How many coincidences do we need before we start to ask questions?
(Mostly short videos, all very interesting and backed in facts, but some are tough to watch. I've seen a lot of this footage literally hundreds of times in the last 5+ years and it still gets to me.)
What has happened to the Great Society?
Get Angry.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Winning the Hearts and Minds
Why can't we ever tell who the insurgents are and who they aren't? In yet another case of mistaken identity recently, US forces gunned down 7 Iraqi citizens who were playing a traditional Ramadan game. Or, if you'd prefer to believe the military account, they killed 2 or 3 people who may have been insurgents. In fact, in the words of a Major speaking on behalf of the army, “We were not able to get an accurate assessment.” However, although they were unable to get an accurate assessment, they did know that the people they were attacking were insurgents (the Major also stated that "If some innocents were killed, we regret that,” which I'm sure is much appreciated).
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Aiiieeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!
Democracy in action....Please, say it ain't so...
So, how often do you think this happens throughout the country? The integrity of the voting system has been SERIOUSLY compromised here in America.
So, how often do you think this happens throughout the country? The integrity of the voting system has been SERIOUSLY compromised here in America.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Another Day, Another Death
Today I came across an interesting but disturbing article regarding the total number of dead U.S. Gulf War veterans, as noted by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The number is quite shocking, over 73,000. The PDF linked comes directly from the Veterans Affairs website, so it's hard to refute. It is also quite disturbing to see the number of troops killed during the "conflict" (Desert Storm/Desert Shield), which is pegged at over 13,000. From what I remember of that whole affair, we were told a whole hell of a lot less troops died during that war. However, with only 17,000+ troops killed in the "conflict" and the "theater" (non Desert Storm/Desert Shield operations), that still leaves more than 55,000 more who have died between now and 17 years ago. Perhaps all that depleted uranium wan't such a good idea after all? I bet the media will be all over this one in a heartbeat. Just watch.
Let's foster an environment of intolerance and hate at one of our nation's premier universities! Yep, that's right, the legislatures in New York have threatened to cut funding, among other forms of retribution, to Columbia University for their refusal to cancel a speaking engagement by Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Score one for democracy, higher learning and freedom! Let's make sure our best and brightest are as close minded a poible! You know what? Here's an idea. If Ahmadinejad is being allowed in to this country, he can't be as much of a threat as they say he is, can he? If so, you'd think he'd be dead before he ever set foot on the Columbia campus. I don't advocate that kind of activity, but this is the fucking United States of America, and you'd think we could pull off one little assassination on our own turf if the man visiting was really literally a threat to the entire world. The thing is, Ahmadinejad is nothing of the sort. In fact, it is integral for our government that he stay alive and unharmed, as lies and slander thrown at him are some of the strongest motivating factors behind another pointless mid-east conflict. As long as our government can sell him as a crazy nuke-loving jew-hater, they'll continue to muster some support for Vietnam Part III. They need him so they can start their war.
Meanwhile, take a look at what Ahmadinejad had to say at the UN last week, it's quite interesting stuff. And I bet it's a little different than how you may have heard it out on the mass media circuit. If you've got a few minutes, you really should at least read a couple of paragraphs.
WorldNet Daily article regarding the unconstitutional federal income tax. This is an intriguing (though pointedly depressing, considering what it means to America) story that has been underground for quite a while, and I would be remiss not to mention the great documentary by Aaron Russo - America: Freedom to Fascism (Director's Approved Edition, don't worry) in the same breath as this article. Hopefully resources like these will start waking people up, and we can get out from under the thumb of this super-oppressive form of government in to which we've stumbled. Oh, and you know what just gives away the whole damn game? An IRS spokesman responding to questions about the specific citation in the tax code that allows a federal tax on income said...c'mon, you can guess this one..."I can't comment." Hmmmm, why can't they show us the law? Perhaps because it doesn't exist? It really is that easy. Read up and watch that movie. You will be shocked.
There's danger on the edge of town
Ride the kings highway, baby
Weird scenes inside the gold mine
Ride the highway west, baby
Let's foster an environment of intolerance and hate at one of our nation's premier universities! Yep, that's right, the legislatures in New York have threatened to cut funding, among other forms of retribution, to Columbia University for their refusal to cancel a speaking engagement by Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Score one for democracy, higher learning and freedom! Let's make sure our best and brightest are as close minded a poible! You know what? Here's an idea. If Ahmadinejad is being allowed in to this country, he can't be as much of a threat as they say he is, can he? If so, you'd think he'd be dead before he ever set foot on the Columbia campus. I don't advocate that kind of activity, but this is the fucking United States of America, and you'd think we could pull off one little assassination on our own turf if the man visiting was really literally a threat to the entire world. The thing is, Ahmadinejad is nothing of the sort. In fact, it is integral for our government that he stay alive and unharmed, as lies and slander thrown at him are some of the strongest motivating factors behind another pointless mid-east conflict. As long as our government can sell him as a crazy nuke-loving jew-hater, they'll continue to muster some support for Vietnam Part III. They need him so they can start their war.
Meanwhile, take a look at what Ahmadinejad had to say at the UN last week, it's quite interesting stuff. And I bet it's a little different than how you may have heard it out on the mass media circuit. If you've got a few minutes, you really should at least read a couple of paragraphs.
WorldNet Daily article regarding the unconstitutional federal income tax. This is an intriguing (though pointedly depressing, considering what it means to America) story that has been underground for quite a while, and I would be remiss not to mention the great documentary by Aaron Russo - America: Freedom to Fascism (Director's Approved Edition, don't worry) in the same breath as this article. Hopefully resources like these will start waking people up, and we can get out from under the thumb of this super-oppressive form of government in to which we've stumbled. Oh, and you know what just gives away the whole damn game? An IRS spokesman responding to questions about the specific citation in the tax code that allows a federal tax on income said...c'mon, you can guess this one..."I can't comment." Hmmmm, why can't they show us the law? Perhaps because it doesn't exist? It really is that easy. Read up and watch that movie. You will be shocked.
There's danger on the edge of town
Ride the kings highway, baby
Weird scenes inside the gold mine
Ride the highway west, baby
Monday, September 24, 2007
"Baiting" Authorized by Pentagon
Interesting article from the Washington Post.
Capt. Matthew P. Didier: "Baiting is putting an object out there that we know they will use, with the intention of destroying the enemy."
Spec. Joshua L. Michaud: "It's our job out here to lay people down who are doing bad things." "I don't want to call it revenge, but we needed to find a way so that we could get the bad guys the right way and still maintain the right military things to do."
Why do you think we alway hear about "suspected insurgents?"
Capt. Matthew P. Didier: "Baiting is putting an object out there that we know they will use, with the intention of destroying the enemy."
Spec. Joshua L. Michaud: "It's our job out here to lay people down who are doing bad things." "I don't want to call it revenge, but we needed to find a way so that we could get the bad guys the right way and still maintain the right military things to do."
Why do you think we alway hear about "suspected insurgents?"
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Interesting Articles
Now that I can go back to scouring news sources for articles again, here's a few that caught my eye...
An excerpt from Jonathan Chait's "The Big Con." This is exactly what I'm trying to say about the homogenization of American political parties and the emergence of the far right. I'd like to read this book.
Scott Adams' Dilbert Blog. Just...wow. Wow.
Israel asks that Aid be Paid in Euros! Yikes.
Oh and I have to mention: (Condi) "In the spirit of Yom Kippur, the United States will not hold Israel to any agreements obligating them to accept Dollars as payment for their foreigh aid. We will translate our obligations into Euros or whatever currency that best fits Israel's needs."
Well, in the spirit of Yom Kippur, can I get my next paycheck in Euro's?
New York Times: "Just How Far Did They Go, Those Words Against Israel?" Yes, how far did they go? An interesting breakdown of the language but unfortunately not much insight in to why this quote was blown so far out of proportion.
Yahoo: "Cheney mulled Israeli strike on Iran." Wow, what a gigantic surprise.
And, lastly:
Generals Opposing Iraq War Break with Military Tradition. More than 20 retired generals come out against their own government's actions in Iraq. This is something that's NEVER happened in US history. Read about who these guys are...they know what they're talking about. Where is the mainstream media on this? Shouldn't something like this just shatter any further doubt that what we are doing is a massive mistake? Policy change, please.
An excerpt from Jonathan Chait's "The Big Con." This is exactly what I'm trying to say about the homogenization of American political parties and the emergence of the far right. I'd like to read this book.
Scott Adams' Dilbert Blog. Just...wow. Wow.
Israel asks that Aid be Paid in Euros! Yikes.
Oh and I have to mention: (Condi) "In the spirit of Yom Kippur, the United States will not hold Israel to any agreements obligating them to accept Dollars as payment for their foreigh aid. We will translate our obligations into Euros or whatever currency that best fits Israel's needs."
Well, in the spirit of Yom Kippur, can I get my next paycheck in Euro's?
New York Times: "Just How Far Did They Go, Those Words Against Israel?" Yes, how far did they go? An interesting breakdown of the language but unfortunately not much insight in to why this quote was blown so far out of proportion.
Yahoo: "Cheney mulled Israeli strike on Iran." Wow, what a gigantic surprise.
And, lastly:
Generals Opposing Iraq War Break with Military Tradition. More than 20 retired generals come out against their own government's actions in Iraq. This is something that's NEVER happened in US history. Read about who these guys are...they know what they're talking about. Where is the mainstream media on this? Shouldn't something like this just shatter any further doubt that what we are doing is a massive mistake? Policy change, please.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Iran/Israel Clash on Nukes
Sometimes things seem so overwhelming, but I realize I must re-double my efforts. I have to focus myself on something, sometime. This seems important enough for now, and at least it keeps my mind moving.
On Friday, for the first time in IAEA history, rival nations engaged each other on the floor when Iran called for IAEA inspectors to do their jobs and investigate Israel's rumored nuclear arsenal. This came in the wake of Israel's accusations that Iran has been lying about the purpose of their atomic energy program. While Iran has constantly been drug through the mud recently for refusing to halt their nuclear program, Israel has (predictably) faced far less criticism regarding their assumed possession of nuclear weapons.
Israel has constantly avoided the spotlight regarding the nuclear issue, even when things seemingly came to a head more than 9 months ago when Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apparently admitted to his country's possession of nuclear weapons in an interview with a German television station. While the words "Can you say that this is the same level, when they are aspiring to have nuclear weapons, as France, America, Russia and Israel?" appear to be impossible to take "out of context," that was of course the excuse given by Israel after the admission. In fact, they now deny that he said it at all, with Israel Michaeli (Israel's UN ambassador) saying "Some speakers continue to lie about the statement of the Israeli prime minister, who did not say what they say he did," and then smartly following that up with "Those who call for the elimination of Israel have no moral standing when they criticize Israeli policies aimed at defending Israel's very existence." So, in effect, "We never said we have nukes and we don't have them, but if we do, which we might, you don't have any place in criticizing us for it because you're jerks anyway." Brilliant!
The evil Iranian ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh just spouted off crazy accusations as usual, saying "The only way for the international community to know the truth is to authorize the IAEA to send inspectors to Israel and verify the truth." Now, where's the sanity in that? And oh, by the way, guess which one of these countries is in on the IAEA Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty? I'll give you one guess, and the answer isn't Israel. Now, remember who the bad guy is here. It's Iran! Isn't it? Or are things getting a little more murky now? Why do we rail against a country that, for all intents and purposes, has followed the letter of the law when it comes to nuclear research and production while turning a completely blind eye to a country that has circumvented nearly every rule in the book when it comes to military weapons, nuclear or otherwise? Have we forgotten that Israel, time and time again, has refused to sign the Non Proliferation Treaty? How can we, as a world power, try to deny one poor country the right to legally use one of our greatest inventions for the good of their society, while allowing another (ally or not) to disregard all treaties and safeguards regarding that very same invention even when they are receiving literally BILLIONS of dollars every year in "aid" from our own government?
If Israel really wants a peaceful resolution in the Middle East (they DO NOT), they would comply with the standards to which they hold the rest of the region instead of flexing their American muscle (don't think a Washington veto isn't coming if there's any action against Israel by the security council) every time they are questioned. We are already stuck in this mess, and until we learn to deal with manipulative regimes like Israel we will just continue to be the big dumb bully on the field. All brawn and no brains, capitulating to the whim of the weaker, but craftier influence.
On Friday, for the first time in IAEA history, rival nations engaged each other on the floor when Iran called for IAEA inspectors to do their jobs and investigate Israel's rumored nuclear arsenal. This came in the wake of Israel's accusations that Iran has been lying about the purpose of their atomic energy program. While Iran has constantly been drug through the mud recently for refusing to halt their nuclear program, Israel has (predictably) faced far less criticism regarding their assumed possession of nuclear weapons.
Israel has constantly avoided the spotlight regarding the nuclear issue, even when things seemingly came to a head more than 9 months ago when Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apparently admitted to his country's possession of nuclear weapons in an interview with a German television station. While the words "Can you say that this is the same level, when they are aspiring to have nuclear weapons, as France, America, Russia and Israel?" appear to be impossible to take "out of context," that was of course the excuse given by Israel after the admission. In fact, they now deny that he said it at all, with Israel Michaeli (Israel's UN ambassador) saying "Some speakers continue to lie about the statement of the Israeli prime minister, who did not say what they say he did," and then smartly following that up with "Those who call for the elimination of Israel have no moral standing when they criticize Israeli policies aimed at defending Israel's very existence." So, in effect, "We never said we have nukes and we don't have them, but if we do, which we might, you don't have any place in criticizing us for it because you're jerks anyway." Brilliant!
The evil Iranian ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh just spouted off crazy accusations as usual, saying "The only way for the international community to know the truth is to authorize the IAEA to send inspectors to Israel and verify the truth." Now, where's the sanity in that? And oh, by the way, guess which one of these countries is in on the IAEA Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty? I'll give you one guess, and the answer isn't Israel. Now, remember who the bad guy is here. It's Iran! Isn't it? Or are things getting a little more murky now? Why do we rail against a country that, for all intents and purposes, has followed the letter of the law when it comes to nuclear research and production while turning a completely blind eye to a country that has circumvented nearly every rule in the book when it comes to military weapons, nuclear or otherwise? Have we forgotten that Israel, time and time again, has refused to sign the Non Proliferation Treaty? How can we, as a world power, try to deny one poor country the right to legally use one of our greatest inventions for the good of their society, while allowing another (ally or not) to disregard all treaties and safeguards regarding that very same invention even when they are receiving literally BILLIONS of dollars every year in "aid" from our own government?
If Israel really wants a peaceful resolution in the Middle East (they DO NOT), they would comply with the standards to which they hold the rest of the region instead of flexing their American muscle (don't think a Washington veto isn't coming if there's any action against Israel by the security council) every time they are questioned. We are already stuck in this mess, and until we learn to deal with manipulative regimes like Israel we will just continue to be the big dumb bully on the field. All brawn and no brains, capitulating to the whim of the weaker, but craftier influence.
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