Thursday, May 31, 2012
Bilderberg Attendees Confronted
Great Job Luke!!
'This is one of the 12 videos you will see released on May 31st during our 12 hour Donation Drive broadcast at Bilderberg. Help WeAreChange reach our goal @ http://wearechange.org/donate watch live here http://ustream.tv'
ALBERT EDWARDS: ''The Stock Market Will Collapse And All Hope Will Be Lost''
From Business Insider
''As 30y German Bund yields slide below 2% and rapidly converge towards Japanese rates, we have a taster of what is to come in the US and UK in the months ahead. We still see US 10y yields – even now making new all-time lows – falling below 1% as hard landings occur in China and the US. The secular equity valuation bear market began in 2000 and renewed global recession will be the trigger to catalyze the third, and hopefully final, gut-wrenching phase of valuation de-rating. Expect the S&P500 to decline decisively below its March 2009, 666 intra-day low. All hope will be crushed.''
''As 30y German Bund yields slide below 2% and rapidly converge towards Japanese rates, we have a taster of what is to come in the US and UK in the months ahead. We still see US 10y yields – even now making new all-time lows – falling below 1% as hard landings occur in China and the US. The secular equity valuation bear market began in 2000 and renewed global recession will be the trigger to catalyze the third, and hopefully final, gut-wrenching phase of valuation de-rating. Expect the S&P500 to decline decisively below its March 2009, 666 intra-day low. All hope will be crushed.''
''Moscow pledges to block UN over foreign intervention in Syria''
''The Meaning of Occupy Bilderberg: The Elevation of The Shadow Into Public Consciousness''
From The Excavator
''The occupy movement is growing up and taking on the big boys at the 2012 Bilderberg conference, held in Chantilly, Virginia.
Bilderberg is the shadow G8 and G20. Its much more powerful and influential in global affairs than those public bodies. It is the invisible layer of skin under the thick public skin of national governments, global media, global banks, global charities, and global corporations.''
read more
''The occupy movement is growing up and taking on the big boys at the 2012 Bilderberg conference, held in Chantilly, Virginia.
Bilderberg is the shadow G8 and G20. Its much more powerful and influential in global affairs than those public bodies. It is the invisible layer of skin under the thick public skin of national governments, global media, global banks, global charities, and global corporations.''
read more
''Euro break-up ''could wipe 50pc off London house prices''
From The Telegraph
“Although fears about a messy end to the euro debt crisis may account for much of the gain in prime central London (PCL) prices that has taken place over the past two years, we find that a break-up of the single currency area is also the single greatest threat to PCL,” said researchers.''
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“Although fears about a messy end to the euro debt crisis may account for much of the gain in prime central London (PCL) prices that has taken place over the past two years, we find that a break-up of the single currency area is also the single greatest threat to PCL,” said researchers.''
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''Electronic Money The Real Conspiracy''
From Martin Armstrong
''The real goal is to eliminate even the paper dollars. They want everything electronic so they can capture every penny of taxes. In their mind, THEY are not the problem. I have had to listen so many times to people actually say on the Hill that if everyone paid their “fair share" there would be no problem. Well that is about $300,000 per person. It does not matter what they collect. They would still spend more.''
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''The real goal is to eliminate even the paper dollars. They want everything electronic so they can capture every penny of taxes. In their mind, THEY are not the problem. I have had to listen so many times to people actually say on the Hill that if everyone paid their “fair share" there would be no problem. Well that is about $300,000 per person. It does not matter what they collect. They would still spend more.''
read more
KEITH JUROW: ''Prepare For The Coming Housing Collapse''
recollapse??............From Business Insider
Why the Collapse is Coming
''Despite all the mortgage modifications, refinancings, and cutbacks in REOs for sale that have taken place in the past 2 ½ years, prices continue to decline. Will this change anytime soon?
Let’s take a look at potential buyers. It’s an undeniable fact that the trade-up buyer is gone in every major metro market. Most of those who would like to sell and buy another house are unable to do so. Their house is underwater and their equity is gone.
I talk to Phoenix broker Leif Swanson on a regular basis. He has explained that the few normal sales he closes are for sellers over 70 years old. Because they have owned the property for decades, they have equity. The trade-up buyer of the past – ages 30-60 -- has disappeared.
That leaves first-time buyers and investors. According to Inside Mortgage Finance, their survey of roughly 2,500 brokers nationwide finds that roughly 30 percent of all purchases nationwide are by investors, many paying all-cash. Some analysts have argued that this is a good thing for housing markets. This is rubbish. There aren’t enough potential all-cash investors to make-up for the collapse of the trade-up market.''
Why the Collapse is Coming
''Despite all the mortgage modifications, refinancings, and cutbacks in REOs for sale that have taken place in the past 2 ½ years, prices continue to decline. Will this change anytime soon?
Let’s take a look at potential buyers. It’s an undeniable fact that the trade-up buyer is gone in every major metro market. Most of those who would like to sell and buy another house are unable to do so. Their house is underwater and their equity is gone.
I talk to Phoenix broker Leif Swanson on a regular basis. He has explained that the few normal sales he closes are for sellers over 70 years old. Because they have owned the property for decades, they have equity. The trade-up buyer of the past – ages 30-60 -- has disappeared.
That leaves first-time buyers and investors. According to Inside Mortgage Finance, their survey of roughly 2,500 brokers nationwide finds that roughly 30 percent of all purchases nationwide are by investors, many paying all-cash. Some analysts have argued that this is a good thing for housing markets. This is rubbish. There aren’t enough potential all-cash investors to make-up for the collapse of the trade-up market.''
''The Pentagon Seeks to Regain the Initiative in South America''
just remember this when they tell you that we are 'BROKE'...................From Upside Down World
''Panetta made three stopovers: in Colombia he reaffirmed the mission of Plan Colombia, to export security to the countries of the region, in particular to Central America and Mexico; in Brazil he attempted to lure the country with promises, to bring the world's sixth-largest economy closer to Washington's orbit; and finally, in Chile his visit coincided with the opening of the first military base of the Southern Command in that country, specializing in urban warfare.''
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''Panetta made three stopovers: in Colombia he reaffirmed the mission of Plan Colombia, to export security to the countries of the region, in particular to Central America and Mexico; in Brazil he attempted to lure the country with promises, to bring the world's sixth-largest economy closer to Washington's orbit; and finally, in Chile his visit coincided with the opening of the first military base of the Southern Command in that country, specializing in urban warfare.''
read more
''Beijing arrests hundreds of Tibetans to stop self-immolations''
From AsiaNews.It
''Chinese authorities have arrested hundreds of people in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), in response to the self-immolation of two young men - on May 27th - in protest against Beijing's Imperialism and the lack of religious freedom. According to the U.S. based website Radio Free Asia (RFA), security forces have taken at least 600 Tibetans and also ordered the expulsion of all the pilgrims and tourists from outside the TAR. The self-immolation of the two young men, the first in the capital of Tibet, and the subsequent wave of arrests is the first "significant" protest in Lhasa, since the March 2008 monks revolt violently repressed by the government in Beijing.''
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''Chinese authorities have arrested hundreds of people in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), in response to the self-immolation of two young men - on May 27th - in protest against Beijing's Imperialism and the lack of religious freedom. According to the U.S. based website Radio Free Asia (RFA), security forces have taken at least 600 Tibetans and also ordered the expulsion of all the pilgrims and tourists from outside the TAR. The self-immolation of the two young men, the first in the capital of Tibet, and the subsequent wave of arrests is the first "significant" protest in Lhasa, since the March 2008 monks revolt violently repressed by the government in Beijing.''
read more
''The Prospect of Western Europe Collapsing Like Eastern Europe''
From Wired
By Ivan Krastev
''How real is the risk of disintegration? The lessons of the Soviet collapse
Soviet disintegration was perceived as unthinkable in 1985 and declared to have been inevitable in 1995. This leap from the ‘unthinkable’ to the ‘inevitable’ makes it a useful footnote to the current discussions on the future of Europe.
“In 1992, the world woke up without the Soviet Union on the map. One of the world’s two superpowers had collapsed without a war, invasion or any other catastrophic development. Although the Soviets had been in irreversible decline since the 1970s nothing had predetermined their collapse at the end of the 20th century.''
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By Ivan Krastev
''How real is the risk of disintegration? The lessons of the Soviet collapse
Soviet disintegration was perceived as unthinkable in 1985 and declared to have been inevitable in 1995. This leap from the ‘unthinkable’ to the ‘inevitable’ makes it a useful footnote to the current discussions on the future of Europe.
“In 1992, the world woke up without the Soviet Union on the map. One of the world’s two superpowers had collapsed without a war, invasion or any other catastrophic development. Although the Soviets had been in irreversible decline since the 1970s nothing had predetermined their collapse at the end of the 20th century.''
read more
''Woman Who Couldn’t Be Intimidated by Citigroup Wins $31 Million''
whistle blower story.......must read...From Bloomberg
''Citigroup behaving badly as late as 2012 shows how a big bank hasn’t yet absorbed the lessons of the credit crisis despite billions of dollars in bailouts, says Neil Barofsky, former special inspector general of the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
''Citigroup behaving badly as late as 2012 shows how a big bank hasn’t yet absorbed the lessons of the credit crisis despite billions of dollars in bailouts, says Neil Barofsky, former special inspector general of the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
“This case demonstrates that the notion that the bailed-out banks have somehow found God and have reformed their ways in the aftermath of the financial crisis is pure myth,” he says.''
Matt Taibbi: ''SEC: Taking on Big Firms is 'Tempting,' But We Prefer Whaling on Little Guys''
From Rolling Stone
''It’s by now been well-established that the S.E.C.’s performance in policing Wall Street before, after, and during the crash has been comically inept. It would be putting it generously to say that the top cop on the financial services beat has demonstrated particular incompetence with regard to investigations of high-profile targets at powerhouse banks and financial companies. A less generous interpretation would be that the agency is simply too afraid, too unwilling, or too corrupt to take on the really dangerous animals in this particular jungle.''
''It’s by now been well-established that the S.E.C.’s performance in policing Wall Street before, after, and during the crash has been comically inept. It would be putting it generously to say that the top cop on the financial services beat has demonstrated particular incompetence with regard to investigations of high-profile targets at powerhouse banks and financial companies. A less generous interpretation would be that the agency is simply too afraid, too unwilling, or too corrupt to take on the really dangerous animals in this particular jungle.''
''Challenges of Eurasian integration''
From Russia & India Report
''The prospects of the emerging structure, where the main axis will obviously be the cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, were outlined in the article by V. Putin "The New Integration Project for Eurasia: the Future in the Making", published on October 4, 2011 in the newspaper "Izvestia". He pointed out, in particular, that this alliance will be one of the centers of the world economy and policy and “will ensure sustainability of global development” alongside with the EU, U.S., China and APEC. Putin also pointed out the possibility of expanding cooperation of the Eurasian Union and the EU.''
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''The prospects of the emerging structure, where the main axis will obviously be the cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, were outlined in the article by V. Putin "The New Integration Project for Eurasia: the Future in the Making", published on October 4, 2011 in the newspaper "Izvestia". He pointed out, in particular, that this alliance will be one of the centers of the world economy and policy and “will ensure sustainability of global development” alongside with the EU, U.S., China and APEC. Putin also pointed out the possibility of expanding cooperation of the Eurasian Union and the EU.''
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''Importance of India joining as a full member of the SCO''
From Russia & India Report
''New Delhi has already been knocking at the grouping’s door for the last three years as it sought a greater role in the SCO, in the light of fast changing geo-political situation in the region, in particular, in view of the planned US withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. The possibility of an increase in the number of prospective partners of the SCO in the near future, India’s admission into the organization has rather gained an imperative importance.
However, the statement made by Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping on Wednesday in Beijing ruled out any decision on admitting India along with other observer members in the SCO at the summit in Beijing, stressing that there was no fixed timeframe for the expansion of the membership.''
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''New Delhi has already been knocking at the grouping’s door for the last three years as it sought a greater role in the SCO, in the light of fast changing geo-political situation in the region, in particular, in view of the planned US withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. The possibility of an increase in the number of prospective partners of the SCO in the near future, India’s admission into the organization has rather gained an imperative importance.
However, the statement made by Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping on Wednesday in Beijing ruled out any decision on admitting India along with other observer members in the SCO at the summit in Beijing, stressing that there was no fixed timeframe for the expansion of the membership.''
read more
''Balochistan: Crossroads of Proxy War''
another must read..........From Stop Imperialism
''The current unrest in Balochistan centers around forced disappearances, kidnappings, targeted killings, assassinations and terrorism. However, these are merely the tactics of a much broader, more geopolitically complex war in which the United States and its Western allies are engaged. Though seemingly insignificant against the backdrop of all the regional and international crises affecting our world, Balochistan is, in fact, a nexus: the point at which diametrically opposing strategic interests converge.
The United States views Balochistan, an area that encompasses western Pakistan, eastern Iran, and a piece of southern Afghanistan, as critical to the maintenance of US hegemony in the Middle East and Central and South Asia. Conversely, China regards the region as necessary for its own economic and political evolution into a world superpower. Seen in this way, Balochistan becomes central to the development of geopolitical power in the 21st Century.''
''Stabilising Balochistan: Six-member body formed to talk to Baloch dissidents''
From Tribune Express
''The country’s top political and military leaders met on Tuesday in an effort to urgently kick start new initiatives in Balochistan to tame what some participants called an active insurgency similar to the one that caused Pakistan’s disintegration in 1971.''
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''The country’s top political and military leaders met on Tuesday in an effort to urgently kick start new initiatives in Balochistan to tame what some participants called an active insurgency similar to the one that caused Pakistan’s disintegration in 1971.''
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''The Second Act Of The JPM CIO Fiasco Has Arrived - Mismarking Hundreds Of Billions In Credit Default Swaps''
From ZeroHedge
''Bottom line: Jamie Dimon's "tempest in a teapot" just became a fully-formed, perfect storm which suddenly threatens his very position, and could potentially lead to billions more in losses for his firm.''
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''Bottom line: Jamie Dimon's "tempest in a teapot" just became a fully-formed, perfect storm which suddenly threatens his very position, and could potentially lead to billions more in losses for his firm.''
read more
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
''We need a stronger Glass-Steagall Act to regulate financial firms''
From LATimes
"Bring back Glass-Steagall!" That's the cry you hear most often for restoring regulatory stringency to our misbehaving financial sector.
The 1933 law, which barred commercial banks from underwriting or investing in stocks — in effect, from owning investment banks — was repealed in 1999, and reinstating it is a good proposal for several reasons. But what the 2008 financial crash and misadventures such as JPMorgan Chase's multibillion-dollar derivatives loss tell us is that reinstatement of the old law isn't enough. What we really need is a sort of 21st-century Glass-Steagall Act with a laser focus on the activities that threaten the financial system in the modern era.''
read more
"Bring back Glass-Steagall!" That's the cry you hear most often for restoring regulatory stringency to our misbehaving financial sector.
The 1933 law, which barred commercial banks from underwriting or investing in stocks — in effect, from owning investment banks — was repealed in 1999, and reinstating it is a good proposal for several reasons. But what the 2008 financial crash and misadventures such as JPMorgan Chase's multibillion-dollar derivatives loss tell us is that reinstatement of the old law isn't enough. What we really need is a sort of 21st-century Glass-Steagall Act with a laser focus on the activities that threaten the financial system in the modern era.''
read more
''California Note Sale May Top $10 Billion, Chiang Says''
From Bloomberg
''California, the most indebted state, may need to sell more than $10 billion in short-term securities in order to pay bills through the fiscal year that begins in July, Controller John Chiang said.
The size of the revenue-anticipation note sale may exceed previous estimates as tax collections have trailed projections and the state exhausted most of its internal borrowing ability, Chiang said in an interview yesterday in Bloomberg’s San Francisco office.''
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''California, the most indebted state, may need to sell more than $10 billion in short-term securities in order to pay bills through the fiscal year that begins in July, Controller John Chiang said.
The size of the revenue-anticipation note sale may exceed previous estimates as tax collections have trailed projections and the state exhausted most of its internal borrowing ability, Chiang said in an interview yesterday in Bloomberg’s San Francisco office.''
read more
''9/11 Truth Spring And Bilderberg Spring''
From Truth Excavator
''Bilderberg apologists in the media still claim that nothing special goes on inside Bilderberg's annual global symposium. But then why the secrecy? Why was knowledge of the elitist group's existence suppressed for so long from the global public by the mass media?
They have something to hide, and it isn't pretty. They destroyed the Western democratic experiment in the shadows, while pretending all these years that they never existed.
"Clearly, they run countries around the world, not voting citizens," writes Adrian Salbuchi.
The Bilderberg Titans are afraid that the mortals of the world are waking up and protesting their illegal and destructive activities. They're not the gods that they thought they were. They're re-discovering the reality that the world can't be controlled by a few forever, and they realize they will face the wrath of the world for secretly plotting against the growth and development of all of humanity.''
read more
''Bilderberg apologists in the media still claim that nothing special goes on inside Bilderberg's annual global symposium. But then why the secrecy? Why was knowledge of the elitist group's existence suppressed for so long from the global public by the mass media?
They have something to hide, and it isn't pretty. They destroyed the Western democratic experiment in the shadows, while pretending all these years that they never existed.
"Clearly, they run countries around the world, not voting citizens," writes Adrian Salbuchi.
The Bilderberg Titans are afraid that the mortals of the world are waking up and protesting their illegal and destructive activities. They're not the gods that they thought they were. They're re-discovering the reality that the world can't be controlled by a few forever, and they realize they will face the wrath of the world for secretly plotting against the growth and development of all of humanity.''
read more
''Global Control Matrix Revealed''
From Cosmic Convergence 2012
''Isn’t it amazing that in 2012 the Illuminati, the New World Order, the Rothschilds have literally become household words?! Virtually any website that is not considered mainstream media (MSM) may have at least one reference to one of these mysterious entities which comprise the Global Control Matrix.
Truly, the internet has encouraged the widespread and rapid dissemination of what was once considered either secret or highly privileged information. Even the US Federal Government is now known to be completely subservient to and under the command of an international crime syndicate and ultra-secret cabal which functions as a Shadow Government.''
read more
''Isn’t it amazing that in 2012 the Illuminati, the New World Order, the Rothschilds have literally become household words?! Virtually any website that is not considered mainstream media (MSM) may have at least one reference to one of these mysterious entities which comprise the Global Control Matrix.
Truly, the internet has encouraged the widespread and rapid dissemination of what was once considered either secret or highly privileged information. Even the US Federal Government is now known to be completely subservient to and under the command of an international crime syndicate and ultra-secret cabal which functions as a Shadow Government.''
read more
''The Three Rogue Nations–Producing Order Out Of Chaos''
a must read........From 'There are no Sunglasses'
Intro By Peter Chamberlain
''We know that their plans for a New World Order faithfully rely upon these beliefs to bring "order out of the chaos" which they create. We know that they are acting upon those beliefs, when they try in so many ways to bend the people of the world, to recondition their minds into conformity to the masters' wills. We know that one of their primary beliefs is that "thoughts create reality," so we also know that the world of chaos which they are shaping around us is but a reflection of the sick, demented fantasy worlds which exists inside their own big heads. Is it possible to dream a new reality and then watch it take shape? Can the conscious mind really be redirected by tampering with the sub-conscious?''
read more
http://cosmicconvergence.org/
Intro By Peter Chamberlain
''We know that their plans for a New World Order faithfully rely upon these beliefs to bring "order out of the chaos" which they create. We know that they are acting upon those beliefs, when they try in so many ways to bend the people of the world, to recondition their minds into conformity to the masters' wills. We know that one of their primary beliefs is that "thoughts create reality," so we also know that the world of chaos which they are shaping around us is but a reflection of the sick, demented fantasy worlds which exists inside their own big heads. Is it possible to dream a new reality and then watch it take shape? Can the conscious mind really be redirected by tampering with the sub-conscious?''
read more
http://cosmicconvergence.org/
IntelHub Coverage of Bilderberg
Check out the coverage From IntelHub
http://theintelhub.com/bilderberg-2012/
http://theintelhub.com/bilderberg-2012/
InfoWars: "Expose Bilderberg 2012 Itinerary''
InfoWars coverage of Bilderberg...........From InfoWars
''Bilderberg 2012 is set to be the scene of the biggest ever protest against the secretive organization. Listed below are the details and meet-up times for what promises to be a momentous occasion.''
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''Bilderberg 2012 is set to be the scene of the biggest ever protest against the secretive organization. Listed below are the details and meet-up times for what promises to be a momentous occasion.''
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'Bilderberg 2012 LIVE coverage from Chantilly, VA'
Live streaming from Bilderberg........From Mark Dice
''Frackin’ Reserve – What is Money?''
part 2 of a 6 part series.......From Activist Post
''For the purpose of discussing fractional reserve banking, the following is roughly how we need to answer the question, "what is money?" There are plenty of perspectives for a more general answer, but for fractional reserve, we need to choose an appropriate way to view money. The reasons for this view will become clear in parts 3, 4 and 5.''
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''For the purpose of discussing fractional reserve banking, the following is roughly how we need to answer the question, "what is money?" There are plenty of perspectives for a more general answer, but for fractional reserve, we need to choose an appropriate way to view money. The reasons for this view will become clear in parts 3, 4 and 5.''
read more
Pakistan: "Singapore, others to sell their stakes in Gwadar port to China''
From News International
''The Gwadar Port is envisioned to become a major trans-shipment port and a shipping hub for the landlocked Central Asian States (CAS), Afghanistan and Western China. The Gwadar deep seaport is strategically located at the crossroads of the increasing important regions of the world that is the oil rich Middle East, resource-rich Central Asian Republics and populated South Asia.
It may be pointed out that China not only constructed the Gwadar Port but also provided 80 percent of the initial funds worth $248 million for the construction. Out of $248 million extended by China, $50million was given as grant to mark the 50-year of Pak-China friendship while $198 million was given as a soft loan. The port construction got started in 2002 and was completed in 2007. However, the port is yet to become fully operational.''
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''The Gwadar Port is envisioned to become a major trans-shipment port and a shipping hub for the landlocked Central Asian States (CAS), Afghanistan and Western China. The Gwadar deep seaport is strategically located at the crossroads of the increasing important regions of the world that is the oil rich Middle East, resource-rich Central Asian Republics and populated South Asia.
It may be pointed out that China not only constructed the Gwadar Port but also provided 80 percent of the initial funds worth $248 million for the construction. Out of $248 million extended by China, $50million was given as grant to mark the 50-year of Pak-China friendship while $198 million was given as a soft loan. The port construction got started in 2002 and was completed in 2007. However, the port is yet to become fully operational.''
read more
Dahlia Wasfi: ''Ain’t Nothin’ Green About the Green Zone''
Another video from Dahlia Wasfi....very educational.......
Syria: "Sentenced to Extermination''
From Strategic Culture
''Syria has great role in the US plans. There are only three out of twenty Mediterranean states that are not NATO members and are not tied to the Alliance by “partnership programs". They are Libya, Lebanon and Syria. Libya has already fallen down under the NATO’s strikes, now it’s the turn of Syria and Lebanon... So, NATO and its Arab allies have already sentenced Syria to dismemberment.''
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''Syria has great role in the US plans. There are only three out of twenty Mediterranean states that are not NATO members and are not tied to the Alliance by “partnership programs". They are Libya, Lebanon and Syria. Libya has already fallen down under the NATO’s strikes, now it’s the turn of Syria and Lebanon... So, NATO and its Arab allies have already sentenced Syria to dismemberment.''
read more
Pepe Escobar: "Got war if you want it''
From Asia Times Online
"Iran's Central Bank Governor Mahmoud Bahmani said that Tehran has already activated an alternative payment clearing system to SWIFT - thus foiling another vector of Washington's relentless economic war. What this means is that Iran, BRICS members Russia, India and China, plus Iran's trading partners in the developing world are moving one step beyond in their flight from the US dollar as global reserve currency.''
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"Iran's Central Bank Governor Mahmoud Bahmani said that Tehran has already activated an alternative payment clearing system to SWIFT - thus foiling another vector of Washington's relentless economic war. What this means is that Iran, BRICS members Russia, India and China, plus Iran's trading partners in the developing world are moving one step beyond in their flight from the US dollar as global reserve currency.''
read more
''The Bilderberg Group: Origins''
a must read.........From The Real Agenda
''Just a few days from now, the world’s economic, political and scientific elites (not to mention top media kingpins) will gather near Chantilly, Virginia to fine-tune an agenda that’s been long in the making. Its roots reach so far down in the soil of history, we’ll have to roll up our sleeves before we descend.''
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''Just a few days from now, the world’s economic, political and scientific elites (not to mention top media kingpins) will gather near Chantilly, Virginia to fine-tune an agenda that’s been long in the making. Its roots reach so far down in the soil of history, we’ll have to roll up our sleeves before we descend.''
read more
Zimbabwe: "Cheap Chinese imports killing us''
From News Day
''He said a lot of Asian imports were being dumped into the country through unofficial channels and at cheaper prices, thus crippling the Zimbabwean manufacturing industry. “We need government to get involved and give lines of credit because our industry dwindled four to five years ago and the dollarisation issue opened up competition from outside the borders,” he said.''
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''He said a lot of Asian imports were being dumped into the country through unofficial channels and at cheaper prices, thus crippling the Zimbabwean manufacturing industry. “We need government to get involved and give lines of credit because our industry dwindled four to five years ago and the dollarisation issue opened up competition from outside the borders,” he said.''
read more
Kill List: ''Obama – judge, jury, and executioner''
From Voice of Russia
''The strikes take place over a vast territory from Somali and Yemen to Afghanistan and Pakistan. And the number of strikes has intensified in the last year. Only since April this year, there have been 14 such strikes in Yemen, and 6 in Pakistan.
Most of the people targeted for such strikes are foreign nationals, but occasionally there are American citizens among them, who are "brought to justice" in this extrajudicial procedure. And commentators say that Barack Obama is the first U.S. president who has acquired the right to single-handedly decide to be "judge, jury, and executioner.''
''Anti-Missile Deployment and the Senkaku-Daioyu Islands''
From SNA News
''The announcement by North Korea of the launching of a rocket prompted Japan to deploy Aegis-equipped warships and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) interceptor missile launchers to a number of islands in southern Okinawa Prefecture. Furthermore, the Defense Ministry hinted that the SDF deployment on Ishigaki and Miyako islands may become permanent.
Although this has not yet taken place, such a step may affect the possible scenarios for a final settlement of the sovereignty dispute over the Senkaku-Diaoyu Islands, claimed by Beijing. Something similar could be said about the proposal by Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara to buy these islands.''
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''The announcement by North Korea of the launching of a rocket prompted Japan to deploy Aegis-equipped warships and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) interceptor missile launchers to a number of islands in southern Okinawa Prefecture. Furthermore, the Defense Ministry hinted that the SDF deployment on Ishigaki and Miyako islands may become permanent.
read more
''Bipartisan Assault on Middle East Peace''
From Foreign Policy in Focus
''Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed a dangerous piece of legislation (H.R. 4133) which would undermine the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, weaken Israeli moderates and peace advocates, undercut international law, further militarize the Middle East, and make Israel ever more dependent on the United States.
The margin was an overwhelming 411-2, with eight abstentions.''
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''Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed a dangerous piece of legislation (H.R. 4133) which would undermine the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, weaken Israeli moderates and peace advocates, undercut international law, further militarize the Middle East, and make Israel ever more dependent on the United States.
The margin was an overwhelming 411-2, with eight abstentions.''
read more
''Pentagon flexing muscles at Pyongyang: B-52 bombers take part in largest U.S. exercise in Korea for the first time''
my favorite new blog......From The Aviatoinist
''Even if the news that U.S. Special Forces have already parachuted into North Korea to perform surveillance operations on Pyongyang activities, reportedly (accidentally?) disclosed by Army Brig. Gen. Neil Tolley, commander of U.S. Special Operations Forces in South Korea, was (awkwardly) denied by U.S. Forces Korea, an official PACAF press release leaves no room for interpretations.
According to the news release, two B-52 Bombers from Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, took part in exercise Max Thunder 12-1 at Gwangji Air Base, Republic of Korea, on May 17, 2012.''
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''Even if the news that U.S. Special Forces have already parachuted into North Korea to perform surveillance operations on Pyongyang activities, reportedly (accidentally?) disclosed by Army Brig. Gen. Neil Tolley, commander of U.S. Special Operations Forces in South Korea, was (awkwardly) denied by U.S. Forces Korea, an official PACAF press release leaves no room for interpretations.
According to the news release, two B-52 Bombers from Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, took part in exercise Max Thunder 12-1 at Gwangji Air Base, Republic of Korea, on May 17, 2012.''
read more
''Would an independent agency fix the Federal Reserve’s ‘governance problem’?''
From Current TV
''Simon Johnson, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and a professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, explains why he thinks the U.S. should establish a watchdog agency to oversee Wall Street along the lines of the National Transportation Safety Board, asking “Where else in American society do we allow the regulated companies to sit on the governing structure on the board of the organization overlooking them?''
''Simon Johnson, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and a professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, explains why he thinks the U.S. should establish a watchdog agency to oversee Wall Street along the lines of the National Transportation Safety Board, asking “Where else in American society do we allow the regulated companies to sit on the governing structure on the board of the organization overlooking them?''
''In Escape From Japan Doomsday, Capital Takes Flight''
From Jakarta Globe
''Hiroshi Kosaka has an unorthodox pitch for his realty business: instead of pictures of swanky condominiums his website features Japanese debt statistics and budget meltdown scenarios usually left to credit rating agencies.
His firm is part of a cottage industry that has sprung up to help worry-prone Japanese savers get out of the yen and find property overseas that could serve as a safe haven in a financial disaster. The trend comes against the backdrop of a deepening pessimism about Japan’s economic future that has made “Escape from Japan” a hot-selling business book and helped drive sales of second homes from New Zealand to Malaysia.''
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''Hiroshi Kosaka has an unorthodox pitch for his realty business: instead of pictures of swanky condominiums his website features Japanese debt statistics and budget meltdown scenarios usually left to credit rating agencies.
His firm is part of a cottage industry that has sprung up to help worry-prone Japanese savers get out of the yen and find property overseas that could serve as a safe haven in a financial disaster. The trend comes against the backdrop of a deepening pessimism about Japan’s economic future that has made “Escape from Japan” a hot-selling business book and helped drive sales of second homes from New Zealand to Malaysia.''
read more
''World War II - The Dual Struggle''
From New Left Project
''Churchill was always very clear that his mission in the war was to defend the British empire, not promote the interests of ordinary citizens. He was not ideologically committed to destroy fascism. He made statements such as the following when he met Mussolini in 1927: ‘If I had been an Italian I would have been with you from the start in your struggle against the bestial passions of Leninism’. During the Spanish civil war he backed Franco (whose survival depended on Hitler and Mussolini’s massive material support), and afterwards he defended Franco when some argued that his regime was the unfinished business of WWII. Churchill also backed the Japanese invasion of Manchuria before the war.''
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''Churchill was always very clear that his mission in the war was to defend the British empire, not promote the interests of ordinary citizens. He was not ideologically committed to destroy fascism. He made statements such as the following when he met Mussolini in 1927: ‘If I had been an Italian I would have been with you from the start in your struggle against the bestial passions of Leninism’. During the Spanish civil war he backed Franco (whose survival depended on Hitler and Mussolini’s massive material support), and afterwards he defended Franco when some argued that his regime was the unfinished business of WWII. Churchill also backed the Japanese invasion of Manchuria before the war.''
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''Drug-Financed Salafi Jihadism''
a great read..........From Lew Rockwell
By Peter Dale Scott
''What particularly concerns me is the relative absence of public response in America to a long-term Pentagon-CIA agenda of aggressive military expansion – of dominationism, if you will. No doubt many Americans may think that a global pax Americana will secure a period of peace, much like the pax Romana of two millennia ago. I myself am confident that it will not: rather, like the imperfect pax Britannica of a century ago, it will lead inevitably to a major conflict, possibly another nuclear war. For the secret of the pax Romana was that Rome, under Hadrian, withdrew from Mesopotamia and accepted strict limits to its area of dominance. Britain never achieved that wisdom until too late; America, to date, has never achieved it at all.
And so very few in America seem to care about Washington’s global domination project. We have seen much critical examination of why America fought in Vietnam, and even the American involvement in atrocities like the Indonesian massacre of 1965. Authors like Noam Chomsky and Bill Blum have chronicled America’s criminal acts since World War Two. But only a few, like Chalmers Johnson and Andrew Bacevich, have written about the progressive consolidation of a war machine that now dominates America’s political processes.''
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By Peter Dale Scott
''What particularly concerns me is the relative absence of public response in America to a long-term Pentagon-CIA agenda of aggressive military expansion – of dominationism, if you will. No doubt many Americans may think that a global pax Americana will secure a period of peace, much like the pax Romana of two millennia ago. I myself am confident that it will not: rather, like the imperfect pax Britannica of a century ago, it will lead inevitably to a major conflict, possibly another nuclear war. For the secret of the pax Romana was that Rome, under Hadrian, withdrew from Mesopotamia and accepted strict limits to its area of dominance. Britain never achieved that wisdom until too late; America, to date, has never achieved it at all.
And so very few in America seem to care about Washington’s global domination project. We have seen much critical examination of why America fought in Vietnam, and even the American involvement in atrocities like the Indonesian massacre of 1965. Authors like Noam Chomsky and Bill Blum have chronicled America’s criminal acts since World War Two. But only a few, like Chalmers Johnson and Andrew Bacevich, have written about the progressive consolidation of a war machine that now dominates America’s political processes.''
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''Globalizing the Global War on Terror''
From TomDispatch
By Andrew Bacevich
''As he campaigns for reelection, President Obama periodically reminds audiences of his success in terminating the deeply unpopular Iraq War. With fingers crossed for luck, he vows to do the same with the equally unpopular war in Afghanistan. If not exactly a peacemaker, our Nobel Peace Prize-winning president can (with some justification) at least claim credit for being a war-ender.
Yet when it comes to military policy, the Obama administration’s success in shutting down wars conducted in plain sight tells only half the story, and the lesser half at that. More significant has been this president’s enthusiasm for instigating or expanding secret wars, those conducted out of sight and by commandos.''
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By Andrew Bacevich
''As he campaigns for reelection, President Obama periodically reminds audiences of his success in terminating the deeply unpopular Iraq War. With fingers crossed for luck, he vows to do the same with the equally unpopular war in Afghanistan. If not exactly a peacemaker, our Nobel Peace Prize-winning president can (with some justification) at least claim credit for being a war-ender.
Yet when it comes to military policy, the Obama administration’s success in shutting down wars conducted in plain sight tells only half the story, and the lesser half at that. More significant has been this president’s enthusiasm for instigating or expanding secret wars, those conducted out of sight and by commandos.''
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''A Civil War in Mexico?''
From NACLA
''It is time to raise some serious questions about the “war on drugs” in Mexico. Considering that the human toll over the last five years now tops 50,000 fatalities, this futile struggle could more accurately be described as a civil war. According to historian Melvin Small and political scientist J David Singer in their 1982 book, Resort to Arms International Civil Wars 1816-1980, an internal conflict is classified as a civil war if the battle-related fatalities reach a threshold of 1,000 and the state military is responsible for a number of those fatalities. Under these criteria, Mexico’s current violent confrontation of death and destruction between narcotrafficking organizations and state forces can be classified as a civil war.''
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''It is time to raise some serious questions about the “war on drugs” in Mexico. Considering that the human toll over the last five years now tops 50,000 fatalities, this futile struggle could more accurately be described as a civil war. According to historian Melvin Small and political scientist J David Singer in their 1982 book, Resort to Arms International Civil Wars 1816-1980, an internal conflict is classified as a civil war if the battle-related fatalities reach a threshold of 1,000 and the state military is responsible for a number of those fatalities. Under these criteria, Mexico’s current violent confrontation of death and destruction between narcotrafficking organizations and state forces can be classified as a civil war.''
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LA: ''Foreclosures and resulting blight infest once-safe neighborhoods''
From LATimes
''William Perez has been waiting a long time to tell someone all the sad and crazy things he's seen.
Perez runs a crew that crisscrosses Los Angeles and the Antelope Valley doing the dirty but essential job of cleaning up homes that have been foreclosed and then trashed by humans and neglect.
"The good news about this place," he told me as we stood inside one such property on Wilmington Avenue in Watts, "is that there's no fleas."
No fleas, but plenty of trash, and an odor most foul. The people living there had been evicted six weeks earlier. They left behind mattresses, clothes and boxes of cereal. Some days later, thieves broke in, punched holes in the ceiling and stole about $100 worth of copper plumbing.
Perez told me the main reason foreclosed homes fall into disrepair is that there are simply too many for his crews to maintain. And the reason there are so many, we all know, is that during the last boom lenders doled out home loans like candy to people who couldn't afford them.''
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''William Perez has been waiting a long time to tell someone all the sad and crazy things he's seen.
Perez runs a crew that crisscrosses Los Angeles and the Antelope Valley doing the dirty but essential job of cleaning up homes that have been foreclosed and then trashed by humans and neglect.
"The good news about this place," he told me as we stood inside one such property on Wilmington Avenue in Watts, "is that there's no fleas."
No fleas, but plenty of trash, and an odor most foul. The people living there had been evicted six weeks earlier. They left behind mattresses, clothes and boxes of cereal. Some days later, thieves broke in, punched holes in the ceiling and stole about $100 worth of copper plumbing.
Perez told me the main reason foreclosed homes fall into disrepair is that there are simply too many for his crews to maintain. And the reason there are so many, we all know, is that during the last boom lenders doled out home loans like candy to people who couldn't afford them.''
read more
''Colombia Denounced for Continued Impunity for Human Rights Crimes''
From Upside Down World
"Civilians – especially indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant and peasant farmer communities, human rights defenders, community leaders and trade unionists – continued to bear the brunt of the human rights consequences of the long-running internal armed conflict," the report says.
"More than 45 human rights defenders and community leaders, including many working on land issues, and at least 29 trade union members, were killed in 2011," it adds.''
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"Civilians – especially indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant and peasant farmer communities, human rights defenders, community leaders and trade unionists – continued to bear the brunt of the human rights consequences of the long-running internal armed conflict," the report says.
"More than 45 human rights defenders and community leaders, including many working on land issues, and at least 29 trade union members, were killed in 2011," it adds.''
read more
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
''Asia's Mad Arms Race''
From Foreign Policy in Focus
''Asia is currently in the middle of an unprecedented arms race that is not only sharpening tensions in the region but also competing with efforts by Asian countries to address poverty and growing economic disparity. The gap between rich and poor—calculated by the Gini coefficient that measures inequality—has increased from 39 percent to 46 percent in China, India, and Indonesia. Although affluent households continue to garner larger and larger portions of the economic pie, “Children born to poor families can be 10 times more likely to die in infancy” than those from wealthy families, according to Changyong Rhee, chief economist of the Asian Development Bank.''
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''Asia is currently in the middle of an unprecedented arms race that is not only sharpening tensions in the region but also competing with efforts by Asian countries to address poverty and growing economic disparity. The gap between rich and poor—calculated by the Gini coefficient that measures inequality—has increased from 39 percent to 46 percent in China, India, and Indonesia. Although affluent households continue to garner larger and larger portions of the economic pie, “Children born to poor families can be 10 times more likely to die in infancy” than those from wealthy families, according to Changyong Rhee, chief economist of the Asian Development Bank.''
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''Lies and Consequences in Our Past 15 Wars''
From TruthOut........read the rest .....here
AFGHANISTAN
''Prior to 2001, the Taliban was willing to turn Osama bin Laden over to a third country if he was promised a fair trial and no death penalty, and if some evidence of his guilt of crimes were offered. In 2001, the Taliban warned the United States that bin Laden was planning an attack on American soil. In July 2001 the United States was known to have plans to take military action against the Taliban by mid-October.''
AFGHANISTAN
''Prior to 2001, the Taliban was willing to turn Osama bin Laden over to a third country if he was promised a fair trial and no death penalty, and if some evidence of his guilt of crimes were offered. In 2001, the Taliban warned the United States that bin Laden was planning an attack on American soil. In July 2001 the United States was known to have plans to take military action against the Taliban by mid-October.''
''Nonalignment 2.0 and India’s Strategic Direction''
From Foreign Policy Journal
''An influential paper, Nonalignment 2.0, written by a galaxy of strategic thinkers is doing the rounds of the seminar circuit in New Delhi. A product of their collective opinion, the document was intended by its authors Sunil Khilnani, Rajiv Kumar, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Prakash Menon, Nandan Nilekani, Srinath Raghavan, Shyam Saran and Siddharth Varadarajan, to set off a debate on the direction and content of India’s foreign policy and strategic orientation. In this the document can be said to have succeeded, with the authors, in defending their argument, making it more visible.''
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''An influential paper, Nonalignment 2.0, written by a galaxy of strategic thinkers is doing the rounds of the seminar circuit in New Delhi. A product of their collective opinion, the document was intended by its authors Sunil Khilnani, Rajiv Kumar, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Prakash Menon, Nandan Nilekani, Srinath Raghavan, Shyam Saran and Siddharth Varadarajan, to set off a debate on the direction and content of India’s foreign policy and strategic orientation. In this the document can be said to have succeeded, with the authors, in defending their argument, making it more visible.''
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''How FBI Entrapment Is Inventing 'Terrorists' - and Letting Bad Guys Off the Hook''
From Rolling Stone
''The guy who convinced the plotters to blow up a big bridge, led them to the arms merchant, and drove the team to the bomb site was an FBI informant. The merchant was an FBI agent. The bomb, of course, was a dud. And the arrest was part of a pattern of entrapment by federal law enforcement since September 11, 2001, not of terrorist suspects, but of young men federal agents have had to talk into embracing violence in the first place.''
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''The guy who convinced the plotters to blow up a big bridge, led them to the arms merchant, and drove the team to the bomb site was an FBI informant. The merchant was an FBI agent. The bomb, of course, was a dud. And the arrest was part of a pattern of entrapment by federal law enforcement since September 11, 2001, not of terrorist suspects, but of young men federal agents have had to talk into embracing violence in the first place.''
read more
''18,000 years in jail: Turkish court charges Israeli officers over Gaza flotilla deaths''
From RT.com
''A Turkish judicial panel has unanimously approved demands for a sentence of combined 18,000 years behind bars for IDF ex-chief of staff and other officials responsible for the murders of activists on the Mavi Marmara cruise ship in 2010.
The Istanbul court has formally pressed charges against four senior officers of the Israeli Defense Forces who commanded the operation against the Gaza flotilla two years ago. Nine passengers of a Turkish ship were killed as they tried to bring aid to Gaza, the subject of an Israeli military blockade.''
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''A Turkish judicial panel has unanimously approved demands for a sentence of combined 18,000 years behind bars for IDF ex-chief of staff and other officials responsible for the murders of activists on the Mavi Marmara cruise ship in 2010.
The Istanbul court has formally pressed charges against four senior officers of the Israeli Defense Forces who commanded the operation against the Gaza flotilla two years ago. Nine passengers of a Turkish ship were killed as they tried to bring aid to Gaza, the subject of an Israeli military blockade.''
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Pat Buchanan exposes the NEO-CONS and the Israeli Lobby: ''How Bill Kristol Purged the Arabists ''
pat, thank you for writing this.................From Pat Buchanan
"Kristol was treated like royalty and came off as … a Republican Party warlord,” bragging “about how all the hostile elements to Israel inside the Republican Party were purged over the last 30 years — (and) no one (now) dared to question the power of the Israeli lobby.”
“The big story in the Republican Party over the last 30 years, and I’m very happy about this,” said Kristol, is the “eclipsing” of the George H.W. Bush-James Baker-Brent Scowcroft realists, “an Arabist old-fashioned Republican Party … very concerned about relations with Arab states that were not friendly with Israel … ."
Now the neocons are worming their way into the Romney camp, dropping us hints on whether John Bolton or Joe Lieberman will be the next secretary of state.''
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"Kristol was treated like royalty and came off as … a Republican Party warlord,” bragging “about how all the hostile elements to Israel inside the Republican Party were purged over the last 30 years — (and) no one (now) dared to question the power of the Israeli lobby.”
“The big story in the Republican Party over the last 30 years, and I’m very happy about this,” said Kristol, is the “eclipsing” of the George H.W. Bush-James Baker-Brent Scowcroft realists, “an Arabist old-fashioned Republican Party … very concerned about relations with Arab states that were not friendly with Israel … ."
Now the neocons are worming their way into the Romney camp, dropping us hints on whether John Bolton or Joe Lieberman will be the next secretary of state.''
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''US hard line in Iran talks driven by Israel''
From Asia Times Online
''Negotiations between Iran and the United States and other members of the P5+1 group in Baghdad ended in fundamental disagreement over the position of the P5+1 offering no relief from sanctions against Iran.
The two sides agreed to meet again in Moscow on June 18 and 19, but only after Iran had threatened not to schedule another meeting, because the P5+1 - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain plus Germany - had originally failed to respond properly to its five-point plan.
The prospects for agreement are not likely to improve before that meeting, however, mainly because of an inflexible US diplomatic posture that reflects President Barack Obama's need to bow to the demands of Israel and the US Congress on Iran policy.''
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''Negotiations between Iran and the United States and other members of the P5+1 group in Baghdad ended in fundamental disagreement over the position of the P5+1 offering no relief from sanctions against Iran.
The two sides agreed to meet again in Moscow on June 18 and 19, but only after Iran had threatened not to schedule another meeting, because the P5+1 - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain plus Germany - had originally failed to respond properly to its five-point plan.
The prospects for agreement are not likely to improve before that meeting, however, mainly because of an inflexible US diplomatic posture that reflects President Barack Obama's need to bow to the demands of Israel and the US Congress on Iran policy.''
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''The Coming Meltdown in College Education & Why The Economy Won’t Get Better Any Time Soon''
From BlogMaverick
By Mark Cuban
''Its far too easy to borrow money for college. Did you know that there is more outstanding debt for student loans than there is for Auto Loans or Credit Card loans ? Thats right. The 37mm holders of student loans have more debt than the 175mm or so credit card owners in this country and more than the all of the debt on cars in this country. While the average student loan debt is about 23k. The median is close to $12,500. And growing. Past 1 TRILLION DOLLARS.
We freak out about the Trillions of dollars in debt our country faces. What about the TRILLION Dollars plus in debt college kids are facing ?''
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By Mark Cuban
''Its far too easy to borrow money for college. Did you know that there is more outstanding debt for student loans than there is for Auto Loans or Credit Card loans ? Thats right. The 37mm holders of student loans have more debt than the 175mm or so credit card owners in this country and more than the all of the debt on cars in this country. While the average student loan debt is about 23k. The median is close to $12,500. And growing. Past 1 TRILLION DOLLARS.
We freak out about the Trillions of dollars in debt our country faces. What about the TRILLION Dollars plus in debt college kids are facing ?''
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''China’s Peaceful Return to Africa?''
From ISN Blog
''During the 2006 China-Africa summit, which convened officials from 48 African countries, the Chinese government handed out billions of dollars in investment for infrastructure projects and loans, under the banner of “the common pursuit of friendship, peace, cooperation and development” . A year later, the EU tried to copy this language at their EU-Africa summit, held in Lisbon. Much like the ISN’s pro-con discussion last week on foreign investment in Africa[link], they pointed to the dangers as well as the opportunities in China’s increased engagement with Africa, and pointed fingers at Zimbabwe for violating Human Rights. African leaders were not impressed. They emphasized the colonial past, did not appreciate the finger pointing, and did not find what little investment the EU had to offer very convincing in comparison to China’s hand-outs the year before. The positions of African governments, however, have changed since then. It will be interesting to see how China reacts.''
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''During the 2006 China-Africa summit, which convened officials from 48 African countries, the Chinese government handed out billions of dollars in investment for infrastructure projects and loans, under the banner of “the common pursuit of friendship, peace, cooperation and development” . A year later, the EU tried to copy this language at their EU-Africa summit, held in Lisbon. Much like the ISN’s pro-con discussion last week on foreign investment in Africa[link], they pointed to the dangers as well as the opportunities in China’s increased engagement with Africa, and pointed fingers at Zimbabwe for violating Human Rights. African leaders were not impressed. They emphasized the colonial past, did not appreciate the finger pointing, and did not find what little investment the EU had to offer very convincing in comparison to China’s hand-outs the year before. The positions of African governments, however, have changed since then. It will be interesting to see how China reacts.''
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''Libya, Africa and Africom''
From CounterPunch
''The scale of the ongoing tragedy visited on Libya by NATO and its allies is becoming horribly clearer with each passing day. Estimates of those killed so far vary, but 50,000 seems like a low estimate; indeed the British Ministry of Defence was boasting that the onslaught had killed 35,000 as early as last May. But this number is constantly growing.
The destruction of the state’s forces by British, French and American blitzkrieg has left the country in a state of total anarchy – in the worst possible sense of the word. Having had nothing to unite them other than a temporary willingness to act as NATO’s foot soldiers, the former ‘rebels’ are now turning on each other. 147 were killed in in-fighting in Southern Libya in a single week earlier this year, and in recent weeks government buildings – including the Prime Ministerial compound – have come under fire by ‘rebels’ demanding cash payment for their services. $1.4billion has been paid out already – demonstrating once again that it was the forces of NATO colonialism, not Gaddafi, who were reliant on ‘mercenaries’- but payments were suspended last month due to widespread nepotism.''
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''The scale of the ongoing tragedy visited on Libya by NATO and its allies is becoming horribly clearer with each passing day. Estimates of those killed so far vary, but 50,000 seems like a low estimate; indeed the British Ministry of Defence was boasting that the onslaught had killed 35,000 as early as last May. But this number is constantly growing.
The destruction of the state’s forces by British, French and American blitzkrieg has left the country in a state of total anarchy – in the worst possible sense of the word. Having had nothing to unite them other than a temporary willingness to act as NATO’s foot soldiers, the former ‘rebels’ are now turning on each other. 147 were killed in in-fighting in Southern Libya in a single week earlier this year, and in recent weeks government buildings – including the Prime Ministerial compound – have come under fire by ‘rebels’ demanding cash payment for their services. $1.4billion has been paid out already – demonstrating once again that it was the forces of NATO colonialism, not Gaddafi, who were reliant on ‘mercenaries’- but payments were suspended last month due to widespread nepotism.''
read more
''Tepco may try to remove unused fuel assemblies from feared No. 4 pool''
From Japan Times
''The attempt would be a test run for securing the dangerous pool, which has become a priority because the building that housed the reactor and the pool — which sits on the fifth floor — was ripped apart by a hydrogen explosion in the early days of the nuclear crisis last year and could collapse in a strong earthquake. That might dump hundreds of fuel rods on the ground, where they would burn up and release even more radiation than in last year's crisis.''
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''The attempt would be a test run for securing the dangerous pool, which has become a priority because the building that housed the reactor and the pool — which sits on the fifth floor — was ripped apart by a hydrogen explosion in the early days of the nuclear crisis last year and could collapse in a strong earthquake. That might dump hundreds of fuel rods on the ground, where they would burn up and release even more radiation than in last year's crisis.''
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''A Soros-Made “New World Order” Takes Shape at the UN''
From Strategic Culture
By Wayne Madsen
By Wayne Madsen
''Major multinational corporations and the financial and non-governmental organization network of George Soros have taken effective control of a number of United Nations functions within the UN Secretariat and within the organization's specialized agencies. The goal of this alliance is to re-draw the map of the world for the benefit of the global elites and the “top 1 percent.”
The United Nations, which once prided itself on transparency, has now become a bureaucratic behemoth where decisions are made in closed door meetings attended by diplomats, mostly from English-speaking Western countries; corporate representatives; NGO officials tied to Soros and other entities like the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations; and current and former CIA officers, some of whom act under U.S. State Department cover. It is a fact of life that today a number of UN agencies and elements are funded by private money.''
''Imperialism and Disinformation''
From Dissident Voice
''When the establishment disinforms about weapons-of-mass-destruction in Iraq and kills a few million people based on this lie, what claim to credibility does the establishment have thereafter? This is but one lie in a historical series of lies in which distant peoples have been slaughtered and their lands taken over.3
The latest disinformation comes from the BBC,4 dutifully picked up from AP and reported elsewhere.5 There was no impartiality in the BBC story; starting with the title — “Syria massacre in Houla condemned as outrage grows” — it was presented from the outset as cut and dry who had perpetrated the massacre.''
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''When the establishment disinforms about weapons-of-mass-destruction in Iraq and kills a few million people based on this lie, what claim to credibility does the establishment have thereafter? This is but one lie in a historical series of lies in which distant peoples have been slaughtered and their lands taken over.3
The latest disinformation comes from the BBC,4 dutifully picked up from AP and reported elsewhere.5 There was no impartiality in the BBC story; starting with the title — “Syria massacre in Houla condemned as outrage grows” — it was presented from the outset as cut and dry who had perpetrated the massacre.''
read more
''Looming Reversal of Centralization as Empires Disintegrate''
From Market Oracle
By Gary North
THE LAW OF EMPIRES
''Empires disintegrate. This is a social law. There are no exceptions.
The first well-known social theorist to articulate this law was the prophet Daniel. He announced it to King Nebuchadnezzar. You can read his analysis in Daniel 2. Verses 44 and 45 are the key to understanding the law of empires.
The Roman Empire is the model. But there is a serious problem here. There are at least 210 theories of why it fell. There are so many that even my 1976 Ron Paul office colleague Bruce Bartlett gets credit for one of them – on Wikipedia, no less. He has made the big time!
In any case, Rome did not collapse. It wasted away over several centuries, wasting the treasure of its citizens along with it.
I suppose there were highly educated people who came to the voters in the late Roman republic and said something like this: "Unless decisive action is taken now, Rome will go bankrupt." If so, they were right. But it took a lot longer than they thought.
These days, it does not take nearly so long.
read more
By Gary North
THE LAW OF EMPIRES
''Empires disintegrate. This is a social law. There are no exceptions.
The first well-known social theorist to articulate this law was the prophet Daniel. He announced it to King Nebuchadnezzar. You can read his analysis in Daniel 2. Verses 44 and 45 are the key to understanding the law of empires.
The Roman Empire is the model. But there is a serious problem here. There are at least 210 theories of why it fell. There are so many that even my 1976 Ron Paul office colleague Bruce Bartlett gets credit for one of them – on Wikipedia, no less. He has made the big time!
In any case, Rome did not collapse. It wasted away over several centuries, wasting the treasure of its citizens along with it.
I suppose there were highly educated people who came to the voters in the late Roman republic and said something like this: "Unless decisive action is taken now, Rome will go bankrupt." If so, they were right. But it took a lot longer than they thought.
These days, it does not take nearly so long.
read more
''BBC illegally uses image of Iraqi victims as propaganda against the Syrian government''
From Lizzie Phelan
see the evidence
''Di Lauro said: "Somebody is using illegaly one of my images for anti syrian propaganda on the BBC web site front page.
Today Sunday May 27 at 0700 am London time the attached image which I took in Al Mussayyib in Iraq on March 27, 2003 (see caption below) was front page on BBC web site illustrating the massacre that happen in Houla the Syrian town and the caption and the web site was stating that the images was showing the bodies of all the people that have been killed in the massacre and that the image was received by the BBC by an unknown activist. Somebody is using my images as a propaganda against the Syrian government to prove the massacre."
see the evidence
Phony ‘Houla Massacre’: ''How Media Manipulates Public Opinion For Regime Change in Syria''
great article on media disinformation..........From InfoWars
''Take notes. Because this is how it’s done, time and time again – another clear example how large media outlets can effectively drive reality in the direction of their choosing, and this is why so many millions of public media consumers are left misinformed and dis informed, eventually leading to a marginal public endorsement of Washington, London and Tel Aviv’s interventionist foreign policy objectives.
Hours after this fake story was circulated in the GMT timezone, it made its way to EST, as the New York Times picks up the ball and runs it down the field. Here the story is further refined to streamline it with regime change policy objectives, codifying reality within North American sector.''
read more
''Take notes. Because this is how it’s done, time and time again – another clear example how large media outlets can effectively drive reality in the direction of their choosing, and this is why so many millions of public media consumers are left misinformed and dis informed, eventually leading to a marginal public endorsement of Washington, London and Tel Aviv’s interventionist foreign policy objectives.
Hours after this fake story was circulated in the GMT timezone, it made its way to EST, as the New York Times picks up the ball and runs it down the field. Here the story is further refined to streamline it with regime change policy objectives, codifying reality within North American sector.''
read more
''Hugo Chavez notches up three million Twitter followers''
From NTN24
''Firebrand Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez now has more than three million followers on Twitter, making him the most popular Latin American politician on the site -- a milestone he celebrated on Monday.
"To the three million followers, I sent a special thank you! We will use this platform to pursue our battle of ideas!" Chavez wrote early Monday, shortly after the number of followers topped the three million mark.''
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''Firebrand Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez now has more than three million followers on Twitter, making him the most popular Latin American politician on the site -- a milestone he celebrated on Monday.
"To the three million followers, I sent a special thank you! We will use this platform to pursue our battle of ideas!" Chavez wrote early Monday, shortly after the number of followers topped the three million mark.''
read more
''Arizona Homeowners File Suit Against State for Foreclosure Fraud Settlement Fund Raid''
From FireDogLake
''The response to the foreclosure fraud settlement fund raid in multiple states, now up close to a billion dollars, has been shockingly muted. No progressive group or housing-focused organization has done much more than grumble about the fact that money intended to go to homeowners is being diverted into state budgets all over the country.
But one state is trying to fight back. In Arizona, a group of homeowners have filed a lawsuit against state Attorney General Thomas Horne and State Treasurer Doug Ducey, arguing that the $50 million the state will skim off the settlement payout for the General Fund (out of a total of $97.7 million) violates the settlement agreement.''
read more
''The response to the foreclosure fraud settlement fund raid in multiple states, now up close to a billion dollars, has been shockingly muted. No progressive group or housing-focused organization has done much more than grumble about the fact that money intended to go to homeowners is being diverted into state budgets all over the country.
But one state is trying to fight back. In Arizona, a group of homeowners have filed a lawsuit against state Attorney General Thomas Horne and State Treasurer Doug Ducey, arguing that the $50 million the state will skim off the settlement payout for the General Fund (out of a total of $97.7 million) violates the settlement agreement.''
read more
''Yen-yuan direct trading to start in June''
From AP
''Japan and China are expected to start direct trading of their currencies as early as June as part of efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment, according to reports.
With the planned step, exchange rates between the yen and the yuan will be determined by their transactions, departing from the current "cross rate" system that involves the dollar in setting yen-yuan rates, Kyodo News said on Saturday.
The two governments are eyeing setting up markets in Tokyo and Shanghai, the Yomiuri Shimbun said.
The yen-yuan exchange system would help businesses in the world's second- and third-largest economies reduce risks associated with exchange rate fluctuations in the dollar and cut transaction costs, Kyodo said.
It will be the first time that China has allowed a major currency except the dollar to directly trade with the yuan, Kyodo said.''
read more
''Japan and China are expected to start direct trading of their currencies as early as June as part of efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment, according to reports.
With the planned step, exchange rates between the yen and the yuan will be determined by their transactions, departing from the current "cross rate" system that involves the dollar in setting yen-yuan rates, Kyodo News said on Saturday.
The two governments are eyeing setting up markets in Tokyo and Shanghai, the Yomiuri Shimbun said.
The yen-yuan exchange system would help businesses in the world's second- and third-largest economies reduce risks associated with exchange rate fluctuations in the dollar and cut transaction costs, Kyodo said.
It will be the first time that China has allowed a major currency except the dollar to directly trade with the yuan, Kyodo said.''
read more
Monday, May 28, 2012
''The Corporate Players Behind the Demise of the Caribbean Banana Trade''
From NACLA
''The corporate control over the entire chain of production and the brutality of the corporations during their reign in Latin America became the stuff of popular culture, as seen by Gabriel García Márquez’s retelling of the massacre of striking workers in Cienaga, Colombia, in 1928. But perhaps the most famous example of the power of the multinational fruit corporations comes from the role of United Fruit in convincing the Eisenhower administration that the election of Jacobo Árbenz in Guatemala, and his plans of moderate land reform, would transform the country into a Soviet base.
Perhaps more importantly, land reform in Guatemala would affect the ability of United Fruit to maintain its monopoly on arable land and limit its ability to maximize profit through the exploitation of landless workers. As shareholders in United Fruit, Allen Dulles, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, and his brother John Foster Dulles, the Secretary of State under Eisenhower, were central to planning the 1954 overthrow of Arbenz, under Operation PBSUCCESS.''
read more
''The corporate control over the entire chain of production and the brutality of the corporations during their reign in Latin America became the stuff of popular culture, as seen by Gabriel García Márquez’s retelling of the massacre of striking workers in Cienaga, Colombia, in 1928. But perhaps the most famous example of the power of the multinational fruit corporations comes from the role of United Fruit in convincing the Eisenhower administration that the election of Jacobo Árbenz in Guatemala, and his plans of moderate land reform, would transform the country into a Soviet base.
Perhaps more importantly, land reform in Guatemala would affect the ability of United Fruit to maintain its monopoly on arable land and limit its ability to maximize profit through the exploitation of landless workers. As shareholders in United Fruit, Allen Dulles, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, and his brother John Foster Dulles, the Secretary of State under Eisenhower, were central to planning the 1954 overthrow of Arbenz, under Operation PBSUCCESS.''
read more
''How the US Sold Africa to Multinationals''
From TruthOut
''The new G8 scheme to help African farmers does nothing to address the problems that are at the core of hunger and malnutrition. More likely, it will serve only to further poverty and inequality across the continent. The elites of the first world work together with the elites of the third world in the name of helping peasant farmers, but it nobody consults the peasant farmers themselves. Perhaps Obama could spend a week or two living with his Kenyan family members to find out what they actually want and need before he suggests another program to "help" the people of Africa.''
read more
''The new G8 scheme to help African farmers does nothing to address the problems that are at the core of hunger and malnutrition. More likely, it will serve only to further poverty and inequality across the continent. The elites of the first world work together with the elites of the third world in the name of helping peasant farmers, but it nobody consults the peasant farmers themselves. Perhaps Obama could spend a week or two living with his Kenyan family members to find out what they actually want and need before he suggests another program to "help" the people of Africa.''
read more
''Kadhafi’s Africa: The Untold Story''-by J-P Pougala
From Africa News
'THE REAL REASONS FOR THE WAR IN LIBYA'
''It was Libya’s Kadhafi who gave all of Africa its first real revolution in modern times: by ensuring universal coverage of the continent via telephone, television, radio-broadcast and the many other applications such as telemedicine and long-distance learning; for the first time in history, a low-cost connection became available across the continent, and even into rural areas thanks to a bridging WMAX system.
The story begins in 1992 when 45 African countries created the RASCOM organization to acquire an African satellite in order to bring down the cost of communications across the continent.
At that time, calling from or to Africa had the most expensive call rates in the world, since there was a surcharge of 500 million dollars which Europeans collected annually on telephone conversations even within some African countries, just to transmit voice messages via European satellites like Intelsat. An African satellite would barely cost 400 millions dollars payable once and thus avoiding the 500 million annual rental fees. Which banker wouldn’t finance such a project?
But the difficult part of the equation remained unsettled: how does a beggar gain their freedom from exploitation by their master by borrowing money from this same master to achieve this?''
read more
'THE REAL REASONS FOR THE WAR IN LIBYA'
''It was Libya’s Kadhafi who gave all of Africa its first real revolution in modern times: by ensuring universal coverage of the continent via telephone, television, radio-broadcast and the many other applications such as telemedicine and long-distance learning; for the first time in history, a low-cost connection became available across the continent, and even into rural areas thanks to a bridging WMAX system.
The story begins in 1992 when 45 African countries created the RASCOM organization to acquire an African satellite in order to bring down the cost of communications across the continent.
At that time, calling from or to Africa had the most expensive call rates in the world, since there was a surcharge of 500 million dollars which Europeans collected annually on telephone conversations even within some African countries, just to transmit voice messages via European satellites like Intelsat. An African satellite would barely cost 400 millions dollars payable once and thus avoiding the 500 million annual rental fees. Which banker wouldn’t finance such a project?
But the difficult part of the equation remained unsettled: how does a beggar gain their freedom from exploitation by their master by borrowing money from this same master to achieve this?''
read more
''China rejects US criticism on human rights''
From France24
''China on Friday condemned a US report about Chinese human rights violations, calling it “fraught with prejudice”, and said that problems in the US meant it had no right to lecture other countries.''
read more
''Washington’s Hypocrisies''
From Foreign Policy Journal
By Paul Craig Roberts
By Paul Craig Roberts
''The US government is the second worst human rights abuser on the planet and the sole enabler of the worst—Israel. But this doesn’t hamper Washington from pointing the finger elsewhere.
The US State Department’s “human rights report” focuses its ire on Iran and Syria, two countries whose real sin is their independence from Washington, and on the bogyman- in-the-making—China, the country selected for the role of Washington’s new cold war enemy.''
'Inside Job'
‘Inside Job’ provides a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, which at a cost over $20 trillion, caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and nearly resulted in a global financial collapse. Through exhaustive research and extensive interviews with key financial insiders, politicians, journalists, and academics, the film traces the rise of a rogue industry which has corrupted politics, regulation, and academia. It was made on location in the United States, Iceland, England, France, Singapore, and China.
Farewell Address : President Dwight Eisenhower : Jan 17, 1961
From Ricthuse
http://www.youtube.com/user/ricthuse?feature=watch
http://www.youtube.com/user/ricthuse?feature=watch
'Americans don't share global domination policies of their leaders'
From RT.com
''RT talks to Peter Dale Scott - former diplomat, poet and prominent anti-war advocate. He says that the US corporate superstructure conglomerate - including financial interests, the defense industry, oil companies and the media - brazenly manipulate American society.''
''RT talks to Peter Dale Scott - former diplomat, poet and prominent anti-war advocate. He says that the US corporate superstructure conglomerate - including financial interests, the defense industry, oil companies and the media - brazenly manipulate American society.''
''Why Do So Many Journalists Pretend That the Saudis and the US Part Company Over Islamization?''
amen............From 'There are no Sunglasses'
read the rest here
''You have been swallowing the lies and following the liars for far too long. Every president since Reagan has used Islamist jihadis as the principle tool in the American toolbox, only we have always allowed them to pretend that this military process of sowing jihad was actually something called "limited warfare," or "conflict management." Until We the People open our eyes to these obvious facts we will continue to fight unwinnable conflicts--BECAUSE THAT IS THE WAY THAT THE PENTAGON WANTS IT. What else explains the fact that the greatest military that money can buy, for the world's only "Superpower," has not won a single war since WWII?
I can't say it any plainer than this--
The CIA continually creates the wars that American soldiers die in, while the President of the United States keeps giving the murderous spy agency the "green light" to start new wars for the express purpose of causing the bloody dismemberment of American troops and all of their innocent victims. Every battle of the so-called "terror war" has been fought against CIA mercenary armies. The real Army wages war against the CIA's "Blackwater" armies. Why else do so many of us call them "Al-CIA-da"?''
read the rest here
''China wary of bilateral ties between India and Myanmar''
From Hindustan Times
''China is both Myanmar's most influential foreign neighbour and its most nervous. No country is as deeply entrenched in the economy of Myanmar while being so wary of the political reforms that began there last year. This poses a challenge to India on several levels.''
read more
''China is both Myanmar's most influential foreign neighbour and its most nervous. No country is as deeply entrenched in the economy of Myanmar while being so wary of the political reforms that began there last year. This poses a challenge to India on several levels.''
read more
''Fabian4Liberty- Dollar Collapse Likely''
From Investors Hangout
http://www.youtube.com/user/Fabian4Liberty
http://www.youtube.com/user/Fabian4Liberty
''How Hyperinflation Happens''
From Don't Tread On Me
By Silver Shield
''Since I believe that hyper inflation is the most likely out come I want to look at it a little further.
Hyperinflation has two technical aspects to it, 1. the quantity of money is essential. If there are a lot of dollars relative to the amount of real goods and services out there it is a prerequisite to a hyper inflation. If we double the money in quantity relative to the good or services the end result is that prices will double because there are twice as much dollars in circulation. This very clearly points out that inflation of the currency does not really cause prices to rise as much as you need more worth less dollars to buy the exact same amount of goods as before.''
read more here
By Silver Shield
''Since I believe that hyper inflation is the most likely out come I want to look at it a little further.
Hyperinflation has two technical aspects to it, 1. the quantity of money is essential. If there are a lot of dollars relative to the amount of real goods and services out there it is a prerequisite to a hyper inflation. If we double the money in quantity relative to the good or services the end result is that prices will double because there are twice as much dollars in circulation. This very clearly points out that inflation of the currency does not really cause prices to rise as much as you need more worth less dollars to buy the exact same amount of goods as before.''
read more here
''Paper Money: The Barbarous Relic''
From ETF Daily News
''For those not familiar with the mechanics of national economies, the gold standard has often been referred to over history as “the Golden Handcuffs”. How did it acquire this intimidating nickname? Because it absolutely limits our governments from any extreme/insane fiscal or monetary policies without the consequences of those policies being immediately known to the general public.
A government trying to run huge deficits (like the U.S. government was doing during the Vietnam War), would quickly see its “bankaccount
” (i.e. the national gold reserves) quickly evaporate as paying for those deficits emptied the government’s Treasury. Thus ultimately the primary reason that a gold standard is despised (or rather feared) by all the charlatan money-printers like Keynes and the deadbeat governments of modern Western economies is that a gold standard forces governments to pay their bills.''
read more
''For those not familiar with the mechanics of national economies, the gold standard has often been referred to over history as “the Golden Handcuffs”. How did it acquire this intimidating nickname? Because it absolutely limits our governments from any extreme/insane fiscal or monetary policies without the consequences of those policies being immediately known to the general public.
A government trying to run huge deficits (like the U.S. government was doing during the Vietnam War), would quickly see its “bank
read more
''U.S. Thinks Road to Bahrain's Heart Is Through Its Appetite for Weaponry''
From Foreign Policy in Focus
''This month the US lifted restrictions on a host of sales to the Bahraini military, going well beyond previous exemptions made since the 2011 freeze on a US$53 million arms deal, reportedly in the hopes of raising the profile of Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at home following his visit to the US''
read more
''This month the US lifted restrictions on a host of sales to the Bahraini military, going well beyond previous exemptions made since the 2011 freeze on a US$53 million arms deal, reportedly in the hopes of raising the profile of Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at home following his visit to the US''
read more
''Nothing Grows Forever''
from 2010 ..........From Mother Jones
''In essence, endless growth puts us on the horns of a seemingly intractable dilemma. Without it, we spiral into poverty. With it, we deplete the planet. Either way, we lose.
Unless, of course, there's a third way. Could we have a healthy economy that doesn't grow? Could we stave off ecological collapse by reining in the world economy? Could we do it without starving?''
read more
''In essence, endless growth puts us on the horns of a seemingly intractable dilemma. Without it, we spiral into poverty. With it, we deplete the planet. Either way, we lose.
Unless, of course, there's a third way. Could we have a healthy economy that doesn't grow? Could we stave off ecological collapse by reining in the world economy? Could we do it without starving?''
read more
''Improving the Banking System''
From Resource Investor
.............''commercial banks are not free to issue their own currency. Bank money has to be denominated in the currency issued by the national central bank and the banks are legally required to redeem their sight deposits in the currency of the central bank at any time. However, the need to back any single deposit of their clients does not necessarily mean that the bank is keeping all our money in their vaults at all times. According to current regulations, they just have to keep a tiny fraction of it. This is the legal reserve ratio. In the euro zone this is 2% of banks’ total deposits; and for this reason we call it a fractional reserve monetary system. This system allows for easy expansion of the money supply, but it also involves a significant risk: that of bank runs caused when depositors all try to take their money out of banks at once.''
read more
.............''commercial banks are not free to issue their own currency. Bank money has to be denominated in the currency issued by the national central bank and the banks are legally required to redeem their sight deposits in the currency of the central bank at any time. However, the need to back any single deposit of their clients does not necessarily mean that the bank is keeping all our money in their vaults at all times. According to current regulations, they just have to keep a tiny fraction of it. This is the legal reserve ratio. In the euro zone this is 2% of banks’ total deposits; and for this reason we call it a fractional reserve monetary system. This system allows for easy expansion of the money supply, but it also involves a significant risk: that of bank runs caused when depositors all try to take their money out of banks at once.''
read more
''JPMorgan Chase and Central Banking''
From Market Oracle
''Many free-market advocates wonder: why is it that I am a champion of free markets, privatization, and deregulation everywhere else, but not in the banking system? The answer should now be clear: Banking is not a legitimate industry, providing legitimate service, so long as it continues to be a system of fractional-reserve banking: that is, the fraudulent making of contracts that it is impossible to honor.''
read more
''Many free-market advocates wonder: why is it that I am a champion of free markets, privatization, and deregulation everywhere else, but not in the banking system? The answer should now be clear: Banking is not a legitimate industry, providing legitimate service, so long as it continues to be a system of fractional-reserve banking: that is, the fraudulent making of contracts that it is impossible to honor.''
read more
''The Trouble With Banks''
From Hedged.biz
''There is something wrong with the fractional reserve banking system. It should have become clear post 2008 but it hasn't.
Banks at their simplest form take deposits, (borrow money) usually short term, and lend money, usually medium to long term. They also augment their short term borrowings with the issue of longer term debt instruments. So banks borrow on the one hand and lend on the other, making a margin, being the difference between the rate at which they borrow and the rate at which they lend.''
Sunday, May 27, 2012
''New age colonialism: West buying up Third World?''
From RT.com
''Multinational corporations are buying up swathes of land in underdeveloped countries in an unchecked scramble towards new-age colonialism. So-called “land grabbing” sees western powers vying for economic control of the developing world’s resources.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently gathered with members of the corporate elite and NGOs to develop guidelines against “land grabbing”. Matters have been prepared over the last three years, leading to the present guidelines being published at the beginning of May 2012. While in principle a perfectly legitimate idea, it’s best to stay cautious.''
read more
''Multinational corporations are buying up swathes of land in underdeveloped countries in an unchecked scramble towards new-age colonialism. So-called “land grabbing” sees western powers vying for economic control of the developing world’s resources.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently gathered with members of the corporate elite and NGOs to develop guidelines against “land grabbing”. Matters have been prepared over the last three years, leading to the present guidelines being published at the beginning of May 2012. While in principle a perfectly legitimate idea, it’s best to stay cautious.''
read more
''Media Lies and the Onset of War – James Corbett Reports''
From Corporate Media Exposed
''At the beginning of this year, James Corbett, video casting for Global Research, produced an outstanding report on the connections between media manipulation and the onset of war.
Essentially, the corporate media, using military industrial complex produced propaganda, sells outright lies to the American people in order to secure support for endless war.''
http://corporatemediaexposed.com/
''At the beginning of this year, James Corbett, video casting for Global Research, produced an outstanding report on the connections between media manipulation and the onset of war.
Essentially, the corporate media, using military industrial complex produced propaganda, sells outright lies to the American people in order to secure support for endless war.''
http://corporatemediaexposed.com/
''A Mess the 45th President Will Inherit''
From Jesse's Cafe Americain
.....''Little noticed is that on Tuesday Team Obama took its first formal steps toward putting taxpayers behind Wall Street derivatives trading -- not behind banks that might make mistakes in derivatives markets, but behind the trading itself. Yes, the same crew that rails against the dangers of derivatives is quietly positioning these financial instruments directly above the taxpayer safety net.''
''U.S. taxpayers thinking that they couldn't possibly be forced to stand behind overseas derivatives trading will not be comforted by remarks from Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Gary Gensler. On Monday he emphasized his determination to extend Dodd-Frank derivatives regulation to overseas markets when subsidiaries of U.S. firms are involved...''
read more
.....''Little noticed is that on Tuesday Team Obama took its first formal steps toward putting taxpayers behind Wall Street derivatives trading -- not behind banks that might make mistakes in derivatives markets, but behind the trading itself. Yes, the same crew that rails against the dangers of derivatives is quietly positioning these financial instruments directly above the taxpayer safety net.''
''U.S. taxpayers thinking that they couldn't possibly be forced to stand behind overseas derivatives trading will not be comforted by remarks from Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Gary Gensler. On Monday he emphasized his determination to extend Dodd-Frank derivatives regulation to overseas markets when subsidiaries of U.S. firms are involved...''
read more
''The Brotherhood and Mubarak''
From Aljazeera
''For years the Muslim Brotherhood was officially banned by Egypt's government, but following the 2011 revolution, the fall of Hosni Mubarak and the country's first free parliamentary elections, the Brotherhood - with its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party - has emerged as Egypt's most powerful political force.
This film traces the Muslim Brotherhood's gradual integration into the Egyptian political system - despite the attempts of Mubarak to suppress the organisation during his 30-year rule.''
see video here
''For years the Muslim Brotherhood was officially banned by Egypt's government, but following the 2011 revolution, the fall of Hosni Mubarak and the country's first free parliamentary elections, the Brotherhood - with its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party - has emerged as Egypt's most powerful political force.
This film traces the Muslim Brotherhood's gradual integration into the Egyptian political system - despite the attempts of Mubarak to suppress the organisation during his 30-year rule.''
see video here
''Spent Fuel Rods Drive Growing Fear Over Plant in Japan''
From NYTimes
''Fourteen months after the accident, a pool brimming with used fuel rods and filled with vast quantities of radioactive cesium still sits on the top floor of a heavily damaged reactor building, covered only with plastic.
The public’s fears about the pool have grown in recent months as some scientists have warned that it has the most potential for setting off a new catastrophe, now that the three nuclear reactors that suffered meltdowns are in a more stable state, and as frequent quakes continue to rattle the region.''
''Syria, Yemen, & America’s Quest for Imperial Dominance''
From 'There are no Sunglasses'
''At the G8 summit last week, President Obama and other officials in his administration, began utilizing the talking point of Yemen being a model to be emulated in Syria. Ostensibly, they were referring to the “peaceful” transition of power in Yemen as an example of what they would like to see in Syria.
However, the comparison goes much deeper than simply this superficial connection. The truth is that Yemen represents, in more ways than one, the blueprint that the US imperialist ruling class would like to see applied to the escalating conflict in Syria.''
''Keiser Report: Reform = Crime To Favor Wall St. Crooks'' With Luke Rudkowski
From Rt.com
"In this episode, Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, discuss the 99% knocking on Timmy Geithner's door looking for 'reform' of criminal behavior. In the second half of the show Max talks to independent video journalist, Luke Rudkowski, about livestreaming to the world from a smartphone and his recent work covering the NATO summit in Chicago.''
"In this episode, Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, discuss the 99% knocking on Timmy Geithner's door looking for 'reform' of criminal behavior. In the second half of the show Max talks to independent video journalist, Luke Rudkowski, about livestreaming to the world from a smartphone and his recent work covering the NATO summit in Chicago.''
''Demographics is Destiny - Harry Dent''
From Casey Research
''Harry Dent, Founder and President of HS Dent Foundation, explains why he believes deflation is coming instead if inflation at the latest Casey Research Conference, "Recovery Reality Check" in Weston, Florida.''
''Rob Johnson’s poignant warning against both bubbles and austerity''
From Yanis Varoufakis
''Rob Johnson’s main point is that, following the Crash of 2008, our world is in a state of structural disequlibrium (which is pretty much what I have been arguing in my Global Minotaur). In this disequilibrium state, there is a global excess demand for ‘safe assets’. And since we cannot ALL own safe assets at once (just like not all nations can have, simultaneously, a trade surplus), unless investors find the courage to invest in less than perfectly safe assets, then no assets will be safe, all assets will wither, and a new Global Depression will be upon us. Moreover, given the oligopolisation of savings, due to the concentration of global savings in a small number of sovereign wealth funds, the risk aversion of the sovereign wealth fund managers is threatening to undermine any chance of the global rebalancing which is, whether we like it or not, a prerequisite for a Global Recovery.''
read more
''Rob Johnson’s main point is that, following the Crash of 2008, our world is in a state of structural disequlibrium (which is pretty much what I have been arguing in my Global Minotaur). In this disequilibrium state, there is a global excess demand for ‘safe assets’. And since we cannot ALL own safe assets at once (just like not all nations can have, simultaneously, a trade surplus), unless investors find the courage to invest in less than perfectly safe assets, then no assets will be safe, all assets will wither, and a new Global Depression will be upon us. Moreover, given the oligopolisation of savings, due to the concentration of global savings in a small number of sovereign wealth funds, the risk aversion of the sovereign wealth fund managers is threatening to undermine any chance of the global rebalancing which is, whether we like it or not, a prerequisite for a Global Recovery.''
read more
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