraq."

China begins work on $900 million power plant and agrees to develop oil field in southern Iraq
A quote...."The Chinese firm, Shanghai, has started constructing a major thermal power plant in the southern Province of Wasit, the Ministry of electricity said. -- Electricity Minister Kareem Waheed attended the laying down of the foundation stone for the plant, the largest ever project a foreign firm begins constructing in Iraq since the 2003 U.S. invasion." -- How could the Neocons have let this happen....shouldn't this job have gone to Halliburton as a no-bid contract? - mpg

Iraq, Syria to reopen joint oil pipeline
A quote...."Iraq and Syria have agreed on terms to revitalize an idle pipeline that used to carry Iraqi crude to Syrian terminals on the Mediterranean, according to an official statement." -- Oh man! The Neocons are really slipping big time, where the heck is Karl?  Where the heck is Cheney? - mpg

Indonesia Rejects US Pressure over Al-Manar Channel
A quote...."Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, has rejected US pressure to stop a Lebanese Hezbollah television channel airing its programs in the country, a minister said Thursday."

Full scale military exercise to defend Brazil’s offshore oil
A quote...."Brazil announced Friday it will hold military exercises next month to show its capability of defending new offshore oil reserves that could convert the country into a global energy player." -- One wonders exactly who Brazil could be defending itself from, China doesn't have any aircraft carriers, neither does Russia.  Hmmmmm. - mpg

Why is U.S.-Poland missile deal struck abruptly after 18 months of talks?
A quote...."BEIJING, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. and Poland have abruptly struck a deal to deploy parts of the U.S. global missile shield in Poland, which prompted a warning from Russia that the agreement may involve Warsaw in escalating Russian-U.S. tensions."

Iran to Launch First Satellite by Next Weekend
A quote...." TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran will launch its first satellite in the next few days, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday."

More time needed for gas deal with Iran: Turkey
A quote...." ANKARA - Turkey and Iran need more time to finalise amajor natural gas deal, President Abdullah Gul said Saturday, playing down reports that US pressure on Turkey to abandon the project is behind the delay. - "We would have liked to move ahead with the project" when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with Turkish leaders in Istanbul on Thursday and Friday, said Gul in televised remarks in the central city of Nevsehir."

Bolivia Gets the Change It Asked For
A quote...."Evo Morales changed the history of Bolivia when he was elected in December 2005 as the country's first indigenous president, and the first to get a majority of 54 percent. On Sunday he expanded his mandate considerably in a referendum, with 68 percent of voters opting to keep him in office."

Lebanon, Syria ties resume in 2 months
A quote...."Lebanon's FM has expressed hope that full diplomatic ties with Syria would be established and ambassadors exchanged within two months."

The West’s Confusion
A quote...."The war in the southern Caucasus is the fourth since September 11, 2001 in a major area of the Middle East shaken by militant Islamists. But have you noticed something? Islamists, and Muslims in general, were completely absent from this conflict."

Don't Know Much About History...
A quote...."They obviously don’t teach cold war history at the law schools at Columbia in New York or George Washington in the nation’s capital, otherwise Georgia’s president, Mikheil Saakashvili, who attended both institutions, would have thought twice about encouragement from the US for his ill-fated attack on South Ossetia a week ago. Saakashvili could have read vivid accounts of broadcasts, via the CIA-controlled Radio Free Europe, encouraging the Hungarians in 1956 to believe that if they rose against the Soviet occupier NATO troops would race to their aid."

(Mid 2004): 9/11 Commission Staff Doubts Cheney’s Account of Shootdown Order on 9/11
A quote...."CoopRsrch, item added 08-16-08 -- The team of investigators on the 9/11 Commission that is investigating the events of the morning of September 11 comes to believe that a key part of Vice President Dick Cheney’s account is false. The team, led by John Farmer, is convinced that the decision to authorize the military to shoot down threatening aircraft on 9/11 was made by Cheney alone, not by President Bush."
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The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Saturday round-up - 5 articles - [ Day 16 ]
===  ==========

The American Anthrax Cover Up
A quote...."Many people believe the perpetrators of the anthrax attack were extremists in service to a hostile foreign power. The FBI is now claiming that the perpetrator was an employee of the U.S. army. -- Bruce Edwards Ivins, a top anthrax researcher at the U.S. Government's biological weapons research laboratories, died of an apparent suicide last Tuesday, just as the Justice Department was about to charge him with responsibility for the September 2001 anthrax attacks that killed five people in the United States."

Anthrax fall guy Bruce Ivins reminds Frederick locals of the Olson Case of 50 years ago.
Must Read - A quote...."The story of Frank Olson was documented in the months before 9-11 in an article in the New York Times magazine section. Written by his son's Harvard schoolmate, Michael Ignatieff, we learn from the story that "Frank Olson's specialty...had been the development of aerosols for the delivery of anthrax." In the years immediately preceding his death, Olson was one of the top officials at the government's biological weapons laboratory at Fort Detrick. -- In 1953, Olson was found on a New York City sidewalk, his body bloodied and broken, apparently after a fall from his hotel room. The details of his death, ruled a suicide, remained a mystery for more than twenty years. But in 1975, an article in the Washington Post revealed that, contained in a report issued by the then-recently concluded U.S. President's Commission on CIA Activities was an account of a scientist who had been administered a dose of LSD without his knowledge, suffered side-effects from the drug, went to New York under CIA escort for psychological treatment, and jumped out of a hotel room window." -- Posted yesterday 08-15-08

The Frank Olson Legacy Project
A site dedicated to reveling what our government did to another anthrax scientist more than fifty years ago. - mpg

The Frank Olson Murder
A quote...."Frank Olson was an American citizen, born in 1910 and murdered in New York City in 1953 by the CIA. Here's an outline of the case: - Fort Detrick is the U.S. Army's biowarfare facility, founded in 1943. Frank Olson was one of the first scientists to work there. From the final years of World War II through the Korean War and up to the present time scientists at Fort Detrick developed biological weapons including anthrax."

Part One: The Mysterious Death of CIA Scientist Frank Olson
Part Two: The Mysterious Death of CIA Scientist Frank Olson
A quote...."When CIA Scientist Frank Olson plunged to his death from the 10th floor of a New York hotel in 1953, his death was ruled a suicide. But in 1975 a government report prepared for the special Presidential Commission investigating the CIA's development of potent drugs for use in biological warfare and assassinations made its way onto the front page of the Washington Post. The Post revealed that an unnamed government employee "had jumped to his death from a New York hotel window after he was unwittingly dosed with LSD while attending a meeting on a test project that involved the administration of mind-bending drugs to unsuspecting Americans."

German documentary charges US used biological weapons in Korean War
A quote...."The claim by the Bush administration that Baghdad is threatening the world with weapons of mass destruction is the main pretext for its war preparations against Iraq. However, a documentary recently broadcast by the German state television channel, ARD, suggests that the US government is itself hiding biological warfare programs from the rest of the world, and actually employed such weapons in 1952 during the Korean War."

The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Saturday round-up - 5 articles - [ Day 16 ] ===  ==========

How the Smart Money Lost $1 Trillion, So Far
A quote...." When the best and the brightest investors in the world lose $500 billion in one year in one market segment – mortgages – this raises a question: What can the rest of us do to keep from losing our shirts? -- Add to this another $500 billion in losses to non-bank firms as a result of the credit crunch. This total – a trillion dollars – is the estimate of the International Monetary Fund. -- Are the losses winding down? Hardly."

Friday August 15th 2008

Bill Moyers Interviews Andrew J. Bacevich - Part I
Bill Moyers Interviews Andrew J. Bacevich - Part II
Must View - Video - Absolutely outstanding! - mpg -- A quote...."As campaign ads urge voters to consider who will be a better "Commander in Chief," Andrew J. Bacevich — Professor of International Relations at Boston University, retired Army colonel, and West Point graduate — joins Bill Moyers on the JOURNAL to encourage viewers to take a step back and connect the dots between U.S. foreign policy, consumerism, politics, and militarism." -- ||  Transcript  ||  Podcast - QT  ||

Russia-Asia cooperation a nightmare for US hawks - YouTube-Alt
Video - A quote...."August 15, 2008 -- F. William Engdahl believes that "Russia China and the nations of Eurasia are beginning to cooperate politically and economically and this is a nightmare for Washington." -- QUICK!! Let's play them off against each other, India against Pakistan was a good start (just where did all those bombers come from anyway?) but there's so much more to do, and there's so little time left. - mpg

Turkish prez says US must share power in 'new world order' - Oh, oh, sombody just made the US's hit list. - mpg
A quote...."For controversial Turkish President Abdullah Gül, the recent war in Georgia signals a "new world order" that will emerge from the rubble of South Ossetia and force the United States to share its power, The Guardian reported." -- Oh, here's an idea, the US could support the Kurds again, for the third time, than betray them all over again when Turkey knuckles under to our demands, how about that for an idea? - mpg

Behind politics, a philosophy of fear
Must Read - A quote...."George Orwell, in his novel "1984," described Oceania, a society in which the prime motivating force for controlling the populace was fear, both fear of its own government and its enemies. He wrote of continual war, of enemies so horrendous that the public was constrained to rigid compliance with its rulers in order to demonstrate its patriotism. Much of Orwell’s description is found again in the teachings of University of Chicago Professor Leo Strauss, who died in 1973." -- For more on this issue see....Fake Intel / Propaganda - Leo Strauss

The Politics of Wishful Thinking Buyers Remorse Over Obama
Some quotes...."In the latest issue of The Nation, an “open letter” appears in which the signatories position themselves as abject supplicants to Obama, begging him to revert to his earlier stances in his primary campaign."  --  "When others have raised such criticisms, Obama has responded that they have not been listening to him.  On this one, I am with Obama.  How can one take this guy seriously as an “antiwar” candidate when he has voted for hundreds of billions of dollars to fund the Iraq war and to slaughter hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis? Neither Ron Paul nor Dennis Kucinich, both presidential candidates, nor Barbara Lee voted for these funds for a “war of aggression,” as Ralph Nader has properly called it.  On this score Obama’s voting record is no different from McCain’s or Hillary Clinton’s."
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9/11 Truth, Part 3- The 9/11 Commission Cover up
Special Note - A quote...."This article is an overview of the 9/11 Commission's conflicts and "failures", and some brief summaries of some of the many important facts left out of or distorted in their final report, with links for reference and additional research." -- Click here for Part I & Part II

Three Weeks in September
Special Note - A quote...."Do you remember the story of the “white Mitsubishi“? It’s a hard to find article these days, as most MSM sources have scrubbed it from their archives. But it’s still out there, if you look hard enough."

My Lai, Zapruder and 9/11
Special Note - A quote...."It is obvious that the government is hiding evidence regarding 9/11. For example, the government has claimed that no flight recorders were recovered from the airplanes which hit the Twin Towers. However, firefighters stated they did recover the flight recorders. And Dan Rather confirmed that they were recovered. - 9/11 activists have repeatedly demanded that the government reveal the videos, photographs, and other documentary evidence so that we can assess the truth for ourselves Not only has the government refused to share the evidence, it has threatened to dispose of it."

Was 9/11 an Inside Job? - article posted at ICH
Must Read - A quote...."15/08/08 "ICH" -- Regrettably, there is considerable evidence that elements of the Bush administration were complicit in the 9/11 attack, and may even have helped stage it. Let us now examine some of what I regard as the most compelling evidence. However, the following discussion makes no claim to be comprehensive.
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9/11 - From The History File...Osama bin Laden, among the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives": Why was he never
indicted for his alleged role in 9/11?
Cheney knew FBI, CIA met with bin Laden lieutenant after 9-11
FBI inspector general’s report: more evidence of government complicity in 9/11 attacks
Agent Faults FBI on 9/11
Bush Administration knew the Whereabouts of Osama
Author: Bush nominee helped mask FBI's pre-9/11 failures
The FBI's Post-9/11 Helping Hand to Osama bin Laden
How The FBI Protected Al Qaeda’s 9/11 Hijacking Trainer
How the FBI Let 9/11 Happen
Who Knew? The Unanswered Questions of 9/11
911- Government Prior Knowledge
9/11 domestic conspiracy theory
9/11 Research Video Selection - Click here!
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The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  9 articles - Friday - [ Day 8 ] =====  ==========

This Time, the World Is Not Buying It
Must Read - A quote...."August 16, 2008 -- The success of the Bush Regime's propaganda, lies, and deception with gullible and inattentive Americans since 9/11 has made it difficult for intelligent, aware people to be optimistic about the future of the United States. For almost 8 years the US media has served as Ministry of Propaganda for a war criminal regime. Americans incapable of thinking for themselves, reading between the lines, or accessing foreign media on the Internet have been brainwashed." -- Also posted at CounterPunch

The New York Times covers for US role in Georgia crisis
A quote...."The Times makes no attempt to explore the implications of the version of events it is promoting. Even if one were to accept the official line of the State Department, it would not diminish the culpability of the United States in the war that erupted between its client state and Russia." -- It's sort of disgusting in a way, it's like watching an old, wrinkled, gray haired, whore - do tricks. - mpg

All the Propaganda That's Fit to Print: The New York Times, Again, Tells It Like It Ain’t
A quote...." 15/08/08 "iNoodle"    --- As part of an all-out Western media campaign to bury the simple fact that Georgia invaded South Ossetia a week ago -- an act of aggression which led, subsequently, to Russia’s response -- Thursday’s NYT’s top headline helps to further instill the lie, at home and abroad, that Bush and the U.S government are truly concerned about the welfare of Georgians and human beings generally." -- article from iNodle -- The NYT keeps doing it over and over again, there's no war or dictator too unsavory to support....not as long as this country's elites want them supported. - mpg

'I've never heard anything so monstrous as people shelling a hospital'
A quote...."Wednesday August 13 2008 01:53 BST -- A convoy of three buses and an escort of armed Russian Special Forces soldiers travelled across the border with Russia into South Ossetia yesterday, in a trip organised by the Kremlin for foreign media to witness first hand the destruction in Tskhinvali." -- Regarding the quote...."I've never heard anything so monstrous as people shelling a hospital" - Oh how quickly people forget, how fickle are their memories, of course it's difficult to remember all the crimes committed by the NRE, there's just so many of them. - mpg

In Fallujah, U.S. Declares War on Hospitals, Ambulances
US strikes raze Falluja hospital
New York Times Rewrites Fallujah History
New Horror Stories Of GI Abuses At Iraqi Hospitals
US massacres civilians in Fallujah
One could say Georgia is a chip off the old block....the New Roman Empire block that is?  Or perhaps they learn from the best?  Like farther, like son?  Mini-NRE? - mpg

Commonsense and the Russo-Georgian War
A quote...." 15/08/08 "ICH" --- Let me start this article with a supposition. How long do you think it would take Russia to conquer Georgia if that were their intent? I believe that if the war started at say midnight, than the next midnight, Georgia would cease to exist. They might last a little longer if it was a spur of the moment decision, but if Russia was earnestly trying to take over little Georgia, it would have already been a done deal."

Russia launches genocide probe over S.Ossetia events
A quote...."14/08/2008 11:13 TSKHINVALI, August 14 (RIA Novosti) - Top Russian investigators have opened a criminal case on charges of genocide in connection with recent events in South Ossetia, a General Prosecutor's Office spokesman said on Thursday."

U.S. hidden hand pushes Ossetia war
A quote...."August 15, 2008 -- Aug. 13—Long before Aug. 8, when the leaders of Georgia, a country in the Caucasus Mountains south of Russia, attacked a small autonomous region known as South Ossetia, the U.S. military was deeply involved in Georgia. Washington is no innocent bystander in this bloody struggle, which provoked a response by Russia that now dominates the news. Georgia’s well-organized and massive military assault set the city of Tskhinvali, South Ossetia’s capital, aflame within hours, destroying the parliament building, the university and the main hospital. According to AP interviews with survivors, there was hardly a single building left undamaged."

Russia Seizes Arsenal Of U.S. Weapons
Full quote...."Published on 15-08-2008 -- Russian forces have seized a "large arsenal" of U.S.-made weapons in the western Georgian city of Senaki including hundreds of assault rifles, a military spokesman said Friday. -- "In Senaki, we seized a large arsenal of weapons including 664 U.S.-made M-16 rifles" and a number of M-40 sniper rifles, General Anatoly Nogovitsyn told a news conference in Moscow. "There were 1,728 weapons total."

US concerned over false information from Mikhail Saakashvili [The Snake]
A quote...."Saturday 16th August, 2008 -- A false claim by US-backed Georgia President Mikhail Saakashvili could have provoked a dangerous response from the Kremlin. - The claim, that the United States was preparing to take over airports and ports in the former Soviet republic of Georgia was quickly denied by US officials. - It was just one of the many statements made recently by Mr Saakashvili that have increased the tension between the US and Russia."

End - The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  9 articles - Friday - [ Day 8 ] =====  ==========

Karl Rove’s Ukrainian Sojourn
Special Note - Ahhhh, you just can't keep those Neocons down, always trying to start a war somewhere. - mpg -- A quote...."Since Karl Rove skipped out on his subpoena to appear before the House Judiciary Committee last month, the whereabouts of Bush’s longtime political strategist have emerged—Rove was in Crimea, Ukraine, for the fifth annual Yalta European Strategy summit. Also in attendance: former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili."

Pole Position: More U.S. Troops Sent to Russian Border
Special Note - This one's a lot of fun to read - mpg -- A quote...."First Georgia, now Poland. The Bush Administration announced Thursday that American soldiers will begin manning missile sites in Poland -- part of an agreement that surpasses even the NATO treaty in binding Washington to an armed response to any attack on Polish soil. -- Spokesminions for President George Butt-Thumper said the installation of the missile base is designed to protect Poland from an intercontinental missile attack from Iran. (The perfidious Persians' long-standing plans to conquer Poland are well-known, of course.) The minions say that the missiles and troops are not at all intended as a threat to Russia, which is being slowly encircled by NATO bases and American missiles -- despite solemn promises from Washington to refrain from, er, encircling Russia with NATO bases and American missiles."

Taliban rebels capture district in central Afghanistan
A quote...."KABUL, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants on Friday captured the Nawah district in central Afghanistan's Ghazni province after days surrounding, said an official."

Security fears paralyze Kabul
A quote...."KABUL - It used to take Esmazari 15 minutes to cross town in his faded mustard-colored Corolla. But the police shutdown of nearly half of Kabul's major roadways, in response to a spate of suicide bombings that ripped across the capital city in recent months, means that today Esmazari's taxi spends a full hour to make the same trip."

Iraq Al-Sadr Urges Followers To Sign Blood Pact Vs Occupiers
A quote...." KUFA, Iraq (AFP)--Anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr Friday called on his followers to "sign with their blood" a pledge to resist occupying forces in Iraq and other Muslim countries. -- Al-Sadr urged "believers to sign with their blood an oath of allegiance to the imam Mahdi," in a statement read during Friday prayers by Sheikh Assaad al- Nasseri in the Shiite holy city of Kufa, south of Baghdad."

YouTube video claims 9-year-old at US prison in Iraq
A quote...."A video released on YouTube shows American soldiers taking a group of Iraqis on a tour of a prison camp. The soldier guiding the group tells them that all the cases are currently being reviewed and says, "I'm sure if someone didn't do anything wrong, they'll be released."

Kahl: Iran Tamed Mahdi Army; Al-Maliki May attack Sunni Awakening Councils
Special Note - Some quotes...."1. US officials in Baghdad are genuinely worried that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has become "over-confident" about his military capabilities and has therefore become unreasonably difficult to deal with over the proposed status of forces agreement on the rules governing US troops in Iraq."  --  "2. Al-Maliki is not only refusing to incorporate the Sunni Arab Awakening Councils or "Sons of Iraq" into the Iraqi security forces, but may actually be planning to make war on them. These are Sunni Arab militias, many former Salafi or nationalist guerrillas, who have agreed to take a salary from the US and to fight the Qutbist vigilantes ('al-Qaeda in Iraq'):" -- To put it more bluntly, the Awakening Councils are fighting "al-Qaeda" elements, if one should even use that term, that aren't currently aligned with US forces.....Oh, didn't you know gentle reader, for the over the last year the US has been paying off over eighty five thousand "former" insurgents, some of them former al-Qaeda members, not to attack US forces - who says money can't buy you everything?  If Maliki doesn't cut them in on the oil profits however, there's going to be a lot of trouble. Guess he'll just have to cut Cheney and his buddies out of their share.  Hah, haaaah, that’ll be fun to watch. - mpg

Sayyed Nasrallah: We Must Overcome Problems of Past
Some quotes...."5/08/2008 Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah addressed the Lebanese Thursday night in a televised speech to mark the 2nd anniversary of the 2006 victory on Israel." -- "Two years on, the magnitude of the war, the extent of the aggression, the danger, the huge military and security capabilities used by the enemy, the extent of the regional and international collusion become clearer. On the other hand, the steadfastness, the challenge taken by the resistance, the people and the army to confront the war and the collusion, confirm day after day that what had taken place in the July war projects the magnitude of the potential energy in Lebanon and the nation. Two years on, it becomes more evident that what happened in this war was a real miracle and a a Divine victory."

Iran Plans to Boost Oil Sales to China, India
A quote...." TEHRAN (FNA)- The world's fourth-largest oil exporter Iran plans to boost shipments to fast-growing energy consumers China and India and may reduce the flow to other buyers, a top Iranian oil official said on Thursday."

Ahmadinejad, Erdogan to Discuss Energy Deals
A quote...." TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will meet Friday Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on the second day of his visit to the neighboring country."

US warns Turkey on terms of energy deal with Iran
A quote...."The US yesterday warned Turkey not to strike an energy deal with Iran that undermined diplomatic efforts to halt Tehran's nuclear programme, on the eve of a visit to Ankara by Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, the Iranian president." -- How could Turkey be so silly, don't they know that's the US's oil over there in Iran, gee you'd think people would've learned by now that all of the oil in the world belongs to the New Roman Empire, just how many countries are going to have to be destroyed to get that point across to everybody? - mpg -- For more on this issue see.... The US is After Europe Too! - 03-23-08 - mpg

RETROSPECTIVE - 2008
Missed this one - mpg -- A quote...."March 24, 2008 - I have owed you this update for a long time. Things have evolved so much and so relentlessly that there was no solid ground on which to plant my feet, take a look around and tell you what I saw with a steady gaze. I can do that now." - *Michael C. Ruppert*, fromthewilderness.com

Sharpening Occam's Razor on the Forged Intelligence Documents
A quote...."My first thought was, assuming that Ron Suskind’s reporting is accurate, that the White House, with its disdain for pesky little concepts like Separation of Powers and Congressional Oversight, simply ignored the statute entirely and went directly with their hare-brained scam to the C.I.A. "

Judiciary Committee To Investigate Plot To Paint Plane In UN Colors And Provoke Shootdown Over Iraq
A quote...."As part of a major examination into the evidence that the Bush administration forged intelligence documents to justify the invasion of Iraq, the House Judiciary Committee will also look into various considerations, plots and attempts to provoke war, including the idea of goading Saddam Hussein to shoot down a mock UN plane."

DNC Warehouse "Concentration Camp" Uncovered By Reporters
A quote...."A CBS news crew has uncovered a huge warehouse holding facility in Denver, consisting of steel cages topped with barbed wire, ready to receive thousands of protesters at this year's Democratic National Convention."
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The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Friday round-up - 4 articles - [ Day 15 ] ===  ==========

Anthrax fall guy Bruce Ivins reminds Frederick locals of the Olson Case of 50 years ago.
Must Read - A quote...."The story of Frank Olson was documented in the months before 9-11 in an article in the New York Times magazine section. Written by his son's Harvard schoolmate, Michael Ignatieff, we learn from the story that "Frank Olson's specialty...had been the development of aerosols for the delivery of anthrax." In the years immediately preceding his death, Olson was one of the top officials at the government's biological weapons laboratory at Fort Detrick. -- In 1953, Olson was found on a New York City sidewalk, his body bloodied and broken, apparently after a fall from his hotel room. The details of his death, ruled a suicide, remained a mystery for more than twenty years. But in 1975, an article in the Washington Post revealed that, contained in a report issued by the then-recently concluded U.S. President's Commission on CIA Activities was an account of a scientist who had been administered a dose of LSD without his knowledge, suffered side-effects from the drug, went to New York under CIA escort for psychological treatment, and jumped out of a hotel room window."

Doubts grow on FBI's anthrax evidence
A quote...."WASHINGTON: Growing doubts from scientists about the strength of the government's case against the late Bruce Ivins, the military researcher named as the anthrax killer, are forcing the Justice Department to begin disclosing more fully the scientific evidence it used to implicate him." -- The question is, will this evidence be related to the act in question.  Yes we know Doctor Ivins was alive at the time he supposedly committed the acts, yes that does indeed indicate he was probably breathing, yes he did own a car, and all this will no doubt be "scientifically" proven by the FBI  Hopefully the FBI will present something a little more germane to the issue on whether he did it or not, their prior history regarding these issues however would indicate otherwise. - mpg

Senate Could Grill FBI On Anthrax Investigation In September
A quote...."Congress is out of session until Sept. 7, so a regularly scheduled Sept. 17 hearing may give legislators their first chance to publicly question the FBI about its decision to name Fort Detrick scientist Bruce Ivins as the sole suspect in the 2001 anthrax mailings. -- On that day, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold an oversight hearing on the FBI, and Director Robert Mueller III is scheduled to attend." -- Given Congresses record so far, there’ll be lots of flashing lights, thunderous loud noises, black billowing smoke....and absolutely nothing will be revealed and everything will be concealed - exactly what they will have intended. - mpg

Anthrax Foreknowledge? The DOJ & FBI Don’t Care
A quote...."The DOJ and FBI glibly dismiss questions about the "Quantico letter" that attempted to frame Ayaad Assaad as a bioterrorist- is this apparent foreknowledge of the false-flag post-9/11 Anthrax attacks related to the White House's apparent foreknowledge, given that staff were put on Cipro on 9/11?"

End - The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Friday round-up - 4 articles - [ Day 15 ] ===  ==========

ECB slammed as Europe crumbles
A quote...."The economies of Germany, France and Italy all contracted in the first quarter and may now be in full recession, shattering assumptions that Europe would prove able to shrug off the effects of the credit crunch."

Factory output up 0.4%, best gain in 10 months
A quote...."WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Led by an increase in motor vehicles, the output of U.S. factories rose 0.4% in July, the best gain in 10 months, the Federal Reserve reported Friday."

Thursday August 14th 2008

Polk: Bases in Iraq, Provocation of Iran
Must Read - A quote...."As the Bush Administration begins its final months in office, it has embarked upon two courses of action that will pre-empt the scope of the incoming Obama or McCain administration and will plague America for years to come."

The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  13 articles - Thursday - [ Day 7 ]
=====  ==========

PJB - Blowback From Bear-Baiting - article posted at AntiWar
Must Read - Analysis - A quote...."August 15, 2008 -- After shelling and attacking what he claims is his own country, killing scores of his own Ossetian citizens and sending tens of thousands fleeing into Russia, Saakashvili's army was whipped back into Georgia in 48 hours. - Vladimir Putin took the opportunity to kick the Georgian army out of Abkhazia, as well, to bomb Tbilisi, and to seize Gori, birthplace of Stalin. - Reveling in his status as an intimate of George Bush, Dick Cheney, and John McCain, and America's lone democratic ally in the Caucasus, Saakashvili thought he could get away with a lightning coup and present the world with a fait accompli. - Mikheil did not reckon on the rage or resolve of the Bear." -- Also posted at LewRockwell

Is the American Enterprise Really War in the Caucasus?
Amusing Analysis - A quote...."Paying attention to the real work of the AEI is almost enough to turn a person into an anti-American world socialist… but perhaps that’s precisely the point, given the ideological backgrounds of so many of the neoconservatives there. -- Yet, the AEI remains, posing as an organization that advocates for freedom of individuals rather than the state. It continues to shill for war, global conquest, and to promote a kind of fantastic Washington mastery-of-the-planet idea. The most recent case in point is this week’s AEI policy panel entitled "The War in the Caucasus."

EU meeting on Georgia reveals tensions between European powers and US
Analysis - A quote...."Despite intense pressure from a number of Eastern European states, supported by Western European powers such as Great Britain and Sweden, the declaration issued by European Union (EU) foreign ministers meeting in emergency session in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss the conflict between Georgia and Russia refrained from any criticism of Russia. -- Rejecting an open conflict with Russia, the EU meeting decided against dispatching troops to the region. Instead, the majority of ministers followed German proposals to increase the number of Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitors in Georgia from 100 to 300 and step up humanitarian aid."

Mikheil Saakashvili: War Criminal
A quote...."August 15, 2008 -- Amid all the geopolitical analyses and ideological posturing on the occasion of the Three-Day War between Russia and Georgia, we are losing sight of the very real human costs of this conflict: thousands of civilians killed and grievously wounded, a city, Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, in ruins, and the hopes and dreams of the inhabitants of this largely overlooked backwater dashed on the rocks of a politician's hubris. -- That politician is Mikheil Saakashvili, the all too glib president of Georgia, whose slickness is so apparent that it seems to leave an oily residue on every word he utters."

Russia Warns US Against Encouraging New "Tragic Scenario" - article posted at ICH
Full quote...."14/08/08 MOSCOW (AFP)--Russia on Thursday warned the U.S. against encouraging Georgia's leaders to take action that might lead to a repeat of the "tragic scenario" of recent days. -- "We expect the United States to adopt a responsible approach. It is especially important to refrain from any steps that could directly or indirectly be taken by the Georgian leadership as encouragement of its revanchist ambitions and prompt a repeated tragic scenario," Russia's Foreign Ministry said."

Russia Vows to Support Two Enclaves, in Retort to Bush - link posted at ICH
A quote...."Published: August 14, 2008 - MOSCOW — Russia issued a rebuke to President Bush on Thursday over the conflict in neighboring Georgia, refusing an immediate withdrawal of its troops there, affirming its support for two separatist enclaves and warning the United States to avoid doing anything that would encourage its Georgian ally to reignite hostilities."

Russia, U.S. Trade Rhetorical Salvoes as Georgia Tensions Rise
A quote...."Aug. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Russia said the U.S. and other countries that armed and trained Georgia's military share blame for the war there as a top American official said security relations with Moscow may be ``adversely affected for years.''

FSB Exposes Georgian Intelligence Network Operating in Russia
A quote...."Posted on: Thursday, 14 August 2008, 09:00 CDT -- The Russian FSB has given details of the exposure and arrest of what it describes as a network of Georgian intelligence agents operating on Russian territory. A report on a military website tells of a Georgian intelligence agent who bought a caf in Vladikavkaz where he acquired information of a military-political nature from acquaintances. Some agents were instructed to film strategic facilities in South Ossetia and other parts of the South Federal District and were given monetary rewards for their work, whereas others were given tasks to set up a network of agents to gather intelligence about Russian army units in the North Caucasus, the report said."

"Gori in ruins"? You decide - (YouTube - 4 min 45 sec - Added:  August 14, 2008)
Must View -- A quote..."August 15, 2008, 6:23 -- Russia's ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin has dismissed media reports that the Georgian city of Gori is "in ruins." He called the allegations a "disinformation campaign" and pointed to the fact that Russian peacekeepers have in fact performed a humanitarian mission there." -- Everything the NRE didn't do in Iraq. -- also posted at RussiaToday

Contrast the scenes from Gori you'll see on the MSM with those below from a city called Fallujah - mpg

The Hidden Massacre of Fallujah - (Google Video - 27 min  - Mar 27, 2006)
USA Army crimes: White phosphorus and MK77 in Fallujah - (YouTube - 6 min 39 sec - September 10, 2007)
White Phosphorus - (YouTube - 1 min 42 sec - Added:  December 21, 2007)
Fallujah: The Real Story - Iraq - (YouTube - 14 min 57 sec - Added:  August 17, 2007)
US use of chemical weapons in Fallujah Iraq pt 1 - (YouTube - 9 min 43 sec - Added:  February 18, 2007)
Google's Fallujah Pictures

Russian envoy to NATO speaks out on South Ossetian - (VodPod - 4 min 37 sec - Added 14 Aug 08)
Video -Added 14 Aug 08 -- Dmitry Rogozin, Russian Ambassador to NATO talks about the Georgian invasion of South Ossetia, and Russia's position regarding the crisis. - mpg -- Also posted at YouTube - A quote...."NATO has no moral right to call the Russian response to Georgian aggression in South Ossetia disproportionate, says Russian envoy to the alliance Dmitry Rogozin."

Russian envoy to NATO speaks out + Justin Raimondo - (VodPod - 24 min 50 sec - Added 14 Aug 08 )
Video - Added 14 Aug 08 -- Eye witness accounts from the Russian and South Ossetian perspective, contains some previous footage. - mpg -- posted from Dandelion Salad

Russian forces sink Georgian ships - 13 Aug 2008 - (YouTube - 4 min 23 sec - Added:  August 13, 2008)
Video - A quote...."From:  AlJazeeraEnglish --  August 13, 2008 -- Following a dramatic day of developments in the Russia-Georgia conflict, Russian forces have sunk several vessels in Georgia's military port of Poti. Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel-Hamid reports from the scene."

Georgia 'still receives Israeli arms'
A quote...."Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:26:20 GMT  -- Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili says Tbilisi is still receiving military aid from Tel Aviv, rejecting Israeli media reports."

End - The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  13 articles - Thursday - [ Day 7 ] =====  ==========

U.S. Armada En Route to the Persian Gulf: “Naval Blockade” or All Out War Against Iran?
War Status - Undetermined-- A quote...."Dissent Mag Author’s Note:  Shortly after this article was released on August 13, US military sources as well as Stratfor ( a Strategic Studies Think Tank) stated that the various press reports (UPI, Middle East Times, Kuwait Times, Debka) regarding the naval deployment to the Middle East were incorrect. -- According to the press reports (see UPI, August 11, 2008), the war ships involved in the “Operation Brimstone” war games off the US North Atlantic coast, had set sail for the Middle East. This information is apparently incorrect, according to the US Navy and Stratfor." -- For more on this issue see article below.....

Update on the rumored armada sailing to Iran
War Warning - A quote...."August 13, 2008 -- Summary:  The rumors about a US armada sailing to the Gulf continue to rattle around the Internet, despite having almost no supporting evidence.  Now Stratfor and Debkafile provide hard information on these rumors.  Specific but contradictory information.  For now I will stay with my original view:  these rumors are a tower of guesses built on a slight foundation." -- However Saakashvili would not have launched his surprise attack against South Ossetia without US approval, timed for the start of the Olympic games, while simultaneously the US 7th Fleet was deploying its ships from Japan. Bush (read Cheney) has three months left to do something about Iran, the economy may be entering a deflationary cycle which could use a war boost and finaly it's just the sort of scheme that would please that piece of black coal that Cheney uses for a heart.  Hence for the next ninety days people should be aware of the potential for a surprise attack and/or false flag event staged by this nation's MIOC elites. - posted 08-13-08 - mpg -- For more on this issue see....Possible Order of Battle -- Iran Strike Group - 08-08-08

Navy relieves commander of air recon squadron
False Flag Warning - Possible War Warning - A quote from CLG...."13 Aug 2008 The commander of a Navy air reconnaissance squadron that provides the president and the defense secretary the airborne ability to command the nation's nuclear weapons has been relieved of duty, the Navy said Tuesday. Cmdr. Shawn Bentley was relieved of duty Monday by the Navy for loss of confidence in his ability to command, only three months after taking the job. Capt. Brian Costello, commander of the Navy's Strategic Communications Wing One, removed Bentley from command, said Lt. Cmdr. Charlie Brown, a spokesman for the Naval Air Forces. The primary duty of the squadron, nicknamed the "Ironman," is to provide communication with ballistic missile submarines, Brown said. It is also one of three squadrons that provides airborne communications for the president and defense secretary to command and control the nation's nuclear submarines, bombers and missile silos, according to the Wing's official Web site. [See: Minot AFB Clandestine Nukes 'Oddities'.]" -- Paragraph quoted from CLG --
For more on this issue see....False Flag Ops - Barksdale

US court rules Saudis not liable for Sept 11 attacks
A quote...."A federal appeals court on Thursday ruled Saudi Arabia could not be held liable for the September 11 attacks against the United States despite charitable donations that ended up in the hands of Al-Qaeda." -- For more on this issue see....Ghawar is Dead - Long Live PNAC - 03-07-07 - mpg & US Support of Terror

The 800 lb. Gorilla Staring Pelosi in the Face
A quote....""It would appear that not only did the Bush administration lie this nation into war and order documents forged, but they allegedly tried to plant WMD in Iraq." Larisa noted this yesterday in her post "Can't find WMD in Iraq? Plant it?" -- In the comments section I wrote: --     Yet Nancy Pelosi is still saying the case has to made for impeachment. Nancy Pelosi, our fearless leader who is apparently scheduled to be one of the first speakers at the Democratic National Convention."

Credit and Credibility: Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Press
Must Read - A quote...."There are plenty of cliches ("powerful spy service" and "actively undermining" are splendid examples), but not a shred of hard evidence in this important story. There is not one bit of material that can be verified or even checked for accuracy. No names are named. There are declarations by anonymous "American officials" concerning supposed electronic intercepts of which no details are provided. But the New York Times and other US newspapers chose to blare to the world the unsupported conclusion that Pakistan is guilty of treason against itself."

Pakistani government moves to impeach President Musharraf
A quote...."Amid an ongoing political crisis, Pakistan’s ruling coalition this week initiated a formal impeachment process against President Pervez Musharraf, the country’s former military strongman. -- Musharraf is deeply detested by broad layers of the population for his nine years of dictatorial rule and support for the bogus US “war on terror”.

Musharraf Set to Resign in Days, Officials Assert
A quote...."ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Faced with desertions by his political supporters and the unsettling neutrality of the Pakistani military, President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan is expected to resign in the next few days rather than face impeachment, Pakistani politicians and Western diplomats said Thursday."

Russia And China Settle Longstanding Territorial Disputes
A quote...."Russia and China signed a landmark deal on July 21, officially ending all outstanding territorial disputes between the two countries. Under the agreement, Russia will hand over Yinlong Island (known as Tarabarov in Russia) and half of the Heixiazi Island (Bolshoi Ussuriysky) at the confluence the of Amur and Ussuri rivers, clearing the way for closer strategic and economic relations with China."

Wikipedia founder aims to break Google stranglehold
Special Note - A quote...."SINGAPORE (AFP) - Watch out Google -- Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales hopes that Wikia Search, a project he spearheads, will break Google's domination of the world's Internet search engine market."

The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Thursday round-up - 2 articles - [ Day 14 ] ===  ==========

FBI's Implausible, Ever-Changing Story
A quote...."You've seen it . . .A kid breaks something, and - not understanding how transparent his false stories will sound to an adult - gives a series of implausible, shifting explanations:

    "There was an earthquake!"
    [No there wasn't]
    "The dog knocked it over!"
    [The dog is at the vet]
    "A big gust of wind blew it over!"
    [The windows were closed]
    "My little sister broke it!"
    [She was outside]
    Etc.

That's exactly how the FBI has been behaving in the anthrax "investigation" of Dr. Ivins.

Special Report: Ivins Anthrax Case Another Black Eye for Network News
A quote...."While cable news dutifully devotes nonstop coverage to the latest random criminal cases — kidnappings, shootouts, murderous love triangles, car chases — it’s telling when a supposed break in one of the biggest manhunts in FBI history, for a terrorist who murdered and poisoned multiple American citizens with anthrax, takes a backseat to nearly every other story. That is, if it’s mentioned at all." -- The New Roman Empire's presstitutes hard at work.  Maybe our elites should have mercy on them and get various flavors of boot polish. - mpg

End - The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Thursday round-up - 2 articles - [ Day 14 ]  ==========

The Myth of the Independent Fed
Special Note - A quote...." Ever since its founding in 1913, the Fed has described itself as an independent agency operated by selfless public servants striving to fine-tune the economy through monetary policy. In reality, however, a non- political governmental institution is as likely as a barking cat. Yet, the myth of an independent Fed persists. One reason this myth persists is that statist textbooks have helped perpetuate it for decades."

FDR's grandson to McCain: Keep your hands off our Social Security
A quote...."On the 73rd anniversary of the creation of Social Security, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) took the opportunity to criticize McCain for supporting the Bush plan for Social Security privatization." -- For more on this issue see....Go Build Your Neo-Roman Empire - Just Leave Us Out Of It - 10-14-07 - mpg

Wag the Dog: How to Conceal Massive Economic Collapse
A quote...."Formally known as the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, the PPT was once concealed and its very existence denied as if it were a matter of strict national security. But the PPT has now come out of the closet. What was once a legally questionable "manipulator" of markets has become a sanctioned stabilizer and protector of markets." -- For more on this issue see....Obama, the Yang to Bush's Yin - 06-20-08 - mpg

Inflation Hits Annual Pace Not Seen Since 1991
A quote...."Inflation reached a 17-year high last month, fueled by high gasoline and food prices, all but assuring that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates at their current level for the time being."

Home foreclosure filings up 55 percent in July [from a year ago]
A quote...."Foreclosure filings -- default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions -- rose 8 percent from June and 55 percent from July 2007 to 272,171, according to RealtyTrac, which records property in various stages of foreclosure."

Foreclosure fallout: Houses go for a $1
A quote...."DETROIT -- One dollar can get you a large soda at McDonald's, a used VHS movie at 7-Eleven or a house in Detroit. - The fact that a home on the city's east side was listed for $1 recently shows how depressed the real estate market has become in one of America's poorest big cities. - And it still took 19 days to find a buyer."

Florida's budget shortfall may hit $1.2B
A quote...."Florida's dwindling state budget could fall about $1 billion deeper into deficit due to a combination of record-high gas prices, the crashing housing market and record job loss in the state."

European Economy Shrinks For First Time Since Introduction Of The Euro
A quote...."BRUSSELS, Belgium — The euro-zone economy shrank 0.2 percent in the second quarter, EU statistics showed Thursday, raising recession fears as Germany, France and Italy braked sharply with high fuel and food prices holding back consumer spending."

Saudi Should Drop Dollar Peg If Gulf Currency Delayed, IMF Says
A quote...."Aug. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia should drop the riyal's peg to the dollar and consider ``alternative exchange rate regimes'' if inflation persists and the Gulf single currency is delayed, the International Monetary Fund said." -- Also posted at BLN

Honeybee deaths reaching crisis point
A quote...."Britain's honeybees have suffered catastrophic losses this year, according to a survey of the nation's beekeepers, contributing to a shortage of honey and putting at risk the pollination of fruits and vegetables." -- Also posted at BLN

Wednesday August 13th 2008

Illusions of Victory
Must Read - A quote...."War is the great auditor of institutions," the historian Corelli Barnett once observed. Since 9/11, the United States has undergone such an audit and been found wanting. That adverse judgment applies in full to America's armed forces." -- Also posted at Alternet

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Chopping Down the Forest - One Law at a Time
08-13-08
mpg

[Having a Few Laughs]
Video - After preparing [a] controlled explosion of [an] IED, US soldiers - instead of warning an Iraqi woman moving straight in [the] direction of the IED - the US soldiers joke [about her] and mock [her]

They probably would have thought it was truly hilarious if she'd actually been blown to bits.  No doubt if that had happened it would have been even funnier to these jokers than throwing puppies off a cliff.

By the way, guys like this who are being desensitized to the point were they think this sort of stuff is funny are coming back here to live amongst us, to date our daughters, to drive our children to school, to become security guards or policeman or teachers, or....

....become unemployed and desperate as the economy continues to head down hill.

Casually killing people, or causing their deaths while thinking it’s funny is contagious, it spreads like wildfire, like a malevolent virus.  It hardens and twists people, it strips them of any moral restraint or a care for their own actions including any fear of turning on their former masters.  Something the wealthy elites who started all of these wars of conquest, who encouraged this sort of behavior, who stood by enjoying the mayhem and murder they'd unleashed, and who deliberately stripped this country bare of its laws “planted thick as trees”, among them its own constitution, should think long and hard about.

"And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country's planted thick with laws from coast to coast -- man's laws, not God's -- and if you cut them down -- and you're just the man to do it -- do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then?" -- *A Man For All Seasons*

This website editor for one will never stand upright against the winds to come on behalf of "our" wealthy elites, those who have by their own volition renounced this nation's constitution and who have willingly chosen to become Neo-Romans.

It is "they" who have chosen to live by an unholy perversion of legality, an ugly hideous mockery of what were once the laws of this and many other lands of men, the Magna Carta, the US Constitution, Habeas Corpus, and the Geneva Conventions.  It is they who have twisted, bent and sickened the mighty forest of laws planted by our forefathers down through the centuries.....the oaks, ash and redwoods that have stood and sheltered us for so many years against the storms of tyranny....until these mighty pillars of civilization have become rotted to the core and come crashing down.

It is they who have gleefully chopped up the fallen carcasses of these laws to feed the thundering flames of war and destruction.  It is they who now dance in evil revelry around the bonfires of injustice and degradation they have created.  It is they who brought forth this new paradigm of fear and hate.  It is they who covet their ill gotten gains from their sordid, murderous, adventures around the world. 

It is a mark of true justice that one shall reap what one sows and those who demand the wind shall receive what has been summoned forth and reap the whirlwind.

This website editor can only hope the inevitable storm now approaching will unleash its mighty, wrathful, fury, upon those who stand naked, shivering and shelter-less on the treeless wasteland they themselves have created by their wonton destruction of humanity's laws.  And those who are spared are the ones who still remain in the tree sheltered valleys, protected by these self same laws -- laws, oaths and covenants they still uphold, maintain, defend and believe in.  -
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The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  19 articles - Wednesday - [ Day 6 ]
=====  ==========

Putin Walks into a Trap - Actually not quite yet, it appears he's leaving....for the momment.  -mpg
Must Read - A quote...." 13/08/08 "ICH" --- - The American-armed and trained Georgian army swarmed into South Ossetia last Thursday, killing an estimated 2,000 civilians, sending 40,000 South Ossetians fleeing over the Russian border, and destroying much of the capital, Tskhinvali. The attack was unprovoked and took place a full 24 hours before even ONE Russian soldier set foot in South Ossetia. Nevertheless, the vast majority of Americans still believe that the Russian army invaded Georgian territory first. The BBC, AP, NPR, the New York Times and the rest of the establishment media has consistently and deliberately misled its readers into believing that the violence in South Ossetia was initiated by the Kremlin. Let's be clear, it wasn't. In truth, there is NO dispute about the facts except among the people who rely the western press for their information. Despite its steady loss of credibility, the corporate media continues to operate as the propaganda-arm of the Pentagon."

Georgia War a Neocon Election Ploy?
Must Read - A quote...."Posted on Aug 12, 2008 -- Is it possible that this time the October surprise was tried in August, and that the garbage issue of brave little Georgia struggling for its survival from the grasp of the Russian bear was stoked to influence the U.S. presidential election?"

Same As the Old Boss: Both McCain and Obama's Advisors Want War in Georgia
Must Read - A quote...."Wednesday, August 13, 2008  --  Georgia is located in Eurasia, is a gateway to other Eurasian countries, and possesses important oil pipelines. - For months previous to the start of hostilities in the Georgia-Russian war, American trainers have been getting the Georgians ready for war. - As revealed in a July article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution: "A large contingent of Georgia Army National Guard soldiers flew to the Republic of Georgia on Sunday for joint military exercises at a time when tension is brewing in the region". - And you won't hear it on the tv news, but Georgia started the war. - It is clear that the U.S. has been behind Georgia's military adventures."

PJB: Should We Fight for South Ossetia?
Must Read - Prescient Article - From the history file -- A quote...."April 1, 2008 -- Can any sane man believe the United States should go to war with a nuclear-armed Russia over Stalin’s birthplace, Georgia? -- Two provinces of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, have seceded, with the backing of Russia. And there are 10 million Russian-speaking Ukrainians in the east of that country, and Moscow and Kiev are at odds over which is sovereign on the Crimean Peninsula. -- To bring Ukraine and Georgia into NATO would put America in the middle of these quarrels."

This is a tale of US expansion not Russian aggression
Some quotes...."The outcome of six grim days of bloodshed in the Caucasus has triggered an outpouring of the most nauseating hypocrisy from western politicians and their captive media." -- "Could these by any chance be the leaders of the same governments that in 2003 invaded and occupied - along with Georgia, as luck would have it - the sovereign state of Iraq on a false pretext at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives? Or even the two governments that blocked a ceasefire in the summer of 2006 as Israel pulverised Lebanon's infrastructure and killed more than a thousand civilians in retaliation for the capture or killing of five soldiers?"

South Ossetia in ruins - (CNN Video / Adobe Flash Player 9 - 1 min 54 sec - Source: ITN | Added August 13, 2008)
Video - A quote...."August 13, 2008 -- ITN's Robert Moore reports from Tskhinvali, South Ossetia on the conflict."

Russia launches genocide probe over S.Ossetia events
A quote...."TSKHINVALI, August 14 (RIA Novosti) - Top Russian investigators have opened a criminal case on charges of genocide in connection with recent events in South Ossetia, a General Prosecutor's Office spokesman said on Thursday."

2008 South Ossetia, Georgia, Russia WAR! Photo [Video] Compilation - (YouTube - 4m 39s - August 12, 2008)
Video - A quote...."August 12, 2008 -- A recent photo compilation of the ongoing war beetween Russia, and Georgia over a small breakaway state (South Ossetia)"

Israel and the US behind the Georgian aggression?**
First posted - 08/10/2008 :  21:27:26 -- A few choice comments about the whole situation posted at Asia-Times. - mpg

Russia Agrees to Halt War
A quote...."August 13, 2008; Page A1 -- Russia declared a provisional cease-fire after battering Georgia for five days, a conflict that not only gave the U.S. a bloody nose but threatens to upend a decade of geopolitical thinking in Washington."

Why Russia’s Response to Georgia was Right - posted at ICH
A quote...."13/08/08 "Financial Times" - -- For some of those witnessing the fighting in the Caucasus over the past few days, the narrative is straightforward and easy. The plucky republic of Georgia, with just a few million citizens, was attacked by its giant eastern neighbour, Russia. Add to this all the stereotypes of the cold war era, and you are presented with a truly David and Goliath interpretation – with all its accompanying connotations of good and evil. While this version of events is being written in much of the western media, the facts present a different picture." -- article from FinancialTimes

Marching Through Georgia V: U.S. Forces Moving Into Putin's Powderkeg
A quote...."Wednesday, 13 August 2008 -- Here's a great idea: Why not U.S. military forces to Georgia, one of the most volatile places on earth at the moment? That way, American troops, ships and planes can go eyeball-to-eyeball with Russian forces on a war footing?"

Russian forces sink Georgian ships
A quote...."Russian forces have sunk several coast guard vessels in Georgia's military port of Poti, Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel Hamid has reported from the scene."

Russian Army Clears Out Georgian Army Bases
A quote...." 08/13/2008 -- The war is over but Russia continued operations in Georgia on Wednesday. Moscow has confirmed that it has been transporting military material out of Georgian army bases. Russia's military has also closed the Georgian port of Poti."

Russian troops down Georgian drone over S. Ossetia
A quote...."MOSCOW, August 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russian peacekeepers shot down a Georgian unmanned reconnaissance plane over the capital of breakaway South Ossetia on Wednesday, a Defense Ministry official said."

Captured map shows Georgia planned to invade Abkhazia
A quote...."RussiaToday on: 13.08.2008 [13:14 ]  -- Russian troops have discovered what they believe are plans for an invasion of Abkhazia in a captured Georgian command post vehicle. On Wednesday, Abkhazian armed forces succeeded in pushing Georgian troops out of the Upper Kodori Gorge in anticipation of such an attack."

Pentagon says no plans to control Georgia ports - link posted at AntiWar
A quote...."Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:19pm BST -- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Wednesday it did not plan to take control of Georgian airports or ports as part of an aid mission, apparently contradicting a statement by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili."

Russia: US gave nod to Georgia
A quote...."Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:25:19 GMT  --  Russia says that Georgia's attack on the independence-seeking region of South Ossetia was likely executed with the United States' approval."

Bush: Why don’t you shut up?
A quote...."12.08.2008 -- Taking the words of the illustrious King of Spain, in his imbecillic retort to President Hugo Chavez, we use them not as a response to a diatribe but rather, a just retort to an imbecile. President George W. Bush, why don’t you shut up?"

End - The US Neocon's New Proxy War in Georgia -  19 articles - Wednesday - [ Day 6 ] ===  ==========

Update on the rumored armada sailing to Iran
War Warning - A quote...."August 13, 2008 -- Summary:  The rumors about a US armada sailing to the Gulf continue to rattle around the Internet, despite having almost no supporting evidence.  Now Stratfor and Debkafile provide hard information on these rumors.  Specific but contradictory information.  For now I will stay with my original view:  these rumors are a tower of guesses built on a slight foundation." -- However Saakashvili would not have launched his surprise attack against South Ossetia without US approval, timed for the start of the Olympic games, while simultaneously the US 7th Fleet was deploying its ships from Japan. Bush (read Cheney) has three months left to do something about Iran, the economy may be entering a deflationary cycle which could use a war boost and finaly it's just the sort of scheme that would please that piece of black coal that Cheney uses for a heart.  Hence for the next ninety days people should be aware of the potential for a surprise attack and/or false flag event staged by this nation's MIOC elites. - mpg -- For more on this issue see....Possible Order of Battle -- Iran Strike Group - 08-08-08

‘Where Are the Weapons of Mass Destruction?’ - posted at ICH
A quote...."In the past two decades I have had the opportunity to participate in certain experiences pertaining to my work that fall into the category of “no one will ever believe this.” I usually file these away, calling on them only when events transpire that breathe new life into these extraordinary memories. Ron Suskind, a noted and accomplished journalist, has written a new book, “The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism,” in which he claims that the “White House had concocted a fake letter from Habbush [Tahir Jalil Habbush, the director of the Mukhabarat], to Saddam [Hussein], backdated to July 1, 2001.” According to Suskind, the letter said that “9/11 ringleader Mohammad Atta had actually trained for his mission in Iraq—thus showing, finally, that there was an operational link between Saddam and al Qaeda, something the Vice President’s Office had been pressing CIA to prove since 9/11 as a justification to invade Iraq.” -- Also posted at TruthDig

NATO soldiers kill, injure Afghan civilians: ISAF - link posted at AntiWar
A quote...."KABUL (AFP) - NATO soldiers shot dead an Afghan man who came close to a military patrol in southern Afghanistan fearing he was going to launch an attack, the alliance's force said Wednesday."

Afghan senators call for govt control over foreign troops - link posted at ICH
A quote...."KABUL (AFP) - Afghan senators demanded Tuesday that international troops operating in Afghanistan be brought under the country's law to make them accountable for mounting civilian casualties."

Taliban win a fight - and settle scores
A quote...."KARACHI - When several hundred Pakistani troops backed by paramilitary forces on Friday launched an operation against militants in Bajaur Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan, they received a most unwelcome surprise."

Kurdish forces refuse to quit Iraq battlefield province
A quote...."SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq (AFP) — Kurdish commanders Wednesday refused orders to pull their troops out of Kurdish-populated areas of ethnically divided Diyala province, challenging the authority of Baghdad." -- Oh, oh. - mpg

Iranians Commemorate Lebanon's Victory over Israel
Photo Gallary

Syria, Lebanon agree to start diplomatic ties
A quote...."DAMASCUS - Syria and Lebanon agreed on Wednesday to start diplomatic ties for the first time since independence about 60 years ago, during a landmark visit to Damascus by Lebanese President Michel Sleiman."

U.S. Imperial Presidency
A quote...."
by: Bill Moyers Journal, t r u t h o u t | Programming Note
PBS Airtime: Friday, August 15, 2008, at 9:00 p.m. EDT on PBS (check local listings here).
Is an imperial presidency destroying what America stands for? Bill Moyers sits down with history and international relations expert and former Army Col. Andrew J. Bacevich, who identifies three major problems facing our democracy

Ill and in Pain, Detainee Dies in U.S. Hands
A quote...."He was 17 when he came to New York from Hong Kong in 1992 with his parents and younger sister, eyeing the skyline like any newcomer. Fifteen years later, Hiu Lui Ng was a New Yorker: a computer engineer with a job in the Empire State Building, a house in Queens, a wife who is a United States citizen and two American-born sons."

Air Force Suspends Controversial Cyber Command
A quote...."The Air Force is about to suspend its controversial effort to reorganize its forces to "dominate" cyberspace. The provisional, 8,000-man Cyber Command has been ordered to stop all activities, just weeks before it was supposed to be declared operational. -- “Transfers of manpower and resources, including activation and reassignment of units, shall be halted,” according to an internal e-mail obtained by Nextgov's Bob Brewin -- and confirmed by Air Force sources." -- One would guess they're having funding problems, several simultaneous interminable wars will usually have that affect on one's budget, or to put it another way, the New Roman Empire is getting more expensive all the time. - mpg -- For more on this issue see....Attempts to Control the Internet

The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Wednesday round-up - 4 articles - [ Day 13 ] ===  ==========

Nagging Questions in the Anthrax Case
A quote...."The FBI says the government biodefense researcher acted alone in the 2001 anthrax mailings that killed five people and sickened 17. But as anthrax experts begin seeking hard data behind the eerie and suggestive details of the case, they are left with nothing but questions."

Hair Samples in Anthrax Case Don't Match
A quote...."Federal investigators probing the deadly 2001 anthrax attacks recovered samples of human hair from a mailbox in Princeton, N.J., but the strands did not match the lead suspect in the case, according to sources briefed on the probe."

A Lone Anthrax Mailer? Skeptics Question FBI Case
A quote...."The story has all the ingredients for a good conspiracy theory: a killer germ created in a secret government lab, a government on the brink of war, a murder investigation with unanswered questions, and a suspect who committed suicide before he could be charged."

FBI Appears To Change Theory In Anthrax Case
A quote...."....Glenn Greenwald over at Salon drilled down into the details and found that the whole story didn't make any sense -- and that the timeline described by the FBI and the Post may actually give Ivins an alibi, since the anthrax letter was stamped Sept. 18. -- Now today's story in the Post appears to propose a new theory on when Ivins allegedly drove to New Jersey." -- It's like watching a tennis game; this editor can't wait for Glen's response.  There is one difference however; on one side are tens of thousands of people in the Federal Government, the Mass Media with their national mega-phone and our political establishment producing different explanations, and "evidence" every day on why Ivins is the sole suspect. On the other side we have a few dedicated voices searching for the truth.  It’s something to think about. – mpg

End - The Anthrax Attacks Attempted Cover-up - Wednesday round-up - 4 articles - [ Day 13 ]  ==========

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The US dollar on Roman steroids
A quote...."Inflation seems to be raging, to one degree or another, all over the world now. In Europe as a whole it rose to 4.1%, which is (as I hear) the most in 16 years. Curiously, the inflation rate in consumer prices in Germany, Europe's largest economy, is still "only" 3.4%."

Sterling slumps to 12-year low
A quote...."The pound has fallen to its weakest level in 12 years after the Bank of England signalled that it is no longer prepared to raise interest rates."

Bank is powerless to rescue [Britain's] housing, King warns
A quote...."After six months of falling prices, a rising tide of repossessions and the prospect of millions of families slipping into negative equity, the Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, said yesterday that there was little the authorities could do to prevent a housing crash, if that is what the market demanded."

US: Retail sales fall as tax stimulus wears off
A quote...."Retail sales fell in July for the first time in five months as the effects of the US government’s $160 billion consumer tax stimulus began to fade."

Venezuela: price rises of up to 50% for 15 basic foods
A quote...."Venezuela raised regulated prices of 15 basic foods ranging from bread to beef by up to 50% and removed price controls from other goods in an attempt to ease sporadic shortages in supermarkets."

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081308-081908 - links page

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